Prophecy vs Mystery
Prophecy: That which was spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began. In addition, It pertains to specific promises of God to and through the nation of Israel. Moreover, all of those promises are in an earthly setting. They are both literal and visible.
Acts 3:21 – Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. – Peter
Mystery: The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. Furthermore, it was kept secret since the world began. However, over time, the Lord gave to the Apostle Paul an abundance of visions and revelations about the heavenly aspects of God’s plan.
Romans 16:25 – Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, – Paul
Basic Distinctions Between Prophecy and The Mystery
Prophecy
The Mystery
PROPHECY
1. Concerns a kingdom; a political organization
(Dan. 2:44; Matt. 6:10).
2. The kingdom to be established on earth (Jer.
23:5; Matt. 6:10).
3. Christ to be its King (Jer. 23:5; Isa. 9:6,7).
4. The kingdom prophesied “since the world began”
(Luke 1:68-70; Acts 3:21).
5. Israel to be given supremacy over the nations
(Isa. 60:10-12; 61:6).
6. The Gentiles to be blessed through Israel’s
instrumentality (Gen. 22:17,18; Zech. 8:13).
7. The Gentiles to be blessed through Israel’s rise
(Isa. 60:1-3; Zech. 8:22,23).
8. Prophecy mainly concerns nations as such (Isa.
2:4; Ezek. 37:21,22).
9. Prophecy concerns blessings. Material and
spiritual, on earth (Isa. 2:3,4; 11:1-9; etc.).
10. Prophecy concerns Christ’s coming to the earth
(Isa. 59:20; Zech. 14:4).
11. In prophecy salvation by grace through faith
alone is not contemplated.
12. The proclamation of the prophetic program, com-
mitted particularly to the twelve (Matt. 10:5-7;
Acts 1:6-8; 3:19-26).
13. The prophetic program revealed through many
of God’s servants (Luke 1:70; II Pet. 1:21).
14. Old testament writers frequently did not understand the prophecies made known through them
(Dan. 12:8-10; I Pet. 1:10-12).
1. Concerns a body (I Cor. 12:12,27; Eph. 4:12-16).
2. The body given a position in heaven (Eph. 1:3; 2:5-6; Col. 3:1-3).
3. Christ its living Head (Eph. 1:19-23; Col. 1:18).
4. 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. Jew and Gentile placed on the same level before
God (Rom. 10:12; 11:32; Eph. 2:16,17).
6. The Gentiles blessed through Israel’s obstinacy
(Acts 13:44-46; Rom. 11:28-32).
7. The Gentiles blessed through Israel’s fall
(Acts28:27,28; Rom. 11:11,12,15).
8. The mystery concerns individuals (Rom. 10:12,13;
II Cor. 5:14-17).
9. The mystery concerns “all spiritual blessings in
the heavenlies” (Eph. 1:3; Col. 3:1-3).
10. The mystery explains Christ’s present absence
from the earth (Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 3:1-3).
11. Salvation by grace through faith alone lies at
the very heart of the mystery (Rom. 3:21-26; 4:5; Eph. 2:8,9).
12. The Mystery was revealed to Paul. In addition, it was committed to him. (Eph. 3:1-3,8,9; Col. 1:24-27).
13. The mystery revealed through one man: Paul
(Gal. 1:1,11,12; 2:2,7,9; Eph. 3:2,3).
14. 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).