Back to the Op. The concept of two ages (Mosaic and Messianic) and how they differ is 100% lost on the dispensationalist. The "mystery" of the Messianic Age to come, as spoken of by the prophets, was fully revealed in Revelation. The transition from Mosaic to Messianic was completed at the fall of the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD. The differences between the two ages is vast, HUGE, enormous and sadly lost on many.
The Mosaic age was "the flesh age" while the Messianic age is the "spirit age." The "rules" of the two ages are and were completely different, strikingly so. The flesh age was associated with death while the spiritual age is associated with life, physical vs. spiritual. Until the Spiritual or Messianic Age arrived, no man could enter heaven; their souls trapped in Hades. But Christ, and only Christ, had the keys to Death and Hades and He freed those souls. We all need to recognize how HUGE this event was as our salvation (ability to be with God in the afterlife) depends on it. The Blood of Christ was the vehicle for making this happen. It was the fulfillment of all which was previously foretold, but not fully understood, by the prophets.
There was a 40- year transition period between the two ages called, "the last days," or "fullness of times" that the Children of God were awaiting throughout the OT centuries. Just as there was a 40- year transition from Egypt to the Promised Land to begin the Mosaic Age, we have the same transition period for the Messianic Age. The purpose of both was to allow the wicked to die off before the righteous could inherit the promises. We had this in 70 AD as all those following the Law, the religious leaders and people (AKA apostate Israel), were killed.
The revelation of the "mystery" came during the "last days" (30-70 AD) of the Mosaic Age (Heb 1:2). When Paul said the unveiling of this mystery defined his ministry (1 Cor 4:1). This unveiling explained that "true" "saved" Israel after the flesh enters life in the spirit (Rom 11).
While many of the less informed of us today are still waiting for the mystery to be revealed, Paul announced that it was ALREADY revealed in Eph 1:9-11:
[SUP]9 [/SUP]having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, [SUP]10 [/SUP]that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. [SUP]11 [/SUP]In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will...
Eph 3: [SUP]5 [/SUP]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: [SUP]6 [/SUP]that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel..
Eph 5: [SUP]32 [/SUP]This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Eph 6: [SUP]19 [/SUP]and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel...
So you see, the mystery of the gospel for salvation and the change in how we get to heaven was revealed!! ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN MADE KNOWN TO US.
In the Olivet, Jesus said the end of the Mosaic Age would come after the "great tribulation" (of Israel) in which "not one stone would be left upon another", when the temple fell. The parousia (presence) of Christ with His Church in the Messianic Age would remain. This new KINGDOM of GOD, which was near to them, has arrived and remains and has filled the earth as foretold by Daniel. In this new age (our age) things hidden - the mystery - would no longer be hidden.
John's vision perfectly matches the Olivet given by Jesus. After the judgment of apostate Israel, the great tribulation, is over, there is nothing left to reveal. The mystery of how God established the Messianic Age is finished. The sounding of the 7th trumpet completed the transition from the Mosaic to the Messianic Age which is our unity in Christ, thus completing the mystery. We are in the EVERLASTING KINGDOM WHICH WILL NEVER BE DESTROYED right now!!!
And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Christ has no more work to do, IT IS FINISHED!!