The Hope Of Glory
And The Mystery of Messiah

By J. Dean

There are no two words from New Testament Scripture more misunderstood than "Hope" and "Mystery."

After spending nearly 30 years pouring over EVERY commentary I could get my hands on, pertaining to this subject, I have come to the sad conclusion that none of the "learned" scholars or seminary experts have a single clue as to what the New Testament means when it says "the hope of our calling," and "the mystery of Messiah." How can this be? Some doctrines of men, taught by the "learned" scholars and accepted as a "given" by all, prevent one from truly understanding these phrases. The "scholars" and "doctorates of theology" can't seem to agree at all on what these two phrases are trying to tell us. There are so many different opinions, you could probably spend a lifetime examining them all, and NEVER come to an understanding of them. This is confusion, and as we know God (Yahweh) is not the "author of confusion."

You might be interested to know that when the New Testament talks about our "hope" we have in Messiah, it is, without exception, talking about the same thing, in every place you find it mentioned. The same goes for "the mystery." When you see "hope" or "mystery" mentioned in the NT you can cross reference it directly to ALL OTHER places the words are used and find they are almost all talking about the same thing. This is the MOST convincing evidence of all of the "harmony" of the New Testament, and demands that we take the "inspiration" of the New Testament seriously. No other two words in the NT so clearly demonstrate that the separate authors of the New Testament accounts and epistles were all of "the same mind."

In this article I intend to take the reader on a "tour" of the NT, and point out all that is said about "our hope" and "the mystery," so that, when they are done, hopefully, some of the "confusion" wrought by the "experts" will be forever cleared up.

Before I do that, though, I feel it is necessary to talk about some of the more "popular" and more "glaring" examples of ERROR I have encountered. In other words, I want to talk first about what "our hope" and "the mystery" are NOT!

OUR HOPE IS NOT THE RAPTURE

"Pre-tribulation rapturists" use "The Hope of Our Calling" as a synonymous term for the "pre-tribulation rapture." For those of you who don't know what the pre-trib rapture is, it's a doctrine that teaches that in the end times man breaks a large SPIRITUAL MIRROR, and then there will be "seven years of bad luck on the earth," or in other words they quote Messiah when he says "then shall be great tribulation," and they take this phrase, applying it in a haphazard method, to the book of Revelation, where twice it mentions a 3.5 year period. They then combine it with Daniel, in a twisting of scripture that boggles the mind, to come up with a "seven year period" they call the tribulation. They then take scriptures referring to "the mystery," and "the hope of our calling" and do even more perverse twisting to context and misinterpret them to say that before this seven year period occurs on earth all the "Christians" will be whisked away into heaven, to "escape" the wrath of God. They believe that Christians everywhere will just vanish from the face of the earth.

I am going to reserve my rebuttal of this "rapture" doctrine for a latter time. For now, I just wanted to point out that pre-trib rapturists UNANIMOUSLY refer to this event as "the hope of our calling." Once you get to the end of this article I pray you will be able to see how EMPTY is their interpretation of "the hope of our calling."

THE HOPE IS NOT SALVATION
OR THE RESURRECTION ALONE

The "hope of our calling" is also not "the ressurection" or "salvation." Traditionally, the religious have taught this, and it's only a "half truth." While we DO "hope" for our salvation, the salvation itself is NOT "the hope of our CALLING." Salvation is the END RESULT of that hope. I submit to you, that there is MORE to what we hope for than just "going to heaven." I point this out, because the religious have removed "righteousness, obedience, and holiness" from salvation. To the religious, all you have to do is say "the sinner's prayer," and go to "church" and follow the precepts of their religion, and you are "already saved." Most, (but not all) religions also teach that once this "salvation" is yours, it is yours FOREVER, and you can never lose it. Interestingly enough, it's these same religions who believe "once saved always saved," who are now teaching "the hope" is the "rapture." This isn't surprising, for if I already POSSESS salvation, why do I yet hope for anything else? They need SOMETHING to hope for, because the scriptures so often mention "the hope of our calling," they therefore, have CONCOCTED this rapture doctrine and call it "our hope," in a VAIN EFFORT to replace the TRUE hope of our calling with a man made belief in a "rapture."

