14 July 2020

A Few Thoughts About the Mystery of Iniquity

A mystery is
B1 an obscure matter that arouses curiosity and eludes understanding, often a religious or spiritual truth. (Source)
B2 any affair, thing, or person that presents features or qualities so obscure as to arouse curiosity or speculation. (Source)

KJV: 2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Other translations:
B1 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Anderson For the mystery of iniquity is already at work; only he that now restrains will restrain, till he be taken out of the way.
B2 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Pick NT For the mystery of the lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He removes Himself.
B3 2 Thessalonians 2:7 NIV For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.

It seems inappropriate to me to translate μυστήριον mystḗrion as secret. There is a difference in my mind between a secret and mystery. A secret is an unknown. A mystery is something known but not understood. The Apostles often quoted from the Old Testament of the suffering Messiah, His rejection, His resurrection, etc. They often quoted that Gentiles would be saved, too. It was known but not understood by the Jews.
B1 mystery applies to what cannot be fully understood by reason or less strictly to whatever resists or defies explanation. (Source)
B2 secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive. (Source)
B3 Two different words: Romans 16:25 RSV Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages

The Greek word for “way” is μέσος mésos. It means middle. It is an adjective. The text has no noun for it to modify. I guess it would have the idea of standing between someone’s desire and ability to achieve it. This thing in the middle prevents one from reaching the other. Once this is taken out of the way, an action can take place. The Holy Spirit is the one hindering. It seems reasonable to understand this as lawlessness (the devil’s program of life) desires to have no hindrance to his (devil’s) plan. The Holy Spirit now prevents him. Once the Holy Spirit is out of the way, then the devil can carry out his plans to completion. Part of the devil’s plan is promotion and revealing of the man of sin which is written about in the context of 2 Thessalonians 2:7.

The anti-Christ is
B1 The man of lawlessness.
B2 He is both a pretend messiah and one against the true Messiah, Jesus.
B3 He is lawless, which refers to his breaking God’s laws.
B4 He is the ultimate human deceiver.
B5 He is empowered by satan. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 WEL This [Lawless] one is coming according to the energy of Satan with all lying miracles, signs, and wonders.
B6 He opposes everyone. The Greek word for oppose is ἀντίκειμαι antíkeimai. It has the idea of to oppose, be adverse to, withstand (Thayer). Compare: Galatians 5:17 NIV For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
B7 Exalts himself above every living thing—God, spirits, humans, etc.
C1 The Greek word for exalt is ὑπεραίρομαι hyperaíromai.
C2 Note that he exalts himself. Warning: Matthew 23:12 NLT But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
C3 Compare the real Messiah, Yeshua: Philippians 2:9-11 NIV Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
B8 He does miracles, signs, and wonders. The ability comes from satan. Compare: Exodus 7:11, Exodus 7:22, and Exodus 8:7.
B9 Unrighteous power, that is, power not to do good but to do evil, especially deception. The devil gives the anti-Christ assistance. The people were deceived because they hated the truth, which is the reality about God, God’s opinion of them, God’s worldview, God’s lifestyle, God’s rules, etc.

The mystery of iniquity/lawlessness is
B1 That a being (the devil) has a plan and a goal to deceive and have all recognize him as god (or at least through his chosen one—the anti-Christ). It is his plan. It is his method of enacting it. It is concealing his real goal and plan (it is under cover of darkness). It is his plan and method of deceiving all people to believe him (have faith in his chosen—the anti-Christ). He wants all people to be in rebellion against God and His ways. It will be exposed by God.
B2 Self-will. Instead of the will of God, there will be the will of myself. Isaiah 14:13-14 NLT For you said to yourself, 'I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. 14 I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.' (for more of this see resource B2 below).
B3 Self-rule. Instead of living by God’s rules, people will live by their own. Jeremiah 7:13, 23-24 NLT While you were doing these wicked things, says the LORD, I spoke to you about it repeatedly, but you would not listen. I called out to you, but you refused to answer. ... 23 This is what I told them: 'Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!' 24 "But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.

Good and Evil
B1 God knows about good and evil:
C1 Genesis 3:22 NLT Then the LORD God said, "Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!"
D1 The word knowing is not knowing by experience but that God was not surprised by evil, rebellion, law breaking etc.
D2 Also referring to the idea that humans now know evil (experienced in doing evil). Clarke adds:
A very learned man has ventured the following paraphrase, which should not be lightly regarded: "And the Lord God said, The man who was like one of us in purity and wisdom, is now fallen and robbed of his excellence; he has added לדעת ladaath, to the knowledge of the good, by his transgression the knowledge of the evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live for ever in this miserable state, I will remove him, and guard the place lest he should re-enter. Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, " etc.
D3 Genesis 3:22 CEV The LORD said, "These people now know the difference between right and wrong, just as we do. But they must not be allowed to eat fruit from the tree that lets them live forever."
D4 Genesis 3:22 New Century Version Then the LORD God said, "The man has become like one of us; he knows good and evil. We must keep him from eating some of the fruit from the tree of life, or he will live forever."
C2 Adam knew that doing this was evil because he had God’s law. Afterwards, Adam knows the experience of doing evil. Genesis 2:16-17 NLT But the LORD God warned him, "You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die."
B2 The source of our evil in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds is our heart, our innermost person: Matthew 15:18-19 NLT But the words you speak come from the heart—that's what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.
B3 It was prophesied that God would destroy evil: Genesis 3:15 NLT And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
B4 One of the purposes of Jesus coming as Messiah was to destroy evil: 1 John 3:8 NLT But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
B5 The devil was the first to rebel. He chose to do so. God sovereignly decreed a measure of libertarian free will: John 8:44 NLT For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
B6 Jesus’s death and resurrection proved that the devil is defeated. Later the devil will be thrown into the Lake of Fire.
C1 Hebrews 2:14 NLT Because God's children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.
C2 Revelation 20:10 NLT Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
C3 2 Thessalonians 2:8 New Century Version Then that Man of Evil will appear, and the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath that comes from his mouth and will destroy him with the glory of his coming.

This mystery will be fully revealed during the 7 year Tribulation. This will be destroyed by the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus will reign until all enemies will be under his authority. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. After the literal thousand year reign of Jesus in Jerusalem is completed, all nonbelievers are judged and sentenced, and death destroyed, then the New Heavens and New Earth will be created.

Resources:
B1 Mystery of Iniquity by David Wilkerson.

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