TREASURY OF SERMONS
The Mystery of Iniquity
By Rev (Dr) Jeffrey Khoo
(Preached at Calvary Pandan BPC Sunset Gospel Hour, 11 May 1997)
Text: 2 Thess 2:1-12
Introduction
"Momentous Events of the End Times" is the theme
of this series of messages at the Sunset Gospel Hour. This evening
we are going to consider what the "mystery of iniquity" is from 2
Thess 2. The epistles of 1-2 Thess focus on the last days, and they
supplement what Daniel and Revelation have to say concerning the end
times. Right in verses 1 and 2 we read of "the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ," and "the day of Christ is at hand." Yes the Lord is
coming back real soon. What must happen before Christ returns?
The Coming of the Antichrist
From 2 Thess 2:1-12 we also discover that the
2nd Coming of Christ will be preceded by the coming of the
Antichrist. Please look at the diagram. The word "coming" (Gk:
parousia) occurs twice in these 12 verses: the 1st time in v1:
"the parousia of our Lord Jesus Christ," and the 2nd in v9
which talks about the parousia of the Wicked one (cf v8).
Rebellion: God-rejecting
Apostasy (v3)
Before Christ returns, there will be "a falling
away first" (v3). The words "falling away" is the Greek apostasia
or apostasy (lit. to stand away from; a movement away from the
standard, the truth, or the law). There will be a rebellion. Now,
who are the rebels, and against whom or what are they rebelling?
This apostasy is also spoken of by Jesus in Matt 24:10-13, "And then
shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate
one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive
many. And because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax
cold. But he shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved." In
other words, those who fall away are those who call themselves
Christian. By and large, the visible church is the last days will
forsake the true faith. These people who profess to be Christians
were never saved or regenerated in the first place. They did not
have genuine faith for those who have genuine faith will endure unto
the end—they will have this overcoming, or enduring faith, and will
never lose their salvation, and will never fall into apostasy. Who
are they? Well they would be those who say: "I believe that Jesus
can bring me to heaven, but at the same time say that you can get to
heaven by all the other religions." "I believe in the resurrection
of Christ, but His bones are still lying in Israel somewhere." "I am
a Christian, but I am also homosexual." Paul describes them in v8:
"they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved;"
and v10: "they believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness."
Judgment: God-sent Delusion
(v11)
This apostasy begets judgment. God’s wrath will
be poured out. And since they wilfully and stubbornly and repeated
chose to reject God’s truth, and His longsuffering, God gives them
up (1) to uncleanness, (2) to vile affections, and (3) to a
reprobate mind (Rom 1:24-28). This is judicial hardening or
blinding.
Now please do not understand this to mean that
God sends the lie. God is not a liar, and does not deceive. We
understand this under the permissive will of God—Since they desire
to believe in Satan’s lie, and to be deceived, God allows them to go
ahead. It was only when Pharoah hardened his heart repeatedly that
God hardened Pharoah’s heart.
The end result will be condemnation (v12). There
will be a dividing of the sheep and the goats, the wheat and the
tares. Those who have not truly believed in the Lord will apostasize
and be condemned. True believers will never be lost—God will keep
them to the very end. Are you truly saved? Did you sincerely will
all your heart believed in the Lord Jesus Christ?
The Reign of Lawlessness (v7)
The word "lawless" occurs 3 times here: in
v3—the man of sin or lawlessness; in v7 the mystery of iniquity or
lawlessness; and in v8 the Wicked or Lawless one. First let us deal
with the person of lawlessness.
Person of Lawlessness (v3)
He is called in v3 the man of sin, and in v 8
the Wicked one. Who is he? In v3 he is also called the son of
perdition. This same term was used in John 17:12 of Judas Iscariot
who betrayed the Lord. From this we see that the man of sin is (1)
an individual, a person, not an institution, a nation, a force or an
influence; (2) like Judas—someone who professes Christ but in all
his deeds he undermines the Lord and works against Him; i.e. he is
an Apostate (with a capital A); and (3) in v4 he is described as one
who "opposeth" Christ. He is the Antichrist (i.e. Counter-Christ):
he wants to take the place of Christ, to usurp Him as Lord and King.
He wants to be God (cf Satan in Isa 14, Ezek 28). He has this
Satanic ambition.
In v8 we are told that this particular
Satanically inspired person will be revealed. This Antichrist will
imitate the coming of Christ. He will probably identify himself as
the Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour, and deceive many. "You are
looking for your coming Saviour, I am he," he will say. That is why
Jesus warned us, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall
come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Matt
24:4-5).
How will the Antichrist capture the allegiance
and adoration of the whole world? V9: his coming is "after the
working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." He
will be empowered by Satan to perform miracles in order to deceive
you. I cannot help but think that today’s Charismatic Movement with
all their signs and wonders is preparing the false church to receive
this false Christ. I hear that the great miracle worker of
today—Benny Hinn—is coming to town. Be careful Christian, don’t be
deceived. Know the truth and love the truth that you might be saved
(v10).
Jesus Christ will not return until the
Antichrist is revealed.
Principle of Lawlessness (v7)
I do not see the Antichrist to be here yet, so I
can still enjoy myself, and do what I like, Christ is not coming so
soon. Paul warns those who think in this way in vv5-6. Do not be
presumptuous. The Antichrist can appear at any time. For although
the person of lawlessness has not yet come, the principle of
lawlessness is already at work (v7). In other words, this work of
opposing Christ and His Church is already going on. For instance,
1:4 tells us that the Thessalonian Church was undergoing
persecutions and tribulations. 1 John 2:18 tells us, "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." There are many antichrists running around
in the world today. Satan will spare no effort to destroy or corrupt
the Word of God, to hinder the Church from preaching the gospel, to
attack God’s servants and His saints. So we must be ever diligent in
proclaiming the Gospel, and ever vigilant in defending the Faith.
The Restrainer
What prevents Antichrist from appearing right
now is the work of the Restrainer. V6, "And now ye know what
withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time," and v7b, "only
he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." Who
or what is this Restrainer? It is difficult to identify who or what
the Restrainer is? There are many views: Law of God, Archangel
Michael, the Holy Spirit etc. I don’t have the answer. The popular
view is that it is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is presently
doing this work of convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, of
judgment (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit is not just active in the
Church, but also in the World in restraining evil, from letting evil
run amok. Come to think of it, it is not just the Spirit, but also
the Word of God, and the Lord’s angels etc that are also doing part
of the restraining work. So it can be a combination of these. So
once the Lord withdraws His restraining hand, this sin-cursed world
will take its natural course, and wickedness will reach its height
with the Wicked one leading the way.
Conclusion
There will be 2 comings: The coming of Christ,
and the coming of the Antichrist. Antichrist will first come before
Christ returns. And when Christ returns He will destroy all His
enemies by "the spirit of his mouth, and "brightness of his coming"
(v8). For which coming are you waiting? Which side are you on?
Christ or Antichrist. May you be found on the Lord’s side, for it
will be the winning side. If you are still not a Christian, I plead
with you this evening to believe in Jesus Christ, and you will be
saved.
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