THE MYSTERY IS NOT MYSTICISM

One of the most GLARING ways "the mystery" has been mishandled by religion is to "mystify EVERYTHING!" They LOVE to quote the verses concerning "the mystery of Yahshua," or "the mystery of godliness," in defense of EVERY MYSTICALLY POLLUTED DOCTRINE they teach. Myticism, and in particular Babylonian Mysticism has SWEPT organized religion like a plague. Let's be clear on ONE thing, when the NT talks about "the mystery of Messiah," it's NOT giving us permission to bring in MYSTIC thought into the GOSPEL! It's NOT talking about Messiah as "three Gods" in one, nor is it talking about some "mystical hidden meaning," that can only be revealed by examining the "numeric values of scriptural words," or some other such non-sense.

THE HOPE OF GLORY

The very first place "hope" is mentioned in the NT is Luke 6:34.

Luke 6: 34-35
"34 And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thanks have you? For sinners also lend to sinners to receive as much again.
35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind to the unthankful and to the evil."

Not surprisingly, these words of Messiah, the first place HOPE is mentioned, are the LANDMARK scripture to defining "the hope of our calling!" These two verses explain EXACTLY WHY salvation is NOT by works, and yet also explain WHY, at the same time, GOOD WORKS OF THE LAW are NOT done away with by the CROSS! If I obey the LAW, hoping to receive the REWARD of SALVATION, I am violating this PRINCIPLE, which is actually a COMMAND, given by Messiah! He clearly tells us NOT to do GOOD to others in hopes of receiving some REWARD back! If we "love our enemies," it means we DO GOOD without EXPECTATION of REWARD!

This is the EXACT OPPOSITE of the "hope" that religion speaks of! Religion teaches of "hope of reward" for their "faith." We know that faith is the DRIVING MOTIVATOR of ALL GOOD WORKS! Therefore, we have faith, NOT because we HOPE for some reward for having faith! A true believer has FAITH because of LOVE, and would do so, even IF there were NO PROMISE of reward! Messiah has totally LAID TO REST the notion that our "hope" is for rewards (salvation, eternal life, or anything else). He has made it CLEAR that we should NOT let our HOPE be for reward! We should RATHER, HOPE TO BE ABLE TO CALLED "the children of the Highest," by LIVING UP to the COMMANDS given. Our hope is NOT that we will receive a reward for "loving our enemies," but rather our hope is that we may "love our enemies!" Do you see the difference here?

The second place that "hope" appears in the NT is a reference to the Tanakh (older testament).

Acts 2: 26
"Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:"

If we read the CONTEXT of this verse we get a better understanding of what our "hope" is! In these scriptures the Apostle is attempting to show a group of Hebrews how the resurrection of Messiah was predicted by King David himself, and moreover, the significance of this resurrection. I will not go over in detail these verses, however, while it appears that David is saying our "hope" is the resurrection (and partly it IS) it's not the entire message. The Apostle spells out the ENTIRE nature of our hope in verses 33 and verses 38-39.

Acts 2:33
"Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the PROMISE of the Holy Spirit, he has shed forth this, which you now see and hear."

The context of Acts Chapter 2 is very important in understanding what the "hope of our calling is." The Holy Spirit had just ascended on a large group of people in a public place. This was the first such "public outpouring" of the Holy Spirit! The Apostle was saying that this was the "promise" and the "hope" of which David spoke! We see this clearer in verses 38 and 39.

Acts 2:38-39
"38 Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahshua Messiah, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call!"

There we have it, then, "as many as the Lord our God shall call!" The HOPE of our CALLING! The promise of the Holy Spirit.

To what purpose, though? According to the Apostle we receive this promise "for the remission of sins!" That is the PURPOSE for which the POWER from on HIGH is sent to the Repentant HEART! To give them the HEALING POWER they need to watch their sin disease "go into remission!" Remission means "freedom from." Doctors use the term to this day to refer to when a disease ceases it's onslought. If you are "free from a disease" you are said to be "in remission." There can be no doubt here what is the intent of the words of the Apostle. He's saying quite clearly that we now have a "promise" of being "free from sin," which means, the sin will be GONE! No doctor will tell a patient who is still suffering from a disease, and that disease is still consuming them, "you are in remission." If they do, they will be sued for malpractice. I believe the countless religious theologians in this world should ALL be sued for "spiritual malpractice" for telling their followers that they are "in remission" from sins, when in fact at the same time telling them they will ALWAYS be wracked by sin, and will suffer with the "sin disease" until the day they die!

