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The Mystery of the Kingdom of God

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 25, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 26.

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The Mystery of the Kingdom of God

By Allen Moon

ALLEN MOON
“A MYSTERY is not the unknown or unknowable, but that which is known only to the initiated.” Jesus said, “Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables.” Many things are mysterious merely because they are covered, but when the covering is removed, they are plain and comprehensible to the natural mind. Some mysterious questions require special mental training in order fully to know and understand their depth of meaning.
“The mysteries of the kingdom of God are above and beyond the sphere of the finite mind. They are of another realm than that to which the finite mind belongs, and all things pertaining to that realm are unsolvable parables to the finite mind. Jesus is the Son of the Infinite, having power over mind, being the author of mind. He has power to say to all who are initiated into the kingdom, even while they are in the flesh, “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.” And not only so, but men in the flesh may become channels through which the mystery is revealed, as it is written, “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Cor. 2:7, 8.
Since the world began, these things have been hidden from the worldly-wise, but they have been revealed unto babes—those so regarded by the princes of worldly fame. When these “babes” have been initiated into the realm of infinity and have minds transformed, or made conformable thereto, they are able so to “speak the wisdom of God in a mystery” as to make it a revelation, an unfolding of the mystery, as the apostle has said: “Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.” Rom. 16:25. It has been kept secret from those without, since the world began, but to those who are inside, the gospel of Jesus Christ has opened up to the mind a revelation of a new realm, a new kingdom, which was to the natural man unknown, and could not be understood.
One must himself first be initiated into the realm of mystery, and must be made acquainted with the hidden secret, before he can reveal it to others. One who was famous as a preacher, evidently entertained this view of the gift of preaching. In writing to Gentile Christians he said, “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” Eph. 3:2-5.
In the dispensation of the grace of God, there was given to Paul a revelation of the mystery of the kingdom of God, and through this revelation he was made a preacher; as he said again, “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.” “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” Verses 7, 9.
Even the learned and mighty Paul of Tarsus could not make men know what he himself did not know. And he could not know sufficiently well to enable him to be a minister of the secrets hid with God from the creation, except by revelation direct from God. The individual must first become partaker of the deep things of God, and then he is able to portray the glories of the kingdom of God with such power as to make men know the reality.
“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him.” Eph. 1:9, 10. God’s purpose for the children of men evidently constitutes a part, at least, of the mystery of the kingdom of God. At the present time this world seems cut off and separated from all the creation of God, but he has purposed in himself to gather once more all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are in earth. Furthermore, it is revealed that, through the making manifest of Christ the Son of God, “life and immortality” are brought “to light through the gospel: whereunto,” says Paul, “I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” 1 Tim. 1:10, 11.
No finite mind could ever penetrate the mind of divinity and bring to light the hidden treasures, for “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that lovehim.” 1 Cor. 2:9. While it is true that the carnal heart of man has had no conception of God’s purpose for those who are his, yet he has means by which to reveal his mind, and to make the renewed mind of man to know the things so revealed. Paul continues by saying, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. . . . Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” Verses 10, 11.
Paul was a subject of the kingdom of God, having been initiated through the Spirit of God into the hidden meaning of the plans and purposes of that realm, so that he could truly say, “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery.”
Cambridge, Mass.