[review previous article] [advance to next article]
     Early in His ministry, Jesus told His disciples.  “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11).  In the previous articles we considered many aspects of this “mystery” which was hidden through the ages (Colossians 1:26).

     The focus of the Old Testament (OT) is upon God’s chosen nation of ancient Israel (not to be confused with modern-day Israel).  When God gave instructions to Moses about offering the covenant to Israel, He said, “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6).  God referred to them as a kingdom.  Some 500 years later, God told the prophet Nathan regarding Israel’s King David, “And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever” (1 Chronicles 17:14).  David, and thus the Israelites, knew they were the kingdom of God.  Yet, this is actually a prophecy of Jesus and His kingdom, the church He would establish from heaven (Matthew 16:1-19).  And He did so beginning on the Pentecost ten days afer He ascended into heaven (AD 33) (Acts 1:4-11 & chapter 2).

     The very notion that the person who becomes a Christian with faith in Jesus as the Savior, being baptized for the remission of sins, grants entry into His kingdom begs a question.  Why would a person want to be in Jesus kingdom?

     Another aspect of the mystery being revealed in the New Testament is heaven and hell as a person’s destiny.  Man’s ultimate is not mentioned in the OT.

     Heaven was a place where God lived (e.g., Deuteronomy 26:15; 1 Kings 8).  Several OT verses have the word “hell” in English, but the original Hebrew is “sheol” meaning the grave (e.g., Psalm 9:17; 55:15).  In 250 BC, the Jews translated “sheol” as “hades” (meaning the unseen spirit world) in the Greek version of the OT.  That this word refers to the unseen spirits, is indicated when King David wrote, “… My flesh also will rest in hope.  For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:9-10).  This is a prophecy of Jesus’ body not experiencing decay when He was in the grave (sheol) awaiting His resurrection.  But there is no eternal destiny attached to any passages about heaven or hell in the OT.  However, the Israelites must have had some sense there must be more to life than physical death.  Even Solomon, in his search for real meaning in this life, concluded, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.  For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).  But there is no mention of eternal destiny.  More to come on the “mystery of the kingdom.”

[review previous article] [advance to next article]