Getting back to King David's words, when he says "my flesh rests in hope." (Acts 2:26) The KEY phrase in the scripture is found in verse 27.

Acts 2:27
Because you will not leave my soul in hell, neither will you suffer your Holy One to see corruption."

This is the REASON for our "hope!" We now have the PROMISE of HOLINESS through the Holy Spirit! That is why I say that the salvation and resurrection are END RESULTS of our hope! We have a HOPE of being considered "a Holy One," just like Messiah, IF we walk in his footsteps, and we shall "not see corruption!" To the RIGHTEOUS, HOLINESS is our HOPE, for without it, we won't SEE ETERNAL LIFE!

The next few references in Acts talk about the "hope of the resurrection of the dead." Acts 23: 6, Acts 24:15, Acts 26: 6-7, Acts 27:20. Except for Acts 28: 20 which calls Messiah "the hope of Israel." While the resurrection and He who BRINGS the resurrection are all called "the hope," it cannot be forgotten that it is the HOLINESS that comes through the Holy Spirit given as a result of the CROSS that makes this HOPE possible. Religions today have MOST DEFINATELY forgotten this, and in doing so have ERASED the very HOPE of which they speak!

The next place hope is mentioned is a reference to the "faith of Abraham."

Romans 4: 18
"Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall your seed be."

What was the "faith of Abraham?" Abraham demonstrated his faith by preparing to sacrifice his ONLY SON on an altar, as God had commanded him. Yet, it wasn't just his ACT of OBEDIENCE but what his ACT demonstrated about his faith. Abraham was promised to be the "father of many nations," and here he was, killing his only heir on an altar! It is clear that Abraham believed in God's power to RESURRECT his son, and was WILLING to take that faith to the ultimate test! That's what it says in Acts 4: 17.

Acts 4: 17
"(As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, God, who quickens the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were."

Abraham BELIEVED GOD, that, should he sacrifice his son in obedience, God would merely resurrect him! Abraham's faith was PURE, in that, he knew that OBEDIENCE, even though it appeared to defeat the PROMISES of GOD, would still not PREVENT the promises of God. He knew that GOD is ALL POWERFUL, and capable of resurrecting those who are "innocent." Abraham never had to go through the trauma of taking his own son's life, thankfully, but he was WILLING TO DO THAT because of his BELIEF in GOD'S power and HIS LOVE!

There are many other facets to this, and I cannot go into them all, yet it is important to note that everywhere "hope" is mentioned, "the promise" is mentioned, and "the resurrection is also mentioned."

Romans 5: 1-5
"1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Yahshua Messiah.
2 By whom also we have access by faith into his grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God,
3 And not only that, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience;
4 And patience, experience: and experience, hope:
5 And hope makes not ashamed: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us."


Again, we see the same theme here repeated. However, a new phrase is introduced, "the hope of Glory." In this instance "Glory" means "to be accounted good," or "dignified." We have a hope therefore of being accounted "good" and to be "dignified" in our walk. The verses in Romans 5 here quoted outline how that is to be accomplished as well. Our faith brings us "grace" or "good favor" with God, and tribulations only work to develop our patience and our experience, which increases our "hope" of reaching what was before unattainable, which is that from our hearts we shed forth the PURE LOVE of God through the POWER of the Holy Spirit! I don't think there can be any doubt what our hope is. That IN THIS LIFE, we can walk in the Spirit of LOVE, to the same degree as did Messiah, and so attain to the same eternal life, and if need be, the same resurrection as he!

It's also interesting to note that we "glory" in our tribulations, and that tribulation is not a bad thing that we "hope" to escape, but quite to the contrary, we know that tribulation works in us only GOOD! So much for the "pre-tribulation rapturists" idea that our hope is to "escape tribulation" through some "rapture." I'm amazed that they miss this entirely! Furthermore, when you consider what tribulation does, which is to work righteousness INTO us, and create hope of spreading the Spirit of Love, the "rapturists" are actually hoping to escape the very thing that will bring them to fruition! They are hoping to escape the very thing that brings them the Salvation they claim to already possess! It's ironic and it's tragic! They are hoping, actually to escape, not only the penalty for their sins, but the responsibilities that God expects from all believers!

The next place "hope" is mentioned also talks about tribulation. In fact, the next verses put it all together.

