Will Christ Come Twice or Only Once? Part 2 - A Mystery Solved

Dennis Edwards

Where Else Do We See a Mystery of God? -  Part 2 of 8

What is interesting in Revelation 10:7 is that it says that, as the seventh angel begins to sound the seventh trump, “the mystery of God should be finished.” Where else do we remember of reading about a “mystery,” that is together with the sound of a trumpet? The only other place we find the same imagery is in 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.

1 Corinthians 15: 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15: 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

The Mystery of the Gentiles Being Fellow Heirs

The word “mystery” is used generally in the Bible referring to something that in the past was hidden, but now it is revealed. Apostle Paul wrote that the fact that the Gentiles would become fellow heirs of the promise made to Abraham had been a mystery in the Old Testament, but now in Paul’s time, it had been revealed. In Colossians we read.

Colossians 1: 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

In Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he covers the same subject again.

Ephesians 3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 

The “mystery” again being that through Christ, the Messiah, salvation would be brought to all men. Part of that mystery is that we might understand God’s unfathomable love for each of us.

Apostle Paul continues in his letter to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 3: 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

The Mystery of Christ and the Church 

In another place Apostle Paul uses the word “mystery” to describe the marital relationship between Christ and the Church, the Church being the body of true believers. Again in Ephesians we read.

Ephesians 5: 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Hear we see that Apostle Paul considers the idea of the Bridegroom and Bride, or husband and wife imagery used by Jesus, as “a great mystery.” The same imagery was used all the way back in the book of Song of Solomon and is found in Apostle John’s ultimate description of New Jerusalem.

Revelation 21: 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 

We even find the idea of “husband and wife” being apart of the mystery of God’s essence, or our lack of understanding of God’s essence, all the way back in Genesis.

Genesis 1: 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish (fill) the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Genesis 2: 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

We see that God’s likeness is both male and female. God’s essence is both male and female. Apostle Paul calls the imagery of martimony as being representive of Christ and the Church and as such being “a great mystery.”

Ephesians 5: 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 

Just as husband and wife are physically united, God the Son, the Bridegroom, wants to be spiritualy united with His bride, the Church of true believers.

Mystery Babylon

Another place where we see “mystery” used is in the description of “Babylon the Whore.”

Revelation 17: 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 

The angel goes on to reveal the “mystery” of both the woman and the beast that carries her. The beast consists of the various world empires that have carried the whore. The whore being,

Revelation 17: 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. 

Revelation 18 gives us a little more information about the mystery woman and tells us,

Revelation 18: 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 

The nations of the earth, instead of loving and fearing God, have fornicated spiritually with the “woman” who seems to represent the systems of this world that incorporate the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The “woman” is represented as the pinnacle of the great city system of the world, where men lust after money or the things that money can buy. The “woman” fulfills the lusts of man and caters to his pride of life.

Who are the pimps making money off the “woman?” They are none other than the financially rich elite of the world who deceive the nations of the world with their sorceries.

Revelation 18: 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. 

Jesus in his pre-crucifixion talk to his disciples at the last supper called "the woman" the world.

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

The woman, the world, hates the saints and prophets that expose her iniquity and therefore kills them.

The brother of Jesus, Apostle James, had a similar explanation.

James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lust that war in your members?...4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that friendship of the world is emnity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

All wars and fightings ultimately come from man's lust and as such the woman, who encourages that lust, is responsible "for all that were slain upon the earth." 

The angel is Revelation 18 admonishes God's people to come out of her, the woman, and out of all that she represents spiritually.

Revelation 18:4 ...Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

The worship of money and the things that money can buy, the love of money is the root of all evil and the cause of wars and fighting among men. Men have been deceived by the false worship of satisfying the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life. The flesh is never satisfied and always desires more, more, and more.

But God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth by the way we live our lives. However, we see that “Mystery Babylon” entices men away from the worship of God to the worship of all that is ungodly and abominable. By worshipping money and the things that money can buy, man is drawn away from the worship of God. Men are deceived into using all their energy in search of personal pleasures, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Man ends us spiritually fornicating with these lusts rather than loving and worshipping and serving the true God.

The Mystery of Iniquity 

Another place we see the word “mystery” used is in Apostle Paul’s 2nd letter to the Thessalonians. He warns the believers not to be deceived into believing that Christ can come at any time. He writes,

2 Thessalonians 2: 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

Before we are gathered together to the Lord at His coming, the man of sin must be revealed, the son of perdition; commonly called the Antichrist. The day of our gathering, or rapture/resurrection shall not come until the Antichrist is revealed. Apostle Paul goes on to write,

2 Thessalonians 2: 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work.

The “mystery of iniquity” represents the antichrist forces already at work in the world. Apostle John later said something similar to Apostle Paul.

