In this exciting broadcast, Carl explores the biblical concept of the “mystery of iniquity” from 2nd Thessalonians 2:7, a hidden spiritual force of lawlessness and rebellion operating against God and His people, throughout human history. Carl shares how Satan works through deception, false teachings, corrupt systems, and moral decline to prepare the world for the coming Antichrist. He also critiques certain religious traditions and modern cultural trends, presenting them as manifestations of this spiritual conflict, culminating in the end-times deception. Join Carl now, as he shares key insight to the times we now live in…
Here is a complete transcript of the broadcast (below)…
Friend the mystery of iniquity has baffled mankind down the ages, this elusive force which causes man to stumble and act of his own free will against the laws of God which are written in his heart, is very much pervasive today. Why does evil proliferate so freely and what is its origin? Why are so many blind, to the evil right under their nose, failing to acknowledge its existence? This is most assuredly a spiritual predicament. 2nd Corinthians 4:4 says that Satan himself has blinded the minds of men to the truth of the gospel and no doubt, this mysterious iniquity force is the governing factor in their blindness. It is a mysterious set of circumstances indeed and this iniquity force is listed along with seven other mysteries in Holy scripture. In fact, I wrote an article about these mysteries, a link of which can be found at the bottom of this transcript.
We know of course that a mystery has a secretive nature, a façade which obscures its underbelly, often remain hidden to the masses. The Greek word mysterion in the NT, refers to divine truths which were once hidden but now revealed to the glorious church, by God’s Spirit, and it appears 27 times. Now, a mystery does not lie in the obscurity of a thing, but in its secrecy. The mystery envelops the secret itself. Applied to a truth, it signifies a truth once hidden; a truth which without special revelation would remain unknown. The “mystery of iniquity” is a biblical phrase found in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken: out of the way”. The ‘he’ of course in this passage, is the church of Christ NOT the Holy Spirit, because the holy Spirit will remain in the earth during the tribulation, yet the measure of restraining influence which resides within the church will surely be removed in the rapture, before that great and terrible day of the Lord.
In simple terms, this mystery of iniquity refers to the hidden, spiritual working of lawlessness and rebellion against God that rides the tide of human history. It describes how evil gradually spreads through deception, pride, false teaching, corruption, and rejection of God’s truth, often in subtle ways before becoming openly manifested. “Iniquity” is deep moral corruption or lawlessness. Together, the phrase points to: the ongoing influence of Satan in the world and the gradual preparation for greater end-times deception which includes the notion of panspermia, that aliens seeded life here on earth. I warn about this of course extensively, in my article entitled, “The Coming Great deception”, so check that out.
The Apostle Paul contrasts the mystery of iniquity, with the “mystery of godliness”, which is Christ revealed in righteousness and truth, a working that continues in each and every one of us; the redeemed of God. The manifestation of this mystery of iniquity however, perpetuates, in the ‘spirit of antichrist’ which the Apostle John warned us about 2000 years ago. In essence, the mysterious working of iniquity is prevalent in the systems, and ideologies, which oppose God and his exclusive path to eternal life. Mystery Babylon and the mystery of iniquity work hand in hand to deceive mankind with the promise of a pantheon of false gods and works based endeavors, sacraments, indulgences, and penance in the process of attaining salvation, highlighting the broad path which leads to eternal damnation. Hidden sin operating in individuals or even secret societies burgeons this mysterious force of iniquity. The dark things done in secret, in the dead of night so to speak, in order to advance Satan’s kingdom are certainly a part of this mysterious iniquity force, with human sacrifice at the very top of the damnable list of acts which we scarcely dare to mention, although often practiced by the elite of this world, for spiritual advancement and earthly gain.
The mystery of iniquity was a phrase used by the apostle Paul to describe a lawless power or force that threatened the world of his day, and will reach its full crescendo in our day and age. Iniquity by definition means, “gross injustice or wickedness.” The Noah Webster 1828 dictionary defines it as,” a malicious prosecution originating with sin, a crime or any act of wickedness…in other words a lack of holiness.” For iniquity is the very absence of holiness. And of course we know the author of iniquity, namely Lucifer. Iniquity was found ‘in him.’ God absconded Lucifer in Ezekiel 28:15, saying, “You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until iniquity was found in thee.” Pride and jealousy were the gatekeepers for iniquity no doubt. The context of the mystery is that Satan has a program of lawlessness; i.e. the demonic gospel, which started with the Nicolaitans, then fostered by the Alexandrian cults and apostates who contaminated scripture with philosophy commencing in the 2nd century AD, continuing today in the apostate Romanist church which inclusively embraces all paths to salvation, mocking Christ’s passion in the process.
