Alright. You would turn in your
Bibles to 2 Thessalonians. And again, as I mentioned a moment
ago in the prayer, we're going to finish this book that Brother
Don wrote on the mysteries of God. And he's taken us through
6 chapters so far. And for those who are joining
us for the first time on our Bible study, Don takes his thoughts
from 1 Corinthians 4-1. where we read, let a man so account
of us. In other words, let men take
account of what they see in God's people as the ministers of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries of God. And then Don took us
through, after reading that and expressing what that meant to
us, he took us through several chapters, describing what these
mysteries are according to God's Word. In chapter 2, we looked
at the mysteries of godliness, mentioned in 1 Timothy 3.16.
Chapter 3, the mysteries of faith, mentioned in 1 Timothy 3.9. Chapter
4 was the mysteries of Christ and the Church, spoken of in
Ephesians 5, verse 38-32. Chapter 5 was the mystery of
providence that is spoken of in Romans 11, 25-33. And then
last week we finished chapter 6, which was speaking of the
mystery of the stars and the candlesticks that are mentioned
in Revelation 1, verse 1-20. So this morning we're going to
begin the last chapter, and it'll be two Sundays to do this Bible
study, this last chapter. So we'll finish up next week
and then pray for me, if you would, that the Lord might guide
me in where to take us next in our Bible studies on Sunday morning
after the conference is over. Look with me, if you would, at
2 Thessalonians chapter 2. I'm in the wrong book. And we're going to take our thoughts
from the verse 7, if you would. For the mystery of iniquity doth
already work, only he who now letteth will let, until he be
taken out of the way. Now Don writes, that which Paul
calls the mystery of iniquity is also called the mystery of
Babylon, the great, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots.
and abominations of the earth, and that's spoken of in Revelation
chapter 17 verse 5. The mystery of iniquity and of
Babylon is the wicked influence of free will works religion. You've heard me say this time
and time again, there's only two religions. There's those
of works and those of grace. The mystery of iniquity in a
battle line is the wicked influence of free will versus religion.
And it is used by God to be an instrument. Folks, God doesn't
just set things out there and let them be on their own. He
controls everything. Was not Pharaoh raised up for
one purpose? Now, when the Lord said, I raised
you up for one purpose, that means he gave Pharaoh everything. He caused, did he not cause the
famine in the land of Canaan when Jacob and his sons were
there to bring them down? Did he not cause the brothers?
Now, let me rephrase that because that would be insinuating that
God is the author of evil. But did he not remove his restraining
hand on the brothers of Joseph? Did he not allow the brothers
of Joseph to turn him over to the Ishmaelites that went down
into Egypt. Why? All of that was for his
glory. The raising up of Pharaoh is
for God's glory. Well, that's what Don is talking
about here. These religions are used by God as an instrument
of judgment upon those who receive not the love of truth. This great mystery, he writes,
can be understood only in the context in which it is revealed. It cannot be understood apart
from that which is taught in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In
the 17 verses of that chapter, the Apostle Paul, writing by
divine inspiration, teaches us five things that every believer
needs to understand, and here are five facts. Now we're only
going to look at two this morning, we don't have time, and then
we'll come back next Sunday and look at the other three. There are
five facts that we need to be keenly aware of at all times,
and the first one is this, the Lord Jesus Christ is coming again. Look at verses one and two. Now
we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and by our gathering together, that ye be not soon
shaken in mind or troubled, neither by the Spirit, nor by word, nor
by letter, from us, as the day of Christ is at hand. He's coming again. That's what
God is telling us here. He's coming again. Paul himself
had written to the Thessalonians assuring them and us of Christ's
glorious second advent and of the gathering together of God's
elect unto Him in the last days. That's in 1 Thessalonians. Turn
back over to chapter 1, if you would. 1 Thessalonians, chapter
1. Look over there, if you would, at verse 10. 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 verse
10, and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the
dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. There's
another part back in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, turn over to chapter
4, and look at just a couple of verses over there. In verse 13 we read of 1 Thessalonians
4, but I would not have you be ignorant, brethren, concerning
them which are asleep, and that sorrow not, even as others which
have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the
word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the
coming of the Lord shall not forbid them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangels, and with the trump of God, and
the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air. Still shall we ever be with the
Lord. So we see that Paul is very clear
about this, and of the believer's responsibility to watch and be
sober in anticipation for Christ's coming. That's what it says over
in chapter 5 of 1 Thessalonians. Look at verses 1 through 11.
