Our command for right division: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
The distinction between prophecy and mystery is fundamental to understanding scripture. This division separates Israel's prophetic timeline (currently suspended) from the Body of Christ's mystery (now in effect).
Openly Declared
Spoken since world began: "Which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21 KJV)
Continuously revealed: "As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began" (Luke 1:70 KJV)
Always known: "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world" (Acts 15:18 KJV)
Previously Hidden
Kept secret: "According to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began" (Romans 16:25 KJV)
Hidden in past ages: "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations" (Colossians 1:26 KJV)
Revealed to Paul: "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery" (Ephesians 3:3 KJV)
Prophecy Focus
Israel's prominence: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth" (Amos 3:2 KJV)
Earthly kingdom: "And the kingdom shall be the LORD's" (Obadiah 1:21 KJV)
Through Israel's rise: "And the Gentiles shall come to thy light" (Isaiah 60:3 KJV)
Mystery Focus
No national distinction: "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew" (Colossians 3:11 KJV)
Heavenly position: "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6 KJV)
Through Israel's fall: "Through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles" (Romans 11:11 KJV)
Different Methods of Edification
Early Mystery Period (Transitional, Early Mystery)
Through spiritual gifts: "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church" (1 Corinthians 14:12 KJV)
Through manifestations: "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal" (1 Corinthians 12:7 KJV)
In church gatherings: "Let all things be done unto edifying" (1 Corinthians 14:26 KJV)
Completed Mystery Revelation (Later Mystery)
Through written word: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)
Through sound doctrine: "Hold fast the form of sound words" (2 Timothy 1:13 KJV)
Through spiritual understanding: "Which things also we speak... comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV)
Israel's Current Position
Temporary blindness: "Blindness in part is happened to Israel" (Romans 11:25 KJV)
Not cast away forever: "Hath God cast away his people? God forbid" (Romans 11:1 KJV)
Future restoration promised: "And so all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26 KJV)
Body of Christ Formation
One new body: "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV)
Equal standing: "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body" (Ephesians 3:6 KJV)
New creation: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)
Standing in Grace
Complete in Christ: "And ye are complete in him" (Colossians 2:10 KJV)
Direct access: "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence" (Ephesians 3:12 KJV)
Spiritual blessings: "Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3 KJV)
Grace Message
Reconciliation ministry: "And hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18 KJV)
Gospel of Christ: "According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust" (1 Timothy 1:11)
Making known mystery truth: "To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery" (Ephesians 3:9 KJV)
Rapture Hope
Caught up together: "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds" (1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV)
Appearing in glory: "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:4 KJV)
Transformed bodies: "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body" (Philippians 3:21 KJV)
After Body Removed
Israel's awakening: "Until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11:25 KJV)
Kingdom restored: "After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David" (Acts 15:16 KJV)
Promises fulfilled: "And so all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26 KJV)
Understanding these distinctions:
Clarifies Bible study
Shows current Mystery, the Body of Christ, is today
Guides ministry focus
Reveals future events
Prophecy is suspended
Mystery, the Body of Christ, now operates
Clear division maintains truth
Paul's epistles guide today
#RightDivision #ProphecyVsMystery #MidActs #Dispensationalism #BibleStudy #PaulGospel #GraceMessage