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:
