Gates of the City

The mystery of iniquity is at work in the world today, and no wonder, because it has been working ever since God purposed to reveal His truths unto men. From the very beginning when the adversary crept into the garden he began to preach another gospel, “For you can be as gods.” This is a very sinister evil that causes men to sin in pursuit of such great spiritual ambitions. It is one thing for men to succumb to their basest appetites and become as Paul referred to the Cretians, “evil beasts, slow bellies.” But it is a completely different and mysterious evil that leads men down the road of religiosity to exalt and justify themselves in their own pious arrogance to the condemnation of others, such is the mystery of iniquity.

This is the theme of a passage of scripture Paul wrote about to the Thessalonians. Please take a moment to read the passage below.

2Th 2:3 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;  4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.  5 Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now you know what with holds that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 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: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Many believers today seem to be knocked off-center and caught up with either the rapture or the imminent return of Christ to the point of obsession. There isn’t a celestial event or High Holy Day that can pass without calculations being made as to whether this is the sign or day that ushers in the coming or rapture of the Church. I do not in any way mean to imply that we shouldn’t be eagerly looking towards and hastening the coming of the Lord, but it is still something that is to be done in faithful patience and trusting in our Lord. But do we trust the Lord or not to whisper unto us to when our redemption is at hand? Are we listening? Why do so many feel the need to figure it out?

 James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.  8 Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh.

 God has predetermined the times and the seasons, and it only after “the time” was “fulfilled” that Jesus came the first time preaching the gospel. It was in fact an appointed time, and such will be equally true of the Lord’s return for His bride.

Da 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Mr 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Ga 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

 However before our Lord returns, there are things that must come to past first, things written in scripture to enable us to be children of the day and not of the night, so that the day of His coming be not as a thief in the dark unto us. We are to be discerning the time of His coming, even thought the actual day and hour may elude our pinpoint discernment, but we are also to be about our Father’s business of living and walking in the spirit doing all that He has commanded us.

 Lu 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

We need to give heed to the wisdom in Ecclesiastes to give ourselves wholeheartedly the task at hand and to work while it is yet day, for the night is coming when no man can work. Now is our opportunity lest tomorrow we be filled with unbearable sorrow and gnashing of teeth that we did not redeem the time and give the Lord the labor due unto Him.

 Ec 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

Still, it cannot be denied how the whole world seems to be chattering about the end times and whether the end of the world is at hand. Wars and rumors of war are not just taking place, but the actual beating of plowshares into swords and the rattling of such are in every corner of the world. Which is why I wanted to reason this passage in light of the past, that we might correctly discern the present and anticipate what lies ahead in the  future. Now, I am not saying, “I right. This is what this means.” I am simply saying history supports this perspective and I feel it noble to consider its application to today that we might not be taken unawares tomorrow.

There has been a flood of theories as to what and who “he who now lets” may be. Some people have said it is the Holy Spirit, that God is going to remove Him and then the antichrist will come. Others say no, it is the church, that the antichrist cannot come until the church is raptured away. These are only two of the many speculations as to what Paul was saying. Let everyone be fully persuaded within their own hearts as their true meaning,  praying that Good would give them ears to hear what the Spirit has been endeavoring to say for ages unto the Church.

What I would first like to point out is perhaps the meaning of the “falling away” in verse 3. The Greek word is “apostasia” from where we derive our English word apostasy. See below –

• World English Dictionary – Apostasy: abandonment of one’s religious faith, party, a cause, etc.
• Merriam – Webster Apostasy: 1- renunciation of a religious faith;  2- abandonment of a previous loyalty.
• Strong’s Greek: Apostasia – feminine of apostasion; defection from truth (properly, the state) (“apostasy”):–falling away, forsake.

