THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERIES

..some mystery Bible verses resolved

An extract from the Smith&Smith Bible Commentary, available without any cost from

http://sites.google.com/site/freecommentary There are a number of verses throughout scripture which present some very strange problems. They may seem to contradict other better known scriptures, or else it is simply very hard to work out what they are getting at. They may even just be misunderstood. Such scriptures do not turn out to be mystical or needing a wild stretch of the imagination to understand them -- Their explanations may be symbolic, but they are entirely reasonable, and do line up in the end with other scripture. The full commentary has fuller explanations, and more such verses: Gen_1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. -- not by word alone, like a magic formula, but by first stating His intention, like a prophecy, then by working all day at it, like in the next days, which describe how He 'made' the things He wanted made. Gen_6:4 The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them: the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown. -- the 'fallen ones' are the false prophets who were present in the time of Noah 2Pe_2:1-5. They are described as 'men'. Gen_9:13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. Were there no rainbows before? A better rendering would be: -- "Have I not set my bow in the storm-cloud; Let it be as a regular reminder of My promise" (and of you seeing my rainbow shekinah glory as I speak it to you). Lev_18:6 None of you shall approach to any that are near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am Jehovah.

-- an idiom for breaching the marriage covenant. Num_14:21-23 but in very deed, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Jehovah; -- What sounds like a threat, is a promise to perform miracles in the Promised Land; 'earth' is a mistranslation; 16 other times in the chapter it is translated 'land'. Parallel passages keep the mistranslation, but Numbers makes it very clear that He is talking about the Land of Promise. Num_22:28 And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? -- It was God speaking, not the donkey; It was prophecy, not ridiculous; It was like when Samuel spoke to Saul from the dead -That was more of the same prophecy in Samuel's mouth as when God spoke through Samuel while alive. These are custom-designed visions to carry God's message to people who won't hear from anyone else. The whole situation is a very serious turning point in history, not just a children's story, and prophetic of future conflicts between God and Satan. The same applies to many other miracle stories, like the Flood or Babel or the Sun standing still. When set sympathetically in proper context, the real significance is sobering to say the least, and justifies truly extraordinary interventions. Ecc_11:1 Cast thy bread upon the [face of the] waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. -- The picture is of sowing grain when the clouds look like rain ['the appearance (face) of rain']. The prophetic meaning is about the Dispersion. Isa_28:15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: -- about making a pact with Egypt Isa_55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah.

-- about the New Covenant of forgiveness Isa_66:22-24 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith Jehovah, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon [festival] to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Jehovah. 24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the dead bodies of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. sabbaths and sacrifices in the New Creation? Eternal fire-proof worms? -- about covenants. The wording of Old Covenant ritual from earlier in Isaiah is revealed to be figurative here at the very end of Isaiah, referring to men as offerings, but also Isa_34:1-10 had already used the images of continual sacrificial fires figuratively. Jer_7:22 For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices: 'He did not talk about sacrifices or burnt-offerings when they left Egypt' -- He wanted them first to listen to whatever He said, as Jer_7:23 says, with a willing heart, and secondarily to practise particular practices. In particular, He did not command human sacrifice of children to Baal, Jer_7:31 Dan_4:13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven. Dan_4:17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men. -- a reference to the two archangels Gabriel and Michael, both of whom are named in the book of Daniel. Zec_11:8 And I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me. What three shepherds? They are the three mentioned in the next

verses: 1. Zec 11:10 And I took my staff Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples. 2. Zec 11:14 Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. 3. Zec 11:15 And Jehovah said unto me, Take unto thee yet again the instruments of a foolish shepherd. Mat_19:12 For there are eunuchs, that were so born from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, that were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. -- there is a contrast between man-made physical eunuchs, and heaven-made spiritual eunuchs, between kings on earth making eunuchs and the king of heaven calling for spiritual servanthood. Mat_24:28 Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. -- bodies at Armageddon Luk_16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it. -- a mistranslation, for 'forces against (lit. 'toward') it'. The Biblical theme is that the kingdom of God is opposed by the forces of evil. Rom 8:26 And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered; -- praying like Jesus did at Gethsemane, Mar_14:33-38, Luk_22:44, Heb_5:7 1Co_5:3 For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing, -- 'read this letter to the congregation' 2Co_10:10-11. Remember my teachings.

2Co_11:14 And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. -- The Serpent in the Garden with false truth, 2Co_11:3 2Co_13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every word be established. -- the third time I am ready to come to you, 2Co_12:14 Gal_4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother. -- But Sarah the free-born wife of Abraham, our father in the faith, corresponds to the Jerusalem above, and she it is who is our mother in the faith. Eph_3:3 how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, -- of the newfound unity between Jews and Gentiles Eph_3:10 to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, Jewish religious rulers (in high places of government, or 'kosmos') Col_1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church; -- Paul taking the gospel to the Gentiles 1Ti_1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1Ti_6:16 who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen. Is He invisible or not? -- 'invisible' is more literally 'unable-to-be-gazed-at'; like the Sun, but more deadly to mortal man. The future will give us eyes and

