God’s Multipart Plan to Redeem HEAVEN and EARTH (Part 2)

God’s Multipart Plan to Redeem HEAVEN and EARTH (Part 2)

In part one, we learned about the Prophetic program which concerns Israel, prophecy, and law, to ‘fix’ the earth. In this part, our focus will be on the Mystery program which concerns the Body of Christ and God’s grace, to ‘fix’ heaven.

Remember, this is still a high-level overview of the layout of the Bible from cover to cover. We will look at scriptures to confirm things in the subsequent parts.

So, what is this Mystery program, and how does it concern us today?

As we saw in the Prophetic program in part one, it is a complete program, beginning with a world in corruption, and ending in the restoration of earth at the second coming of Christ. However, God divided this program into two parts, separating the Tribulation and Millennial Kingdom and pushing it 2000-years into the future from the cross. The reason for this is because of the unbelief of Israel. When they refused the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the apostles at Pentecost, God blinded Israel and suspended their program. At this point, God saved Paul and sent him to the Gentiles with a new message of grace through the cross of Christ. This new message was completely different to the prophetic and law orientated program of Israel. Paul tells the Corinthians that everything has become new,

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

…and he tells Timothy that it is necessary to rightly divided in order to understand the scriptures in the correct context,

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

The Mystery program occupies only 7% of the Bible. It is the compilation of Paul’s 13-epistles, and it is written and addressed to grace believers, the members of the Body of Christ. In this Mystery program there is no nation, but rather a spiritual Body of believers of all nations. There are no covenants, no Mosaic laws, no ordinances or observances or holydays. This program does not have any historical significance like the Prophetic program has. It does not have any prophecy to fulfil, and it has not much physical substance, being of spiritual context. Unlike the Prophetic program that deals with the inheritance of earth, the Mystery program has its inheritance and destination in the heavens. 

As you can see, there is a lot of difference between these two programs. In this regard, it is of crucial importance to not mix or blend these two programs together. Israel and their program remain theirs. The Mystery program is its own entity and belongs to the grace believer today. It contains its own specific and unique doctrine that must be divided from the prophetic program in understanding and application. In later parts of this study, we will discuss the contents in more detail. As for now, the above is sufficient to clearly distinguish the fact that these two programs are distinct, but they work together to fulfill the will and purpose of God to bring all of creation, both heaven and earth, back under the reign and lordship of Jesus Christ.

In the parts to follow, we will start to unpack this overview and show you the proofs from the scriptures that confirm Prophecy and Mystery, Israel and the Body of Christ, Law and Grace, Earth and Heaven, two programs, and the need to rightly divide between the two. There is value in seeing the Bible from a high-level overview. With a general understanding of the contents, from Genesis to Revelation, and some basic insights into the plan of God to redeem both heaven and earth, one will find that the detail of scripture starts to make sense. Understanding the bigger picture helps you to orientate yourself in the details and knowing what you are reading and to whom it is addressed, and what it is saying, brings so much worth and clarity to scripture. I trust this will be your experience as we advance through this study.