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     Continued — the mystery, which the New Testament (NT) refers to 26 times.  The apostle Paul wrote, “how that by revelation He [God-jm] made known to me the mystery” (Ephesians 3:3).  The revealed mystery is recorded in the NT.

     Last week, we considered Jacob’s blessing on Judah — Israel’s kingship would be through his descendants until Shiloh came (Genesis 49:10).  “Shiloh” means “Rest Giver.”  Although throughout the OT Shiloh was a place, this prophetic blessing referred to a person among his descendants.  Some 1600 years later Jesus was revealed as the prophesied Rest Giver — “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me… and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28, 29).

     The apostle Paul wrote about 20 years after Jesus ascended into heaven, “Now to Him who is able to establish you… 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” (Romans 16:25, 26).  What were these prophecies?

     Although previously the prophecies about Jesus were ambiguous (Genesis 3:16; 17:22), over the next 1600 years the Old Testament presented hundreds of prophecies containing much more detail about Jesus.  Consider these examples of prophecies being revealed as fulfilled:
     (1) He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14 [750 BC]; revealed, Matthew 1:18-25).
     (2) Seed of David (Jeremiah 23:5 [595BC]; revealed Luke 3:31).
     3) Born in Bethlehem, (Micah 5:2 [725BC] revealed, Matthew 2:1-6).
     (4) Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9 [1000BC]; revealed as Judas, John 13:18-27).
     (5) Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, (Zechariah 11:12, [520BC]; revealed, Matthew 26:14-15).
     (6) The 30 pieces of silver would be thrown in Temple (Zechariah 11:13 [520 BC]; revealed, Matthew 27:3-5).
     (7) The 30 pieces of silver buys a potters field (Zechariah 11:13 [520 BC]; revealed, Matthew 27:6-10).
     (8) Buried in rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9 [720 BC]; revealed, Matthew 27:57-60).

     The probability of any 48 of these mystery prophecies being fulfilled in one person 10 to the 157th power (10 followed by 157 zeros!).  Such fantastic odds are not by mere chance, but the fulfillment of God-given prophecy revealed in Jesus coming in the flesh and living 33 years on earth.  But, Jesus is not all there is to the mystery.

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