The promises upon which the New Covenant are based are said to be

`better promises', even as Christ is set forth as the Mediator of a

`better covenant' (Heb. 8:6).

The goal of the ages, which includes a new heaven and a new earth

is based upon `His promise' (2 Pet. 3:13).

The word promise in the Prison Epistles is never found in the

plural.  There is but one promise, and that a promise that was made

before the age times.

The believer is sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise (Eph.

1:13) which is not to be confused with the promise of the Spirit

as in Acts 1:4.

The unique calling and constitution of the Church

of the Mystery as revealed in Ephesians 3:6, is according to `His

promise in Christ by the gospel' whereof Paul was made a

minister.  In 2 Timothy 1:1 we have `the promise of life',

closely associated with the testimony of our Lord and of Paul His

prisoner, and with the purpose and grace which was given us in

Christ Jesus before age times, and with the abolishing of death

and with the bringing to light of `life and immortality'.

Prophecy.  Peter tells us that prophecy is like a light that shineth in a

dark place, until the day dawn (2 Pet. 1:19).  Strictly speaking the Mystery

cannot be the subject of prophecy, as it was hid in God and not revealed

until it was entrusted to Paul the Prisoner.  While the Mystery cannot be the

subject of prophecy, it has a prophetic view of its own which is gathered up

in 1 Timothy 4 and in 2 Timothy 3 and 4, where `the light shines in the

darkness' that will obtain just before the day of the Lord's appearing.  The

subject matter of these prophetic portions of the epistles of the Mystery

have been examined in the article entitled Last Days and Latter Times2.

While there were prophets as well as apostles in the beginning of this

dispensation, the gift of prophecy as exercised by the church of Corinth was

not continued.  Like the apostle, the prophet was a `foundation' ministry

(Eph. 2:20), and has no successor.  The continuing ministry being that of the

evangelist, pastor and teacher.  These we find in the epistles to Timothy and

Titus, the bishop being equivalent to the pastor (see Acts 20:28; 1 Pet.

2:25).  The great prophetic book of the New Testament is the book of the

Revelation, called `This Prophecy' (Rev. 22:19), and this is given full

attention in the article entitled Revelation4.

Note.  Parts 8 and 9 of An Alphabetical Analysis are devoted entirely

to Prophecy and allied subjects.

Purpose.  We have considered the meaning and place

of the word Dispensation, and have likewise given considerable space to the

references in Scripture to the Ages, and both Ages and Dispensations are

vehicles of Purpose.

Having considered the fact that there are many and great differences in

the various dispensations, it will be well to observe that all these