The Mystery of the Gentiles
Who are they and where are they now?
Chapter 1
Setting the Stage
Nearly everyone enjoys a good mystery. Most of us can recall a book or movie that captivated us from the first line right through the very last chapter or scene. This accounts for the popularity of mysteries by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and others. Yet, none of these authors’ works compare to the mysteries presented in the book inspired by the greatest of authors. Scottish novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott claimed that the greatest mystery of all is contained within the Holy Scriptures:
Within that awful volume lies the mystery of mysteries!1
The greatest suspense novels pale in comparison with the mysteries found in the words inspired by Yahweh’s2 Holy Spirit:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith YHWH.3 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. − Isaiah 55:8-94
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord...? − Romans 11:33-345
Yahweh embodies ... infinite concepts ... beyond the finite capabilities of man to fully understand.
Yahweh embodies mysteries and distinctive wonders, along with infinite concepts and principles that are beyond the finite capabilities of man to fully understand. For instance, Yeshua’s6 virgin conception and His dual divine and human nature are insoluble to the human mind and, therefore, can only be received by faith.
Moses declared that Yahweh purposely concealed certain things, but those He does reveal belong to us that we might better serve Him:
The secret things belong unto YHWH our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. − Deuteronomy 29:29
Job 32:8 informs us that "the inspiration of the Almighty giveth ... understanding." Yahweh has given His Spirit to Christians that they might know what is otherwise incomprehensible to carnal man (1 Corinthians 2:7-14). No man knows Yahweh in His fullness, but that which can be known of Him is revealed in His Word through His Spirit.
There are enigmas in the Bible that our finite minds are unable to comprehend fully. But there are also mysteries contained within that incredible book that Yahweh has given us to solve − if we are willing to search for the clues:
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. − Proverbs 25:2
This book is devoted to one of the Bible’s greatest mysteries – that of the oft-mentioned gentiles.7 Who are these gentiles, and what is their relationship with Yeshua? These people, who are inextricably bound with Yeshua the Christ, are mentioned by the Apostle Paul in conjunction with the mystery of Christ and in relation to the mystery of Israel’s blindness (Ephesians 3:1-6, Colossians 1:25-27, 1 Timothy 3:16 and Romans 11:25-26).
The Making of a Good Mystery
Under the heading "Mystery Story," The World Book Encyclopedia states in part:
Mystery stories about crime are also known as detective stories.... Characteristically, they are carefully plotted schemes of crime and detection, clues and suspense, and sometimes pursuit and violence.8
Although it is unnecessary to develop each of these elements, the mystery of the gentiles contains most of them, making it worthy of its title.
...this mystery is most likely about you in ways you have possibly never imagined.
The majority of people, secular and Christian9 alike, do not recognize it as a mystery. From the onset, this real-life mystery involves more intrigue than other mysteries because its protagonists are misidentified and therefore do not realize that they share a part in this intrigue. While most mysteries begin by identifying the main characters, the mystery of the gentiles is about discovering their identity.
This chronicle is even now playing itself out, and the majority of the people reading this book are a part of the cast. In other words, this mystery is most likely about you in ways you have possibly never imagined.
For anyone willing to do the detective work of a Sherlock Holmes, the Bible contains the clues that will aid them in unmasking the characters in this real-life drama. Regrettably, not everyone is interested in putting forth the effort required to discover the clues, much less use them to unravel this mystery. Content to let the characters remain disguised, they absolve themselves with such excuses as "So what? What difference does it make?"10 Consequently, they will never experience the thrill of solving the riddle. On the other hand, to those who seek, they will find; to those who knock, the door will be opened; and to those who ask, it will be given to them – Matthew 7:7.
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Source Notes
1. Sir Walter Scott, The Monastery, quoted by John Bartlett, Familiar Quotations, Fourteenth Edition (Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company, 1968) p. 521.
2. Yahweh is the personal Hebrew name of the God of the Bible. For a more thorough explanation concerning the use of the sacred names of God, The Third Commandment may be read at http://www.missiontoisrael.org/3rdcom-pt1.php, or Thou shalt not take the name of Yahweh thy God in vain may ordered as a book from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363 for a suggested $4 donation.
3. Where the Tetragrammaton YHWH – the four Hebrew characters that represent the personal name of God – has been incorrectly rendered the Lord or God in Scripture, the author has taken the liberty to correct this error by inserting YHWH where appropriate. For a more thorough explanation concerning the use of the sacred names of God, The Third Commandment may be read at http://www.missiontoisrael.org/3rdcom-pt1.php, or Thou shalt not take the name of Yahweh thy God in vain may ordered as a book from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363 for a suggested $4 donation.
4. All scripture is quoted from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.
5. Portions of scripture have been omitted for brevity’s sake. If there are questions regarding any passage, readers are encouraged to open their Bibles and study the text to ensure that it has been properly used.
6. Yeshua, is the English transliteration of our Savior’s Hebrew name, preferred by this author. For a more thorough explanation concerning the use of the sacred names of God, The Third Commandment may be read at http://www.missiontoisrael.org/3rdcom-pt1.php, or Thou shalt not take the name of Yahweh thy God in vain may ordered as a book from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363 for a suggested $4 donation.
7. The Hebrew word goyim and the Greek word ethne, both translated "gentiles," are not specific in nature, and therefore should not have been capitalized in the Bible. Therefore the word "gentile" has been capitalized only when quoting scripture or another source.
8. "Mystery Story," The World Book Encyclopedia (Chicago, IL: Field Enterprises Educational Corporation, 1963) Volume 12, p. 812.
9. Not everyone claiming to be a Christian has been properly instructed in the biblical plan of salvation. Therefore, in many instances the designation "Christian" is used in a generic sense only. Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:36-41, 22:1-16, Romans 6:3-4, Galatians 3:26-27 and 1 Peter 3:21 should be studied in order to understand what is required for salvation in Yeshua the Christ. For more information concerning baptism and its relationship to salvation, Baptism by the Scriptures may be read at www.missiontoisrael.org/baptismbythescriptures.php, or it may be ordered as a free tract from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363.
10. Israel’s Identity: It Matters! by Ted R. Weiland answers the question "What difference does it make?." It Matters! may be read at http://www.missiontoisrael.org/it-matters.php, or it may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363 for a $3 suggested donation.