But of the times and of the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that
I write it to you. For yourselves know perfectly
that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For
when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction
cometh upon them, as prevail upon a woman with a child, and
they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in
darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are
all the children of light and the children of the day. We are
not of the night nor of the darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as
do others, but let us watch and be sober, for they that sleep
sleep in the night, and they that be drunken are drunken in
the night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting
on the breastplate of faith and love, and for in hell but a hope
of salvation. And for God hath not appointed
us to the wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, that whether we are awake or sleep, we should
live together with him, wherefore, And because of all that Paul
just wrote there unto the Thessalonians, wherefore, comfort yourselves
together, and edify one another, even as also ye do." Now, Don
says this, he says, however, someone, now this is what Paul,
we just read what Paul had been teaching to the church at Thessalonica. However, someone had perverted
Paul's teachings. and writings, and they claim
to have been inspired by the Spirit of God to have received
another word of God. That sure sounds like churches
today, doesn't it? Oh, the Lord spoke to me. If
you just send me a dollar, you'll be blessed with ten. We've all
heard that guy do that, right? You know what? It didn't take
the Lord shining any light in my heart for me to notice that
guy was full of it. but I'm thankful he shined his
light in my heart anyway. Paul's teachings and writings
claim, this one had perverted Paul's teachings and writings
by claiming that the Spirit, that he had been inspired by
the Spirit to have received another word from God and to have had
a new letter from Paul stating that the day of Christ is at
hand. They taught that the Lord Jesus
would be coming for certain in a matter of days. Oh, we've all
heard about a guy that did that once, didn't we? He'd be coming
in a matter of days or maybe weeks or months at the longest. And in so doing, they troubled
and distressed the saints at Thessalonica. Do not imagine
that these believers at Thessalonica were not anxious for Christ's
coming. They absolutely were. That's
what we read back in 1 Thessalonians 1, verse 10, to be diligent,
to be looking. But being told, writes Don, Christ
is certain to come within a given time frame, these men and women
were disturbed about their daily responsibilities, their relationships. Perplexing questions arose in
their minds in Christ. If Christ is coming right now,
what are we to do? If he'll be here tomorrow, what
are we going to do? We should prepare. who listened to that man over
there in the Bay Area say that very thing, went out and sold
everything they had. And within a year, they were
completely destitute because they'd taken all their money
and put it into worthless things. My mom knew an Oriental guy.
Very wealthy man. Had a lot of money. He was some
kind of a doctor of some kind. He had all kinds of money. He
stopped his practice. He sold all that he had. And
within two years, he had lost everything. just because somebody
said the Lord was coming back in 1994, or whatever David was
saying. Listen, folks, while we should
live, this is how we should live. Upon the tiptoe of faith, writes
Don. You know what that means? That
means live on our toes Looking to him and just trusting in him
alone. If you ask me what some things
are around this place, I'll tell you. There's a tank out here
that I have set in concrete so that when the time, if the time
comes, I can fill it up with water and it'll last us for several
months. I have a fire pit out here. You
guys walk by and see some flowers on there. I have a fire pit that
if something happens and we lose electricity, I'm not saying not
to prepare for such things. I'm just saying my faith is not
in that. Whatever happens, happens because
the Lord has it for me. That's what my faith is. That's
what it's talking about, living on the tiptoe of faith. Anticipating,
he said. Expecting the Lord's return.
as we read in Titus 2.13. No one knows when the Lord will
come again. And we can look at that in Matthew
24. Turn over to Matthew 24, we'll
look at three verses. One in Matthew, one in Mark,
and one in Acts. Matthew chapter 24, let's look
at that one first. Look at verse 36. That's why it's not reading right. But of that day and hour, anybody misunderstood that? No man. Anybody misunderstand
that? No, not the angel of heaven,
but my Father only. Isn't it? That's the words of
Christ Himself. I'm not expressing to you an
interpretation of God's Word. That's the Lord, our Savior,
telling us, no man but my Father in Heaven. Let's look at another
one. Turn over to Mark chapter 13. We're talking about even God's
people, no man knoweth when the Lord Jesus will come again. I
can tell you this, I know this, that when He's done, He'll be
back. When the last one of his children
are called out of darkness, how are we gonna know that? How are
we gonna know that? Look at Matthew chapter 13, verse
32. But of that day and that hour
knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither
the Son, but the Father. One more, if you would, turn
over to Acts chapter one. Acts chapter one. Look at verse 17. For he was
numbered with us and had obtained part... No, that's not the right...
Acts chapter 1 verse 7. I said 17, I'm sorry. And he
said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the
seasons which the Father hath put in his own power. Don goes on, he says, we are
given absolutely no indication in scripture as to the time,
not even the general sense when the Lord is coming again. We
are never taught, since our Lord's ascension, to look for signs
of His coming, but simply to live constantly in anticipation
of His coming again. That's good stuff, isn't it?
