Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 12

Paul Explains the Great Apostasy Part 4

2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 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: KJV

As we mentioned briefly in our study/commentary (Volume 10), the preparatory work of 'the Anti-Christ' is already at work in the earth through the 'spirit of anti-christ' or the 'spirit of error' that is not only prevelant in the earth as a whole, but it is manifested in what also is referred to as Christian teaching in many Churches around the world. The devil's main goal is worship (as we also declared in a previous Volume), so it is no astonishment that he prepares, promotes, and then proclaims a different gospel than the actual true Gospel of Grace just as he tried to be successful turning the believers in the Church @ Galatia away from the true Gospel of Grace into one of his false gospels, but Paul rebuked the Galatians and this false gospel that they were being coerced by (it was a gospel of works by the way) with these words, "I am surprised {and} astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade {and} deserting Him Who invited {and} called you by the grace (unmerited favor) of Christ (the Messiah) [and that you are transferring your allegiance] to a different [even an opposition] gospel. Not that there is [or could be] any other [genuine Gospel], but there are [obviously] some who are troubling {and} disturbing {and} bewildering you [with a different kind of teaching which they offer as a gospel] and want to pervert {and} distort the Gospel of Christ (the Messiah) [into something which it absolutely is not]. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to {and} different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! (Galatians 1:6-8) (Amplified Bible).

So then, we see that the 'spirit of anti-christ' was already alive and working in the world, even though 'the Anti-Christ', that is, the 'man of sin' Paul referred to earlier had not yet been revealed and so we understand Paul's words here in his next verse when he says, "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." (2 Thessalonians 2:7) (KJV). The English word 'mystery' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word musterion which is from a derivative of muō and means (to shut the mouth); a secret or “mystery” (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites): - mystery. The English word 'iniquity' is translated from the Greek word anomia meaning illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness: Therefore, we see that iniquity is manifested throughout the earth by acts of open, oppressive, and outrageous violence perpetrated by human beings against other human beings often against people who they don't know and have done no wrong to the  purveyor of the violent acts, but iniquity is also subtle, that is, in a difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze and working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way, for example, the way the devil has persuaded men and women over the centuries to add or take away from the Word of God, i.e. the Mormons with their 'Book of Mormon' which is followed and adhered to more closely than the Bible, remember the Bible and what was written in it by the Apostle John about this very thing, "I [personally solemnly] warn everyone who listens to the statements of the prophecy [the predictions and the consolations and admonitions pertaining to them] in this book: If anyone shall add anything to them, God will add {and} lay upon him the plagues (the afflictions and the calamities) that are recorded {and} described in this book. And if anyone cancels {or} takes away from the statements of the book of this prophecy [these predictions relating to Christ's kingdom and its speedy triumph, together with the consolations and admonitions or warnings pertaining to them], God will cancel {and} take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the city of holiness (purity and hallowedness), which are described {and} promised in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19) (Amplified Bible).

The little English phrase 'he who now letteth' is translated by the same Greek word that we declared for the English phrase 'what withholdeth' in the previous verse which is katecho meaning to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively): It is God the Holy Spirit working in the Church of Jesus Christ or in the Body of Christ that has the devil and the complete demonstration of iniquity and all its ugliness on a leash, but when the true Church, that is, all genuine believers in Jesus Christ are raptured, then the leash will be removed and usher into the earth the Great Tribulation as we also declared in the previous study/commentary. Paul describes what will take place when this occurs with these words, "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:" (2 Thessalonians 2:8) (KJV). That wicked Paul refers to here is obviously the 'man of sin' or the Anti-Christ, but Paul also with great delight in his inner man (I'm sure) declares the end of this usurper of the Throne of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. The little English phrase 'shall consume' is translated by the Greek word analisko meaning properly to use up, that is, destroy: - consume. When Paul says here, 'with the Spirit of His mouth', he means simply that Christ Jesus our Lord will speak and the end of the devils unleashed state will come to a sudden and immediate halt (I think He will say, 'Be gone you little beast anti-christ into the Lake of Fire you go, your father the devil will be joining you shortly, its over your finished forever, see ya would'nt wanna be ya'), for this is exactly what the Scripture declares will happen, "Then the devil who had led them astray [deceiving and seducing them] was hurled into the fiery lake of burning brimstone, where the beast and false prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (through the ages of the ages)." (Revelation 20:10) (Amplified Bible). For those who still hold out hope that the devil will rule and reign, really? Come on, get a grip and turn to Jesus Christ now!

"There is a system of corrupt doctrine, which will lead to the general apostasy, already in existence, but it is a mystery; it is as yet hidden; it dare not show itself, because of that which hindereth or withholdeth. But when that which now restraineth shall be taken out of the way, then shall that wicked one be revealed-it will then be manifest who he is, and what he is." Adam Clarke

"The head of this antichristian kingdom is called that wicked one, or that lawless person who sets up a human power in competition with, and contradiction to, the divine dominion and power of the Lord Jesus Christ; but, as he would thus manifest himself to be the man of sin, so the revelation or discovery of this to the world would be the sure presage and the means of his ruin. The Apostle assures the Thessalonians that the Lord would consume and destroy him; the consuming of him precedes his final destruction, and that is by the Spirit of His mouth, by His word of command; the pure Word of God, accompanied with the Spirit of God, will discover this mystery of iniquity, and make the power of antichrist to consume and waste away; and in due time it will be totally and finally destroyed, and this will be by the brightness of Christ's coming. Note, The coming of Christ to destroy the wicked will be with peculiar glory and eminent lustre and brightness." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…