Mystery of Iniquity

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.

There is a work of lawlessness taking place leading to an ultimate rebellion against God. It has been operating on the earth. You see it at work at the tower of Babel. Today, humankind is at a similar juncture as the tower of Babel. The work of sin is moving in mankind to create a one-world order - devoid of God, glorifying humankind. Today, the world has grown much smaller. Through the internet, world alliances (European Union, United Nations), easy migration, religious alliances (Chrislam, ecumenism), humankind is trying to build a world where man ultimately solves everything. Unknown to many, is that they are being drawn like bugs caught in a spider’s web to a new world order, with the antichrist, the man of sin, in utter defiance of God.

The recent COVID-19 global pandemic, though it may have begun without any human conspiracy, is being used by the devil to advance the agenda toward a new world order. As believers, we must recognize the mysteries at work in the midst of world affairs. Even in the current global coronavirus epidemic, we must see the mysteries at work behind it.

The mystery of iniquity includes apostasy (the falling away of believers), the spirit of the antichrist, and a new world order.

Apostasy at Work

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 

• Apostasy is the falling away of believers from the truth of the faith. This includes church organization that falls away from Biblical truth. They may remain Christians and churches in name but have abandoned scriptural truth.

• Anti-Revival Doctrines such as Hyper-Grace teaching (2 Thessalonians 2:3). 

• During the COVID-!9 pandemic, some church organizations are relying on the government and repeating the message of the scientists and medical experts, without speaking a message from the Lord. Many churches closed at the behest of the government and are seeking government assistance to successfully continue and reopen. While we must follow the guidelines of the experts to thwart the spread of the epidemic, the church must have a prophetic voice, and not depend on the government for financial assistance. This dependence on the government is a trap to prepare the way for the church to compromise with the government on matters of faith. Remember, political leaders may have good intentions, but there is a mystery of iniquity at work being advanced by the devil. When the church fails to speak prophetically to the world and political leadership and seek their assistance to operate, they are being drawn into a compromising position that can eventually lead to apostasy.

• Church organizations partnering with secular organizations, and organizations from other religions for social action. Again, this is a trap to draw the church towards apostasy.

Spirit of the Antichrist

1 John 2:18 - 20 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

The spirit of the antichrist is already at work. It is a part of the mystery of iniquity. The Apostle John said that there are already many antichrists in the world and that they were a part of us. Apostasy stems from the spirit of the antichrist. The spirit of the antichrist includes the following characteristics:

1. A falling away from the true church 

2. The denial of Christ (as the only way), and of His Lordship

   1. Some Well-known mega-church pastors with a massive media platform have struggled to declare that Jesus Christ is the only way.

   2. Some church leaders are denying the supremacy of Christ, and the Bible over other religions.

New World Order

1. United Nations Rally Against Israel

   The UN continually condemn Israel. GENEVA, Nov. 15, 2019 –  A United Nations General Assembly committee today adopted eight resolutions that single out or condemn Israel, and zero on the entire rest of the world.

2. Ecumenism - The Catholic Church coming together with protestant churches, and even other religions for the so-called “common good of humankind”. This is only a trap towards establishing a one-world religion, in which churches would have to compromise the truth.

3. Other Unions - such as the European Union weakens against the nationality of individual nations.

4. China and Russia’s Net

   Habakkuk 1:14-16 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?15They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.6Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. 

In the above verses in Habakkuk, the Babylonians are being described, and how they would pull nations into their nets to dominate them. The Babylonians were seeking world domination. It is God’s intervention that ended their spread. Even so, China and Russia today, major players in end-time prophecy, are seeking to trap nations into their nets. Keep in mind that China is a communist nation that persecutes the church, and oppresses believers in various means. Russia has also passed anti-evangelism laws and seems to be increasingly reestablishing its communist roots.

China Spreads its Influence Right in the Midst of the Pandemic (thehill.com)

• China has been sending medical supplies to developing and developed countries (France, Italy, even the USA) to shore up its influence as a world leader.

• China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), “sometimes referred to as the New Silk Road, is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects ever conceived. Launched in 2013 by President Xi Jinping, the vast collection of development and investment initiatives would stretch from East Asia to Europe, significantly expanding China’s economic and political influence” (CFR.org - Council on Foreign Relations).

Russia Seeking to build Influence

Leaked Documents Show Russia (The Guardian, June 11, 2019) Russia is seeking to bolster its presence in at least 13 countries across Africa by building relations with existing rulers, striking military deals, and grooming a new generation of “leaders” and undercover “agents”, leaked documents reveal.

Mystery of Life 

John 1:4-5 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

Life is a mystery. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that humankind is doing their best to take a hold of life and escape death, from the medical experts to the politician. The scientists are racing towards a solution to cure the disease. Politicians are enacting laws to lower the death rate. However, even if a solution is found for this, humankind will continue to grapple with the mystery of life. Why? Because society approaches life from a natural perspective, but life goes beyond the natural processes formed by God.

Formed

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

When God formed man, he put in place the natural processes and laws by which humankind would reproduce and continue the cycle of life.

Breathed

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

However, there is a divine element that enabled the conscience, mind, and will of man. Man has a soul. The man became a living soul after God breathed life into him. This cannot be replicated scientifically. Some die because of fear, anxiety, depression, and other soulish fatalities. Even if the cure of all physical diseases is found, humankind will still not have a grasp on life because the divine element that brings about the soul cannot be reproduced by natural means.

Declared

Life is declared by God. God speaks and things came into being. There are Biblical examples of God declaring things over the unborn because life is more than the formation, life is declared. Here are some examples of life declared even before birth and conception:

• Birth of John the baptist was declared

  • Luke 1:13 thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John

• Birth of Isaac

  • Genesis 17:15-16 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.16And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. 

Life is formed, breathed, and declared by God. Societies have sought to enable abortion and same-sex marriage as a means of pursuing happiness in life. However, abortion and the redefinition of marriage are in sync with the mystery of iniquity - the law of sin of death. Laws and declarations of men that defy God’s order brings death. Life comes from God which men cannot fully take a hold of.

Deadly Declarations by Political Leaders

On April 13th, 2020, the governor of New York took credit for the decrease in the number of deaths from the COVID-19 virus epidemic in New York City. In the same breath, He stated that “God did not do it”, rather he claimed that the people of the city did it. Since humankind does not have a grasp on life, statements like these are dangerous and often produces death.

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Man’s words can hasten death, or preserve life. The words of political leaders over a land can produce death.

The words of politicians can put a death spell over the nation.

Believers Have the Word of Life

Believers have the gift of life, eternal salvation. Believers have the Spirit of Life, the Holy Spirit. And we have the word of life, the gospel of Jesus Christ. We ought to be agents of life in the world. Abundant life comes through Jesus Christ.