By: John Krug
The worldwide problem of sin and iniquity has been with us since our ancestors disobeyed God in the garden of Eden. Today we look at our world scene and wonder if the situation could get any worse. We see crime and terrorism on every front. There are many scenarios posed for solving the problems but no lasting solutions are in sight. One avenue often cited is improving the education of those with a bent for crime. However, further education will sometimes only make smarter criminals. I once heard a wag who stated that a person needs higher education if he or she is going to be a successful embezzler.
On the other hand, it is also of interest to note that many of those of the criminal persuasion are not very smart. There is the story of the guy who walked into a little corner store with a shotgun and demanded all the cash from the cash drawer. After the cashier put the cash in a bag, the robber saw a bottle of scotch to his liking behind the counter on the shelf. He demanded the scotch but the alert clerk insisted that he must prove he was 21 years old or older. He then produced his driver's license and the clerk complied with his demands, but not before memorizing the man's name and address. The police were waiting for him when he got home. Another story concerns a pair of Michigan robbers who entered a record shop nervously waving revolvers. The first one shouted, "Nobody move!" When his partner moved, the startled first bandit shot him.
These incidents may provide a little humor concerning sin, especially since the criminals got what was coming to them. However, most of the unrighteousness in the world is completely repulsive. The senseless acts of terrorism that have been inflicted upon many people, the genocide that is taking place in Africa, or the slaughter of innocent children in our schools are just a few examples to remind us that sin and iniquity are an everyday occurrence in our world.
This leads us to the seventh mystery in our study.
7. The mystery of iniquity or lawlessness (2 Thess 2:7; Matt. 13:33)
First let us review the definition for a mystery which is simply "…some truth of God that was hidden but now revealed." Since iniquity has existed since the fall of Satan, what is the mystery? The mystery here is that there will be a future level of iniquity and sin that has never been experienced in the past or even the present if you can believe that!
The first and second questions that we have been asking in our study is what was hidden and why was it hidden? The answer is simply that this is a future event only revealed in the New Testament.
The third question is why is the truth now revealed? The answer lies in the unfolding of prophetic events starting with the Messiah coming to earth. Christ in the kingdom parables and discussion of future events gives us a view of a world that will be engulfed by sin and iniquity. Matt. 13:33 He spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened . It can then be seen that this mystery is a future event that was not fully revealed until New Testament times. "Matt. 13:41 "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, Matt. 24:12 "And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. In the above passages, it should be noted that leaven or yeast in the scripture is an illustration of sin or iniquity. (Exod. 12:15; Luke 12:1, 1 Cor. 5:6-8)
Before developing the timing and extent of this future iniquity, some historical background on iniquity will be investigated. The first event of iniquity would be the fall of Satan and his angels. The lamentation that the prophet Ezekiel makes concerning the leader of Tyre is a picture of Satan at the time of his fall. Ezek. 28:12-18 "…You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God … You were blameless in your ways From the day you were created, Until unrighteousness was found in you… You were filled with violence, And you sinned; Therefore I have cast you as profane From the mountain of God. … By the multitude of your iniquities, In the unrighteousness of your trade, You profaned your sanctuaries,"
After this event Satan then took his evil agenda to mankind in the garden and mankind's disobedience to God's commands brought about the curse upon the earth. Rom. 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-
In a short time we find extreme wickedness highlighted in the book of Genesis in the case of the time of Noah and then the sordid situation of Sodom and Gomorrah. Gen. 6:5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. Gen. 18:20 And the Lord said, "The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.
Even God's people, the nation of Israel, did not remain faithful to the Lord as we note from the lament of the prophets. Isaiah 1:4 Alas, sinful nation, People weighed down with iniquity, Offspring of evildoers, Sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the Lord, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have turned away from Him. 13 "Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies– I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
The prophet Jeremiah states the universal problem of iniquity very simply. Jer. 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? The psalmist also relates this same problem. Ps. 59:2 Deliver me from those who do iniquity, And save me from men of bloodshed
When observing the trail of iniquity over the ages we might wonder how there could be a future time of more unrighteousness than what has already has been perpetrated upon mankind. However the Scripture in expounding on this mystery of iniquity paints a very bleak picture. The main player in this onslaught of evil is none other than Satan who for centuries has continued his task of trying to usurp authority over God and inflicting evil upon the earth. 2 Thess. 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. … 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 2:8 And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
As the passage states, this mystery is already in operation, but there are some things that must happen before it reaches its climax. First there is an apostasy which simply means "a falling away from the truth." A quick observation of the world and its distain for God's Word is ample evidence of rampant apostasy. Next we notice that Satan has recruited someone for his dirty work. This is this man of lawlessness who is better known as the antichrist. Notice he mimics Satan's in trying to display himself as God.
It appears that this climax in iniquity will occur during the time known as the Great Tribulation that will occur upon earth in the end times.
Of great interest to us who are believers in Jesus Christ is whether we will also have to be subjected to this increase in iniquity at the hands of the man of lawlessness. I believe that this and other passages indicate that believers will be spared. The apostle encourages us with this truth in another passage. 1 Thess. 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. In addition the apostle John in his revelation of end times states the following to the church at Philadelphia. Rev. 3:10 'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. 11 'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown.
This leads us to analyze what is the influence that "restrains" this extreme path to iniquity. There have been many theories proposed on who or what the restraint is, including the Roman empire or Satan himself. The best explanation to which I subscribe is that the restraint is the Holy Spirit working within His church. This explanation fits with those of us who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture of the church. (1 Thess 4: 13-18, 1 Cor. 15:51-54) If believers are caught up to be with the Lord prior to the tribulation, this leaves the door open for Satan and his henchmen to operate with no Christian influence in the world. This will be a time of evil and iniquity that cannot be imagined!
What is the end result of this time of evil? Is evil going to triumph over good? Is God still in charge? I'm happy to report that God will bring an end to the evil with swift and sure judgment. The book of Revelation relates a number of passages describing this. Rev. 16:13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; 14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. 15 (" Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk about naked and men see his shame.") 16 And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon. 17 And the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air; and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, "It is done." Rev. 17:14 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful." Rev. 19:11 And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
One would think that with such intense judgment and suffering that mankind who are still on the earth would repent and turn to God. However that is not the case. Rev. 16:21 And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, *came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague *was extremely severe.
What does all this mean to us? If you have never by faith accepted Jesus as your Savior, then you must endure this terrible time. Accept Jesus' sacrifice for your sins and this time of testing will not be part of your future.
For us who are believers in Jesus Christ we have the great hope of escaping this carnage and that should be a reason for rejoicing. Rev 21:13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
What then should we be doing in the meantime? The apostle Paul gives us many exhortations on how we are to live with just a few mentioned below. 1 Cor. 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Thess. 5:2-8 For you yourself know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, "peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
Are you ready for the coming of the Lord? Do you want to escape the coming mystery of iniquity? Rev. 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
All Scripture from The New American Standard Bible, The Lockman Foundation.