Romans 8: 14-31
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father.
16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Messiah; if so be that we suffer with, that we may also be glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time not worthy with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now,
23 And not only, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of the body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope?
25 But if we hope for that we don't see, we do with patience wait for.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searches the hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he did predistinate conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called ,them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"

This entire passage can be summed up this way; the hope of our calling, is that we are CALLED to be conformed to the IMAGE of HIS SON, and thus become SONS of GOD, through the POWER of the Holy Spirit of Love. We are groaning and travailing within ourselves, and suffering at the hands of the wicked, as we work toward that "hope," of being "glorified," and yet, that glorification will NOT come until we are "justified." We have been set upon that path of GLORY, and are now being CALLED to the destination, and in fact, our DESTINATION has been PREDETERMINED by our FAITH! If we continue on this path, NOTHING CAN STOP US FROM the GLORY PROMISED, of being CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF THE SON OF GOD!

As you can see, the "hope" of the religious, of merely "escaping" tribulation by some "rapture" PALES in COMPARISON to the "hope" described in the Scriptures!

Romans says MUCH about "hope."

Romans 12: 10-12
"10 Kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;"

Again we see "hope" and "tribulation" found in the same sentence. I think the Apostles foresaw the day when the religious would try to turn "hope" into some dream of "escaping tribulation altogether."

Romans 15: 4
"4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

Here, according the the Apostle, the Scriptures themselves were written and provided to bolster our "hope."

Romans 15: 13
"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit."

As you can see, without exception, every time "hope" is mentioned in the NT, it mentions the same principles, and is talking about the same thing, namely our hope of being "filled with joy and peace through the Holy Spirit," and thus finding freedom from our sins, through LOVE! God is calling us all TO THIS, even now, and it is the CRY of the Holy Spirit from every street corner!

Almost every epistle mentions this "hope" and in the same context! It's without a doubt a paramount message to us from the Holy Spirit!

1 Corinthians 9: 10
"Or said he altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, is written: that he that plows should plow in hope; and he that threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope."

1 Corinthians 13: 13
"And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these, love."

2 Corinthians 1: 7
"And our hope of you stedfast, knowing, that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the consolation."

2 Corinthians 2: 12
"Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainess of speech:"

Galatians 5: 5
"For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."

Ephesians 1:18-19
"18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
19 And what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power."

Ephesians 2: 11- 13
"11 Wherefore remember, that you in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time you were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Messiah Yahshua you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Messiah."

Ephesians 4: 1-7
"1 I, Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called.
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all.
7 But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Messiah.

Philipians probably says it best concerning the "ONE HOPE" we have in Messiah!

Philipians 1: 20
"According to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Messiah shall be maginified in my body, whether by life or death."

As Paul says here, our hope is that we are not "ashamed in any matter," and that the "image" of Messiah should be magnified "in our body," and not just in death (or by resurrection) but in THIS LIFE as well! It can't get any clearer than that!

Colossians 1: 5
"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;"

Colossians 1:23
"If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the gopel, which you have heard, which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof, I paul am made a minister."

1 Thessalonians 1: 3
"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Yahshua Messiah, in the sight of God and our Father."

1 Thessalonians 2:19
"For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? None other than you in the presence of our Lord Yahshua Messiah at his coming?"

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-14
"13 But I would not have you to be ingorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope,
14 For if you believe that Yahshua died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Yahshua will God bring with him."

1 Thessalonians 5: 8
"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."

2 Thessalonians 2:16
"Now our Lord Yahshua Messiah himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us, and has given everlasting consolation and good hope through grace."

1 Timothy 1: 1
"Paul, and apostle of Yahshua Messiah by the commandment of God, our Savior, and Lord Yahshua Messiah, which is hope."

Titus 1: 2
"In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began."

Titus 2: 13
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, with our Savior Yahshua Messiah."

Titus 3: 7
"That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Hebrews 3: 6
"But Messiah as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast to the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end."

Hebrews 6: 11-12
"11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end.
12 That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

Hebrews 6: 18-19
"18 That by two immutable things, in which impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entered into that within the veil;"

Hebrews 7: 19
"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope; by the which we draw nigh to God."

As you can see, the hope of our calling makes us "perfect" more assuredly than following he LAW could EVER do!

1 Peter 1: 3
"Blessed the God and Father of our Lord Yahshua Messiah, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again into a lively hope by the resurrection of Yahshua Messiah from the dead."