Satan is religious and so are his followers. This philosophical practice of marrying false tradition, paganism and philosophy, led to Origen allegorizing vast portions of scripture, stripping the literal interpretation of God’s Word, which was later ordained by Romanism, a mish mash of pagan religion, merged with false Christianity, producing mystery Babylon, an apostate church which continues to this very day. The Holy See at the top of the ecumenical chain, is the forebearer of all things false and has sent millions into eternal damnation. The satanic mystery is a program of lawlessness that is in opposition to God’s laws. By means of this program of lawlessness, Satan intends to bring to world power the lawless one, the coming antichrist. This is the antithesis to God’s purpose to bring His Son to rule an ordered world in the millennial reign. The point of the mystery, then, is that the Antichrist will not come to power in a lawful manner such as Adolf Hitler, who became a dictator after he was lawfully elected. The Antichrist will come to world power by totally lawless means yet offering peace in return. The implication is that he has the ability to take peace from the earth unless his terms are met.
Now, dispensational theology identifies the mystery of iniquity as the forthcoming tyranny of the Revived spiritual Roman Empire and ten nation state, which will one day rule the world during the tribulation period. In Paul’s day the apostles considered Rome to be the quintessence of evil and the espouser of the mystery Babylon religion, which will one day usurp the authority of all other religions. In addition, approximately 10 years before the writing of 2 Thessalonians, Caligula, the third Roman emperor, lover of the gladiatorial Coliseum and nephew of his famous uncle Tiberius, the sacker of Jerusalem, ordered his statue to be erected and worshiped in the Jerusalem temple (Josephus, Antiq. 18.8.2–6; War 2.10.1–5), something that will occur in the tribulation when the Antichrist seeks worship for himself on pain of death. Caligula was assuredly a type and shadow of the son of perdition to come. Let us talk now of the repercussions of this mystery of iniquity working today in the world. If we study the bible, we will notice there are seven things incited by this mystery of iniquity and they are:
- Departing from the Faith.
- Giving heed to seducing spirits.
- Giving heed to the doctrine of devils.
- Speaking lies in hypocrisy.
- Searing one’s conscience.
- The promotion of fornication and the onslaught against the sanctity of marriage.
- Commanding to abstain from meats.
1.Departing from the faith: Translated “depart” or “refrain from” (Acts 5:38); “to fall away” (Lk. 8:13); or “withdraw” (1Tim. 6:5). It is possible to depart from the faith and apostatize if such passages are true. Men are warned to take heed, lest their hearts become evil and unbelieving and cause them to depart from the living God (Heb. 3:12). We must cling tightly to Jesus and our bibles. This mystery force compels men to depart from God. We must be on guard.
2.Giving heed to seducing spirits (1Tim. 4:1). These are deceiving demons that seduce men. Demons are charged with carrying out the program of enticement to forfeit virtue or surrender chastity. This is the same as forbidding to marry in point 6. This seduction can also be religious enticing men from God’s truth. Satan is a master seducer.
3. Giving heed to doctrines of devils (1Tim. 4:1). To depart from the faith is ultimately the work of demons. Men who pretend inspiration and revelation and false teachers of all kinds are the agents of demons (2Cor. 11:14–15). Every religion that denies the reality of God; Christ; the Holy Spirit; the atonement; the death and the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ; sin; sickness; Satan; demons; hell; heaven; and the other fundamental doctrines of Scripture are as much of Satan and demons as the Bible and Christianity are of God. Yet man largley remains blinded to the working of demons which manipulate his mind.
4. Speaking lies in hypocrisy (1Tim. 4:2). Speakers of lies in pretended revelations; putting on an act of self-denial and mortification of the flesh in order to prove their false doctrines to be true. The pharisees were the quintessential hypocrites, and Christ tussled with them on every occasion.
5. Having the conscience seared with a hot iron (1Tim. 4:2). to sear with a red hot iron; is to brand. It means to make callous, withered, hardened, and insensible to right and wrong. It was customary in ancient times to mark criminals with a hot iron so that the infernal judges would know their vices and appoint them punishment according to their sins. Yet we in contradistinction, are branded and sealed with Christ, so let us keep our conscience tender and pure.
6. Forbidding to marry (1Tim. 4:3). Spirits influence people to hinder and operate against wedlock by enticing them to meet the demands of the sex drive apart from the sanctity of marriage. Hence, those who satisfy their sexual needs through perversion of any kind, are under the control, more or less, of demonic influence (Rom. 1:21–28; Lev. 20:13; Joel 3:3). This also applies to religions that discourage or forbid marriage to anyone among laymen or clergy. I’ll let you figure out which religion this is. Marriage is honorable to all and the bed undefiled (Heb. 13:4; 1Cor. 7).
