(2 Th 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.
Our Scripture text today speaks of a mystery of iniquity that is working today and has been working since the time this passage was written. A mystery is something that is not fully understood and the word iniquity means lawless or a state of being without law.
We have seen this recently in the riots that have taken place in some of our major cities. People demonstrating violently and burning building and looting businesses – the state of being without law. Even the mayor of Baltimore told police to allow them to do it as a “venting” of their emotions over the killing of an unarmed man who was a criminal and ran from the police, then arrested and died in custody. The streets were unsafe and literally became a war zone occupied by those who refused to be under the rule of law and civility.
We see the same in the many police officials that have either been attacked and caused bodily harm or killed while attempting to keep a rule of law. We also see it in public servants who attempt to use lawless situations to further their own political career or agenda.
Paul also wrote in 2 Timothy – “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; {4} And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Those who desire not to be under the rule of law will also turn away from honest reasoning and adhere to lies that further their agenda or emotional fever. The teachers that propagate the lies and falsehoods were present at these events of lawlessness and spewed their version of “truth” to a welcoming crowd that refused truth and reason in order to hear what they wanted to hear. Some of those proclaimers of falsehood even dare to call themselves ministers of the gospel. They may even claim to be Christian.
This is an infectious societal disease that spreads quickly and deeply into the fabric of the populous. It grabs the very souls of people and incites them to continue in a lawless state and actions. The same thing has been observed in animals – two pet dogs that were very friendly with a little ten year old girl when in the company of wild dogs turned on the little girl and together they dragged her off her bike and killed her. This is the same spirit that is being seen in our cities today.
Paul said that there is something that “lets” it (this is an old English word meaning “to hinder”) until that hindrance is taken out of the way. That hindrance is believed to be either the presence of God through His Holy Spirit or the influence of the church in society. Once that hindrance is out of the way then the lawlessness will overcome entire cities and maybe even a whole nation or portion of a nation and right now that is America.
These very well may be the perilous times Paul wrote about when he spoke on the end times. These are days that we need more than ever to become Christians if we are not or to seek a deeper walk with God if we are Christian. Which is it for you?
