Although Paul wrote of several mysteries, the great mystery is the one he writes of in Ephesians 3:6, Romans 16:25-26, Colossians 1:27 and other places.
The great mystery fits within the framework of the kingdom of God which spans all time.
The "kingdom of heaven" appears only in the gospel of Matthew, not in any of the other three gospels, which emphasizes Jesus Christ as God's chosen king to sit in the throne of David forever
The kingdom of heaven refers to the personal presence of Jesus Christ on earth.
Jesus' ascension signaled the end of the kingdom of heaven which will not continue until Jesus Christ's personal presence on earth in the future.
The kingdom of God spans all time.
Sorry for the bump... Your post is quite thought provoking, Oatmeal! I appreciate the notion "the kingdom of God spans all time." And, I appreciate the notion you bring forth that "the kingdom of heaven" was only mentioned in Matthew, which I associate with being a disciple of Jesus. With all due respect to both kingdoms, speaking to His detractors, Jesus also said in John 8:47 KJV "He that is of God hearerth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." Clearly there were those Jesus was speaking to who were of neither kingdom. That's a mystery, for sure!
We certainly agree Jesus sits on the right hand of the throne of God. Also, there were those who led up to the conclusion of the kingdom of God found in Luke 3:23-38, with Adam being the "son of God", to Jesus being the second Adam. I suspect there was a distinction between both. I suggest those who were the kingdom of God were those found in Luke 3:23-38, and those who were the kingdom of heaven included those who understood Jesus was the end generation, the "seventy and sevenfold" generation from God (Genesis 4:24 KJV). Prior to Jesus' arrival, there was the kingdom of God. After Jesus' arrival there was the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, with all due appreciation to your notion, the kingdom of God spans all time, yet, there was the kingdom of God prior to Jesus' arrival (Deuteronomy 7:6, 7, 8, 9, 10), and there was the kingdom of heaven following Jesus' ascension, even during His ministry on earth. So, I might split a hair that the kingdom of heaven is being filled as we speak, and to be fulfilled upon Jesus' return. Consequently, there is currently no kingdom of God on earth, as in fleshly beings, since that fleshly kingdom of God was fulfilled with Jesus' arrival (Luke 3:23 KJV - Luke 3:28 KJV). Therefore, the kingdom of heaven began being filled via those who perceive Jesus as the end generation of the kingdom of God (in the flesh).
I am curious as to your rendering of the verse you brought forward regarding Ephesians 3:6 KJV "That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." I understand via faith, but Paul mentioned "of the same body". With all due respect to the faith aspect of this component, do you perceive "of the same body" having also a literal component? I do see a flesh/literal component that the Gentiles were "of the same body". The Gentiles were descendants of Japheth (Genesis 10:2, 3, 4, Genesis 10:5 KJV). Noah sanctioned the Gentile descendants of Japheth to procreate with the Shemites/Semites in Genesis 9:27 KJV. Therefore, the Gentiles were NOT red-headed stepchildren as Jewish fables lead us to understand that Gentiles were simply, non-Jews. That was the question Nicodemus asked Jesus: Could a man (Gentile, for instance) re-enter his mother's womb, and be reborn a Jew?
All being said, Oatmeal... there was the flesh kingdom of God (Deuteronomy 7:6, 7, 8, 9, 10), and there was the spiritual kingdom of God via the realization Jesus was "seventy and sevenfold" end generation of the kingdom of God in the flesh (Genesis 4:24 KJV) as so enumerated between Luke 3:38 through Luke 3:23... Count these generations of the kingdom of God with God is generation #1, Adam generation #2, Seth #3, and so forth. That mystery has been in the Books of Moses for several thousand years! Therefore, I conclude the kingdom of heaven, as mentioned in Matthew 13:11 KJV, included Jesus' disciples... at least in these flesh bodies, although corruptible.
Appreciating Dan's post... I would like to think those who do the appointing understand these mysteries...
kayaker
