“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18
The glorious Church of Jesus Christ is absolutely supernatural in nature. We are about to embark on a journey into Scripture that will enable us to discover and understand how phenomenal the Church of Jesus Christ really is! It will be our ultimate endeavor to determine what an amazing privilege it is to be placed into the "Body of Christ" as a member by the fore-ordination of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Not only will we discover its prophetic nature but also the ultimate reason for it being brought forth out of the mind of God (Rom 4:17) into the reality and realm of man.
These are the very immutable words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18; emphasis added). It is imperative from the outset to acknowledge that Jesus Himself is going to build His Church. This is where so many who are zealous for the things of God go horrible wrong. Many well-intentioned apostolic leaders, pastors and Christians go awry in their outworking of their theology by presuming to give God a helping hand. Psalm 127:1 gives us great insight into the inner workings of our majestic Savior and God, “Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it.” This is where so many Christians miss the “mark” in trying to do God a favor by building according to secular strategies and worldly principles they perceive to be a well thought out plans but in the end are only filthy rags (Isa 64:6).
In fact, Jesus has a very strategic blueprint for building His Church. Jesus Himself said this in a bone-chilling statement found in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” This is a scripture that does not deal with eternal salvation. Eternal security is not the focal point of the message. It is addressing the salvation of the “soul” (1 Pe 1:9; Ja 1:21; Mk 8:36). It has to do with rewards, inheritance and ruling in the soon coming Millennial Kingdom of Jesus. It shows us unequivocally that as Christians we can practice and be involved in God-ordained activities like preaching, casting out demons and operating in the fullness of the Holy Spirit but still build according to the “flesh” or the fallen nature of man. Therefore, practicing “lawlessness” simple means doing or building anything outside of God’s divine blueprint or plan. Many today are unknowingly practicing lawlessness and trying to build Jesus’ Church. It cannot be done. Jesus is building His Church according to prophetic Scripture and divine design. It’s our job as sons of God to be led by Him (Rom 8:14) in simple participation as faithful and obedient co-laborers and stewards of His household.
Matthew 16:18 is the first time Jesus mentioned that He was going to build His Church on the revelation that He would become the substitutionary atonement or vicarious Lamb of God on behalf of the elect. However, this is not the first time that this has been revealed to us in Scripture. The Church was always going to be brought into existence, though cloaked and shrouded in Kingdom mystery until the appointed time for its unveiling had come.
This is what the Apostle Paul had to say about the "mystery of all ages", for indeed the Church is a mystery that can be discovered, “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints” (Col 1:26). The mystery that has been hidden from every generation that has ever walked the earth has been hidden in Scripture also, although in plain sight for all to see. It is impossible for anyone to comprehend God’s prophetic Word without divine inspiration and insight. Paul goes on to teach us about the mystery of all ages in Ephesians 3:1-12, “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him” (emphasis added).
I want to break this down so we can all understand exactly what Paul is trying to teach the first century Church. It is of vital importance that we step into a full knowledge of what the Spirit of God is doing in the earth today (small hint: it has to do with the acquiring of a Bride):
We are being built into a dwelling place of God (previous verse in Eph 2:22).
We are living in the age/dispensation of grace which is about to end introducing the Millennium (7th age — the one thousand-year Sabbath rest; Gen 1-2:25; Heb 4:1-9).
The mystery of all ages comes only by revelation to those it is given (elect, bride, First-Born sons).
The mystery of all ages was not made known to previous generations but now has been revealed to the elect (how blessed are you).
By the effective working of His power you might partake of this mystery of all ages (outworking of inheritance).
That by the grace of God, the fellowship of the mystery can be preached so the elect can understand what it entails.
The church is making known the future will of God to fallen angels, that a government change is eminent.
We have access to this unspeakable mystery through Jesus’ finished work as Apostle-Prophet at His first coming.