I know He's coming again. Why? Because He says so in His
Word. That's good enough for me. Not knowing the time of Christ's
coming is our responsibility to live, labor, and witness as
though the Lord may not come for another 2,000 years. Yet
we are told that Two great events must and shall
precede the Second Coming of Christ. Go back to your text
there in 1 Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians 2. Look at verses
3-10. Let no man deceive you by any
means. For the 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. See why Don talks about the free
will of church? That's exactly what the free
will church is all about. It's all about exalting yourself
above God. They're saying this, they're
saying that if you don't exercise your free will, if you don't
make a decision of your free will, if you don't get in the
waters of baptism, on your own free will. If you don't come
to the front and pray a prayer of your own free will, if you
don't worship on Saturday of your own free will, you're not
saved. That's why Don points out to
us that this free willism is the church of Babylon. Let's
go on, shall we? 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, showing himself that
he is God. That's exactly what the devil
did. I shall be as the most high, is what the devil said. That's
what man said. I shall be my own ruler. And they said it in the garden,
and we've been saying it all of time since. Verse 5, remember ye not that
when I was Yet with you I told you these things, and now you
know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time?
For the mystery of lawlessness or iniquity doth already work."
Folks, Paul could see it clearly. He could see it clearly in what
Israel was and had become. The mystery of iniquity. They
didn't even know. Why would you tell us that we're
full of iniquity when we go to church on Sunday? I quit smoking. I'm not full of iniquity anymore.
I don't beat my wife anymore. I don't lie anymore. You can
put all whatever you want in there. People think they're righteous
for going to church. That's the danger. That's what
Paul's talking about here. The mystery of iniquity does
already work. It's already in the churches. The falling away, it says. Let
no man deceive you by any means, for that in the day shall not
come, except there come a falling away first, and that the man
of sin be revealed the son of perdition. And when 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 work of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because
they received not the love of the truth that they might be Thank you, dear. I was going
to need that. Ain't she good to me? Let no man deceive you. By any
means, for that day shall not come. except there come a falling away
first, and that the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. There are no physical signs that
will precede Christ's coming. The regathering of Israel as
a nation means nothing spiritually. Even if they should begin the
reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, it would have absolutely
no spiritual significance. God's Church is His Israel and
His Temple. You don't believe that? You don't
know that for sure? Look over at 1 Corinthians chapter
3. Go to the left to 1 Corinthians
chapter 3. Here is God's Israel. It says
it so clearly here, and I've gone too far. 1 Corinthians 3, beginning at
verse 16, we read these words, Know ye not that ye are the temple
of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man
defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple
of God is holy, which temple ye are. Now, look over at another
one, if you would, at Galatians 3. Go back to the right again,
back towards Thessalonians. You'll see Galatians there just
before Ephesians. Look at chapter 3. One verse over there, verse 29. And if ye be Christ, then ye
Abraham's seed and heirs according. to the promise. One more, over
in chapter 6 of Galatians, go again to the right, over in chapter
6, and look at one verse over there, verse 16. And as many
as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy upon,
who? The Israel of God. There are no physical Material
signs, writes Don, to indicate the time immediately preceding
the Lord's return. To the believer, Christ will
come as a thief in the night. I'm sorry, to an unbeliever,
Christ will come as a thief in the night. However, there are
two spiritual signs that only those who are born again and
taught of God can see. And the first one is there will
be an apostasy, a general falling away from the revealed truth What is it they deny? They deny
the power of God. That's what it tells us in Jude
chapter 4, or there's only one chapter, verse 4. They deny the
power of God by the professed church and those very truths.
They deny those very truths upon which it has been built, the
church, that is. Then the man of sin, And let
me explain, Don does, he explains this in a sub-statement here. He says, this man of sin is not
a man, but a system of religion. This is what it talks about here.
It talks about the man of sin must be revealed there in verse
3. They're kind of falling away in that man of sin be revealed,
the son of perdition. It's a system. It's a religious
system, not a man. Babylon is not a city. It's a
religious group. Antichrist is not one person,
but a religion that robs God of His glory. As God and as the
only Savior of His people, without question it includes papacy,
yet it is a very serious mistake to limit Antichrist to Catholicism. Every form of Arminian free will
works religion is anti-Christ. So that's what it's talking about,
the man of sin. He must be revealed. Again, Don
tells us that this is only revealed to those who are taught of God.
He is revealed not to the world, and that's why it's a mystery.
The iniquity, they think, oh, Christians are such good people.