1 Peter 1:13
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Yahshua Messiah."

1 Peter 1: 21
"Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."

1 Peter 3: 15
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and ready always to an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

1 John 3: 1-3
"1 Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed up us, that we should be called the sons of God, therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doesn't yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that has this hope in him, purifies himself, even as he is pure."

From beginning to end, the NT speaks of our hope in the same light, concluding with the letter of John which states emphatically that our "hope" is to be "like Yahshua," and that hope "purifies us," to the same degree that Messiah was PURE! I don't believe there can be left any doubt that the "hope of our calling," and the "hope of Glory" are speaking of a day when we are "purified," and found "righteous," and walking in the FULL DEGREE of the Spirit of Love, just like Yahshua Messiah walked! I would like to point out, that even though many of the references quoted above talk of the "resurrection," there can BE no resurrection without the Holy Spirit, and there can be no Holy Spirit in our lives without "repentance," and "remission of sins!" Those who believe we are already saved, or that all you have to do is "accept Jesus" and you HAVE that resurrection in the bag, are in a quadary, because "if a man sees that which he hopes for, why does he yet hope?" It is clear then, that salvation is not a finished work until the "body" of Messiah is conformed to his very "image" through the LOVE of GOD! That is our hope, and it is NOT in vain, in HIM!

I'm sure some of you have noticed I left off a quote concerning "hope" in 1 Corinthians. This is because, I want to discuss "the mystery" and it just so happens that verse I left off spring boards into the subject of "the mystery."

1 Corinthians 15: 19-20
"19 If in this life only we have hope in Messiah, we are of all men most miserable.
"20 But now is Messiah risen from the dead, become the firstfuits of them that slept.
21 For since by man death, by man also the resurrection of the dead.

We must look closer now at 1 Corinthians 15, so that we can examine the relationship between "hope" and the "mystery of Messiah."

1 Corinthians 15:51-52
"51 Behold, I show 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."

This is not the first time in the New Testament that this "great mystery" is mentioned, but it is the first time the DETAILS of this mystery are defined. What is this "mystery" of which Paul writes? It's some sort of "transformation." The word here used, "changed" is"allasso" in the Greek Lexicon and simply means "made different."

Not surprisingly, the pre-tribulation rapturists have siezed on these verses as being their "strongest" proof of the rapture. What a mistake they have made, because, first and foremost, nothing is said about us "going anywhere," or "vanishing" here, it simply says we are "changed." Aside from that, if we study the context of the verses, it becomes clear it is describing a "metamorphisis" of sorts.

1 Corinthians 15: 34
"34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not: for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak to your shame.

It is important to note here that, as Paul begins his discussion of this "mystery transformation" that the believers will undergo, he starts out by telling them to "awake to righteousness and sin not!" For obvious reasons, this prelude to the discussion is VITAL, for, it is the actual subject matter, and the "mystery transformation," that takes place comes BECAUSE of sin being destroyed within the BODY of the BELIEVER. We will get to that, though.

1 Corinthians 15: 35
"35 But some will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?"

Here we have the CONTEXT of the discussion of the "mystery." He is about to explain the metamorphisis! He is also clearly talking about what happens to us during the "resurrection," for that is the subject matter according to verse 35.

1 Corinthians 15: 36
"Fool, that which you sow is not quickened, except it die:"

Here Paul reminds us of a principle that has been repeated all through scripture. We must "mortify" or "kill" the deeds of the body before the "new created being" can emerge, righteous and Holy. He then uses some examples in nature to underscore the point.

1 Corinthians 15: 37-44
"37 And that which you sew, you do not sew not the body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat or of some other.
38 But God gives it a body as it has pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh not the same flesh; but flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, another of birds.
40 Also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial one, and of the terrestrial another.
41 One glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for star differs from star in glory.
42 So also the resurrection of the dead. It is sewn in corruption: it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sewn in dishonor, it is raised in glory: it is sewn in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sewn a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."

He's talking about our bodies, and that, even though they are purely physical now, in the resurrection, we are raised with what he calls "spiritual bodies." It's interesting to remember that when Messiah was raised from the dead, even though he was immortal, and "spiritual" they could touch his wounds, and he even ate and drank with them. We are to be raised just like he was raised. Our bodies will be "changed" into immortal bodies, but we will look and feel exactly the same! Yet, he mentions soon a "mystery," concerning this "change."