This is a passage of Scripture so important and imperative to our spiritual journey, calling and race because it sums up the very reason for our existence as a redeemed people, that if we misunderstand it, we run the risk of completely missing the mark of God’s ultimate vision for the purpose of our salvation (to rule & reign with the King of kings as consort queen). The Church of the Firstborn is becoming a dwelling place of the Most High. It’s God’s intention to live in the midst of His people personally forever, revealing Himself to us as He really is (Rev 21:3). Wow. That thought is just mind-blowing. You and I both need to comprehend that we are living at a point in time right now at the very end of the dispensation of Grace. The moment the 6000 years of man’s allotment have been fulfilled we will enter into a literal one-thousand Millennial Kingdom reign of Christ as His “metachoi” (companions) and will put all His enemies under His feet. This is the hope and offer made to each overcoming/qualified Christian found in Revelation 2-3 that they will be counted worthy to take governmental positions and sit on Thrones with Jesus in the age to come. Paul tells us that the mystery of the ages (I will define the mystery later on in the article) comes to an individual only by select revelation by the Holy Spirit which in turn is according to the will of God (Gen 24). The mystery of all ages was not known to all other people and generations before the mystery was made known to the apostles and prophets who built upon the founding revelation that Jesus is building His Church. This mystery is a fellowship and through the dispensation of grace it is being preached to the elect by those whom the Holy Spirit has made stewards thereof. Finally, the church and those who comprise her with a full revelation of the mystery of the ages is releasing a teaching anointing to the incumbent ruler Satan, the "god of this age" and his fallen ruling angels seated in high places on Thrones in the second heaven, that their time is short and are about to be replaced by Jesus and all those who are deemed qualified to rule with Him. In the not too distant future these forcefully vacated Thrones will be filled. These are some of the supernatural reasons for the Church of Jesus Christ being the "mystery of all ages.’"
This is what Paul, a steward of the greatest mystery known to man had to say about it in 1 Corinthians 2:6-13, “However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.' But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Paul reveals some very important things about the "mystery of ages" that has been hidden for us to glean from in these verses of Scripture:
Only those who have been elevated into a mature knowledge by the Holy Spirit are able to comprehend the mystery of all ages.
The wisdom of God is manifest in the outworking of God in preparing a Man (Jesus) & His Bride (those called out of the church at the Bema Seat) to take the scepter to rule the earth in the soon coming age (Gen 1:26-28; Rev 19:6-9).
This wisdom of this age is rooted in the "god of this world" which will culminate in the enthroning of the Anti-Christ.
The "god of this world" along with 1/3 of the fallen angels assigned to the earth’s sphere of government in the second heaven (this part of God’s universe) in conjunction with fallen man ruling on earth, crucified the Son of Man (God Himself in the flesh), the rightful owner of the title dead to earth.
The combined rulership of this age (both Satan, fallen angels and fallen men) didn’t know that when they crucified Jesus, they enabled Jesus to bring forth His Bride, His consort queen, out of His body that would rule with Him when ready, and would empower Him to take the Throne and scepter from an incumbent ruler (explained later in the series).
God has things magnificently planed for His elect, Bride/First-born-sons (two aspects of the same thing—the overcomer in Rev 2-3) that it is impossible to comprehend its entirety in the natural realm today but glimpses and foretastes of the mystery of all ages are being revealed to the elect by the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
The mystery of the ages is the wisdom and ultimate purpose envisaged by God for redeemed man but these things are foolishness to fallen man and carnal Christians. This mystery that defines God’s plan for man can only be known by spiritual revelation. (There are countless Christians that have no idea why they have been saved out of the Kingdom of darkness.)
There is a mystery so wonderful, so marvelous and of such magnitude to discover and comprehend that it is hardly even conceivable to the natural mind. There is a mystery that will define the age and ages to come that can be absolutely understood but only by those whom the Spirit of God reveals it to. There is a Kingdom principle found in John 3:27 that needs to be understood, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” This principle can and will not be violated. Unless something has been granted to you by divine favor and heavenly decree, you cannot have it! This is very troublesome and disturbing to a great deal of people. God is not a man that He should lie or a man that He should repent. Has he not said it, will He not do it? (Num 23:19)
Paul calls this mystery, his “gospel” that He preached in Romans 2:16, “in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” And again he says this further on in the book of Romans 16:25-26, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen” (emphasis added).
Once again, let us break down what the Apostle is really saying to us:
Jesus is going to judge each individual Christian (the Christian's works not his or her eternal salvation) at the Judgment Seat of Christ with fire to prove whether a disciple of Christ built with gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay or stubble, proving whether they qualified or were disqualified for a ruling position in His thousand year Millennial reign (1 Cor 3:11-15).
The individual will be judged not on the basis of the Gospel of Grace (salvation of the spirit), a passed finished work that no man can add too but the Gospel of Glory (salvation of the soul), a current work of faith which leads to inheriting a Kingdom into an adopted position of primogeniture/first-born-son status.
This inheritance which contains the position of the elect, Bride and First-born-sons with the aim of acquiring real Thrones of power and government authority in the coming Millennial Kingdom on a literal earth (the Sabbatical 1000 year reign of Christ) which can be either gained or forfeited at the "Judgement Seat of Christ" is the mystery of all ages.
This is the Gospel of glory which is so prevalent in all of the New Testament. The Gospel of Grace (Eph 2:8-9) enables you to be eternally saved (spirit) which qualifies you to be placed as a newly created son within a family setting. This in turn allows you entrance through the door (John 10:9) to begin running your race/calling (1 Cor 9:24-27) in the leading of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:14) which hopefully leads to the out-calling and choosing (2 Cor 5:9-11; 2 Thes 1:11; 2 Pet 1:10-11) of the elect and Bride/First-born-sons. This is what Scripture terms salvation of the soul (1 Pe 1:9; Ja 1:21; Mk 8:36).