1 John 2: 18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 

The spirit of antichrist then seems to be the “mystery of iniquity.” In other translations such as the New Revised Standard Version, the verse is translated as the “mystery of lawlessness.” In Apostle Paul’s 2 Epistle to Timothy, Paul describes the lawlessness to come.

2 Timothy 3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away…7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth…12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

In the past there was a time when Christianity affected the culture and laws were made to reflect the laws of God. We had laws that sanctified life. As men have fallen into apostasy in many formally “Christian” nations, the laws have changed to reflect men’s loss of faith. Before the laws guaranteed the sanctity of life. Today, abortion allows a woman to kill her unborn child. Euthanásia and assisted suicide allow our aging fathers to end their lives prematurely, or for us to “help” them along the way to death. Life is no longer “sacred.” The new laws reflect man’s lack of faith in God.

Likewise, in the past, marriage, the oldest tradition in society, had been generally a relationship between one man and one woman. Today, however, marriage is no longer between those of the opposite sex. New laws have been made to change the meaning of marriage and promote sexual relationships that God in His revealed word has strongly condemned.

Marriage, today, can be a man with a man, or a woman with a woman. In the Old Testament we read,

Leviticus 18: 22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 

In the New Testament the Apostle Paul addresses the question of homosexuality in his letter to the Romans.

Romans 1: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves. 

The fruit of man’s pride and thinking in his rejection of God is that man needed to come up with a new creation myth. God could not be the Creator. The creation needed to create itself. Over time the theory of evolution was developed and worked into a pseudo-science so that men could feel intellectually satisfied with their new creation myth. Man’s rejection of God and his embracing of his own wisdom caused his heart to be darkened which in turn led to men dishonouring themselves in homosexual relationships. 

You can read the explicit description Apostle Paul gives in the rest of Romans 1:25-32. I will not include it here, lest I be accused of being anti-homosexual. God’s word is pretty strong on the subject. Yet He always admonishes us to love the sinner, not the sin and try to lead the sinner to Him.

One Old Testament prophecy given to the prophet Daniel also decsribes the Antichrist as one who “changes laws.”

Daniel 7: 25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 

We see then that the “mystery of iniquity” or the “mystery of lawlessness” has to do with the coming of the Antichrist or the spirit of antichrist.

The Mystery or Mysteries of the Kingdom 

We have not addressed the times when Jesus used the word “mystery” or “mysteries.” They are found in the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. We will look at Mark’s version.

Mark 4: 10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Mark 4: 33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

Jesus knew He had enemies. He knew His enemies would eventually destroy Him. He knew He only had a short time to teach and train His disciples. Jesus spoke in parables to hide His teaching from those whose hearts were not open to the truth. He would afterward expound the meaning of the parables to His disciples. He called that process opening up the “mysteries of the kingdom.”

Jesus was revealing truths that had been hidden or covered over by false ideas and teachings. He was making the mysteries of the kingdom known to His disciples. Many times they themselves did not understand the mysteries He was revealing. It was not until after His resurrection and the infilling of the Holy Spirit that their understanding was opened to the truths He was revealing to them. In the Gospel of Luke we see Jesus opening their eyes to the truths He had been teaching them after His resurrection.

Luke 24: 44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

The Mystery of All Israel Being Saved

Another “mystery” spoken of by Apostle Paul is found in Romans 11:25-33.

Romans 11: 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Romans 11: 30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Different scholars have different views on what these verses actually mean. The general consensus, however, is that at some point at the end, when “the fulness of the Gentiles be come in,” the ethnic nation of Israel, or a remnant of the ethnic nation, shall be saved. Some believe it happens at the time of Christ’s coming.

The fulness of the Gentiles may be referring to the various empires or “beasts” that have ruled over the world, the Antichrist being the final beast. In Revelation 11:2 we have the term “Gentiles,” referring to the Antichrist forces, taking over the “holy city,” which seems to refer to Jerusalem, for 42 months, or 3 and ½ years, the time of the Great Tribulation. Let’s read the verse.

Revelation 11: 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Remember, the Antichrist will break the covenant, stop the daily sacrífice,and place the abomination that makes desolate at the “midst of the week,” the middle of the seven year period. He invades Jerusalem to do so and takes over, probably implementing the “mark of the beast” technology which will be necessary in order to operate in his New World Order system.