1 Corinthians 15: 47
"47 The first man of the earth, earthy: the second man the Lord from heaven."

This verifies that we will be exactly like Yahshua Messiah at his second coming "the Lord from Heaven." When Yahshua returns to the earth, at that time we will become EXACTLY like him in every way, so much that Paul says of our raised bodies "the second body is the Lord from Heaven."

1 Corinthians 15: 48-50
"48 As the earthy, such they also that are earthy: and as the heavenly, such they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption."

Just before Paul begins talking about the "mystery" he states emphatically that "flesh and blood" creatures cannot enter Heaven! He further tells us that "corruption" cannot inherit "incorruption." These two words, in the Greek are ""phthorn" meaning "decay or ruin" and "aphtharsia" meaing "unending existence or immortality." In other words Paul is merely making the common sense statement that that which decays or falls into ruin can never exist forever!

This truth is important because major religions would have us to believe that they are going to remain in the "fleshly" state of "sin" and "corruption" until the day they die, and then somehow "enter the Kingdom." They further teach that there's no way "in this life" to be anything BUT "corruptible," and that you have to await death, and the resurrection to see immortality! Yet, here, in 1 Corinthians 15 Paul states this is COMPLETELY UNTRUE. In verse 51 he says "we shall not ALL sleep, but we shall all be changed."

In saying this, Paul has completely laid to rest their contention that you can't be perfect or immortal in this life time! The only way they can be SURE of this belief is if they are POSITIVE the event described in 1 Corinthians is NOT going to happen in your life time. Since, the event is ACTUALLY talking about the second coming of Yahshua, and he said "no man knows the day or the hour," they can't POSSIBLY say this event will not occur in your lifetime!

The fact of the matter is, this "changing" that will occur, when "this mortal puts on immortality, and this corruption puts on incorruption," the day when our bodies are changed from "flesh and blood," into the very image of the risen LORD OF GLORY, just MIGHT happen in our lifetimes! As long as this possibility exists, those who say "you can't be perfect in this life," are proved by SCRIPTURE to be, not only false teachers, but false prophets as well!

1 Corinthians 15: 54
" 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 thy sting? O grave, where thy victory?"

From these Scriptures we can see how far mainstream religion is from the TRUTH of this mystery! They deny the basic tenets of the mystery, which are that we will be changed into immortal bodies, sinless, and perfect, and they put in its place a rapture of the sinfull, flesh and blood body, into heaven. A "vanishing" away of global proportions! Where do I get the idea that the bodies will be "sinless?"

1 Corinthians 15:56
"56 The sting of death, sin; and the strength of sin; the law."

Since the sting of death is "no more" and we are immortal, this can only happen because there is no more "sin" in us, since sin is the "sting" of death! Now, here's where the religions really twist things. They claim the Law is "done away with," and "nailed to the Cross." If this were so, than sin's strength is already dead! Thus, sin is already removed, and we should ALL be changed into immortal beings! The very fact that we are not immortal right now is PROOF in and of itself that SIN is ALIVE and WELL, and as long as SIN is alive, the Law must be IN EFFECT, for the Law is what gives LIFE to SIN! How can this be? As long as sin is active, the law is active. When sin ceases, and is no more, there is no more need for a law! The law is good for it shows us our sins, so that the Holy Spirit can convince us of our sin, and so that we can eradicate sin! If there were no sin on the earth, the Law is unnecessary! Laws are created for the lawbreakers, not those who, out of good conscience do that which is right and good! The only reason our bodies die, is because of Adam's sin! If you don't understand that, I suggest you go back and read Genesis again!

When Adam sinned, he was denied access to the "tree of life," lest he should "live forever." Thus, Adam and his offspring remained "mortal." This is the strongest proof that we have that Messiah was a "man." Notice that Messiah was "tempted yet without sin," and still his body was "mortal." He died on the cross, thus proving that his body was mortal and not immortal. When he was raised from the dead his body was then immortal, but prior to the crucifixion he was a mortal, even though he never sinned in his entire life:

There is coming a day when sin is removed from us, we know this because by the time the last trumpet sounds we will be sinless, otherwise we would not be able to be made "immortal," at that time. If there is any sin in us at the time of the last trumpet, we cannot inherit eternal life, for as it says earlier, "flesh and blood cannot inherit eternal life," and it also says in other places that "sin is death."

