Question:
I would like to know in-depth information on what “the mystery of iniquity” is in the Bible.
Answer:
II Thessalonians 2:1-12 says, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 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; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY DOTH ALREADY WORK: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
A “mystery” is “a religious truth that man can know by revelation alone” (Merriam Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary). “Iniquity” is defined as “gross injustice; wickedness” (Merriam Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary). In the above passage, the Lord is revealing to us the “mystery of iniquity,” the one behind the great wickedness in the latter times (specifically, during the Tribulation Period).
The Tribulation Period will be a time of trouble greater than man has ever known. Jeremiah 30:5-7 says, “For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? ALAS! FOR THAT DAY IS GREAT, SO THAT NONE IS LIKE IT: IT IS EVEN THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE; but he shall be saved out of it.” Revelation 3:10 says, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION, WHICH SHALL COME UPON ALL THE WORLD, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Matthew 24:21,22 says, “For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, SUCH AS WAS NOT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THIS TIME, NO, NOR EVER SHALL BE. AND EXCEPT THOSE DAYS SHOULD BE SHORTENED, THERE SHOULD NO FLESH BE SAVED: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
There will arise a person who is very wicked, but comes to power through deceit. Daniel 11:21 says, “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.” Daniel 11:32-37 says, “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.”
After having just read that passage, read II Thessalonians 2:1-12 once again: “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 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; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
The above passage is telling us more about that “mystery of iniquity,” more about the evil one behind the iniquity of the Tribulation Period. And it tells us that the mystery of iniquity “doth already work.”
Remember what the evil one is going to do? “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all POWER and SIGNS and LYING WONDERS…” Now stop and think. The mystery of iniquity is already working. He is deceiving people with what? With POWER, and SIGNS, and LYING WONDERS.
What group is making much of those very things today? That answer is easy — the Charismatic Movement. In their movement, they have already made the transition from the Bible being the authority, to signs and wonders being the authority. (If you do not believe that, just pin a Charismatic down on something unbiblical in their movement, and they will make a statement like, “I do not know about what the Bible says, BUT I KNOW WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED!” They have already made their experiences the authority in their lives.) And what is interesting, is that they do not question a person’s beliefs, as long as those people seem to show POWER, SIGNS, and WONDERS in their lives, and TALK ABOUT JESUS. Denominations do not matter to them. The doctrine of salvation does not matter to them (that is, if a person talks about Jesus, then it does not matter if that person also says that you have to be baptized to be saved, and that you have to observe mass, and that you have to have last rites, etc.) In other words, they are not interested in checking out the details about what that person means concerning Jesus and salvation, as long as that person talks about Jesus, salvation, and POWER, SIGNS, and WONDERS.
Having said that, carefully look at Matthew 7:21-23. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not PROPHESIED IN THY NAME? and IN THY NAME HAVE CAST OUT DEVILS? and IN THY NAME DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS? And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.”
Notice that these people often talk about the Lord, but that does not mean that they are saved. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Notice that not just a “few” people are going to be in this group, but “many.” “Many will say to me in that day…”
Notice what this large group of people is known for doing, and known for using as a standard to test if someone is truly saved and Spirit-filled. “Lord, Lord, have we not PROPHESIED in thy name? and in thy name have CAST OUT DEVILS? and in thy name done many WONDERFUL WORKS?” (Those three things describe exactly what the Charismatic Movement emphasizes). These things have become such a test of salvation to them upon earth, that when they stand before God, that is the proof that they offer God to show that they are saved.
But please notice what God is going to say to them when they offer such proof of salvation. “And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.” Those people (not a few, but many) are going to be told by Jesus that He does not know who they are (that is, they are not His children — they are not saved). That group does not measure their salvation by Bible doctrine, but by religious experiences. That is a “works” salvation, which is not salvation at all. And Jesus is going to tell them, “DEPART FROM ME.”
Notice very carefully what His final words to them are. “Depart from me, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.” Remember II Thessalonians 2:7? “For THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY DOTH ALREADY WORK…” It is already working through the Charismatic Movement of today. It is already gathering together a “one world church” (no denominations, no specific Bible doctrine, just signs and wonders). How will the antichrist deceive so many people with his “power and signs and lying wonders,” II Thessalonians 2:9? He will do so because the Charismatic Movement has laid the foundation for him, by transferring people’s trust from the Word of God to signs and wonders. The antichrist will come along with signs and wonders after the saved are taken at the Rapture, and they will believe him because he will show signs and wonders to them.
The Bible has revealed “the mystery of iniquity” as something which has already begun, and will hit its peak in the Tribulation Period. Carefully read Matthew 7:21-23 again. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not PROPHESIED in thy name? and in thy name have CAST OUT DEVILS? and in thy name done many WONDERFUL WORKS? And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.” The Bible believer can read that and understand who is working iniquity right now, and paving the way for the antichrist.