My sister gets so excited. She called me up the other day
and a friend of hers that she's been praying so dearly for has
started going to church. And she started crying for her. And I just, I had to bite my
tongue to keep my mouth shut because I just, I really, what
I wanted to do was go, what kind of church is she going to? A
Seventh-day Adventist? That false religion that you
go to? And she's just crying. I'm so
blessed she's going to church now. I'd rather see Cindy in a bar
somewhere than going to a seventh-day false religion that gives her
false hope. There's only one hope. That's
the hope of our Savior. That's what this is talking about.
Yet those two things happen so gradually, Don says, that God's
saints in every age are kept in anticipation of the Lord's
return. Carefully observe what Paul says
about this system of religion that is opposed to God. He calls
it the man of sin because the religion of Antichrist is a religion
of lawlessness and rebellion against God's authority. He is
called the son of perdition because all who follow him are doomed. This system of religion is all
free will works religions. It is an exaltation of man and
the place of God as we read in verse 4, who opposed and exalted
himself, exalted himself above all that is called God. The greatest
religious deception in the world as ever known is modern free
will works religion. It's already working as it says
in verse 7. Look at verse 7 again. For the
mystery of iniquity does already work. Don writes it is hindered
now by the Spirit of God and only by the Spirit of God. Otherwise
it would be rampant throughout everything. Thank God it shall
be destroyed, as he tells us in Revelation. Babylon shall
fall, as we read in verse 8, as we read here, and then shall
the wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the
spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy the very brightness of
his coming. This religion of the beast, of
the false prophets, and of the Antichrist in Babylon is so unpretty,
it's so subtle, and so deceptive that all the world except for
God's elect will embrace it. That's what verses nine through
10 is telling us. So Don closes with this, or we'll close with
this. He goes on, we'll pick it up again next week. He says,
I repeat myself and stress deliberately the fact that any and all forms
of religion which makes salvation to be in any measure dependent
upon the determined will of man, or the works of man, or the worth
of man, is antichrist. It matters not what name it wears.
Though it claims its place is in the temple of God, it is antichrist,
and God demands a complete separation from the Nunciation of all false
works religions, and I'll close with these very words. Look here
at 2 Corinthians chapter 6. One verse. Turn back to the left
to 2 Corinthians chapter 6. One verse. Verse 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together. People think that that's just
talking about relationships. Do you realize that that's talking
about family, religious family as well? How are you going to
have fellowship with somebody who believes that if you don't
worship on Saturday, you're going to hell? If you eat a hot dog,
you've been defiled and you can't get into heaven. If you don't
dance, you know, Donny Bell taught us this about the ones who speak
in tongues. They made it very clear to him,
which the whole time he was in that religion, the one thing
that always bothered him about it was, I'm never going to hell
because I'm just up here faking it. Because they made him believe
that if he didn't talk in tongues, he wasn't filled with the Spirit,
and he would die his death in hell. Be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers. I used to ask my mom, she used
to go to all these different religions, Methodists, they would
gather together with them and have prayer and sing and pretend
to be worshiping. And I was like, well, they don't
believe in what you believe. You've admitted that. There would
be Catholics there. They don't believe in what you
believe. Why are you pretending to be worshipping with them? Because you just never know.
They know some truths. I feel so bad for her. It's like,
wow, Scriptures are so clear. For what fellowship hath righteousness? This is God's Word. What fellowship
hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light
with darkness? Am I being too strong? That's God's Word, folks. I was sitting in a church. A friend of mine I rode motorcycles
with came to this one. And he says, OK, now you've got
to go with me. So he took me down to a church called Lord's
Gym. And it started by a bunch of
bikers that got out of prison. And they had worked out in prison,
so they were all buff. And they said they'd get together
and work out and praise their God with it and everything. I
got there, and the first thing I did was get up and they sang
their first song, and some guy comes crawling on the floor up
next to me. Some guy's dancing across the... I asked him, I
said, what's going on here? Well, these folks are filled
with the Holy Spirit. Wait a minute, the Holy Spirit
only talks of Christ. It doesn't talk about laying
on the ground and abasing yourself. It doesn't talk about dancing
across the stadium somewhere, pretending to speak in tongues. You want to be filled with the
Holy Spirit? Let me tell you something, if you're filled with
the Holy Spirit, You're going to praise Christ. You're going
to call Him God of everything. You're going to put all your
faith in Him. That's what the Spirit does. I sat down and I would not stand
up at the end. I would not pretend to be worshiping
with them. Why? Because that's a false doctrine. A false hope. And I don't want
to be any part of that. I want you to have hope in the
true God.