The
Divine Program--Why a Mystery?
THE DIVINE PROGRAM
BY C. T. RUSSELL
PASTOR BROOKLYN TABERNACLE
II. WHY A MYSTERY?
HAVING SEEN in
the light of reason that we have a personal Creator, infinite in wisdom, justice, love and
power, and having claimed that the Bible is the Revelation of the Divine Purpose, the
question properly arises: Why is it, to so large a degree, a Book of parables, symbolisms
and dark sayings? Why is it not so open and clear that the way-faring man need not err
therein? Why is it that Doctors of Divinity find it perplexing, mysterious,
incomprehensible? What excuse can be offered for mysteries in connection with a subject in
which all should be interested? The answer to these questions opens the outer door to the
temple of truth, to a proper appreciation of the Bible as the Word of God. And we note at
the beginning that the Bible most distinctly declares itself to be a Book of Mysteries.
The four Gospels of the New Testament, supposed to be the simplest and plainest portion of
the Book, mainly records of our Lord's deeds and words, declare, in harmony with the
Prophecies, that the Great Teacher himself delivered his message in parables and dark
sayings, and that "Without a parable spake he not unto the people," that
"Hearing they might hear and not understand; and seeing, they might see and not
perceive."-- Matt. 13:14.
Wherever we go, whether in heathen or in
civilized lands, we find the most intelligent people associating themselves in various
secret societies. They do indeed make prominent certain general objects, which these
societies profess to serve--but more than this, the public are not to know. Their secrets
are carefully guarded by grips and signs and pass-words and vows. There is a reason for
this secrecy, too. It is to prevent the methods and operations of the societies becoming
known to those not in sympathy with them, who might seek to frustrate them. What shall we
say if we find that our Creator, for similar reasons, has kept secrets from alienated
mankind many of his purposes? And would it seem strange if we should find that those in
fullest harmony with their Maker should proportionately be granted a knowledge of the
Divine purposes hidden from others? We hold that these are the facts--that the Bible so
declares.
In a word, from the Scriptural standpoint,
Jehovah God was the organizer of the most remarkable secret society known to men up to
the present time! The Jewish Church was a kind of Junior Order and prepared the way for
the Gospel Church, which for nearly nineteen centuries has constituted the great Divine
Secret Society. True, there are many nominally associated who are hypocrites and who have
neither part nor lot in the Society, its privileges, its blessings and its secrets. Then
there are others who have taken the first step or degree, and who are thus privileged to
know the merest rudiments of the Divine Purpose. Others have taken the second and
subsequent degrees, and have grown in grace and knowledge, having become wise with the
wisdom which cometh from above. Let us prove from the Bible that there are such secrets of
the Divine Purpose, and that they are revealed to some and not possible to be understood
by others. Do not the Scriptures declare that "The secret of the Lord is with them
that reverence him, and he will show them his covenant?"--Psa. 25:14.
Did not St. Paul declare: "The mystery hid
from all ages and generations is now made manifest to his saints?" (Col. 1:26.)
Note well that this mystery is not made known to the world, but unto the saints --and in
proportion as they are saintly. Note again that our Redeemer, addressing the Father, said,
"I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; even so, Father, for so it
seemed good in thy sight." (Matt. 11:25-26.) Hearken to his words again when asked of
his disciples why he spoke to the people in parables and dark sayings; he responded,
"Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God; but unto them that
are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see and not
perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand."--Mark 4:11-12.
There is one prominent difference between the
operation of the Lord's Secret Society and the worldly ones. The latter have great
difficulty in preserving their secrets, while the former has no difficulty. While the
Lord's people are advised not to cast their pearls of knowledge before the swinish, it is
not because the latter might understand and thwart the Divine Purposes or reveal the
Divine Secret, but, as he expressed it, "Lest they turn again and rend you."
