Mysteries!

“Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.” Romans 16:25-27

Doxology, a liturgical formula of praise to God. It mostly signifies an end to modern worship service and a form of a blessing for the rest of the week. It leaves a good feeling (to me at least) and brings hope for another week. So often it is we hear this, the individual words are often lost.

Today I wanted to shine light on the word “mystery” that has been ironically hidden within the passage. What then, is this mystery that Paul is talking about in Romans? Well, like all good academic personnel, we find the meaning hidden in another book, the first Corinthians. 

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

The mystery speaks of eternity. It specifically talks about overcoming death, the root of all human action. In a flash, a twinkling of an eye, the dead will become immortal! How will this be possible? Let's read into John.

“‘Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.’” John 14:1-3

From reading the Bible back and forth, it will be easy to know that God exists out of time. A place in the Father's house would inherently be also a place without time, hence eternity, eternal together-ness with God. Though more information has been provided, the 6 interrogatives have not yet been addressed, so now we turn to 1 Thessalonians.

^“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We shall receive resurrection to eternity in God when Jesus comes back here on earth in we believe in Jesus. 

“‘For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.’” Mark 4:22-23