One thing that all languages have in common is that any word, term, phrase, etc. can mean more than one thing and it is not ultimately etymology that determines the meaning of a word, term, phrase, etc. but it is context.
I have written much dealing with the specific theological (or, satanological) claims of serpent seed of Satan theorist: see here for the relevant section.
Mystery is that which fuels the serpent seed of Satan theory and serpent seed of Satan theorists promulgate that which they consider to be a secret that has been hidden in plain sight since the beginning: that Satan had sex with Eve, that Cain is literally their son and that his blood-line / seed-line carries Satanic genetics.
As one such theorist put it to me (see, Discussion with a serpent seed of Satan theorist):
As referenced in 1 Corinth 13:1 [actually, verse 2] one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to lead one into “all prophecy, mysteries and knowledge”. The serpent seed doctrine is couched in the scriptures (the 66 book canon) as a “mystery” but when people learn how to be taught and led of the Spirit it really becomes quite evident.
Such claims are not uncommon within serpent seed of Satan theorizing: they merely make reference to mystery and take it upon themselves to fill the term with, to defined the term with, the serpent seed of Satan theory.
Let us consider the texts of the Bible that specifically refer to mystery and see if we are given any hints as to what the mystery is or mysteries are.
Mark 4 provides a general claim about mysteries told in parables and revealed to those who can discern them:
And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
This is reiterated in Matthew 13:11, “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given” and also in Luke 8:10, “And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”
Clearly, the parables are about Jesus’ message, salvation which is the gospel.
Romans 11 is addressed to the Gentiles who become spiritual sons of Abraham by coming to Jesus:
For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
A specific mystery is referred to as “this mystery” and that is that Gentiles were to be graffed into the family of which Jesus pertained by birth; the olive tree with natural branches. Thus, the context of this mystery is also the gospel.
Romans 16 is self-explanatory:
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
The key is the clear reference to the “gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ” which is followed up by referring to “the revelation of the mystery” thus, the gospel.
1 Corinthians 2 has Paul referring to, guess what, his preaching and he was preaching what? The gospel:
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 4:1 makes a more generalized statement, “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.” 1 Corinthians 13:1 likewise contains a general statement, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
And since it is more generalized, such instances are when we take the greater context into consideration. We know that the greater context is the gospel in general and as Paul in the apostle to the Gentiles it is a reference to them being saved via being brought into Jesus’s covenant people.
1 Corinthians 14 refers to speaking in an unknown tongue and notes that those who do so (without an interpreter) “speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” Thus, nothing about what such as person is saying is told to us in particular as that is the very point: this is a particular gift which is a langue, as it were, whereby one communicates to God. That being the case, it simply cannot be claimed that this pertains to the revelation of the serpent seed of Satan theory.
1 Corinthians 15 has Paul actually telling us exactly of what mystery he is speaking:
…flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Thus, nothing about the serpent seed of Satan theory but about an issue related to the gospel proper which is taking on a glorified resurrection body.
Ephesians 1 also defines the term mystery for us:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Herein, “the mystery of his will” pertained to His will regarding salvation: the gospel.
Ephesians 3 actually tells us of two mysteries and then reveals those to us:
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power…to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God.
As aforementioned, the revelation is of the gospel being offered to the Gentiles.
Ephesians 5 has Paul making the very clear statement, “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
Ephesians 6 has Paul likewise very clearly stating that his mission is “to make known the mystery of the gospel.”
Colossians 1 is just as clear:
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of gospel the, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister…Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach…
Thus, again: the gospel and the Gentiles.
Colossians 2 refers to “the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ” and goes on to note that it is they “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” and references “the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.”
Colossians 4 has Paul asking for prayer for him and his fellow ministers “that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds.” He was not in bonds for speaking about the serpent seed of Satan theory but as Acts and Luke make clear, he was in bonds for preaching the gospel.
2 Thessalonians 2 has Paul referring to “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him” and specifying that “that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition…For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed…after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders…” Thus, this reference is to the manner whereby Satan will seek to, finally, deceive the world and Jesus’ solution.
1 Timothy 3 refers to deacons and how they are to hold to “the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience” and not the mystery of the serpent seed of Satan theory. The same text also defines the term for us by noting that “without controversy great is the mystery of godliness ” which is that “God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
Revelation 1 simply seeks to define its own symbolism by referring to “The mystery of the seven stars…and the seven golden candlesticks” and that they are “the angels of the seven churches: and…the seven churches” themselves.
Revelation 10 has John stating that “in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” This is a reference to ultimate finality with God’s complete plan of redemption.
Revelation 17 notes that “upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” and follows up with that “the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.” Thus, this is a different mystery altogether and one that is revealed and defined on the spot: the symbolic woman is Babylon.
As we have seen there is not a shred of evidence nor a hint whatsoever that by referring to mystery the Bible is referring to the serpent seed of Satan theory, to blood-lines / seed-lines, to genetics or anything of the sort. Most commonly, the term mystery is being employed with regards to the gospel and specifically to the mystery that it was being offered to the Gentiles.
The Bible defines its own terminology and its own symbolism. Moreover, as I have demonstrated time and again within my series of articles on the serpent seed of Satan theory, the issue is not genetics but actions.
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