Otherwise God's people may tell anything and everything they please, to the extent of
their knowledge, respecting the Divine Mysteries, but the while should know that none can
understand these mysteries except the initiated --the spirit begotten. Mark the Apostle's
clear expression on this subject: "The natural man receiveth not the things of the
spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they
are spiritually discerned." "We speak wisdom among them that are perfect; yet
not the wisdom of this world. ...We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden
wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory....God hath revealed them unto
us by his spirit: for the spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
--1 Cor. 2:6,7,10,14.
Proceeding, the Apostle shows the necessity for
this secretiveness as respects the Divine Purpose--shows that if it were generally known
amongst men, the Divine program would at times be interfered with. He tells us that none
of the princes or prominent ones of the world understand this wisdom of God--for had they
known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. It is with them, as it was
previously foretold by the Prophet Isaiah (64:4). "Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for
them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit.... We have received,
not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things
that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which
man's wisdom teacheth, but which the holy spirit teacheth."--1 Cor. 2:8-13.
We shall assume that we have established our
point; that there is a mystery connected with the Divine purpose, and that it can be
understood only in proportion as any shall come into harmony with God, and is understood
completely only by the spirit-begotten and fully developed saints of God. We may proceed
to show from the Bible additionally that the Revelation of this mystery, even to the
"saints" was to be a gradual one, whereby the mysteries, the secrets, would
become "meat in due season to the Household of Faith." (Matt. 24:45.) For
instance, our Lord at his first advent declared to his followers: "I have many things
to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." (John 16:12.) In the same connection
he promised that in the future, as due, these still hidden things would be gradually
revealed according to the necessities of his followers. A full knowledge of the mystery of
the Lord was not promised until the end of this Gospel Age, when, under the sounding of
the seventh symbolical trumpet, "the mystery of God shall be finished," which he
hath kept secret from the foundation of the world.--Rev. 10:7; Rom. 16:25.
Our Lord pointed to this culmination of
knowledge, when he said to his followers that in the future the holy spirit "should
show them things to come." (John 16:13.) It is in full harmony with this that
special visions and revelations were given to St. Paul, not for the benefit of himself
alone, but for the blessing and encouragement and assistance of all the members of the
Church of Christ, God's Secret Society. For although the Apostle tells us that he was
forbidden to make known the secret things revealed to him, nevertheless by Divine
intention the knowledge given to him greatly illuminated his writings and made them
specially helpful to the saints throughout the Age. And St. Paul's writings, be it
remembered, constitute more than one-half of the New Testament. Thus did God provide a
storehouse of spiritual food, to be gradually dispensed to the Household of Faith
throughout the age, as "meat in due season" --dispensed by the holy spirit. We
remember, furthermore, that the Law and Prophecies given to typical Israel were clothed in
figurative, symbolical language, and these also constituted "meat" for the
Household of Faith, the understanding and appropriation of which would be possessed
gradually, as the holy spirit would guide them and grant the necessary enlightenment, that
the spirit-begotten ones might understand "the deep things of God." Moreover,
the writings of St. Paul constitute a key to the understanding of the many features of the
typical Law Covenant.
This principle of keeping secret the Divine
purpose, yet providing a key to its understanding, which would unlock it in due time,
reminds us of the time-locks now in common use for the protection of the treasures of our
banks. The combination will not operate until the due time has been reached, and then it
will yield only to those who have the combination, and who will use it.
As an illustration in point, note the
statement of Daniel's experience and the Divine message to him. The Prophet had been given
a vision and a part of it had been interpreted to him, but the remainder perplexed him. He
plead with the Lord, he tells us, with fasting and prayer for weeks, and then obtained a
further interpretation of a portion of it, but was told respecting the remainder, "Go
thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end (in the
time of the end of the present order of things.) Many shall run to and from (by steam and
electric power), and knowledge shall be increased (through compulsory education.) And then
the wise (with heavenly wisdom) shall understand." (Dan. 12:4,9-10.) As a further
illustration remember our Redeemer's words to the disciples when they asked at his first
advent, "Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel?" he
answered and said unto them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons, which
the Father hath put in his own power." (Acts 1:6,7.) "Of that day and hour
knoweth no man, no, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but my Father
only." (Matt. 24:36.) There is nothing here to intimate that the Son would never know
the time, nor that the angels in heaven would never know the time, nor that men would
never know the time; but merely that the time for the knowledge was not yet due. It was
still in the Father's hands, unrevealed even to the Son.
