AS stated earlier, “Mystery” in the New Testament does not carry the idea of a secret to be withheld, rather it is the revealed truth; therefore the mystery of iniquity abounds in the known ways through which sin enters a person. First, there must be willingness (voluntary or involuntary) on the part of the victim to ignore the principles of heaven or the gospel and ally with Satan to rebel against God by disobeying His Word. Apostle Paul says in II Thess. 2:7 that: “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way”.
The mystery of iniquity like the “man of sin” (v 4) refers to a power that is characterized by lawlessness. The reference to law is particularly significant in view of the attempt by Satan – “the man of sin”, “the antichrist” to change the law in the operation of the “mystery of iniquity” referred to in Dan. 7:25. which says “He will defy the Most High God, and wear down the saints with persecution, and try to change the laws, morals and customs. God’s people will be helpless in his hands for (a time and times and the dividing of time) three and half years” (Living Bible rendition).
“He” in Dan. 7:25 and “the mystery of iniquity” in II Thess. 2:7 apply to Satan, the author of lawlessness who will camouflage his personality by working through agents — perverse and depraved human beings, devils and demons. In the last days, he will personally play a more direct role culminating in his deception by personally counterfeiting the coming of Christ.
The expression (in Thess. 2:7) “only he who letteth will let” is often misinterpreted to mean that only those who permit Satan to deceive them will be deceived, and such will be those to “be taken out of the way”.
This interpretation is not in the general or any specific meaning of the Greek word “katecho” rendered “letteth” in this verse, and “withholdeth “ in verse 6. “Let” in Old English (in use at the time of the translation of the Bible into English) meant “to restrain” “to detain” “to hold back”. The Greek construction of verse 7 would call for a transliteral addition of an explanatory phrase, such as, “will restrain” to complete the thought of the sentence. In this context, it would therefore not be the individual who can check. And the one to “be taken out of the way” is not the victim of deception, but Satan, associated with the “mystery of iniquity” in II Thess. 2:7 and so identified in the prophecy of Dan. 7:25. A concise paraphrase of verse 7 of II Thess. 2 would read something like this: “For the mystery of iniquity is already at work: but the Restrainer, God, who holds the evil in check will continue to restrain, until the time comes for the man of sin to be exposed and taken out of the way”.
This passage is an assurance to the believer that Satan will not continue with his operation for ever. God will, in His appointed time, bring his activities to an end, so that the elect shall not be trapped for ever. But, for the unbelievers, verse 10 of II Thess. 2 describes their lot and portion thus: “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved”.
This verse further identifies the nature of the counterfeit Christ that is characterised by all deceit that comes from unrighteousness. Satan may always deceive the unregenerated soul “them that perish” but cannot deceive the elect. The unbelievers can be deceived by Satan because they reject the opportunity to love the truth — and spurned the privilege. The unbeliever not only rejects the truth, but even refuses to entertain love for the truth – he hates the truth. The final condemnation of sinners will be based on their rejection of Jesus who is “the truth” (John 14:6). The sinners’ refusal to cherish love for what is true, makes them susceptible to being influenced by all that is deceitful and by all the machinations of Satan. And just as rejection of the truth which is Christ Jesus spells death, so its acceptance brings life unto eternal salvation.
This simply brings out the conformity of what mystery represents in the NT. In II Thess. 2:7, the apostle is saying that the wicked spiritual principle unleashed on mankind by Satan is already revealed to believers who are also already acquainted with the devices of the devil – the roaring lion seeking who to devour. The “mystery’ here is the exposition of the devices of the devil to the believer which include deceitful miracles, signs, and wonders, lying etc. The Christian who lends himself to backsliding and the penetration of sin, lends himself to destruction, because the devices of Satan have been manifestly revealed, and like the unbeliever such a believer does so… “… with all disceivabless of unrighteousness in them that parish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (II Thess. 2:10).
To such disobedient man, verses 11 and 12 say: “And for this cause, God shall send them (the wicked disobedient men) strong delusion that they should believe a lie. That they might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness”.
Satan and his agents can only deceive and mislead those who reject the gospel truth and doubt the Word of God. The weakness they thus create in their spirit makes them vulnerable to the “attack’ of the devil upon their senses and end up in being mislead into iniquity. For such, God shall not intervene because those who reject the Word of God reject God Himself (see John 1:1, 14). They will degenerate to the lowest level of apostasy, licentiousness and reprobation, even unto possible spiritual death. It is revealed truth (mystery) that: “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23 and “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Eze. 18:4).
