Continuing with our brief study of end time events, or Eschatology, our Pastor teacher, Landis Fisher presents another installment today featuring some prophecies that define end-time signs that the Church should be preaching to alert as many as possible to get prepared for the return of Jesus Christ! Listen in as Pastor Fisher presents a message which he has titled: “Sign of the Mystery of Iniquity”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Zechariah 12:1 – 10 (KJV)
Zec 12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
Zec 12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
Zec 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
Zec 12:4 In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
Zec 12:5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.
Zec 12:6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
Zec 12:7 The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.
Zec 12:8 In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.
Zec 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 2 Thesslonians 2:1 – 12 (KJV)
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 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, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 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.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) The very existence of evil is troubling to most people, even though defining what is ‘wickedness’ has an ever changing definition in the societies in which we live; and the presence of that which causes us to wonder where is God in all that goes on upon the earth? This is one of the facets of what Paul explains to the Thessalonians is known as “The Mystery of iniquity”
2) The sign of the world going into deeper rebellion against the truth; (i.e. God’s Word) lets us who have believed God know to make preparation for the things spoken of in the Word, knowing that one of God’s primary reasons for allowing sin is to give people whom He loves the opportunity to accept His Son Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins, rather than giving them His judgment.
3) Seeing the events taking place in Israel, knowing that the whole world is cruising toward being against God’s chosen city, Jerusalem, along with the reality that the unbelieving Jews are in the planning stages of setting themselves up with the third Holy Temple, which is spoken of in the Scriptures is proof that the Word is true and if you are not saved you need to be saved now while there is yet time!