This Greek word is only used twice in the New Testament–

 Acts 21:21 And they are informed of thee, that you [Paul] teaches all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

 2 Thess 2:3  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;

 In Acts the word is translated “to forsake.” Now notice what Strong says about the “apostasia” being the “feminine of apostasion.” Here are three verses where that Greek word is used –

Matthew 5:31  It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

Matthew 19:7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

Mark 10:4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

 Please notice the finality of the words meaning, a certificate of divorcement. It means the casting away of the wife, but Luke and Paul’s use of “apostasia,” the “feminine of apostasion,” it implies the wife’s divorcement of the husband. That she is rejecting him and permanently ending the covenant of marriage. This goes beyond adultery and having an affair, this is a forsaking of the relationship all together.

This should be some very scary stuff to us. Because let’s look ahead briefly at what Paul says to the Church-

 2 Thess 2: 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 I believe and therefore I preach that with the presentation of the Gospel comes the gift of empowerment to believe and fully commit to it. That is what “receiving a love for the truth that they might be saved” is intended to mean to the hearer of this word. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is intended to cut to the center of man’s being and convict him of sin, righteousness and judgment, as well as the necessity of repentance. Yet “repentance” isn’t just a turning away from sin, no more than “a belief unto salvation” is not mere acceptance of one God sending His only begotten Son to die on Calvary’s tree as historical fact. Repentance is a returning unto God what is rightfully His and belief unto salvation is an absolute entrusting one’s self entirely into His hands.

 Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

 If one were to read down further in Hebrews 10 they would also find this verse as a strong admonition to believers–

 Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

 While Paul is stating this as an encouragement, “We are not of them who draw back unto perdition,” he was in no way saying a believer couldn’t draw back unto perdition. But if we do not fully embrace and “receive a love for the truth” that we might be saved, then we very well may. Remember, apostasy is our choosing to  “fall away” or divorce ourselves from the truth. One would do well to consider how this “love” we are called to have for the truth is not merely an emotion, rather a resolved choice to do something. Just as one must choose to love their neighbor and enemies if they are to be obedient unto God, so must one choose to love the truth.

Love, biblical love, is commitment . . . and commitment is a choice. We love our neighbors and enemies when we choose to be committed to their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. If they are naked and hungry, we clothed and feed them. If they are down-hearted or afraid, we seek to offer them comfort and will weep with them that weep. If they are spiritually lost, we earnestly pray for their salvation and seek opportunity to share the Gospel with them. I don’t know of any verse in the Bible were you would damage the intent by changing the word love with commit/commitment.

 De 6:5 And you shall love the LORD thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

De 6:5 And you shall be committed to the LORD thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

 Mt 22:37  Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shall love thy neighbor as yourself.

Mt 22:37  Jesus said unto him, You shall be committed to the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, You shall be committed to your neighbor as to yourself.

 Jas 2:8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shall be committed to your neighbor as to yourself, you do well:

 However, making a commitment to the truth when we are sold under sin is an impossible thing. Such is why God has given “a measure of faith to every man,” the ability to hear and believe the simple truth of the Gospel so as to receive power from on high to walk according to it and commit one’s ways unto the Lord. That is why when the Gospel is preached it is the power of God giving men an opportunity to repent, to return unto God and commit their lives back unto their Creator. But that is also why it is impossible for men to find repentance after they have cast God’s words from them. Repentance is a gift to those who will hear.

 Ac 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Ac 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ro 2:4 Or despises you the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Ro 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias says, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 Failure to accept the fullness of God’s grace often stems from a lack of understanding why we are offered forgiveness in the first place. Forgiveness of our sins made possible by the atonement of His blood is so God can cleanse these fleshly temples and make them acceptable. God cannot place His Spirit in an unclean temple even though He desires to give His Spirit to all who ask of Him. However the reason He gives men His spirit is to empower them to become the sons of God; redeemed men called to the partaking of the divine nature of Christ. Which is why a failure to commit one’s self to the Lord as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable is a frustration of the grace of God sufficient to convert sinner into saint. Again I say, Repentance is not just ceasing to do bad things, it is a returning unto God what is rightfully His and belief unto salvation is an absolute entrusting one’s self entirely into His hands.

