Category Archives: Mystery of Lawlessnes

Prayer, 3 of 5

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Things are not really Out of Control.

They are just out of OUR control.

The Bible tells us of a couple of Christian Age long entities that Scripture calls the Mystery of Lawlessness, and Mystery Babylon the Great. These are powerful, hidden, occult groups. We might view these groups as like rival mafia groups, which, when it is convenient, cooperate with each other.

These groups are powerful, but in different ways, dangerous, and ruthless. They completely outclass the average Christian, or the average citizen. Thus the need for prayer.

Christ does overrule our world, and you and me, from His throne in heaven!

God does frequently overrule the men and objectives of these groups from time to time. They will never have the full victory they desire, until God allows it

An audio lesson.

Listen to this audio lesson here, or click on the Audio Player to download as an MP3 file.

My first book, Prophecy Principles gives general information on the nature of the world’s “mystery religions.”

My second book deals in more detail the Mystery of Lawlessness and Mystery Babylon the Great.

Available from your bookseller.

Prophecy, Knowing Changes Behavior, 6 of 15, The Home Owner

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In the context of of knowing about when Jesus the Christ will come again, Jesus tells all of us,

“But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.”
Mtt 24:43

In this case we are indeed the homeowner, knowing things will happen but not knowing when. There are great many things that are unknown to us. There are for sure things which we are not told.

“The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
Deut 29:29

What is revealed to us in prophecy is for the purpose of our being able to act as we should, respond to coming events in intelligent and responsible ways.

Our Master, Our God, Yahweh Lord of Hosts
is the absolute Master of all !

Additionally, we are told His grand plans, so that we can act in line with them … if we will. We are not just slaves in the house, but we friends, and were born to rule with Him

“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for EVERYTHING that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.”
Jn 15:15 nf

And the Greeks word used here is “slave” (doulos), not just one of the many words for a servant. We should remember that we are dealing with recurring patterns of actions and reactions during the Christian age. Mystery Babylon the Great is described in Revelation and in the prophets as a religio-commercial entity which dominates the governments. It is implied (but not clearly stated), that she is already in existence during the first century of our age. Still, it is clear that she only reaches the height of her power toward the end of our age, and that she is fully active until very near the end of the Christian age (see Revelation chapters 17 and 18).

Similarly, the “mystery of lawlessness already works,” in the very first century of our age, 2Thes 2:7. These mysteries are to some extent restrained during most of our age, so that they “may be revealed” at the right time, 2Thes 2:6.

So these allied but opposing mystery religions have been seeking for over two thousand years to set in place their ultimate “fixes,” but with failure after failure, despite their seeming dominance in history. We do not know which of the cycles and events will produce the results which are prophesied. We are merely told what to look for.

Prophecy is NOT an optional extra. Believing what God says in prophecy does matter! It is an ethical matter. Or to put another way,

“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:”
Lk 24:25 KJV

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

nf is my own translation based on the WEB.

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, 5 of 5

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An audio lesson.

How the end of the world is in many ways like when Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt. They were going to the earthly promised land of Canaan, and we are going a heavenly promised land in the New Heavens and the New Earth, Isa 65:17, and Isa 66:22, and 2Pe 3:13.

Listen to this audio lesson here, or click on the Audio Player to download as an MP3 file.

The basics of how Bible prophecy works is discussed in detail in Prophecy Principles.Available from you bookseller.

Psalm 22 makes an excellent example of how prophecy works, and it more fully discussed in “Prophecy Principles” in the section “Time and Image in Prophecy,” and in “Revealing the Christian Age” in the section “Balking at the Symbolism.”

The Kingdom of Glory: Is Real, 3 of 15

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The Mystery of Lawlessness, and Mystery Babylon the Great is studied in some detail in Revealing the Christian Age. These are really competing secret religions, which oppose and try to use each other. Available from your bookseller.

It starts here in the hearts of men.

“20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The Kingdom of God doesn’t come with observation; 21 neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.”
Lk 17:20-21

Many kingdoms and powers exercise great authority without the source of the power being visible, or noticed, at least by most. The occult powers are especially aware of many powers exercising their influence and control without being seen. Two great mystery religions of the Christian Age exercise considerable influence and control all through the Christian Age. Some call these the “Deep State.” They are the Mystery of Lawlessness of 2Thessalonians 2, and Mystery Babylon the Great of the book of Revelation.These are important world swaying powers. The Mystery of Lawlessness is basically a Satanic group. I call Mystery Babylon the Great a “a religio-commerical entity” in Revealing the Christian Age.

So also the Kingdom of God Exercises
Power to Transform ALL.

