Mystery of Iniquity

In a letter to the Christians at Thessalonica, Paul spoke of a future event that he called the day of the Lord. He wrote, “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, NKJV).

I believe that Paul was speaking of Christ's second coming, and our Lord stated that his return would not take place until two things happen: 1. A great apostasy occurs, and many who once knew God fall away from the truth of the gospel they have known; 2. The Antichrist, or man of sin, is revealed.

A “falling away” is already taking place. Many believers today, as well as Christians throughout the past few decades, have grown cold in their love for God. With that in mind, I will focus on Paul’s second point, that the day of the Lord will not come until the “man of sin is revealed.”

Was Paul saying here that Jesus will not come back until the Antichrist has been enthroned as a world ruler and we all know his identity? I don't think so. Paul knew that Christ could return at any moment, and Jesus himself said he would come when least expected, in the twinkling of an eye.

I believe Paul was saying, “Jesus will not come until the Antichrist’s full plan and agenda are exposed, and the church is made aware of it.” The Antichrist’s plan has already been exposed in scripture. Paul declared, “ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work…” (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Apparently, a spirit of iniquity will fall upon lost humanity, gripping people’s hearts so powerfully that the man of sin will ascend to power quickly. Paul was talking about a secret initiation into the cult of the antichrist, a subtle and demonic influence he saw taking place in his own day. Right now, this same mysterious spirit is at full seductive power, preparing masses of people to receive the man of sin.

Our cure is turning with repentant hearts to our Savior, asking him to uproot besetting sins, and returning with open minds to scripture. Purified, we will not fall to this spirit of deception.