But some will rebel and not cooperate. The oxthodox Jews may be in that category, especially if it is some sort of tattoo or micro-chip implant. God’s word forbids them from making any markings on their flesh. Leviticus 19:28:

Leviticus 19: 28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.

We can conclude, therefore, that at least some of the unsaved Jewish people living in Israel and or around the world will be anti-Antichrists. They will be against the Antichrist, though they may at first have been deceived by him and his “Holy Covenant.” Remember, the covenant may be what gives the Jewish people permission to start the daily sacrífice on the temple mount, the holy place, in the first place. Therefore, at first, the Jewish people would see the Antichrist as someone they could work with.

However, when the Antichrist invades Israel, stops the daily sacrífice, and places the abomination of desolation in the holy place, some of the Orthodox Jews and other Jewish people, at least a remnant, if not many or most, will finally realize that the New World Order leader is evil. They will then begin to understand that the Christians prophets were right. They will begin to have their blindness removed.

Since Apostle Paul says that the blindness in part to Israel will last, “until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in,” we need to try to understand when “will the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” If it is at the point when the Antichrist steps up or is revealed, as Apostle Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, then we can expect Jewish people to begin to come to Christ during the Great Tribulation period. Those that do would be raptured with the other believers at the Lord’s coming.

Let’s look again at 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. Apostle Paul is talking about the coming of the Lord and our gathering together unto Him.

2 Thessalonians 2: 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

If what Apostle Paul is talking about is the moment the Antichrist stops the daily sacrífice and places the abomination, then that would be the sign that Jesus gave that the great tribulation would start. That would be distinctly at the “midst of the week.”

But, maybe, “until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in,” is not until Christ appears when He comes with His saints in the Battle of Armaggedon. It is at that point that the time of the Gentiles would actually come to an end. Perhaps, Revelation 1:7 is imagery of when the time of the Gentiles ruling over the nations is fulfilled.

Revelation 1: 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Could the “they also which pierced him” be talking of the Jewish people in general? If that is the case then the Jewish people will not be saved until they see Jesus at His return in the clouds at the time of the rapture/resurrection event or at the time of the Battle of Armageddon. We are just speculating when that salvation for the Jewish people will come.

If the Jewish people remained anti-Antichrist during the great tribulation period and refused to worship the beast and his image and refused his mark, if, also, they lived through the tribulation period, but do not yet receive Christ, then they could be in that “blessed” group of people the prophet Daniel talks of in Daniel 12:12.

Daniel 12: 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

We will look at that verse in more detail a little further on in our argument.

How “all Israel shall be saved” is still a mystery. Earlier in Romans, Apostle Paul had also written,

Romans 9: 6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Romans 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.

Will “all Israel” be a remnant, or actually be “all Israel?” We do not know at the momnet. I tend to lean more to the idea that a remnant of ethnic Israel, the Jewish people, will be saved. Some are already being saved and they make great witnesses. At what point they are saved remains to be seen. But the fact that some shall be “regrafted into the olive tree” once again shows God unfathomable love and mercy.

Romans 11: 24 For if thou [a gentile Christian] were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature [false gentile beliefs and traditions about God], and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree [the seed of Abraham by faith that follows of the true God]: how much more shall these [the etnic Jewish people], which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

The Mystery of the Rapture/Resurrection

We have looked at some of the different “mysteries” spoken of in the New Testament. However, Revelation 10:7 and I Corinthians 15:51-52 seem to be talking about another mystery of God. Surely, the rapture/resurrection event would be considered “a mystery.”

Notice that verse 52 of in 1 Corinthians 15 says that “the dead shall be raised incorruptible” “at the last trump.” Which trumpet is the last? In Revelation chapter 10:7, the last trumpet is the seventh trumpet. Just as Apostle John begins to write some important information about what is taking place, he is told not to write. What he does tell us is that the “mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets.” Surely, the “mystery of God” he is referring to is the rapture/resurrection event spoken of throughout Scripture. Revelation 10:7 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 do not fit with any of the other “mysteries” we have looked at.

Revelation 10:7 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 use the word “mystery” and “mystery of God.” Both passages talk about the last or seventh trump sounding. 1 Corinthinas 15 describes the rapture/resurrection event. Revelation 10:7 is describing the seventh trumpet event, but Apostle John was not allowed to give us all the information he had available, especially that which had been uttered by the sevn thunders. However, I think we can conclude that Revelation 10:7 is also speaking about the rapture/resurrection event. Both Revelation 10:7 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 are talking about one of the “mysteries of God:” the rapture/resurrection event.

To go to Part 3 click here.