y Luke 1:70 and Paul’s Mystery Cannot Be the Same Program
When Zacharias lifted his voice in Luke 1, he praised God for sending the Messiah and fulfilling His promises to Israel. But in that song of praise, he also gave us one of the clearest dispensational markers in the entire Bible:
“As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
which have been since the world began.”
— Luke 1:70
According to Zacharias, everything he was talking about—Israel’s rescue, Israel’s covenant blessings, and Israel’s earthly kingdom—was well-known, spoken by the prophets from the very beginning.
And that one statement draws a bright line between two programs in the Bible:
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The Prophetic Kingdom Program — revealed “since the world began.”
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The Pauline Mystery Program — kept secret “since the world began.”
These two can’t be the same because the Word of God describes them in opposite terms.
1. What Was “Known Since the World Began”? — Israel’s Prophetic Kingdom
Luke 1 gives us the content of what the prophets spoke from the beginning:
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Redemption for Israel (Luke 1:68)
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A horn of salvation raised up in the house of David (v. 69)
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Salvation from Israel’s enemies (v. 71)
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The holy covenant (v. 72)
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The oath to Abraham (v. 73)
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Serving God in the land without fear (v. 74–75)
In other words:
✔ A Davidic King
✔ A literal earthly kingdom
✔ Israel restored
✔ The Abrahamic promises fulfilled
✔ All of it foretold openly by the prophets
Zacharias says this was spoken and known “since the world began.”
The prophetic program was no mystery.
2. What Was “Kept Secret Since the World Began”? — The Mystery Revealed to Paul
Paul uses the exact opposite language to describe his message:
“…the revelation of the mystery,
which was kept secret since the world began.”
— Romans 16:25
“In other ages was not made known unto the sons of men…”
— Ephesians 3:5
“The mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations…”
— Colossians 1:26
According to Paul:
✔ The prophets did not know this.
✔ It was not spoken since the world began.
✔ It was kept secret, hidden in God.
✔ It was revealed first to Paul.
And what is this Mystery?
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Jew and Gentile in one Body
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Seated in heavenly places
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Saved by grace alone, apart from works
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Not under the law
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A heavenly calling, not earthly kingdom promises
This is the Body of Christ—the church of the present age.
It was not prophesied.
It was not seen.
It was not expected.
It was revealed, not predicted.
3. Why This Difference Matters
If something has been spoken and known since the world began (Luke 1:70),
and something else has been kept secret since the world began (Rom. 16:25),
then they cannot be the same program.
One is the prophetic, earthly Kingdom program for Israel.
The other is the heavenly, grace program for the Body of Christ.
Trying to blend them creates confusion:
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Works vs. grace
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Law vs. liberty
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Earthly promises vs. heavenly position
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Kingdom endurance vs. salvation by faith alone
But keeping them distinct restores clarity to the whole Bible.
4. The Prophetic Mountain Peaks and the Hidden Valley
The prophets saw the “mountain peaks” of God’s plan:
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The First Coming
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The Second Coming
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The earthly Kingdom
But they could not see the valley in between—the Mystery age in which we live.
That valley was hidden in God until revealed to Paul.
When you lay Luke 1:70 beside Romans 16:25, the picture becomes unmistakable:
Prophecy = known since the world began
Mystery = kept secret since the world began
Two programs.
Two purposes.
One Lord directing it all.
**Conclusion:
God Never Mixes What He Has Separated**
Zacharias reminds us that Israel’s Kingdom was no surprise.
It was foretold clearly and repeatedly.
Paul reminds us that the Body of Christ was a surprise—hidden until the right moment.
Understanding the difference keeps us grounded when we read Hebrews through Revelation, where the tone shifts back to Israel’s prophetic program and preparation for the earthly Kingdom.
Two plans.
Two peoples.
Two destinies.
One perfect God weaving them together.
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