THE MYSTERIES OF ELOHIM

THE MYSTERIES OF ELOHIM (1)

It is common to read in the New Covenant Scriptures about a mystery of some kind that has been revealed with the coming of Messiah, or is about to be revealed in some future time. Studying these verses, it becomes clear that there are a number of mysteries (different from one another) that we should take notice of – some of these linked closely with the first coming of the Messiah and others that do not seem to be directly related to his first coming. Further study may also reveal that it is not only the New Covenant Scriptures where references to the mysteries of Elohim may be found. It becomes clear that the concept of "mystery" is firmly rooted in the Old Covenant Scriptures. As a matter of fact, there is little doubt that the Greek word "musterion" is in some way related to the Hebrew word "mistar" wich simply means "a secret" and is derived from another word "satar" which means: "to hide (by covering), to be absent, to keep close, to conceal, to keep secret".

So, in order to fully understand the use of this concept of "musterion", as with any other concept in the New Covenant Scriptures, we need to study Scriptures as a whole. We may be surprised at the outcome of such a study. What is more, we may come to see and discover the fulfilment of YeshaYahu 45:3 "And I shall give you the treasures of darkness and hoarded wealth of secret places (Heb: "mistarim"), so that you know that I, Yahweh, who are calling you by your name, am the Elohim of Yisrael." According to this verse, it seems that there are some hidden riches that Yahweh had concealed in secret places – riches that were meant to be revealed at the appropriate time, and whenever they come to be revealed, people will know that Yahweh is the Elohim of Yisrael. The phrase, "I, Yahweh, who are calling you by your name" also suggests that these hidden riches are revealed only to those whom Yahweh calls by name. This corresponds with Devarim 29:29 "The secret matters (Heb: "hanistarot", from the root "satar") belong to Yahweh our Elohim, but what is revealed belongs to us and to our children forever, to do all the Words of this Torah." Why does Yahweh choose to reveal certain of his secret matters to the true children of Yisrael (those whom He calls by name)? Among other things, so that they may choose to do all the Words of the Torah. Amazing!

In Yechezkel 39:29 it is stated: "And no longer do I hide (Heb: "astir", from the root "satar") My face from them, for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Yisrael, declares the Master Yahweh." So here we see that Yahweh will start revealing certain hidden truths to those upon whom He had poured out his Spirit. This is why many of these truths will remain hidden to those who do not have the Spirit of Yahweh. This is confirmed by several New Covenant Scriptures, among others 1 Yahuchanan 3:24 "And the one guarding His commands stays in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He stays in us, by the Spirit which He gave us" and 1 Corinthians 2:7-10 "But we speak the wisdom of Elohim, which was hidden in a secret (Gr: "musterion"), and which Elohim ordained before the ages for our esteem, which no one of the rulers of this age knew, for if they had known, they would not have impaled the Master of esteem. But as it has been written, Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, nor have entered into the heart of man what Elohim has prepared for those who love Him. But Elohim has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all matters, even the depths of Elohim." What a privilege to be filled with the Spirit of Yahweh and to know things that eyes have never seen, ears have never heard and hearts have never conceived – and will never conceive, unless they turn back to the Elohim of Yisrael. Let us look at some of these mysteries of Elohim, some of which had already been spoken of by the Old Covenant prophets, and others revealed for the first time in the New Covenant Scriptures.

The mystery of the esteem of Yahweh, to be seen in his future coming with a strong hand, both with reward and punishment, followed by Him feeding his flock like a shepherd – YeshaYahu 40:5-11 "And the esteem of Yahweh shall be revealed, and all flesh together shall see it …See, the Master Yahweh comes with a strong hand, and His arm rules for Him. See, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. He feeds His flock like a shepherd …"

The mystery of the arm of Yahweh, despised and rejected by men, pierced for our transgressions, upon whom Yahweh laid the crookedness of us all – YeshaYahu 53:1-6 "To whom was the arm of Yahweh revealed? … despised and rejected by men … But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our crookedness … and by His stripes we are healed. We all, like sheep, went astray, each one of us has turned to his own way. And Yahweh has laid on Him the crookedness of us all."

The mystery of the righteousness of Yahweh, including foreigners and eunuchs who join themselves to Yahweh (guarding his Sabbaths and loving his Name) and thereby receive a name better than sons and daughters – YeshaYahu 56:1-6 "Thus said Yahweh, "Near is …My righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this … guarding the Sabbath … and guarding his hand from doing any evil … To the eunuchs who guard My Sabbaths, and have chosen what pleases Me … to them I shall give … a name better than that of sons and daughters … Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to Yahweh to serve Him, and love the Name of Yahweh …"

The mystery of the kingdom of Yahweh, that only a handful of people will enter into this kingdom, but to them this kingdom will be worth more than everything else that they possess – MattitYahu 13:10-11 "And the taught ones came and said to Him, Why do You speak to them in parables? And He answering, said to them, Because it has been given to you to know the secrets of the reign of the heavens, but to them it has not been given."

The mystery of the grafting in of wild olive branches, whereby people from gentile nations may have their share in the root and the fatness of the original olive tree – Rom 11:17-25 "And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, have been grafted in among them, and came to share the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches … For I do not wish you to be ignorant of this secret, brothers, lest you should be wise in your own estimation, that hardening in part has come over Yisrael, until the completeness of the gentiles has come in."

The mystery of the rebirth of the set apart ones, revealing that at the time of the second coming of the Messiah, the deceased followers of Messiah will be raised from their "sleep" and, together with the living followers of Messiah, will be clothed with new, incorruptible bodies, constituting a second of renewed birth, reserved only for those who overcame through Y'shua their Master – 1 Corinthians 15:51 "See, I speak a secret to you: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed …"

The mystery of the protected ones of Yahweh, the truth that Yahweh does not only reveal hidden things to his chosen ones, but that they themselves are indeed his hidden ones, his natsarim, the people being protected, concealed and hidden from the dangers surrounding them here on earth – TsephanYah 2:3 "Seek Yahweh all you meek ones of the earth, who have done His right-ruling. Seek righteousness, seek meekness, if so be that you are hidden (Heb: "tissotru", from the root "satar") in the day of wrath of Yahweh."