Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY

A songwriter once penned these words: “Troublesome times are here, filling men’s hearts with fear; freedoms we all hold dear now are at stake . . .” When one looks at the political arena, it appears little above mass confusion. When one looks at the religious scene it is void of most of the Bible teachings. When one looks at the economic stage, it is so tenuous as to cause men’s hearts to fail. If all this seems to paint a bleak picture of today’s world, it is meant to do so. But there is more, much more!

The crumbling foundation of the family unit leaves children without parents, or in some cases single parents. Then the demands of the workplace leave little time for children who are largely abandoned to a latchkey position to formulate their own distorted views of life. Each ensuing generation is in an ever worsening condition. People ask,”What is it all about. What is happening to the world we live in?”

Certainly, these are times so often prophesied by God’s Word. It would seem a time for the masses to hear the clarion call of the gospel. It should be a time of widespread repentance, of men seeking the will of the Lord with a contrite heart. But just the opposite is the mainstream of life. What is one to make of it all?

The apostle Paul informed us of these times. He wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:7, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way.” Think about it!

The “Mystery of Iniquity.” The term “Mystery” is from the ancient Greek term, “Musterion.” It derives its existence from a base word “Muo” which basically means “To shut the mouth.” Hence, a mystery is something known to the initiated, but unknown to the uninitiated. It remains a mystery to those unqualified and unwilling to search out and know the meaning. “Iniquity” is a translation of the Greek word “Law” (nomous) with a negative prefix, to literally translate “no law.” It means not given to or ruled by law; contempt and violation of law, wickedness. This is aptly descriptive of modern times, but they will worsen because there is a restraining power who lets (restrains) until he be taken out of the way, so that ultimate chaos may prevail.

The so-called progress of humanity apart from God has led to the abolition of world war; the vaunted progress of medical science has led to longer life spans, and as the world struggles to balance trade, unite religious movements, and to feed the bulging population creating population shifts of illegal migration, the world ripens for the ultimate rule of its god. His predetermined end of it all is destruction in many forms, but the final stage will be Armageddon. It is a millennia long plan that will go down in eternal defeat for all evil. Sweet in the mouth, but bitter in the stomach.

FOR THOUGHT: Do you believe the world today is population by folks who largely disdain law because it gets in the way of what they want ot do? If civil law is so viewed, what about spiritual law? Do you think religious people violate God’s laws to engage in religious activity that pleases them instead of God? If so, do you see the mystery of iniquity at work?