Christians in the hands of a Jealous God

Chapter 5

The Mystery of Iniquity?

As John in Rev 17:6-7 wondered when he saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, this MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH, sometimes I wonder also and marvel with great amazement, astonished by the fact that, though we have our own Bibles, Churches on every corner, freedom to worship publicly and many other blessings; How that letting God be true and everyman the liar is reversed to let everyman, prophet and preacher be true and God the liar! How that good is called evil, and evil is called good! How that an experience with a visitation of angels or Jesus, has more authority over someone than the already established foundation of truth, the Word! Pentecostals, who should be leaders in discernment, having been baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire, endued with power from on high, readily accept anything that comes down the pipe posing as Jesus! Hands down, it's divine truth, without even testing it, just because a popular preacher said it was so! Sad to say, that many in the Spirit-filled camp by and large have become like the Athenians, wholly given to idolatry, full of infallible preachers, men of corrupt minds, destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness! I believe the full Gospel, just like the Pentecostals, but there's a whole lot of garbage that makes me blush to be associated with them (Jer 6:15). The Athenians/Pentecostals were people who spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing (Acts 17:21). Multitudes are in the valley of decision, hanging in the balances, but yet, many aren't satisfied with the great commission, you can tell it by what they're preaching day in and day out. Some new revelation, dream or visions, Biblical or unbiblical, they'll eat it up! Though most Baptists' adhere to a deadly interpretation of grace, you won't be able to con or find anybody in that camp who would buy a blessed wallet, glow in the dark crosses to keep the devil away or water from the river Jordan, it's the Spirit-filled camp that supports the other 75% of false prophets and allows them to do valiantly!

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 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. 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; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 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: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (II Th 2:1-12)

Observations of the Mystery

As of now, we can't really understand all there is to know about it or it wouldn't be a mystery. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jer 17:9) It's a spirit of deception that takes no prisoners. It doesn't care whether you are the seed of Abraham or not, it devours as a roaring lion! It's something working IN MAN cooperating with evil…

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

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:13-15)

"If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deut 13:1-3)

In most Christian media circles, it's like preachers have cut a deal with the devil. Preach anything you want to, just don't tell them the truth! Don't talk about sin, hell or anything that really matters. Avoid all the real issues! You can tell them about how-to prosper, their covenant rights, and even knowing who they are in God, but just don't preach that which will convert the soul and change anyone else's eternal destination! I'll give you riches, bigger Churches, bigger cars, houses and lands everything you need for the here and now, just, whatever you do, DON'T PREPARE PEOPLE FOR ETERNITY, STANDING BEFORE GOD GIVING AN ACCOUNT! What appears in most Christians' eyes as God's blessings, is nothing more than sold out preachers on the Devil's payroll. Satan did tempt Jesus with the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them, if He (Jesus) would bow to him (satan). (Matt 4:8-9)

"And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name." (Mal 3:15-16)

The mystery of Iniquity is at work, working in our members to steal, kill and destroy! It will draw you back to perdition if you let it! Christians need to make up their minds whose side they are on? God is Jealous. It doesn't matter if they're busting out with 30 million members, 60 million cars or 100 million dollars, what they're preaching transgresses the eternal Word and fear of God. We need to get back to the Cross, His shed Blood and His resurrection; and count all this other stuff as but dung, looking for that heavenly city that has foundations whose builder and maker is God. Are you a friend of God or a friend of this world? Are you a God-Pleaser or a men-pleaser? Enoch, before his translation had this testimony, that he pleased God (Heb 11:5)! Abide in Christ and let His Word abide in you! Be crucified unto the world and let the world be crucified unto you and all the lusts thereof! The day of recompense is coming! Flee from the wrath of God to come!

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 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." (Acts 17:30-31)