A mystery is commonly defined as something that is difficult to understand, inexplicable, and has a secretive character. The word mystery comes from the biblical Greek word “mustérion.” Mustérion is something that is hidden by God, and cannot be known (or understood) unless it is revealed by God. For example, have you ever read scripture (that you have read in the past) and found a completely new meaning? Or have you found that as you meditate on a biblical passage it expands different dimensions of your spiritual awareness? These revelations occur as the mystery of God is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. Among those who believe God exists, if you ask 100 persons to describe God, you’d likely hear various depictions. A portion of responses may describe Him as the creator of the universe who sits on a throne in Heaven. A few may portray Him as authoritative, angry, judgmental, and vengeful. While some may describe Him as being benevolent. However, most will not describe Him based upon the most important and mysterious attribute of who He is—for He is (and is the source of) agape love—which is the highest form of love one can experience. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:7-10 God manifested His agape love in the life and sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ—which is a mystery to a large percentage of persons on earth. However, there is a reason for this incomprehension, lack of understanding and “blindness.” “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 Those who have placed their hope, belief, faith and trust in His Son understand the mystery of Christ because of the direct and interactive influence of the Holy Spirit. “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 Jesus Christ used many illustrative parables (stories) when He spoke and taught by comparing earthly stories to spiritual truths. However, for those who heard His parables, some were not capable of understanding because they were unable to make a “connection” between the earthly meaning and the spiritual meaning. His words were a mystery to them. Those who understood the hidden spiritual truths did so by revelation from God. This revelation continues today via the Holy Spirit.   “And the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.’” Matthew 13:10-17 We live in a physical world. Our human perception is based upon what we see, touch, hear, taste and smell. To understand the spiritual realm, to understand that which our senses cannot experience, to experience truths that speak to the depths of our soul…requires obedience and revelation by God via the Holy Spirit. Jesus said “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15-18 Jesus said “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26 Jesus said “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:5-15 Therefore, before you continue, it is important to pray to the Father—in the name of Jesus—and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth, and to speak to your heart. For we are incapable of understanding the mystery of God without His revelation.   We Need to Love and Be Loved We are uniquely designed with a need for reciprocal love that is unconditional; and with the whole heart, mind and soul. This basic human need is reflected in our culture by songs, plays, television, movies, and literature; and is expressed by touch, words, behavior—including the simple joy and contentment of just being in the presence of who we love. Our need to love and be loved is more powerful than we realize. But what’s interesting and revealing, our innate need for love begins during infancy. There have been numerous studies on the significant ill-effects upon infants caused by deprivation of maternal care (a mother’s loving touch, warm embrace, comforting words, and so forth). These studies have mainly occurred in institutional orphanages where infants are given basic sustenance (food, clothing and shelter), but not maternal care. The physical consequences (shown in infants older than one month) include listlessness, emaciation and pallor (an unhealthy pale appearance), relative immobility, quietness, loss of appetite, failure to gain weight, an appearance of unhappiness, and other negative physical conditions. What’s more, those infants who lacked maternal care had a significant increase in the number of deaths compared to infants who received maternal care. In addition, infants deprived of maternal care also demonstrated severe emotional and psychiatric problems later in life. Sources: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/40724/WHO_MONO_2_(part1.pdf?sequence=1 https://drdavidhamilton.com/why-children-need-love-to-grow/ Our need to love and be loved is part of our design—from infancy to adulthood—even when challenges and traumas in life have hardened the heart. Consider how you feel on the inside when you meaningfully hug someone who meaningfully hugs you. There is a fleeting moment of an indescribable feeling of elation as each person’s soul connects spiritually. What’s more, anxieties and ongoing daily issues seem to disappear during the embrace. Similar to the need of institutionalized infants who lacked maternal care, multiple studies have also found that persons who engage more frequently in non-sexual (and appropriate) interpersonal touch and hugging enjoy better physical, psychological and relational health. For example, hugging can reduce the chance of getting a cold, reduce blood pressure and can improve one’s mood. Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6169869/ h t t p s : / / w w w . p s y c h o l o g y t o d a y . c o m / u s / b l o g / t h e - a s y m m e t r i c - b r a i n / 2 0 1 8 1 2 / 3 - s u r p r i s i n g - w a y s - h u g g i n g - b e n e f i t s - y o u r - w e l l - being Studies have also shown being in a loving marriage is related to improved psychological (anxiety and emotions), and physical health (cardiovascular, endocrine and immune system). Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4275835/ God Desires Our Love God is self-sufficient and has created everything—including our human self-will. Our self-will empowers us to make our own personal decisions in life as to what we will do, whom we will love, and differentiates us from all living organisms. Without self-will means we would function as robots; and any declaration of love would have no meaning—because a foundational component of true love is comprised of a self-willed decision. Therefore, because of our self-will, the only thing God cannot create is a self-willed person who diligently seeks Him and loves Him with all their heart, soul and mind. However, this is what He desires. Since the beginning, God has sought a personal, and intimate, and loving relationship with His creation, starting with Adam and Eve. God forbade only one thing: they were not allowed to eat the fruit from one specific tree. However, their self-willed hearts preferred to fulfill the desires of their flesh—rather than loving and obeying God—and they disobeyed and sinned (Genesis 2 & 3). As the population on earth grew, so did man’s sin. Meanwhile, God continued to search the hearts of those who live on earth. “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:10). However, man’s sin became so bad that God had to start over by saving a remnant (Noah and his family) and destroyed all in the flood. Over time this remnant began to grow and expand in population. Meanwhile, God continued to search the hearts of those who would love and obey Him—as He does today. God knew the heart of Abram; selected him to be the seed of His chosen people; made an unconditional an eternal promise with him (known as the Abrahamic Covenant); and changed his name to Abraham. “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” Genesis 18:19 “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.’ Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: ‘As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.’” Genesis 17:1-8   God expressed His love for the descendants of Abraham, and desired to be among them via the Tabernacle. His presence appeared above the Tabernacle as a cloud by day and fire by night to guide them (Exodus 13:21-22). “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers.” Deuteronomy 7:6-8. Knowing man’s sinful nature, through Moses God provided the descendants of Abraham (Israelites) with the Mosaic Covenant. It included basic rules of behavior via the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), and a means to be forgiven for sin via animal sacrifices. However, unlike the unconditional promise God made with Abraham, the Mosaic Covenant was conditional: if Israel remained obedient, God will bless; if disobedient, God will punish (Deuteronomy 28). For an Israelite to be forgiven for a sin, the sacrificial animal had to be without blemish (defect), and the person offering the animal had to inflict death upon it. Forgiveness of one’s sin via the shed blood of an animal was intended to cause the person to deeply comprehend the wrongness and consequences of what they had done, realize God has forgiven them, and change that person’s heart towards Him. The following scripture from Ezekiel chapter 16 reveals God’s love for Abraham’s descendants as He describes the Israelites (as a female) from her infancy—when she was loathed, cast away and left to die. He also describes how He cared for her and tended to her needs because of His love for her. “Thus says the Lord God to Jerusalem: ‘Your birth and your nativity are from the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you; but you were thrown out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born. And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I made you thrive like a plant in the field; and you grew, matured, and became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed, your hair grew, but you were naked and bare. When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, says the Lord God. Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty. Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,’ says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 16:3-14 However, the Israelites rejected God’s love, turned away from Him and sinned with other “lovers.” The continued scripture in Ezekiel below (Ezekiel 16:15-43) reveals the adulterous ways of His chosen and God’s disdain for their actions. The Israelites were deeply consumed by sin. But what’s worse, some even sacrificed their babies to Molech (a god of the Ammonites and Canaanites). As you read, consider how you would respond to an adulterous spouse—for these emotions are revealed in God’s words—because whom He loves has become a harlot. Jerusalem’s Harlotry “‘But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it. You took some of your garments and adorned multicolored high places for yourself, and