7. Commanding to abstain from meats (1Tim. 4:3). Such unscriptural commanding under the new covenant of abstaining from meat, is prompted by demons arrayed against the gospel and the liberty it provides regarding food (Gen. 9:1–7; Rom. 14:1–6).When you consider that after Noah’s flood, God commanded Noah to eat ‘every moving thing that lives’ (Gen 9:3) as meat for the human body, it is essential that we eat meat and the protein it offers, for repair, sustenance, memory, and strength. The recent push for plant-based diets and laboratory grown meat, is another scheme of the enemy to deny man of the essential amino acids for life, as he languishes in all kinds of gastric distress, which does not contain sufficient nutrients for longevity. Yes, it is true that Adam and Eve were most likely herbivores primarily in the ideal world, prior to the fall, but that was in the pre-Flood or antediluvian world which no longer exits. Much has changed from atmospheric pressure, to oxygen levels, soil mineralization, so on and so forth.
The plant kingdom today does not offer sufficient nutrition composition or amino acid outlay for man to thrive. In fact, when the United States introduced its low fat diet, in the early 1980’s obesity skyrocketed. The prevailing thought from scientists was that a low fat., high carbohydrate, low protein macro meal composition was ideal for fat loss, yet studies by the University of Oxford have shown quite the opposite. The reduction of meat intake and its false premise of increased cholesterol being damaging to the heart, has proven untrue. In an effort to reduce saturated animal fats and protein from meat, replacing it with a high insulin promoting grain-based diet, containing predominately starch and carbohydrates, it put America on course for an obesity epidemic which remains obfuscated to the general public at large.
Humanity thrives on meat, particularly when the animal is sourced from grass typically, as the Lord meant it. The French have long known that to fatten a pig you feed it corn and bread. Its physiology is not too dissimilar from ours. The mystery of iniquity permeates the spirit, soul and body and Satan plans to undermine humanity in all three realms. Our drastic increase in sugar consumption is also hurting us but I’m sure you already knew that. Friend, I urge you today, to pursue holiness, live a righteous life, stay clear of sin’s seductive snare, and you will keep this iniquity force at bay. We must stay vigilant in the days ahead, prior to the coming of the Lord. Keep watching for Him friend.
Title: The Mystery of Iniquity
Author: Carl G M Joseph
Bibliography:
William Evans and S. Maxwell Coder, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, Enl. ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1974), 306.
Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, Mystery of Iniquity in Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1514.
Finis Jennings Dake, The Dake Annotated Reference Bible (Dake Publishing, 1997), 1 Ti 4:1.
Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 4 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 64.
Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Messianic Bible Study Collection, vol. 182 (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 1983), 42–43.
Finis Jennings Dake, God’s Plan for Man, n.d., 899–900.
https://academic.oup.com/jhmas/article-abstract/63/2/139/772615
https://carljosephministries.com/the-coming-great-deception/
https://carljosephministries.com/the-8-mysteries-of-god/
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-is-mystery-of-iniquity-in-bible.html
Related keyword searches:
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Mystery of Godliness vs Iniquity
Six Frequently asked questions:
1.How can believers guard themselves against the mystery of iniquity?
Believers can resist the influence of iniquity by staying rooted in God’s Word, pursuing holiness, maintaining a tender conscience, walking in obedience to Christ, and relying on the Holy Spirit for discernment and strength. Remaining faithful to biblical truth helps protect against deception and spiritual compromise.
2.What is the mystery of iniquity according to the Bible?
The mystery of iniquity refers to the hidden spiritual force of lawlessness and rebellion against God that operates in the world. Mentioned in The Holy Bible, it describes how evil works subtly through deception, corruption, pride, false doctrine, and opposition to God’s truth until it is fully manifested in the last days.
3.Why are so many people spiritually blind to evil?
According to The Holy Bible, Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers to the truth of the gospel. This spiritual blindness prevents many from recognizing the influence of evil, even when it is plainly visible in culture, systems, and personal behavior.
4.How does the mystery of iniquity relate to the spirit of antichrist?
The mystery of iniquity works through the spirit of antichrist, which opposes God’s truth and promotes deception, false religion, and rebellion against Christ. This spirit has been active since the time of the apostles and prepares the world for greater end-times deception and the rise of the Antichrist.
5.What are some signs that the mystery of iniquity is at work today?
Scripture associates this mystery with departing from the faith, seducing spirits, false teachings, hypocrisy, hardened consciences, sexual immorality, and rejection of biblical truth. These influences can appear in culture, religion, politics, and personal lifestyles that oppose God’s standards.
6.What is the difference between the mystery of iniquity and the mystery of godliness?
The mystery of iniquity promotes lawlessness, deception, and rebellion against God, while the mystery of godliness reveals Christ through righteousness, holiness, and truth. One advances Satan’s kingdom, while the other transforms believers into the image of Christ through the Holy Spirit.