However, when men are offended by the call to pick up their crosses they will cast God’s words behind them and risk the danger of God giving them over to “strong delusion.” Strong delusion is not necessarily that there is no God, rather I am persuaded in Paul’s content to the Thessalonians that strong delusion is that they are acceptable to God as they are, or by means other than He has dictated through His commandments. Such is a lie forged in the pit of hell made especially for those who would not receive a love for the truth that they might be saved.

All that said; let’s now look a little deeper into Paul’s words and at history.

Before Paul’s conversion he was Saul the Pharisee who persecuted the church. He knew the power of the religious system and the authority it had to enforce the dictated of God’s commands. He knew very well the commandment of scripture that if one of his countrymen should encourage others to go serve other gods that they were worthy of death and were to be sought out and killed according to divine justice.

 De 13:6 If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend, which is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you hast not known, you, nor thy fathers;  7 Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from you, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;  8 You shall not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall thou spare, neither shall you conceal him:  9 But you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.  10 And you shall stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.  11 And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.

 Paul’s zeal in persecuting the Church was a zeal for God, howbeit not in truth. Paul felt this Jesus that was being preached was “another god” and all they who were preaching Christ worthy of death according to divine decree. This is why Paul said he was the “chief of sinners,” not because he was an abase person given unto sins; rather because out of a zeal for God he persecute God’s own Son and those who loved him. That is why Paul labored had than all the other apostles to build up what he once sought to destroy. Paul, one could say, conducted his own “inquisitions” and crusades against those he felt were heretics.

But Paul warned that there would be those who would come after him who would preach “another Jesus” and “another gospel,” which would not be another, but rather a perversion of the truth. A false Jesus and a false gospel perpetrated by another spirit, an angel of light, a deceiving spirit. A false Jesus and a false gospel that would be accepted and believed on by those who refuse to commit to the terms of true discipleship.

Now knowing the power and the authority of the religious leaders, Paul was equally aware of the Roman’s power and the authority.  When Paul went to see James in Jerusalem there was uproar among the people because some had claimed Paul had taken Gentiles into the temple and began to both accuse and assault him. The disturbance was so great that a Roman tribune in charge of a troop of soldiers under him hastened to the temple and took Paul into custody was about to have him questioned by scourging.  Paul questioned the lawfulness of the scourging before it took place as he made known his Roman citizenship.

What this shows is Paul understood the not only the religious and civil laws of the Jews, but also the laws of the Romans. This is where Paul was taken into Roman custody and eventually taken to Rome where he was martyred. However, listen to the words of Paul below –

Ac 25:7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. 8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended anything at all.

Paul knew the laws of Jews and Romans and lived above reproached to them all before God and man. Therefore Paul would have taken great care when ministering to the Church the things he knew by scripture he knew would soon be coming to pass. I think because of that Paul wrote in verse 5, “Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” Whatever he had told them in person, he was reluctant to write about; because what is written can become evidence to be twisted against him, especially if it was concerning Rome itself.

Consider Paul’s word here as he speaks quotes Habakkuk concerning the fate of Israel–

 Ac 13:40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

 In Habakkuk’s day it was a warning that God was going to bring “the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.” In Paul’s day it was a warning that the words of Christ were true, “You shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” Now like many prophecies, this one can have fulfillment more than once. But what we do know for a fact is that in 70 A.D. Rome did indeed encompass Jerusalem to it final destruction and burning of the Temple.

Just as God later turn around and judged the Chaldeans, Paul could have easily preached to the Church of Thessalonica from Daniel 2 that after God used the Romans to judge and destroy Israel and the Temple, how Rome too would fall from its height and glory.