played the harlot on them. Such things should not happen, nor be. You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images and played the harlot with them. You took your embroidered garments and covered them, and you set My oil and My incense before them. Also My food which I gave you—the pastry of fine flour, oil, and honey which I fed you—you set it before them as sweet incense; and so it was,’ says the Lord God. ‘Moreover you took your sons and your daughters, whom you bore to Me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your acts of harlotry a small matter, that you have slain My children and offered them up to them by causing them to pass through the fire? And in all your abominations and acts of harlotry you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, struggling in your blood. Then it was so, after all your wickedness—‘Woe, woe to you!’ says the Lord God—that you also built for yourself a shrine, and made a high place for yourself in every street. You built your high places at the head of every road, and made your beauty to be abhorred. You offered yourself to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your acts of harlotry. You also committed harlotry with the Egyptians, your very fleshly neighbors, and increased your acts of harlotry to provoke Me to anger. Behold, therefore, I stretched out My hand against you, diminished your allotment, and gave you up to the will of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd behavior. You also played the harlot with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; indeed you played the harlot with them and still were not satisfied. Moreover you multiplied your acts of harlotry as far as the land of the trader, Chaldea; and even then you were not satisfied. How degenerate is your heart!’ says the Lord God, ‘seeing you do all these things, the deeds of a brazen harlot. You erected your shrine at the head of every road, and built your high place in every street. Yet you were not like a harlot, because you scorned payment. You are an adulterous wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband. Men make payment to all harlots, but you made your payments to all your lovers, and hired them to come to you from all around for your harlotry. You are the opposite of other women in your harlotry, because no one solicited you to be a harlot. In that you gave payment but no payment was given you, therefore you are the opposite. Now then, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: ‘Because your filthiness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your harlotry with your lovers, and with all your abominable idols, and because of the blood of your children which you gave to them, surely, therefore, I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, all those you loved, and all those you hated; I will gather them from all around against you and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness. And I will judge you as women who break wedlock or shed blood are judged; I will bring blood upon you in fury and jealousy. I will also give you into their hand, and they shall throw down your shrines and break down your high places. They shall also strip you of your clothes, take your beautiful jewelry, and leave you naked and bare. They shall also bring up an assembly against you, and they shall stone you with stones and thrust you through with their swords. They shall burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women; and I will make you cease playing the harlot, and you shall no longer hire lovers. So I will lay to rest My fury toward you, and My jealousy shall depart from you. I will be quiet, and be angry no more. Because you did not remember the days of your youth, but agitated Me with all these things, surely I will also recompense your deeds on your own head,’ says the Lord God. ‘And you shall not commit lewdness in addition to all your abominations.’” Ezekiel 16:15-43 In addition to her harlotry, God also became tired of Israel’s sin sacrifices—which turned into a ritualistic requirement —and not a heart-changing event that caused her to repent, seek Him, and love Him. As you continue to read, listen to (and spiritually experience in your soul) not His anger, but the desire in God’s heart. Even though she turned from Him and became a harlot, God wanted Israel to return to Him; and if so, because of His love, He will forgive her for what she had done. This love God declared to the Israelites is the same, unchanging and everlasting love God has for each of us—and is why He will forgive us for what we have done, no matter how far we have strayed. “‘To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?’ Says the Lord. ‘I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword’; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 1:11-20   However, the Israelites continued their harlotries as an adulterous wife. Thereafter, God replaced the conditional Mosaic Covenant with an unconditional and everlasting covenant—because of the promise He had made to Abraham, and because of His love for the Israelites. “For thus says the Lord God: ‘I will deal with you as you have done, who despised the oath by breaking the covenant.’ Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your older and your younger sisters; for I will give them to you for daughters, but not because of My covenant with you. And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done,’ says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 16:59-63 God’s New Covenant is not based upon the forgiveness of sins via the sacrificial blood of animals—but is based upon the sacrificial blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. In addition, God’s promise that they would remember and be ashamed will occur when Jesus—whom they rejected (even to this day)—returns. “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.’” Jeremiah 31:31-34 The Mystery of Jesus Christ: God’s New Covenant Jesus said “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:20 Jesus said “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 There is no better sacrifice for man’s sin than God’s own Son—the only person who has ever lived that was perfect, without blemish, and was worthy of paying the absolute and eternal redemptive price for our sins with His own blood. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He replaced the Mosaic Covenant. “And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,’ then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’ Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.” Hebrews 10:11-18 But what’s more, God offered His grace and mercy to all who believe (both Jew and Gentile). Jesus revealed the reason why God’s New Covenant was extended to Gentiles in the Parable of the Wedding Feast. “And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, ‘See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.’’ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.” Matthew 22:1-10 The Apostle Paul further explains the mystery of God’s gift of grace and mercy to the Gentiles. Simply stated, grace is God giving us something we do not deserve. Whereas, mercy is when God does not punish us for what we deserve. For we “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:1-19   God’s Mystery in Christ Will Be Revealed to the Israelites in the Last Days “When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.” Deuteronomy 4:30-31 The Israelites were looking for a warrior to defeat their enemies and free them from bondage, and not God’s sacrificial Lamb. Since Jesus walked on earth, Israel has remained “blind” to the mystery in Christ. What’s more, this inability to see will continue into the very last days. However, when Jesus returns and destroys Israel’s enemies, their blindness will be removed and they will grieve, and mourn, and be ashamed as they realize: • They rejected God’s Son, Jesus Christ, the promised Mashiach (Messiah). • God had a better plan in how He would fulfill all of His covenants. • The real enemy of Israel is not physical but spiritual. • God gave us a means to overcome sin that transcends the blood of animals. • God’s love and His word is unfailing and everlasting. Jesus said: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.” Luke 21:20 Jesus said “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:11-16 “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him . Even so, Amen.” Revelation 1:7 “In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them. It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn .” Zechariah 12:8-10   God’s Love for the Israelites and His Covenant Word with His Chosen is Eternal God’s grace offered to Gentiles will come to an end when an unknown number of Gentiles have been saved (when the “fullness of the Gentiles has come in”). This will likely occur during the last days prior to the return of Jesus Christ (the Deliverer who will come out of Zion). “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” Romans 11:25-27 After Jesus destroys Israel’s enemies, He will begin His Millennial Reign. The Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ The Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ (the Messiah and Anointed One), is God’s long-awaited fulfillment of His word to His chosen people. It is a thousand-year period that will occur after the 7-year Tribulation. The Millennium is not heaven. However, it may be considered “heaven on earth” for those who live in Israel during this period of time. Jesus Christ will reign from His throne over the earth and all of its inhabitants. Jesus will bring unity to all things in Heaven and on earth under Himself (Ephesians 1:10). He will reign on David’s throne (Jeremiah 23:5-6; Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:32-33). He will rule with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:26-27, 12:5, 19:15). And He will execute justice and righteousness over the twelve tribes of Israel (Jeremiah 23:5-6; Matthew 19:28; Daniel 7:13-14, 27; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 24:23; Zechariah 14:9; Micah 4:3). “‘On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,’ says the Lord who does this thing. ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up fro m the land I have given them,’ says the Lord your God.” Amos 9:11-15 For more information on the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ, read “Revelation’s Blessings” (pages 105-109)—which is downloadable for free on UniqueBibleStudies.com. The Greatest Commandment Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment. “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 22:37-40 Those of us who seek God do so because of a free will decision—because we know deep in our heart that He alone is worthy of everything we are, and have, and do. What’s more, nothing on this earth can truly fill the needs of our soul. Wealth, power, fame, sex, drugs, (you can add to the list), are a lie and only distract from the truth. God loves us more than any of us can humanly imagine. But God requires a self-willed heart to turn away and run from that which leads to eternal death; and turn towards Him with hope, belief, faith, trust, and open arms as we spiritually reach out and “hug” the One who loves us. God is Preparing a Gift for Whom He Loves Jesus said “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:2-3 “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 John, in the Book of Revelation (chapters 21 and 22), provided us with a glimpse of what God plans for those who love Him (the Bride of His Son, Jesus Christ): a new heaven, a new earth and a new Jerusalem. What’s more, God will dwell among them as it was in the Garden of Eden. “ Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’” Revelation 21:1-4 “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Revelation 21:9-27 “And he showed me pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:1-5 The Mystery of God’s Heart God desires a loving relationship, and to be in the presence of whom He loves—beginning with Adam and Eve. Later He tabernacled in the presence of the Israelites in the wilderness; then in the Temple built by King Solomon, and in the rebuilt Temple after the first was destroyed. Thereafter, God sent His Son as a sacrifice for our sins so that He could be in our presence (and live withing us) via His Holy Spirit. In the future, we will be in His presence and will see Him, love Him and worship Him—as an indescribable joyous love flows from the depth of each of our souls, and from His heart—for this is what He has desired from the beginning of time. God’s love is a mystery because people misinterpret His intentions. God is actively seeking those who will love Him. What’s more, in the same way we desire to give good things to those who love us—God gives good things to those who love Him—and is preparing an unimaginable eternal gift for those who are saved by His grace and mercy. For those who desire to know and love God: “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.” Proverbs 8:17 If you are reading these words, you are searching for God—which begins with His Son, His New Covenant, and His revelation of Himself. As we learn more about Jesus, we begin to spiritually see and understand the love and the heart of God—because Jesus was the physical manifestation of the Father.   Jesus said “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30 Jesus said “‘If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.’ Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.’ ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.’” John 14:7-11 Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 Jesus said “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 Jesus said “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” John 3:5-7 Here are questions that every one of us should consider—because how we respond will define where we spend eternity. • Do you know God loves you? • Do you know His Son, Jesus Christ? • Are you born again? • Is Jesus Christ your Savior and the Lord of your life? • If not, do you realize whatever is standing in your way…is a lie. There are two Bible studies on UniqueBibleStudies.com that will assist in understanding what it means to be born again. The first is “3 Types of Death 1 Source of Life.” The s econd is “What is a Born-Again Christian?” Both Bible studies may be read from th e website or downloaded for free. “The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” Colossians 1:26-29 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:3-14 “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience t o the faith—to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.” Romans 16:25-27 God Bless You as You Grow in Spiritual Understanding of Your Savior and Lord! H arold D. Thomas Bible Study Thought-Provoking Questions The purpose of the questions is to facilitate a deeper understanding of the Bible, this Bible study topic and ourselves. The questions may be answered by each reader, or used by a Bible study group leader or church pastor. The following questions should be answered or discussed after reading “The Mystery of God’s Heart.” There are two types of questions: lesson and opinion. Lesson questions (preceded by a number) are provided an answer. Opinion questions (preceded by an “O”) are designed to enhance learning via the determination of opinions and/or discovering how the lesson content illuminates our personal lives. As such, no answers are provided. Questions O What did God see in Abraham? 1. What did God promise to Abraham? 2. Was God’s promise to Abraham (the Abrahamic Covenant) conditional or everlasting? O What words (Deuteronomy 7:6-8) did God use to describe His: • Feelings towards the descendants of Abraham? • Relationship with the descendants of Abraham? 3. Why was there a need for God to make the Mosaic Covenant with the Israelites? 4. Was the Mosaic Covenant conditional? Explain. 5. If the Israelites failed in their part of the Mosaic Covenant, would this negate the Abrahamic Covenant? 