What is the mystery of iniquity?

Answer

The phrase “the mystery of iniquity” appears in the KJV of 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.” Other translations render the phrase as “the secret power of lawlessness” (NIV) or “the mystery of lawlessness” (ESV and NASB). Before we try to interpret the meaning of this phrase, let’s examine the context of the passage in question:

Regarding the return of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering to him, we urge you, brothers and sisters, not to be easily unsettled or alarmed by any teaching supposedly from us—whether by prophecy, word of mouth, or letter—claiming that the day of the Lord has already come. Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man destined for destruction. He will oppose and exalt himself above everything called God or worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, declaring himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was with you, I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who currently restrains it will continue to do so until he is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The arrival of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan operates. He will employ various displays of power through signs and wonders that serve falsehood, and all the ways that evil deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they rejected the truth and refused to be saved. For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and be saved.That all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; emphasis added).

Paul’s intention in this passage is to correct a false teaching that was being spread, specifically, that the Day of the Lord (the judgment of the end times) had already occurred, and the Christians of Thessalonica had been left behind to face it. Paul aims to clarify the truth about Christ’s return and our gathering to Him—the rapture. Paul explains that the two events preceding the Day of the Lord are the apostasy (or “the rebellion”) and the revelation of the man of lawlessness (the Antichrist). The “mystery of iniquity” that will eventually lead to the emergence of the Antichrist is already active in the world, but it is currently being held back so that the world is not as corrupt as it could be (though it will be once the Restrainer is removed from the world).

What is the apostasy? The Greek term apostasia in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 signifies “departure, falling away, defection, revolt.” This end times’ apostasy refers to the widespread “falling away” of people from God as the world readies itself to accept the lawless one who will claim to be God (verse 4). It represents an unparalleled global rebellion against all things godly, and even many who profess to be Christians will be swept up in it. Another interpretation, supported by a small group of scholars, suggests that the “apostasy” is the “departure” of the church from the world, namely, the rapture that Paul hints at in verse 1 and previously discussed in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. It is crucial to understand that a pre-tribulation interpretation does not necessitate equating apostasia with the rapture.

Who is this man of lawlessness? He is a real individual, commonly known as the Antichrist. He will be Satan’s agent, a false Christ who will perform miracles, signs, and wonders through the power of Satan and ultimately deceive theWorld. John wrote that many antichrists will precede the coming of the ultimate Antichrist «Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. », (1 John 2:18), referred to as “the beast” in Revelation 13:1–10, “the little horn” in Daniel 7:8, and “the king who does as he pleases” in Daniel 11:36.

The mystery of iniquity is already at work in the world. The forces that would bring the Antichrist to power are eager to establish his unholy kingdom, but they are currently being restrained (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). What or who is the Restrainer? Possibilities include the Holy Spirit, the church, human governments, and angels. The Thessalonians knew the identity of the Restrainer, so Paul did not elaborate (verse 6). We believe the best answer is that the Holy Spirit is the Restrainer. The Spirit convicts the world and indwells the church, enabling God’s people to be a limiting influence on the world’s evil. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the world is currently thwarting the revelation of the man of lawlessness. Wickedness gains no traction in seizing global power—but this will change. Upon the departure of the church from this earth (at which time the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence will depart), the mystery of iniquity will have free rein, and the tribulation on earth will begin (Matthew 24).

What exactly is the mystery of iniquity (KJV) or the secret power of lawlessness (NIV) that is being restrained by the Holy Spirit? The word mystery denotes something hidden for a time before God chooses to reveal it. Some “mysteries” revealed in the New Testament include the doctrine of the Gentile church (Romans 16:25-27; Ephesians 3:4-12; Colossians 1:26-27).(Romans 16:25-27; Ephesians 3:4-12; Colossians 1:25-27) and the rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). This specific “mystery” in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 involves the operation of lawlessness in the world, leading to a global rebellion against God. It is currently operating in secret, but it is active. The revelation of this lawlessness will coincide with the unveiling of the Antichrist, as mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:8. The rise to power of the man of sin will signify a peak of lawlessness, a satanic uprising against the rule of God. This concealed, backstage movement is currently restrained but poised to be disclosed.

The mystery of iniquity has been active for a long time—since Paul’s era—and when it finally emerges in all its horror, the world will be profoundly shaken. The Antichrist, who leads the descent into lawlessness, will establish a new standard of wickedness. The magnitude of the deeds of moral villains like Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Robespierre, and Caligula will seem insignificant compared to the evil of the Antichrist.

Believers have the privilege of assisting in restraining the mystery of iniquity while anticipating their blessed hope, the Savior, Jesus Christ. Upon His second coming, Jesus will rule as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. By the breath of His mouth, He will annihilate the works of the enemy. The Antichrist will have “his power . . . taken away and completely destroyed forever” «But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. », (Daniel 7:26).