 Daniel 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.  43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.  44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

 However, to write such a thing while Israel was under Roman rule would have made Paul an open enemy of Rome, teaching its fall and judgment by the God of Israel. Such a message would be reserved for those that the Church was certain true followers of Christ knowing that the enemies thereof would twist the words to be used against them. Such could very well be the intent of Paul’s words when he wrote back saying “now you know what withholds” or prevents the coming of the apostate, keeping that man of sin from being  revealed, the son of perdition. Even though Rome was an ungodly empire, it served God’s purpose and was there for a “time and season.” Perhaps Rome and its General Titus was who the author of Hebrews spoke of as soon coming to reward those who drew back into perdition –

 Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

But what we definitely see in history is that as Rome did decline and fall from supremacy it gave way for the rise of part of the mystery of iniquity called Roman Catholicism; Christianized paganism. An apostasy that came with religious arrogance as a man claimed to be the incarnate representative of God speaking with infallibly. Changing times and laws dismissing and retaining sins, blessing and cursing nations who refused to acknowledge the authority of the Church. This was the mindset of the translators of the Bible into English as is witness in their words to King James –

 “…the zeal of Your Majesty toward the house of God doth not slack or go backward, but is more and more kindled, manifesting itself abroad in the farthest parts of [Christendom], by writing in defense of the Truth, (which hath given such a blow unto that man of Sin, as will not be healed,)…”

 I suggest that perhaps Paul was referring to Rome when he spoke of what was “withholding what might be revealed in his time.” Indicating that Rome was used of God for the purpose of chastising and destroying Israel for their rejection of Christ, but would still be preserved to delay the coming apostasy from the truth of the Gospel.

When that apostasy came, with it came the inquisitions, crusades and persecutions against those who did not yield to the apostate religious system. If the readers can entertain the feasibility of that interpretation finding application to Rome’s fall and the rise of Roman Catholicism in the past, I would then like to turn our focus to the present and like events increasing in the rapidly approaching future. Remember, often times prophecies like an onion can have several layers of fulfillment.

Just as God allowed Rome to continue to delay the apostasy from the truth, likewise I am persuaded that God allowed the dictators of many of the Middle East nations to be in power in the last days to delay the coming apostasy of Islam from rising to a deadly power and authority to the threaten again the not only Israel and the Holy City, but all those who love and worship the Lord Jesus Christ in spirit and truth. For once again, the mystery of iniquity works as Islamism under the rise of the Muslim Brother as it preaches the coming of another Messiah or Mahdi, reducing the only begotten on of God to “another Jesus” which cannot save under ” another gospel” of hate by “another spirit,” and yet the world today as in the days of Paul “bears with him.”

2Co 11:4 For if he that comes preachs another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

The so-called Arab Spring began with the removing of civil authorities  that were withholding the latter-day flood of radical Islam (strong delusion) which is ushering in damnation on all those who refuse to honor the Son even as the Father himself, who is worthy of all glory, honor and power. The fall of all these evil dictators which served to hindered the revelation of the spirit of antichrist is eroding away . . . has now allowed the Muslim Brotherhood  to arise to religious power and authority will bring with it deadly religious wars, greater persecution and be aggressively gathering together the nations once again against Israel. Pray for the peace of Israel. Islam, like Catholicism in her roots did, will demand all the governments of the world to bow before it and kiss its feet or suffer as heretics.

Open hatred and intentions of Islamists

Today’s news – Egypt: A religious revival

“As Islamists emerge from elections as the country’s leading political force  . . .  “

Nevertheless sisters and brothers, be bold in the Lord, stay jealous for His name. Confess Jesus Christ as the only name given under earth whereby all men must be saved. Remember we are not just to warn men to repent; we are to tell them God commands it! 

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commanded all men everywhere to repent: 31 Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.

 We must return unto God what is rightfully His and entrust our lives entirely into His hands; be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable. Lay hold of salvation sisters and brothers, redeem the time, live for the King. Remember that these things must come to past.

2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him,  2 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.

Stand fast. Precious in the eyes of the Lord are the death of His saints.

Peace to those who love the Lord Jesus Christ.