“He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened.”
Mtt 13:33

So once again we have a verse of this Kingdom in time influencing this entire world to the point that (which is yet in the future for you and me) the leaven of this Kingdom is an influence all over this world “until it was all leavened.” There is to come a world-wide influence of Christianity which has not been seen so far.

The present time is the selection of the chosen,
the elect, to live and rule in a world
which is yet to come.

The author of Hebrews speaks of these things, and says,

“For he didn’t subject the world to come, whereof we speak, to angels.”
Heb 2:5

You see this present universe will pass away. In Hebrews 1 it picture God as rolling up this present universe like an old coat and putting it away, Heb 1:10-12. Peter tells us of,

A New Universe Will be Without Sin and Death

“But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.”
2Pe 3:13

Isaiah also speaks of this perfect place.

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
Isa 65:17

What will it be like?

“23 They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for calamity; for they are the seed of the blessed of Yahweh, and their offspring with them. 24 It shall happen that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, says Yahweh.”
Isa 65:23-25

A real world, without decay or things running down. A world which some call “heaven.”

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, 14 of 15

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By Mighty acts of Judgment God delivers His people

When God’s people in the Old Testament were totally under the power of Pharaoh, and needed deliverance from the power of the Egypt of this world, so that they might have their own land in the promised land of Canaan, God led them to freedom by mighty acts of judgment on an evil ruler, the Pharaoh of Egypt and his people.

When in the New Testament God’s people will be totally under the power of the beast, and need deliverance so that they might have their own land in the promised land of Heaven, God will lead them to freedom by mighty acts of judgment on an evil ruler, the beast of this world and those who worship him.

This is for a relatively short period of time.

Satan is allowed to reign only for the short time a of time of 3-1/2 years, which called 1260 days (Rev 11:3), 42 months (Rev 11:2, 13:5), and “time, times, and half a time,” (Dan 7:25, 12:7, Rev 12:14). It does say that the beast “overcomes” the church, the saints. Daniel is told that this will last,

“… for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Dan 12:7

Further it should be noted that Daniel deals with both the final events, and also with ancient kings who are symbolic of the final events. So how is the release of God’s people to be accomplished?

God will respond with might acts of judgment on
the kingdom of the beast and his followers

Always remember that the book of Revelation is a series of parallel, overlapping, cumulative visions. Putting them end to end, makes no more sense than putting the parables of the kingdom in the Gospels end to end.

These mighty acts of judgement are mentioned Revelation 11 with the testimony of the two witnesses. More is in chapters 15 and 16 when it talks about the seven last bowls of wrath, the last plagues which will be poured out on the earth. It mentions specifically,

“The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened. They gnawed their tongues because of the pain,”
Rev 16:10

The plagues that fall toward the end, are remarkably similar to the plagues
that fell on Egypt in the book of Exodus!

In Rev 16:2 it mentions “a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image.” In Rev 16:3-4 “the sea become blood,” and the rivers and springs of water became blood. All of which seems to be described from a different point of view in Rev 8:8-9. These things are specifically mentioned as punishment for spilling the blood of Christians, Rev 16:5. The world is also scorched with heat from the sun. And Rev 9:3-11 seems to speaks a plague of locusts, which seem to spiritual locusts, to afflict only those who do not have the seal of God.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, 13 of 15

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And the “god of this world” 2Cor 4:4, overcomes the church.

This is actually a subject of several prophesies, but the one that catches the eye of many is in Revelation 13. The passage in Revelation 13 is obviously parallel to 2Thessalonians 2, that is the say that the “beast” is the “man of sin,” (or “of lawlessness,” depending on your translation). Both are worshipped by the entire world, all of the lost. Both are destroyed by Jesus Second Coming (2Thes 2:8, Rev 19:20). The man of lawlessness / sin is produced by the “mystery of lawlessness, which is already at work in the first century of our era, 2Thes 2:7. In Rev 13:1-2 the organization which produces the beast is called “a beast,” and it has seven heads (men who direct the organization), and ten horns / crowns, rulers who are part of the beast organization. So ten national rulers are part o the “beast” organization, which evidently is existing from at least the first century of our age.

Then one of the seven heads of the organization has a fatal wound and that fatal wound is healed, Rev 13:3. The whole world is fascinated by this one who is killed, yet has some sort of recovery. This head, one of the seven heads of the beast organization, then becomes “the beast,” Rev 13:3.

“The beast” is allowed to make war for forty-two months, or 3-1/2 years, Rev 13:5. This period of time is also referred to by the prophet Daniel. This beast blasphemes God and claims he is the one and only God, Rev 13:6 and 2Thes 2:4. This beast is given great temporary authority.