Another illustration of this fact that there
are great secrets connected with our subject--the Divine Program--is shown in the Book of
Revelation. That Book itself is full of signs and symbols, evidently designed to barricade
its mysteries from all except a certain class, the saints, and from them, also until the
time was due for the secrets to be revealed. Note the words, "Blessed is he that
readeth, and they that hear (understand) the words of this Prophecy." (Rev. 1:3.) The
very reading of it will bring a blessing, and, as its mysteries gradually dissolve, the
understanding thereof will bring still additional blessing. Note again in the introduction
of the Book the statement of its mysterious and symbolic character. Its name, Revelation,
signifies the uncovering, and implies something hidden. The opening sentence is, "The
Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to show unto his servants, even the
things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it (revealed it in
symbolic form) by his messenger."--Rev. 1:1.
We close this testimony respecting the mystery,
the secret enshrouding the Divine purpose, with the account of Revelation, Fifth Chapter.
Here a beautiful symbolism represents our Creator, Jehovah, upon his Throne of Glory,
holding in his hand a scroll of manuscript, written within and on the outside, and sealed
with seven seals. That scroll pictured the Divine Purpose respecting our race. Not a seal
had yet been broken. This confirms our Redeemer's words that the Father had kept all
things pertaining to his Divine Purpose in his own hands or power. Then we note the
proclamation made throughout heaven: "Who is worthy to be granted the custody of the
scroll, to open its seals, to know its mysteries, and to be entrusted with the honor of
carrying them to completion?" A hush prevailed--silence in heaven! Apparently none
was found worthy of so high an honor as to interpret and execute the Divine Purpose. The
Revelator John says, "I wept much." He had great grief that the wise and
gracious Program of the Almighty must remain sealed and unfulfilled, because no competent
agent was to be found.
But the scene changed. An angel touching
the Revelator, said: "Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah hath prevailed
to open the scroll, by loosing the seals thereof." St. John wiped his tears and
looked again. A fresh symbolic picture met his eye. He beheld a lamb as it had been slain,
to whom the scroll was entrusted, and he heard in symbol the united voice of the heavenly
host declaring the Will of God, "Thou art worthy to take the scroll and to open the
seals thereof." Here we see, then, that great and honorable as our Redeemer had been
before he left the glory which he had with the Father before the world was, he had not
then proven himself worthy of this great glory and service, represented by the giving to
him of the scroll of the Divine Purpose, with authority and power to carry the same to
completion. Nor did he reach this climax during his earthly ministry. It was after he had
finished the Sacrifice, after he had died on Calvary as the Lamb of God, after he had
ascended to heaven. Then he was highly exalted. In the Apostle's language, he was
"Given a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven and things in earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord."-- Phil. 2:9-11.
Then all the heavenly host hailed him, as he
was entrusted with the execution of the Divine Program, "Worthy the Lamb." But
he had not yet executed the Divine Purpose, which was still immature, undeveloped. He had,
however, begun the execution of it in the organization of his Church. At Pentecost he sent
forth the begetting spirit, which since has represented him in the world, and through it
he has begotten to newness of nature the faithful, consecrated believers throughout this
Age. Soon this church, which is called the Mystery of God, shall have been finished--when
the last member shall have been accepted, chiseled, polished and made ready for
association with himself, as the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, and Joint-Heirs in the Kingdom,
which Kingdom, by the grace of God, will bless all the families of the earth, by a release
from the powers of Sin and Death, which now hold it in slavery.
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