Many take issue with the fact that this isn't occurring until the Messiah's return. Yet, it doesn't say that the last trumpet is when our sins are gone from us, it merely says the last trumpet is when we are made "immortal," and we will not all "sleep." Furthermore, even if we were "going up to the clouds" at the last trumpet as some attest, we are still alive and on this earth when the trumpet sounds, and that's when our bodies become immortal, not "after" the last trumpet, and "after" we've floated up into the clouds."

This mmortality will happen to the final generation while they are yet alive and well on earth! There is no escaping this conclusion. Thus, all the major religions who teach you can't live in perfection in this life, are proved to be liars, because we know that some will attain immortality "in this life," and you can't obtain immortality if there are sins in you!

In fact, they can't even say that we can't be perfect today! Unless they are positive that Messiah is not going to return today, and since "no man knows the day or the hour," we know that Messiah could return today. Since Messiah can return today, and at his coming we shall all be perfect and sinless, it's a true saying when I say "you can be perfect today!" Not only can we stop sinning, we can do it today! Halleluia!

1 Corinthians 57-58
"57 But thanks to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Yahshua Messiah.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Paul states that our "labor," in other words, our pressing toward the righteousness of Messiah, is NOT in vain, and that we know, some day we just may SEE the fruit of that labor, unto sinless righteousness, and will witness our bodies CHANGED into IMMORTAL beings! I find this MUCH more exciting than being "carried away on a cloud into heaven!" That religions don't even BELIEVE such a thing is possible demonstrates HOW FAR they have drifted from the MESSAGE of the New Testament Scriptures!

Yahshua Messiah was the FIRST to mention this "mystery" of which Paul speaks.

Mark 4: 11-12
"11 And he said to them, to you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to them that are without, all 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 sins should be forgiven them."

This is a terrible depiction of them that do NOT understand the "mystery." They are blinded because they are, simply put, hanging onto their sins! They don't WANT to let go of their sins, so they concoct a religion that tells them they aren't expected to, and thus, miss the "mystery," of immortality! Again, it's tragic!

The next place this "mystery" is discussed is in Romans.

Romans 11:25
"For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."

The context here is that the Gentiles are now fellow heirs with the House of Israel, because of faith! The "fulness" of the Gentiles is a reference to the "fulness of the Spirit." In other words, Israel will remain partly blinded until they see the Gentiles walking the earth in the fulness and in the image of Yahshua Messiah, and so Israel remains partly blinded to this very day! No greater prophecy has ever been uttered!

Romans 16: 25-27
"25 Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Yahshua Messiah, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27 To God only wise, glory through Yahshua Messiah for ever. Amen."

The revelation of the mystery that was hidden. That mystery being made known for the obedience of faith. I'd say it's obvious that this mystery has something to do with "righteousness" for faith brings obedience, and obedience, righteousness. I believe the mystery is what power the righteous man possesses, as demonstrated by Yahshua, during his life, and his death, and the resurrection from the dead! Man never understood until Yahshua demonstrated it, that he who is "pleasing in God's eyes," God makes "immortal!" They become a completely NEW type of creature, an their bodies are CHANGED!

Not convinced? Read on!

1 Corinthians 2: 6-10
"6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world that comes to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden, which God ordained before the world to our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.
10 But God has revealed to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."

Ephesians 1: 9-12
"9 Having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Messiah, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth.
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Messiah."

The mystery is that all believers in Messiah are fellow heirs, and fellow sons of God, and that in due time they will ALL be re-made into his image! Holy and Righteous!

Ephesians 3: 6
"3 How that by revelation he made known to me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words,
4 Whereby, when you read you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Messiah).
5 Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Messiah by the gospel."

This appears to say that the "mystery" is nothing more than that the Gentiles would also be included in the salvation that was, previously, only thought to be available to the Hebrews! That is CERTAINLY part of the mystery. Yet, when you consider HOW the Gentiles become fellow heirs, you see that this mystery is far deeper than that. The Gentiles are graffed into Israel, by faith, and more importantly, by receiving the POWER of the Holy Spirit! Now, righteousness is not of the Jew, only, but of the believing Gentile as well. Israel gets redefined into "the believers of Yahshua Messiah," be they Jew or Gentile! This same faith, brings forth the SAME fruit, and makes the Gentiles "heirs" according to the promise! Yet, this is NOT all that the writer to the Ephesians has to say on the subject of the mystery.

