Iniquity @ Work Series
Did the Thessalonians Miss the Rapture? (2:1–12)
Paul explains that the Thessalonians have not missed being gathered to Christ at his return (a topic he discussed in 1 Thess 4:13–18), because two things must occur before it happens: first there must be a great apostasy; and second there must be an antichrist.
Exhortation (2:1–4)
Christ will not come until there is first “a falling away” and second a “man of lawlessness.”
The Restrainer Removed and the Advent of Antichrist (2:5–12)
Sin and lawlessness are in the world, but they have not boiled over because God has a “restrainer” in the world who is holding sin in check. But God has set a future day when he will remove the restrainer, and then the antichrist will come and begin his mass deception, resulting in mass condemnation.
What Is Iniquity according to the Bible?
The Bible uses words such as iniquity, transgression, and trespass to indicate levels of disobedience to God. They are all categorized as “sin.” Micah 2:1 says, “Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it.”
The Hebrew word used most often for “iniquity” means “guilt worthy of punishment.” Iniquity is sin at its worst. Iniquity is premeditated, continuing, and escalating. When we flirt with sin, we fall for the lie that we can control it. But like a cute baby monkey can grow to be a wild, out-of-control primate, sin that seems small and harmless at first can take control before we know it. When we give ourselves over to a sinful lifestyle, we are committing iniquity. Sin has become our god rather than the Lord (Romans 6:14)
When we realize we have sinned, we have a choice. We can see it for the evil it is and repent. When we do, we find the forgiveness and cleansing of God
Or we can harden our hearts and go deeper into that sin until it defines us. Partial lists of iniquities are given in Galatians 5:19–21 and in 1 Corinthians 6:9–10
These are sins that become so consuming that a person can be identified by that lifestyle. The psalmists distinguish between sin and iniquity when they ask God to forgive both
If we continue to choose sin, our hearts harden toward God. One sin leads to another, and iniquity begins to define our lives, as it did when David sinned with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:3–4). His initial sin of lust resulted in a hardening of his heart, and his sin deepened. He committed adultery, then had Bathsheba’s husband killed (verses 14–15). Iniquity had taken over David’s life. It was only when confronted by the prophet Nathan that he repented with great sorrow. His heartfelt cry for forgiveness is detailed in Psalm 51
David is a picture of someone who clearly understood the progression of iniquity and who experienced the mercy and forgiveness of God
now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way
shall destroy with the brightness of his coming