Fourteen Differences between Prophecy and Mystery

Fourteen Differences between Prophecy (Israels program) and the MYSTERY (0ur program)

In his book THINGS THAT DIFFER Pastor C.R.Stam listed 14 differences between Prophesy (P) that pertained to the national Israel, and the MYSTERY (M) that was revealed to the Apostle Paul for the Body of Christ.

1.) (Prophecy)Concerns a kingdom; a political organization (Dan. 2:44, Matt. 6:10).

(Mystery)Concerns a body; a living organism (I Cor. 12:12,27, Eph. 4:12-16).

2.) (Prophecy) The kingdom to be established on earth (Jer. 23:5, Matt. 6:10).

(Mystery) The body given a position in heaven (Eph. 1:3, 2:5-6, Col 3:1-3).

3.) (Prophecy) Christ to be its King (Jer. 23:5, Isa.9:6,7).

(Mystery) Christ its living Head (Eph. 1:19-23,Col. 1:18).

4.) (Prophecy) The kingdom prophesied "since the world began" (Luke 1:68-70, Acts3:21).

(Mystery) The body chosen in Christ before the world began, but "kept secret since the world began" (Rom. 16:25, Eph. 1:4-11, 3:5-9).

5.) (Prophecy) Israel to be given supremacy over the nations (Isa. 60:10-12, 61:6).

(Mystery) Jew and Gentile placed on the same level before God (Rom. 10:12, 11:32,Eph. 2:16,17).

6.) (Prophecy) The Gentiles to be blessed through Israel?s instrumentality (Gen.22:17,18, Zech. 8:13).

(Mystery) The Gentiles blessed through Israel?s obstinacy (Acts 13:44-46, Rom. 11:28-32).

7.) (Prophecy) The Gentiles to be blessed through Israel?s rise (Isa. 60:1-3, Zech. 8:22,23).

(Mystery) The Gentiles blessed through Israel?s fall (Acts 28:27,28, Rom.11:11, 12, 15).

8.) (Prophecy) Prophecy mainly concerns nations as such (Isa. 2:4, Ezek. 37:21, 22).

(Mystery) The mystery concerns individuals (Rom. 10:12, 13, II Cor. 5:14-17).

9.) (Prophecy) Prophecy concerns blessings, both material and spiritual, on earth (Isa.2:3, 4, 11:1-9, etc.).

(Mystery)The mystery concerns "all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies" (Eph.1:3, Col. 3:1-3).

10.) (Prophecy) Prophecy concerns Christ?s coming to the earth (Isa. 59:20, Zech. 14:4).

(Mystery)The mystery explains Christ?s present absence from the earth (Eph. 1:20-23, Col. 3:1-3).

11.) (Prophecy) In prophecy salvation by grace through faith alone is not contemplated.

(Mystery) Salvation by faith alone lies at the very heart of the mystery (Rom. 3:21-26, 4:5, Eph.2:8,9).

12.) (Prophecy)The proclamation of the prophetic program committed particularly to the twelve (Matt. 10:5-7, Acts 1:6-8, 3:19-26).

(Mystery) The proclamation of the mystery committed particularly to Paul (Eph.3:1-3, 8-9, Col. 1:24-27).

13.) (Prophecy) The prophetic program revealed through many of God?s servants (Luke 1:70, II Pet. 1:21).

(Mystery) The mystery revealed through one man; Paul (Gal. 1:1, 11, 12, 2:2, 7, 9,Eph. 3:2,3).

14.) (Prophecy) Old testament writers frequently did not understand the prophecies made known through them (Dan. 12:8-10, IPeter 1:10-12).

(Mystery) Paul both understood and longed that others might understand the mystery revealed through him. (Eph.1:15-23, 3:14-21, Col. 1:9 -10, 2:1-3).