2 Thess. 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:
The mystery of
"anomia"
as if there was no law -- contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness
from "
anomos
nomos = law anomos = without law, against law, departing from the law, a violator of the law, lawless, wicked
The word "anomia" is used three times in the following verse:
1 John 3:4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Whoever commits sin ANOMIA carries out ANOMIA for sin is ANOMIA. The mystery of iniquity is the mystery of contempt for God's law -- acting as if there was no law, violating God's law.
This movement against God's law was already at work in Paul's day and would come to full force later.
In 2 Thess. 2, Paul warns that the true church would be badly assaulted with attempts to destroy God's law. And of man seating himself above the law of God, pretending that he had authority like God! Even at the time when the apostle was writing, the "mystery of iniquity" (the mystery of lawlessness) had already begun to work within the church. The developments that were to take place in the future were to be "after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish."
A questioner asked: Is God setting up Christains for a fall?
Yes, Christain people are being set up for a fall concerning the Sunday issue. It's not God setting them up, it's the mystery of iniquity spoken of in 2 Thess. 2:7 that was already "at work" in Paul's day.
2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:
The "anomia" the same word used in 1 John 3:4 It means, "contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness "acting as if there was no law.
The falling away occurs IN THE CHRISTIAN Church where
that "wicked" will be revealed 2 Thess. 2:8
That "anomos" I think even someone without Greek understanding would know what "anomos" means. "nomas" = law, "a" is without, against, violator of,
The Bible clearly predicted that "The anomos" would occur in the Christian church. The battle is against "those Who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus".
Especially solemn is the apostle's statement regarding those who should refuse to receive "the love of the truth."
Iniquity is a mystery
When God created the world it was PERFECT! No sin, no sickness, no crying, no dying, no one taking advantage of the other. God's laws were taken for granted as the best and only way to live. Love motivated their every action.
So why did iniquity enter? Why did rational, created beings decide to rebell against God's law?
Why did they think lawlessness was freedom and a better way to live? Why do they STILL THINK AND TEACH that abolishing God's law gives freedom?
It is indeed a mystery.
Satan (Lucifer) is the author of iniquity.
Scripture says of him. "Thou wast perfect in they ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee: (Ezekiel 28:15)
Here the word "iniquity" is "evel" which means "injustice". He began to formulate unjust thoughts about God.
Somehow coveteousness entered into his mind and he felt he was quite capable of determining for himself what was right or wrong, he didn't need God as an authority above himself.
"I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." (Isaiah 14:13-14) he declared
He wants the honor which should be directed only to God. So he weans people away from God as their Lord. Through his subtlety he gives to his soul-destroying errors the appearance of truth. herein is their power to deceive. It is because they are a counterfeit of the truth that spiritualism, theosophy, and the like deceptions gain such power over the minds of people. Here is the masterly working of Satan. Not only can he promote the most horrendous of evils but he also pretends to be the saviour of man, the benefactor of the human race, under the code name "love" offering a supposedly more exalted religious experience, releasing them from the supposed "bondage" of the law giving God, and thus he more readily lures his victims to destruction.
Many think the mystery of iniquity is seen only in the obviously evil doings of mankind, but the mystery of iniquity is much more crafty than that. According to 2Thess.2 it seats itself in the Christian church and pretends to have the authority of God! And this was already starting to take shape in the earliest years of the Christian church, though it was held back for a time.
There are those who would have us believe sin is only ignorance and not rebellion.
But all the "enlightenment" in the universe will not cure rebellion unless the individual is willing to give it up. And, sad to say, most will not give it up. Sin has a bewitching power that holds many in bondage even when truth is clearly preceived. This is "the mystery of iniquity".
