Page 411 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

MUZZLE - MYTH

denies the God that is above” (Matthew Henry). “[The Christ’s appearance will be glorified and caught up
peeping] is applied to the gentle whispering which the without seeing death. “The O.T. prophets saw the return
ancients ascribed to departed spirits; the small, low, of Christ to the earth with His saints in power and glory,
shrill voice which they were supposed to use, and but not His coming to the air for the saints.” (3) The
which, probably, those attempted to imitate who mystery of the church as the body of christ, composed of
claimed the power of raising them to the earth. It was saved Jews and Gentiles of this age (Ro. 16:25; Ep.
believed among all the ancient nations, that departed 3:1-11; 6:19; Co. 4:3). “The O.T. does not mention
spirits did not speak out openly and clearly, but with an anything about the founding of the N.T. Church by
indistinct, low, gentle, suppressed voice” (Barnes). [See Christ, the component members of N.T. churches (Ep.
Peep, Witchcraft.] 3:3-9), or the special relationship Christ has with His
MUZZLE. To bind the mouth; to fasten the mouth to churches (Ep. 5:23-32; Re. 1:12, 13, 20).” (4) The
prevent biting or eating (De. 25:4). mystery of the indwelling Christ (Ga. 2:20; Col. 1:26-27).
MYRA (burnt up, weeping). Ac. 27:5. (5) The mystery of the incarnate Christ of God manifest in
MYRRH. A fragrant, valuable gum resin which the flesh (Col. 2:2, 9; 1 Co. 2:7; 1 Ti. 3:16). (6) The
mystery of Israel’s temporary blindness, that Israel would
ranked among the chief spices and fragrances (Song be blinded and set apart while God called out a people
4:13-14). It was used as a perfume in romance (Pr. for His name from among the nations (Ro. 11:25). (7)
7:17; Song 3:6; 5:5, 13). It was used in the holy The mystery of Babylon (Re. 17:5, 7). “The Babylonian
anointing oil (Ex. 30:23), in the beautification of queens system is seen throughout the O.T. narrative, but this
(Es. 2:12), and in Christ’s burial (Jn. 19:39). Myrrh was final form of a one-world religion as a tool of the
one of the gifts offered to the infant Christ by the wise Antichrist (Re. 17:7) is N.T. truth.” (8) The mystery of
men (Mt. 2:11). Myrrh is used in the description of iniquity (2 Th. 2:7). This is the revelation of the devil’s
Christ’s heavenly glory (Ps. 45:8). Mingled with wine, it program to bring in the antichrist; it is the revelation of
was offered to Christ as a stupefying drink (Mk. 15:23). the increase of apostasy throughout the church age. (9)
[See Crucify, Gall.] The mystery of God (Re. 10:7). This mystery is in reality
MYSIA (abominable, criminal). Ac. 16:7. the long time span of this present age of man. “The
MYSTERY. (1) The term mystery in common usage mystery of God is the long delay of our Lord in taking
refers to something secret; something difficult to the kingdom unto Himself and in establishing
understand; something mystical and out of the ordinary. righteousness in the earth. The mystery of God is seen
The Bible does use the term this way in certain instances in these thousands of years ... God has allowed Satan to
(Ep. 5:32; Re. 17:5). (2) Most references to mystery in wrap his vicious slimy, filthy, cruel tentacles around this
the N.T., though, refer to truths which God hid from men earth” (H.L. Willmington, The King Is Coming). (10) The
in O.T. times, but which He has revealed in the N.T. It mystery of consummation (Ep. 1:9-10). This may be
speaks of N.T. revelation. It particularly refers to church described as the mystery of eternity. (Some of the
truth regarding Gentiles and Jews being brought into a previous study is taken from one prepared by Robert
new spiritual body through Christ (Mt. 13:11; 1 Co. Sargent.) [See Antichrist, Apostasy, Church, Ecumenical
2:7-12; Ro. 11:25; 16:25-26; Ep. 3:1-12; 6:19; Col. Movement, False Teaching, Heresy, Parable, Prophecy,
1:25-27; 2:2; 4:3). The curtain in the temple illustrates Rapture, Revelation, Tares, Timothy, Tongues.]
the meaning. The thick curtain covered the presence of MYSTERY BABYLON. The apostate religion of the
God in that day, but now it is torn apart and formerly last days (Re. 17:5). [See Babel, Babylon, Church,
hidden things are revealed. In some instances the term Roman Catholic Church, Separation, Timothy, Unity.]
appears to be used in both senses (2 Th. 2:7; 1 Ti. 3:9; [For a study comparing the Harlot of Revelation 17 with
Re. 10:7). the Roman Catholic Church see Mother of Harlots,
SOME OF THE MYSTERIES REVEALED IN THE N.T. Prophecy.]
(1) The mystery of the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 13:3-50; MYSTERY OF INIQUITY. [See Mystery.]
Mk. 4:1-25; Lk. 8:4-15). This describes “the result of the MYTH. A story without factual basis. A religious
presence of the Gospel in the world during the present myth is a story told to teach a moral or spiritual truth,
age, that is, the time of seed-sowing which began with but which did not historically occur. Non-Christian
our Lord’s personal ministry and will end with ‘the religions contain many myths, such as the wild and
harvest.’ The result is the mingled tares and wheat, fanciful tales of the gods in Hinduism. In modern times
good fish and bad, in the sphere of Christian profession. there is a wide movement of thinking which believes the
It is Christendom” (Scofield). (2) The mystery of the events recorded in the Bible are at least partially
Rapture (1 Co. 15:51, 52; 1 Th. 4:16). The mystery mythical. Some say, for instance, that the accounts of
revealed here is that those believers living at the time of
the serpent deceiving Eve, the worldwide flood, and

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