“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.”
Rev 13:7

No man has had authority over “every … nation” up till now. And no one has overcome the church world wide up to now. So this has NOT happened yet!

Everyone, whose name has not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world, will worship this beast , Rev 13:8, Rev 17:8. This means that everyone will worship this beast who is not a faithful Christian.

Notice carefully, the beast has AUTHORITY to BOTH make WAR with the saints (all true Christians), AND to CONQUER them!

We are talking about a situation where the saints (those sanctified, cleansed by the blood of Jesus) are completely overwhelmed, and that is plainly stated by the text. The word used in Rev 13:7 for the church being “overcome” is the Greek word nikao and it means to overcome, overpower, conquer, prevail, have the victory over. Nike the Greek “goddess” of victory derives her name from this word, and it a regular word for conquering a foe in battle.

So here is a situation very similar to when God’s people were
under the power of Pharaoh in Egypt.

They will be totally under the power of “the god of this world,” 2Cor 4:4. They will need rescue from power of this evil one.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

The Rapture? Part 3 of 3. There is no Pre-Tribulation “rapture.”

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There will be many special problems near the end of this present universe. Near the end of our present age the mystery of lawlessness (2Thes 2:7) and a religio-economic-political entity called Mystery Babylon the Great will be able gain absolute control of this world by God’s permission.These will be severe times for the entire world for 42 months, 1260 days, 3-1/2 years. The entire world will be forced to worship the beast or not be able to buy food Rev 13:17 or even exist!

Special protection is given the faithful in those days.

In Revelation chapter eleven those days are discussed under the imagery of the temple. Now the physical temple of the Jews was divided into two main parts. The temple over all is called the hieros. When for instance it says in Mtt 21:12 that Jesus entered the temple, it says that he entered the hieros. This included those parts which all believers could go, and much of Jesus teaching preaching was in the hieros. This part is what in Rev 11:2 is call the court or courtyard of the temple.

Even so, the innermost part of the temple is called the naos. This is that part of the temple where only the priests could go, and it included the holy place, and also even more secluded holy of holies where the ark of the covenant was supposed to rest. Now in Christianity ALL believers are priests and have access to God, Heb 4:16, etc.

In Revelation 11 only the naos is given protection. The rest of the temple will be destroyed.

“Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don’t measure it, for it has been given to the gentiles. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months.”
Rev 11:2

It seems that the inner part of the temple, the naos, represents the true and dedicated believers, and it indicates they will be protected. On the other hand, the outer courts represents those who claim to believe, but have not really given their lives to the Lord. And it indicates that they will given over to their enemies.

Similarly, Revelation 12 points to the faithful
as being protected.

The faithful of God’s people seem to represented by a woman. Then it says of this woman,

“The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days.”
Rev 12:6

So the woman flees into the woods to place prepared by God, for protection during those 1260 days during which the beast rules the world. Once again, indicating special protection for those who really belong to the Lord during that terrible 3-1/2 years.

But the church, those who are really faithful, are still there,
are still in the world during those time.

Yes they are given special protection, special nourishment, but she is still in the world, she is still hiding out in the wilderness from the beast. She is still undergoing stress and temptation.

But there is no special Pre-Tribulation “rapture.”

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

Keys to Prophecy: A Satanic Solution to Political Division

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Not everyone agrees with this world-wide division of powers and authorities. Yes, this prevents evil men from having a monopoly of power here on earth, and often pits evil men against evil men in their quests for unrestricted power. Sometimes these battles are truly terrifying. David comments,

“Yahweh brings the counsel of the nations to nothing.
He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.”
Psa 33:10

By such means God continually restricts the reach and grasp of evil men. Satan though intends to offer the ultimate solution to the divisions of worldly powers.

Satan intends to offer a substitute “god,” another
“god”/man whom ALL have to worship.

If ALL men HAD TO worship just ONE MAN, that would provide the foundation for unifying all of ideas under that ONE MAN. (See the post on “Religious Ideas are the Foundation of ALL Politics.) That would provide a sure framework to end all of the diversity in religion, and that is the root of our political diversity. It would provide a basis for world-wide unity. Paul says of this “god”/man,

“he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.”
2Thes 2:4

He is called “the beast” in Revelation. He is talked about under several names and phrases in both the Old and the New Testaments. The “mystery of lawlessness” occult (hidden) religion that will eventually produce this world ruler, “already works” in the first century, 2Thes 2:7. God will at the last allow him a short reign of three and a half years (for a time, and times, and half a time).

“… Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. ”
Rev 13:5

Many think of this as hard times for the church

And it will be. However God will once more provide for His faithful ones in “the wilderness.” You might think of this as the second (and final) exodus out of this world.

“Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”
Rev 12.10

Even so, this is also times of extreme stress
for the entire world.

This man will come with powerful Satanic signs and wonders (2Thes 2:9), including some sort of his being raised from the dead.

“One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.”
Rev 13:3

No one will be able to buy or sell or trade anything unless they accept this man as “god.” And if you worship him, you will perish forever, Rev 13:8, 17.

This is not some sort of premillenial invention. This is Scripture and it clearly has NOT happened yet. All but a few faithful will worship him, very near the end of the age.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

Common Pitfalls in Interpretation, Part 15

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Confusion from not WANTING to believe it!

The kingdom of the saints will last forever

Scripture does say that the kingdom of the saints will last forever. That is not really an idea to contest, unless you have a very distorted view of the Bible or of prophecy. When God was promising a kingdom to David’s Son Jesus the Christ, it was said that,

“Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before you: your throne shall be established forever.”
2Sam 7:16

We are now translated into this kingdom, past tense.

“who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;”
Col 1:13

Heb 1:5 quotes 2 Samuel 7 as being about Jesus! Further, Hebrews says that we are Jesus “house.”

“but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house; whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end.”
Heb 3:6

And Revelation talks of Jesus already being on His throne.

“He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
Rev 3:21

And that throne is forever, per Daniel 2 and many, many verses.

But the beast “conquers” the kingdom?

Huh? What? It is amazing the number of verses which we gloss over and fail to get the messages we desperately need.

There is someone called the “beast” in Revelation 13, and the “man of lawlessness,” in 2Thessalonians 2, and the foolish shepherd, or the idol shepherd in Zechariah 11, and it does indicate that for a while, it does look like, he has had the final victory over the saints, the house of God, the kingdom of God. The entire world will worship this man.

“that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
2Thes 2:12

It says the same thing in Rev 13:4-5. Further it says,

“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.”
Rev 13:7

No it couldn’t be, I have heard it argued. NO ONE can overcome the church, so they said, and they rejected the clear meaning of Revelation 13.

Of course ultimately, the church will NOT be overcome.

The beast thinks he has won, but it is only for a short 3-1/2 years. Then at the last the faithful saints are delivered and the beast is thrown alive into hell, Revelation 19. Still the Savior says,

“… Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Lk 18:8

In other words, even our Lord questions whether there will be any faithful at the end.

Our incomplete understanding of Scripture sometimes prevents us
from seeing God’s warning to us.

We should always remember that Scripture is NOT a pick and choose buffet, but that it is all true. The challenge is to see how all the parts fit together.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Keys to Prophecy: God Frustrates the Plans of the Wicked

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You can call it a promise, you can call it a prophecy, but Psalm 37 indeed is perspective on how God deals with the wicked in history, and how the righteous should react to evil plans which we often see in history.

Psalm 37 is very much a part of Revelation’s view
of the plans of evil men.

It does view sinful inclinations of men as producing evil plans that are often of monstrous proportions. Revelation concentrates on two principal covert actors in history: Mystery Babylon the Great, and the beast organization (called the mystery of Lawlessness in 2Thessalonians chapter two).

The other side of these things is that such things are often seen and recognized as evil in history. Through crafty manipulation and covert action, great fortunes and power are often amassed in history. Evil men often dominate nations and even continents, and they care nothing about whether they ruin, or hurt or slaughter the innocent. These are continual things in history. Those trying to do what is right are often exasperated by these things, but such things are outside of their power or influence. Should we envy such power and wealth, and seek it ourselves?

What should be the perspective of the
men and women of God?

The theme is announced in the first four verses.

“1 Don’t fret because of evil-doers,
Neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in Yahweh, and do good.
Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Also delight yourself in Yahweh,
And he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psa 37:1-3 WEB

It continues along such a line for a full forty verses. Should we fear them? Center our lives around opposing them?

“7 Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him.
Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.
Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off,
But those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more.
Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.”
Psa 37:7-10 WEB

All of this life, and ALL of human history is but a little while. This is really advice to those caught in such times, and in the violent storms which will surround the end of life in this universe as pictured in the book of Revelation. It is a commentary and a reminder on on,

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
1Pe 5:5

“28 For Yahweh loves justice,
And doesn’t forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
But the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
And live in it forever.”
Psa 37:28-29 WEB

It is talking about heaven, the new heavens and the new earth of Revelation 21 and all the rest.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901