Ephesians 3: 9
"And to make all see what the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things for Yahshua Messiah!"

"The fellowship" of the mystery is a DIRECT REFERENCE to the fellowship we have with God, through the Holy Spirit! Thus, as always the Holy Spirit is the center of the message of this mystery. It is our ONENESS, through the Holy Spirit of Love that brings us to be SONS of GOD. Not convinced? Well let's examine the next time the "mystery" is mentioned by the epistle of Ephesians:

Ephesians 5: 30
"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 to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Messiah and the congregation."

After this Epistle was written, the congregation of believers was thereafter referred to as "the bride of Messiah." Furthermore, this symbolism of the "bride," was used by Messiah himself, and is found all through the book of Revelation! The great mystery has to do, less with the Gentiles being fellow heirs, as it does with the UNITY we all have with Yahshua (and with God), how we obtain that inheritance together through Holy Spirit and the unity that makes us eventually (or re makes us) into HIS image!

The writer of Ephesians states that the Gospel itself is the "mystery."

Ephesians 6: 19
"And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel."

Colossians 1:26-29
"26 The mystery which has been hid from ages and from generatons, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Messiah IN YOU, the HOPE of glory.
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may PRESENT EVERY MAN PERFECT in Messiah Yahshua.
29 Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily."

If any Scripture explains the mystery, this is it! Messiah IN YOU, the hope of Glory. The image of Messiah, which has been placed in you through the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT will ultimately make you PERFECT in him! That is truly an astounding revelation! It is the ONE revelation that Satan has gone out of his way to keep from us. It is the revelation that the world's religions can NEVER see, for they would have to let go of their sin in order to see it!

Colossians 2: 2-6
"2 That their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Messiah:
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Messiah.
6 As you have therefore received Messiah Yahshua the Lord, walk you in him:"

As with the scriptures about hope, the scriptures concerning "the mystery" repeat the same theme over and over again. Being fellow heirs, with Yahshua, walking as he walked, being "perfected," being ONE in the Spirit!

Colossians 4: 3
"Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Messiah, for which I am also in bonds:"

We must pray for an opportunity to speak this great mystery to all! It's not something that should be "hidden" away and spoken of only to the most "spiritual."

1 Timothy 3: 8-9>
"8 Likewise the deacons grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."

1 Timothy 3:16
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."

Many have translated the above passage, "God was manifested in the flesh," as a reference to Messiah being "God in the flesh." Nothing could be farther from the truth. If this interpretation were correct, then why does it say "justified in the flesh?" God needs no "justification whatsoever!" It is clearly talking about GOD being manifested IN OUR FLESH, by the Holy Spirit. "Messiah IN YOU, the hope of GLORY."

The final Scriptural reference to this great "mystery" is found, appropriately in the book of Revelation. It gives the general time frame for the COMPLETION of this mystery (or in other words, the time frame for the events depicted in 1 Corinthians 15).

Revelation 10: 7
"But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished as he has declared to his servants the prophets."

There can be NO DOUBT the event spoken of in Revelation 10: 7 is referring to the same event depicted in 1 Corinthians 15:51. Both Scriptures mention the "seventh trumpet." Actually, some contraversy has arisen because 1 Corinthians says the "last" trumpet, and some argue, that doesn't NECESSARILY mean the "seventh trumpet." Common sense dictates, however, that if it is the "last" trumpet, there are NO OTHER TRUMPETS after that! Yet, according to the argument, there could be seven more after that, and that "last trumpet," doesn't have to mean "the very last trumpet." Sound comical? Well, it would be if it weren't so tragic! These are supposedly intelligent, educated men making these arguments! Both Scriptures mention a final trumpet, and the finishing of a "mystery," you have got to be as stubborn as a mule not to admit they are talking about the same event!

In conclusion, the HOPE OF OUR CALLING, is the HOPE of the FINISHING of the MYSTERY in our lives. When we defeat SIN, and put on IMMORTALITY! This is why I have included the study of both phrases together, they are talking about the same exact thing. Furthermore, there is every reason to believe that the book of Revelation is called "the revelation of Yahshua Messiah," because it DEPICTS in DETAIL the day the "Mystery of Yahshua," is finally FINISHED and He is REVEALED IN US, throught the POWER of the Holy Spirit. That is just a thought to leave you with.
Yahweh bless and keep you, IN HIS LOVE.


Shalom

J. Dean

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