What does Paul mean when he declares that the Romans would be judged and established according to his Gospel? He goes on to say that his Gospel reveals and makes known to us the mystery of all ages that has been kept secret by God from man. What Gospel is Paul talking about? Do prophetic Scriptures hold a secret from man? Clearly Paul is not talking about the Gospel of Grace because he calls it the Gospel of Glory in 1 Timothy 11:1 and if true, where did Paul get this Gospel of Glory or the "mystery of all ages" from?
First of all, I believe Scripture teaches two very district elements of the same Gospel. The Gospel of Grace and the Gospel of Glory. They are not two different Gospels but rather one completely unified Gospel with two very distinct facets to it, which enables the Holy Spirit to bring an individual into a place of adoption as Primogeniture (brought into a position ready to ascend to power alongside the King).
The simple but powerful Gospel of Grace is completely rooted in the finished work of Jesus (Eph 2:8-9; Acts 16:30-31). There is absolutely nothing you or I can add to or take away from the completed work of Jesus, that saves an individual (spirit) to the utmost. The Gospel of Grace sees to it that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life that was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world which stands according to divine predestination and election. The Gospel of Grace enables you to be chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. A person cannot be saved unless God makes a move toward him or her in their state of death or better said "positionally" in Adam. Just as Adam lay lifeless on the ground, so is the person who is dead in their sins. Until God breathes the "Breath of life" (Ruach/Neshama) into a person like He did with Adam in Genesis 2:7, the person remains dead and lifeless in spirit absolutely alienated from God. The way God gives life to man whether spiritually or naturally can never be changed according to the principle of the "Law of First Mention". God breathes predestined life into an individual by the breath of the Holy Spirit on the basis of Jesus’ finished work at Calvary. Ruined man (dead in trespasses and sins) is no more in a position to bring himself out of his ruined state than the earth on day one in the first chapter of Genesis was in a position to bring itself out of its ruined state.) No man chooses to save him or herself. The salvation of the spirit of man is rooted entirely in the foreknowledge of God (John 6:37-40; John 15:16; Rom 9:15-26). The Gospel of Grace places you positionally as a newly created son of God (2 Cor 5:17) within a family structure enabling you to run a spiritual race. The Gospel of Grace that comes from Jesus as a gift is the doorway that opens up to you the possibility of inheriting governmental positions in the coming Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ (Rev 2:26-27; Rev 3:21).
Once a person has been saved by grace (Eph 2:8-9) and has been placed in the family with the aim of running a spiritual race with a judgment in view of determining faithful stewardship of one’s holy calling, gifts and talents (Matt 25:14-30; Mark 13:34-37; Luke 12:35-48), the Gospel of Glory is then preached to them. The Gospel of Grace is only preached to the unsaved. Once a person has passed from death to life (John 5:24; Col 1:13), he or she enters into a season of probation which culminates at the end of one’s life at the Judgement Seat of Christ having their soul saved (1 Pe 1:9), an inheritance won through adoption (Rom 8:14-25) and a position of power and authority acquired in the coming Millennial government of our King, Jesus Christ (2 Tim 4:8; Ja 1:12; 1 Pe 5:1-4). The Gospel of Glory is an invitation by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:14; Gen 24) to a newly created son or daughter of God to ascend the Throne with Jesus as His Bride/First-born-sons (two sides of the same outworking) as the "Metachoi" (companions) who will assist in the ruling of the earth in the literal one thousand year reign of Christ. There is a massive difference between the Gospel of Grace and the Gospel of Glory. The Gospel of Glory is preached to the saved only! Not understanding the difference between the two will render you impotent in the race you are to run and will catch you unaware of the impending judgement that awaits every "born-again Christian" (2 Cor 5:9-11).
Where did Paul get “his gospel from” – the Gospel of Glory?
Let’s read Galatians 1:11-12 very carefully, “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Paul emphatically tells us that the Gospel which He preaches is not according to man but it came directly from Jesus Christ. He claims that the Gospel of Glory contains the mystery of all the ages. How could Paul make such a claim? We need to take a look at 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 for the answer and it is fascinating to say the least, “It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”
I want to break this down so we get a thorough understanding of what Paul is teaching:
Paul was supernaturally caught up into the third heaven and was taught the "mystery of all ages" by Jesus Himself.
The Gospel of Glory, Paul’s gospel as he calls it was a direct revelation of prophetic Scripture revealed in the beginning of Genesis right throughout Scripture culminating in the book of Revelation.