purity to see with, without dying. Heb_1:3 who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; -- Christ's fulfilment of the law through his sacrifice; enduring all things Heb_4:9 There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God. -- 'remains' means 'still unfulfilled', not 'still applies'. This interpretation challenges a key scripture in the teaching of Seventh Day Adventists. Heb_7:3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually. ='without recorded genealogy'; without parents, birth and death recorded in scripture, as for most others. 'made like unto the Son of God' -- by Psalm 110 saying 'like Melchizedek'. 'a priest continually' -- lifelong priesthood. 'Melchizedek' -- probably an appearance in old times of Christ himself, the 'King of Peace' and 'king in Jerusalem' and 'King of Righteousness' Heb_7:2. Abraham saw Yahweh in Mamre, as a man, Gen_18:1-2. Jacob, in Gen_32:1, Gen_32:24. Joshua saw the Christ as a man, Jos_5:13-14. The rock which followed Israel was Christ, 1Co_10:4. (This explanation substitutes one mystery instead of two separate ones.) Heb_11:1-3 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. 2 For therein the elders had witness borne to them. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear. -- 'What is not yet seen' is the fulfilment of promises of Zion made through the ages.

The structure of verse 3 is a parallelism: (I have relocated the 'not') By faith we perceive that the ages [not 'worlds'] have been made through (or in accord with) the word of God, and that what is seen (the present age, or the one seen from afar), that age has come into being through (or in accord with) things not seen things not seen = like the word of God framed, made = come into being ages/worlds = what is seen word of God = not things which appear (= things which are not seen, 1). ..so that you could read the latter part of verse 1 as 'faith is the conviction of the truth of the word of God'. Faith is in the word. The sense is... Therefore, only by faith can we know and believe that the ages to come have been pre-planned exactly according to the prophecies given by God, so that what is seen (from afar, of the promised future) does not concern the things which now appear, and will not come from this visible realm. -- prophecy about the future can only be believed by faith. Heb_11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh. -- through what was written about him in scripture. Compare the figurative use in Heb_12:24 Heb_12:1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

= the scripture stories, but now pictured as tiers of spectators in a Roman circus. 2Pe_2:4 For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; imprisoned in the lowest pits of hell unto judgment -- sinners drowned in the Flood, dead until resurrection and Judgment Day. 2Pe_2:10 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities: -- homosexuals despise the sexual dominion shown in a normal relationship between a man and his wife 2Pe_2:10-11 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities: 11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power, bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord. -- the attempted rape of angels by the Sodomites 1Jn_5:8 For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one. -- all three images of water, spirit and blood are saying the same thing; Three tokens of: eternal life; 3 witnesses to confirm the matter. Jud_1:6 And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. -- death Rev_10:3 and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. -- Read Psalm 29.

Rev_14:4 These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, to be the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb. -- like warriors, ready to fight, 1Sa_21:4-5 (David is seeking the sword of Goliath, ready to fight) Mysticism often Confuses the Vision with its Interpretation In visionary language God might talk of 'the monster' of the sea (leviathan, serpent, satan), but in reality what we see is 'the sea' itself, or Pharaoh in Egypt, or a crocodile in the Nile. In prophecy we hear of the Pit, Hades, Tartarus, Sheol, 'Death riding a horse'!; but on earth we see the sea as a place of drowning, the soil as a place of burial and corruption, plagues upon man, dust and ashes of cremation. What is called the 'bottomless' pit, for us represents that death is never satisfied, 'never able to be filled up'. In revelations we might hear of Satan being cast out of heaven and locked in the Abyss, but what we know is that our 'land of the living' is actually heaven's 'abyss of death' -- we are trapped out of heaven, wishing to rise to 'eternal life in heaven', and Satan has come down to us -- 'locked in the abyss' might be the same as 'locked out of heaven'. (That is to be modified by perhaps Satan 'dying' for 1000 years, before being 'resurrected' afterwards, for 3 1/2 years, and everyone marvels that 'the death-stroke has been healed'. But however it all knits together, my point is that the visions are pictures, the realities are real, there is no need to ask 'Where is this other spiritual abyss on earth?', as if it is some 3rd reality). When we hear of 'an angel thundering 7 thunders', on earth we actually get John and/or the two prophets prophesying in the flesh. So 200,000,000 'locusts with scorpion stings' or 'horses with snake tails' aren't to be believed on literal face-value, but instead we know to expect 'a third of mankind are plagued to death' or 'pained for 5 months', or whatever. The good thing about acknowledging this, is that the end times battles

are not waged with 'swords, horses and bows and arrows', but only pictured as angels mounted on horses with a bow or a sword. My point is ever that mysticism wrongly stops us really believing prophecy, but prophecy is 'you'd better believe it' on an easier level, which puts your heart in rest about God. It keeps getting clearer, so we will be found to be fools if we give up on scripture for bad reasons. The spiritual power remains real; the pictures explain it picturesquely. Here are some more examples of vision-mysteries: When the disciples had power over demons, Jesus sees 'satan fall from heaven'. The distinction between heaven and earth, up and down, is more an interpretation of what is happening spiritually on earth. When babies are thrown into the Nile river, John sees a great red dragon waiting to devour the woman, pouring water out of his mouth. When the Israelites try to escape Egypt, they see the Reed Sea in their way, but the Psalm describes it as the sea monster. The corpses of the charioteers washed ashore are described as the heads of the sea monster fed to the beasts of the field. When Genesis describes seraphim guarding Paradise with flaming swords, the Israelites see a flooded Jordan River blocking the way in to the Promised Land.