6. Jerusalem: A. What happened to Jerusalem during her infancy? B. What happened when God passed by her? C. What happened to her thereafter? D. Which covenant does God refer to when He said “Yes, I swore an oath to you…and you became mine.” O Jerusalem’s Harlotry: • How did the Israelites respond to God’s demonstration of His love and blessings? • Do you think God experienced pain in His heart? Explain. • How does God’s response compare to a person’s emotional response to an adulterous spouse? • Because of the continued sin of Jerusalem (Isaiah 1:11-20): o How did God respond to their sacrifices and offerings? o What did God say to Israel that demonstrates His continued love? 7. God’s New Covenant: A. Did the Israelites break the Mosaic Covenant? If yes, how? B. What is God’s New Covenant? C. Does the New Covenant replace the Mosaic Covenant? Explain. D. How is the New Covenant different from the Mosaic Covenant? E. Is the New Covenant strictly for the Israelites? If not, explain. F. What is the spiritual relevance and meaning of the parable spoken by Jesus in Matthew 22:1-10? G. Is the New Covenant conditional or everlasting? O God’s Mystery in Christ Will Be Revealed to the Israelites in the Last Days: • How do the Israelites view Jesus (past and present)? o Do they view Jesus as God’s Son? o Do they understand: ▪ The relevance of the death of Jesus on the Cross and His shed blood? ▪ Jesus Christ is God’s New Covenant? ▪ Jesus Christ is the Mashiach (Messiah) and The Anointed One? • Do you think the rejection of Jesus by the Israelites is part of God’s plan? • What does God say to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 4:30-31? • What does God promise the Israelites (and how will they respond) in Zechariah 12:8-10? O God’s Love for the Israelites and His Covenant Word with His Chosen is Eternal: • Read Romans 11:25-27 o What does “fullness of the Gentiles” mean? o Do you think God’s grace that is presently offered to the Gentiles will come to an end? Explain. o Do you think there is a correlation between each of the following last day events: ▪ The fullness of the Gentiles. ▪ The surrounding of Israel by armies. ▪ Jesus Christ returns and destroy Israel’s enemies. ▪ The blindness of the Israelites will be opened. O The Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ: • What is the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ? • Identify at least 7 different things Jesus will change during His reign. O The Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40) • What did Jesus say we should do? • Can you summarize the message into a few words? • Why is this the greatest commandment? • How will it affect / change our daily life if we seek to fulfill this commandment? • How does this commandment fulfill all the law and the prophets? • Does this represent reciprocal love? If yes, explain. 8. God is Preparing a Gift for Whom He Loves: A. What did Jesus promise in John 14:2-3? B. What happened after the first Heaven and the first earth will pass away (Revelation 21:1-4)? C. Who is the bride, the Lamb’s wife? D. The New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-27): • Why is there no temple? • Why is there no sun? • Who is allowed to enter? O The New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:1-5): • Are there similarities to the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2)? • What is different? O The Mystery of the Heart of God: • What is the desire of God’s Heart? • Is the desire of God’s heart different from ours or the same? Explain. O After completing this Bible study…do you view God differently? Explain. Answers 1. Abraham shall be the father of many nations and kings. God would establish His covenant with his descendants, will give them all the land of Canaan, and will be their God. 2. God’s promise to Abraham (known as the Abrahamic Covenant) was unconditional and everlasting. 3. We are all born with a sinful nature. The Mosaic covenant defined God’s minimal expected behavior of what should and should not be done (the 10 Commandments). If one failed (sinned) God provided a means for forgiveness via the sacrifice of an animal. 4. Conditional: if obedient God will bless; if disobedient God will punish (Deuteronomy 28). 5. A: No. God will fulfill His unconditional promise to Abraham. 6. A: She was despised and cast aside to die. B: God gave her life, blessed her and protected her. C: She turned away from God and fell deeper into sin. D: Abrahamic Covenant. 7. A: Yes. B: God offered His Son as a perfect and complete sacrifice for sins. C: Yes. The sacrificial blood of an animal can no longer cover sins—only the sacrificial blood of God’s Son is worthy and accepted by God. D: God’s New Covenant is offered to Jew and Gentile because the Israelites rejected the Mosaic Covenant. F: God’s conditional offer to the Israelites was rejected in multiple ways. Therefore, God invited additional persons (Gentiles) to receive and participate in God’s eternal blessings. G: It is not conditional, but everlasting. 8. A: I go to prepare a place for you so that we may be together for eternity. B: It will be replaced by a new Heaven and earth. God will dwell among His people and will wipe away their tears. Death, sorrow, crying and pain will no longer exist. C: Those who placed their hope, belief, faith and trust in Jesus Christ. D: God and Jesus are its temple. Light emanates from the glory of God and the Jesus. Only those who’s names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life may enter. The questions and answers may be downloaded as a PDF file by clicking on this button. Can you think of one or more persons who could benefit from reading this lesson? If so, pass it on!