The Great Deception Series
By Rick Combs
We continue looking at the differences between the Prophecy Program of Israel and the Mystery Program of the Body of Christ in our current dispensation. People get hung up on the word “dispensation”. It simply is a word that the scriptures use to indicate that God dispenses different programs, or ways of dealing with mankind in different periods in history. God Himself never changes, but the way He reveals His plans and purpose does. He releases progressive revelation throughout the timeline of history. Today, we have the fulfilled revelation of God’s Word; Colossians 1:25.
Prophecy Program – Peter is the main apostle (Matthew 16:15-19; Acts 1:15; Acts 2:14; Acts 2:37-38; Galatians 2:7-9)
Mystery Program – Paul is the chief apostle (Romans 11:13; Ephesians 3:1; 1 Timothy 2:5-7; 2 Timothy 1:11; 1 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:17; Galatians 2:7-8)
Prophecy Program – Israel is to have both physical and spiritual circumcision (Genesis 17:9-14; Luke 2:21; Deuteronomy 30:6; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 3:1-2; Acts 7:8; Galatians 5:3;
John 7:22)
Mystery Program – The Body of Christ has only spiritual circumcision (Colossians 2:11; Colossians 3:11; Acts 15:1-2, 24; Galatians 5:2, 6, 11; Galatians 6:12-13; 1 Corinthians 7:18; Romans 4:9-12; Philippians 3:3)
Prophecy Program – Israel is to be born again (Isaiah 66:8; John 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:23;
Ezekiel 37:4-6, 12-14)
Mystery Program – The Body of Christ is a new creature… and adopted into God’s family
(2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:15; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:4-5;
Ephesians 1:5)
Prophecy Program – Israel, Christ, and the 12 apostles operated under the law (Galatians 4:4; Matthew 5:17-19; Matthew 23:1-3; Matthew 28:20; James 2:10; Joshua 1:8)
Mystery Program – The Body of Christ functions under GRACE (Romans 6:14; Romans 10:4; Romans 7:4-6; Galatians 4:1-11; Galatians 5:18; Colossians 2:8-17)
Prophecy Program – The prophecy program was God’s purpose from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8)
Mystery Program – The mystery program was God’s purpose from before the world began (Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 3:1-11; 1 Corinthians 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:9)
Prophecy Program – Forgiveness was conditional upon their behavior (Matthew 6:12, 14-15; Matthew 18:34-35; Mark 11:25-26; Luke 6:37; 1 John 1:9)
Mystery Program – Forgiveness is unconditional based upon the fact that Christ died for our sins (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32)
Prophecy Program – Justification required works; not faith only (James 2:24; Mark 16:16; Deuteronomy 6:25; Exodus 20:24; Romans 2:13; Acts 10:35)
Mystery Program – Justification is NOT by works; but by faith alone (Titus 3:5-7; Romans 3:20, 24, 28; Romans 5:1, 9; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:24-25; 2 Timothy 1:9)
Giving credit to www.gracefamilybiblechurch.org/?subpages/Heaven-and-Earth-chart.shtml for their excellent chart of Differences Between the Earthly Program and the Heavenly Program.
In the next post, we will examine the differences as it relates to daily life. This will be great information for us to study as we seek to increase in knowledge and understanding so that we might walk worthy of the Lord.
Grace and peace to you…