Because of the unbelievers’ refusal to love and believe the truth, eternal death becomes the result of their obdurate attitude. Having placed themselves beyond redemption, God therefore abandons them to their chosen course.
In the Scriptures, God is often said to do that which he does not prevent, so He permits a “strong delusion” meaning a working error or an operation which leads to a final error that results in irrevocable condemnation. Those who are deceived into believing Satan to be Jesus when Satan impersonates Christ are beyond redemption, for there can be no worse lie than that the author of evil should pose as Christ, the source of truth. To believe this lie in preference to truth which is Christ Jesus, is sure proof that the unregenerate find pleasure in unrighteousness or in iniquity — an inspired conclusion that those who are lost prefer and enjoy doing what is wrong to what is right.
THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST IN US, THE HOPE OF GLORY
THE revealed gospel truth of the “Christ within the believer” remains for all time, the secret of a successful Christian life: It abounds in Christ abiding in the believer and living out in him, the same perfect life that He (Christ) lived here on earth. The effect and manifestation is two fold. First, the love of Christ constrains the believer (II Cor.. 5: 14).that is, that Christ’s love for the Christian (and not the believer’s love for Christ) urges, impels and controls the believer’s, thoughts, words and actions along the path of sinlessness, and righteousness bestowed by faithfulness; and secondly, make the righteousness of Christ to become a reality in the believer’s life through Christ’s sinless humanity which is also a living condemnation of sin. This condemnation of sin, effected by the life and death of Christ, means also the destruction of sin’s evil power for the believer who is united with Christ in His death, and who rises with him to newness of life in the spirit (see Rom. 8:3,4). God requires perfection in His children (the saints), and the perfect life of Christ in His humanity is God’s assurance, of the believers’ perfection of the character.
To attain this, the Christian’s conduct is to be regulated according to the dictates and guidance of the Spirit – the indwelling spirit of Christ which not only generates but stimulates love — the fulfilling of the law’ (Rom. 13:10). The result of the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is the manifestation of Christ-like love, for “the fruit of the spirit is love” (see Gal. 5:22). Life, according to the spirit means a life in which the righteous demands of God’s law are fulfilled — a life of love and loving obedience. That such life might be made possible for believers, was the great purpose for which God sent His Son into the world.
It is also God’s will and plan to let His people penetrate deeper into the mysteries of divine knowledge by the help of the Holy Spirit. And, on man accepting this revelation, God proceeds to transform the believer’s disposition into saintly character that is capable of receiving and accommodating the heavenly brightness of the Second Advent and the manifestation of Christ in all His divine perfection and power. This is the “blessed hope” that has been the grand incentive of Christian faith for over 2,000 years, buoying the believer’s spirit and steeling his courage amid all the vicissitudes of life.
This mystery reveals that the dark moments of discouragement, disillusionment or sorrow in this life’s experience will be gloriously compensated for by the Christian’s hope in the second advent, when Christ’s glorious appearing will bring about the unveiling of His divine attributes (see Titus 2:13) as He returns to this earth as King of kings, surrounded by the glorious splendour of myriads of heavenly angels. This glory will be shared by the faithful followers of Christ (Col. 3:4), for they will be like Him when they see Him as He is (John 3:2). They will reflect Him as a mirror and will be changed into the same image (as His), from glory to glory (II Cor. 3:18). The revelation of this glory also includes, splendour and beauty of heaven, the throne of God (Acts 7:49), a bright and glorious place (Rev. 21:10, 11,23,24; 22:5).
The anticipation (with faith) of this glory should sustain the believer whenever he faces afflictions here on earth. The suffering which may be the devil’s temptation may seem great, but they are light, compared with that “eternal weight of glory” which the afflictions are working out (2 Cor. 4:17). The afflictions will be ‘only for a period, but the glory will be eternal. The afflictions soon pass way, yielding place to the glory that will never dim nor diminish for ever and ever (1 Peter 1:4).
The indwelling presence of Jesus in the heart of the believer is the manifestation of this eternal mystery – the glory that will be extended to the believer in its transfiguring radiance – revealed in the fact – the gospel truth – that by inaugurating the salvation plan, God placed before the fallen man, the hope of restoration to the divine presence. The incarnation of Christ brought the realisation of this hope closer. And, the indwelling Christ in the Christian’s heart gives evidence that the power of God’s grace is working out the transformation of the believer’s character into Christ-like character, thus making real, the believer’s hope of justification. The Christian lives today in the kingdom of grace which gives him assurance that he will one day dwell with Christ in His Kingdom of Glory (See Col. 1:27,28). And all this in the context of the revealed truth – the mystery – of “the Christ in us, the Hope of glory”.