There are certain parts to the "mystery of all ages" or the Gospel of Glory Paul is not permitted to talk about because they are inexpressible.
Is it possible that the "mystery of all ages" has been revealed and taught throughout the New Testament only to have been absolutely lost through the doctrine of leavened theology that has permeated Christianity for almost 2000 years? There is absolutely nothing that has not been revealed in the Old Testament that has not found its fulfillment in the New Testament. The New Testament can only be understood if an all-inclusive understanding of prophetic Scripture, typology and the parables are comprehensively understood in the revealing of the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:26).
Could it be possible that Jesus taught the other disciples the Gospel of Glory?
Jesus appeared to two disciples after His resurrection on the road to Emmaus and shared the Gospel of Glory with them, “Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, 'What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?' Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, 'Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?' And He said to them, 'What things?' So they said to Him, 'The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.' Then He said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, 'Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.' And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, 'Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?'" (John 24:13-33).
This is just amazing. Jesus appears to two disciples and they don’t recognize Him in His resurrected body. He rebukes them for not understanding that in order for Him to set up and establish His Kingdom and bring many sons to glory (Heb 2:10), He had to suffer at the hands of Israel. He began opening up their understanding to the Gospel of Glory beginning in Genesis (Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible—the Pentateuch), all the way through the prophets and expounding on all Scripture about Himself to them. He laid bare the Gospel of Glory for them to understand that a Kingdom, an inheritance and positions of power on real Thrones were now open to them. Their hearts burned with revelation knowledge about the "mystery of all ages" as He opened up the Scriptures for them to fully comprehend the greatest invitation ever made to man through the Gospel of Glory.
[Understanding the septenary structure of Scripture and how God sets up a framework in the beginning of Genesis for our correct navigation through prophetic Scripture will be discussed later on in the series but here is a quick overview: The original, basic framework for the whole of the matter is seen in the opening thirty-four verses of Scripture (Gen 1:1-2:3)— having to do with God’s restoration of a ruined creation over six days’ time, followed by a seventh day rest—seen within a septenary structure of Scripture at the very beginning].
The Bible doesn’t stop there. In fact, Jesus schools His most trusted disciples in the Gospel of Glory after His resurrection in Acts 1:1-4, “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (emphasis added).
Here’s the breakdown of the verses:
Everything Jesus began to teach and do was/is related to a coming Millennial Kingdom & the Gospel of Glory.
Jesus only reveals the Gospel of Glory to those that He personally invites to take the Throne with Him (this will be explained in great detail later on in the series).
He took the disciples aside after His resurrection and taught them concerning the Gospel of Glory.
The Gospel of Glory is synonymous with the Kingdom of God, the Gospel of the Kingdom or the Word of the Kingdom. This concept needs to be thoroughly grasped if head-way is to be made in correct biblical hermeneutics.
The disciples were well versed in Paul’s Gospel. Peter makes this very interesting statement in 2 Peter 3:14-16, “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (emphasis added).
Peter tells us that the "mystery of all ages" is difficult to understand and especially a correct understanding of the writings of Paul. The "mystery of all ages" is not easily interpreted properly. Therefore, many twist Scripture because they are untaught by the Holy Spirit and unstable to bring people into the liberty of the Gospel of Glory.
Just read the words of your Lord and Master found in Matthew 13:11, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”
The Gospel of Glory, Gospel of God, Gospel of the Kingdom or Word of the Kingdom wasn’t something far-fetched in the first century church, in fact it was understood to be the "meat" of the Word, it was the focal point of all preaching and living. All Scripture from Genesis to Revelation is an unfolding of the "mystery of all ages". The Apostle Peter tell us this is 1 Peter 4:17, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” Peter tells us that God will judge His House first, and if we do not obey the Gospel of God (Gospel of Glory), take the invitation of ruling with Jesus in the Millennial Kingdom for granted or fail to realize the purpose for our salvation, many will stand ashamed on that "Great Day" with weeping and gnashing of teeth out of grief for having failed to qualify to rule and reign with Jesus. This is what 2 Corinthians 5:9-11 teaches about that Day, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.”
The Church of Jesus Christ is supernatural. You are supernatural because you have become a partaker of His divine nature (2 Pe 1:4). You are part of the supernatural Church of Jesus Christ with a view out in the future of ruling and reigning with Him. A great offer and unbelievable invitation has been made to you through the Gospel of Glory and the Holy Spirit longs to lead you into a mature status of becoming qualified to take the Throne with Jesus. Out of the Church at the Bema Seat of Christ will come forth the Bride/First-Born-Sons of God that will rule and reign with the King of kings as consort Queen in the thousand-year Millennial Kingdom of our Great God, thus fulfilling the "mystery of all ages".