Mystery of Iniquity #3 Bro. Lee Vayle Erie, Pa. March 1972 Now, this morning we went into quite a detailed study on part of the mysteries themselves, in order to give you the benefit of the Scriptural background on what mysteries really are. Which is as I say in my opinion from the study of the Word, is actually, the true doctrine of the Bible which is not spiritually revealed through the ordained authority, and by the Holy Ghost. There’d have to be two of them, the Holy Spirit of course, ordained to those that bring the Message, the revelation. And then those who listen, to receive It by the same Spirit. It's like old George Fox said concerning the time of Moses, said, “The people were at variance with Moses, because they didn’t have the same Spirit in them, that Moses had.” This is the way it was with Jesus. He said that “They didn’t have any place in them for the Word, the same as He did, because He was that Word.” Of course, He was made flesh in order to harbor the Word. And so, mysteries actually refer to the correct doctrine, or understanding of the truth, which is in the Scripture, which is foreordained for the Bride. And this of course, is in order so she will not be deceived. She must have this truth. And of course, this truth also constitutes her as a virgin of the Word. And it brings us right back to the thought that Bro. Branham gave us, when he began teaching on the Seals, which is 'God Hiding Himself in Simplicity', [63-03-17] hiding Himself in it, and revealing Himself in the very same. And we’re living in a very…grave day, and it’s the most complex day, but it's still a day of simplicity. And many people of course are, losing out at this end-time, because they won’t accept the simplicity that Bro. Branham brought us, which is the revelation of the Word of God, is what’s going to put the Bride into the Rapture, and also bring about the Resurrection. And of course, many people believe this is not necessary, but it is. It's something that God, in His wisdom, has laid down. And of course, once more the people are stumbling. Israel was content that she had everything she needed, because she was under the law. And she felt that she was doing everything that God had ordained. Then the Lord came and upset everything, and this is where we are today. Everything that we have been depending upon, as ‘God sent a prophet’, and you may say He also, by the Spirit, upset everything, to where we have to have a complete new look at truth and come into it. Now, we want to continue on the thought of the ‘Mystery of Iniquity’ but before we do, let’s pray again. Heavenly Father, once more we pray, Lord, asking You this time to be very especially close with us. To reveal Your Word, O God, and make It come right, Lord. We pray that It may flow with ease and with grace, extended from Almighty God. And great revelatory power, Lord, that we might see and know just where we are at this moment, and what is coming on the earth. And then, Lord, by It might be able to escape the snare of the enemy. Keep us under Your Word, O God, the perfect interpretation thereof. Until It is manifested Lord, that we’ll be able to enter into that marriage supper of the Lamb, the great wedding feast. This we ask, Lord, for Your honor, and for glory in Jesus Name. Amen. 1. Now, we already read from 2 Thessalonians, and we know that the mystery if iniquity does already work. Now, let’s go to the mystery of iniquity to the New Testament origin. And you’ll notice it started way back with Paul’s age. But it could never be truly revealed, or interpreted, until it could be manifested. Because the interpretation of the Word of God, comes by manifestation. As Bro. Branham said, “God said, 'Let there be light, and there was light.'” And so it is that what God does, interprets the very Word. Because God cannot operate, or do anything apart from His Word. What He is doing today, is in the Word. What He did yesterday, is in the Word. What He would do tomorrow is in that Word. And so, there couldn’t be a real revelation, of this man of sin, until he comes into the age in which it will all come to pass. And of course, that’s this age, in which we live. So, we’re getting through the prophet, a little preview of what the world is going to see, and many people will understand too late. But we will not be deceived, because we understand previously. This is the whole thing. I think somebody once said, “An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure.” And that’s certainly the truth. By the time the church is aware of the antichrist, as to who he is…it’s going to be too late. Because remember, this mystery is in the church. It’s not outside the church. It’s in the church. 2. Now, I’m going back then to 2 Thessalonians. We don’t need to read those first ten verses again, because I think we’re sufficiently acquainted with them. But let’s examine as much of the truth of this portion of Scripture that we can. Now, first of all, the mystery of iniquity is manifested in a man. For It says here in verses 7 and 8, (7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who (will) now (hinder) will (hinder), until he be taken out of the way. (8) … then shall that Wicked (one) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Now, this is a man. The mystery of iniquity will eventually be manifested in the person of somebody’s flesh. Just like, ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness’. What was it? It was a man…John the Baptist. The mystery of iniquity, is a man. It will be an embodiment of Satan. Because It says, “Even him … (or you can delete that) …who’s coming.” Now, this is not the coming of Jesus, it’s the coming of this man of sin, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power, and signs and lying wonders. Now, you will notice that Jesus said, “It is not I that do the works, but it is My Father who doeth the works.” [Jn 14:10] So therefore, you could say that according to Jesus, that His coming was after the working of God, with all power and signs and genuine wonders. With this man of sin, you’ve got a different picture here. It is Satan who is in the man. And so, this man’s coming, this man of sin, is after the working of Satan, and he has all power, and lying signs and lying wonders. Which we’ll explain later on. He works exactly in the same way that Satan works. And of course, it would be Satan working in the man. Now secondly, this mystery is related to the coming of the Lord. You’ll notice in the 2nd verse, It says, (2) … be not soon shaken in (your) 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. 3. Now, I want you to notice here, that if you look in your Bibles, it may be that you’ve got a marginal reference, where it should cross out the word ‘Christ’, and it should not say ‘as that day of Christ is at hand’, it should read, ‘the day of the Lord’. Now, there are two translations, that we get Christ from in the Bible, and this one is wrong. It should not be interpreted ‘Christ’, it should be interpreted ‘Lord’. Which is from the word, ‘Jah’ which is from the word, ‘Jehovah’. And so, this should be; the day of Jehovah, showing that this is the day of God, that’s coming up, linking of course, I’m showing you, that Jesus in God, are the same person. Because God was manifest in the flesh. Now, in the Old Testament, written in Greek, which is the Septuagint, this is constantly translated as ‘the day of Jehovah’. And the day of Jehovah, usually refers in the Bible, to a day of battle, wherein God would defeat the enemy of Israel. In other words, there’s going to be a great day coming, when God is going to destroy His enemies. And this day is not to the Jews, although it does come, God will certainly do this great thing, what He’s going to do, and it’ll have some effect on the Jew. But really, He’s talking to the Gentiles here, that they’re looking for the great day of Jehovah. 4. Now, if you want to know about the great day of Jehovah, we could take some references here. Like this in Jeremiah 46:10 (10) For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord …of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates. (See?) That’s the day of God’s vengeance, in battle. Again in, Isaiah 2:12, It says: (12) For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And back in the New Testament, same God, same day, Acts 2:20 Peter speaking of course of Pentecost, (20) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before (that) great and notable day of the Lord come: The day of Jehovah, see is coming. God bringing a great battle upon the earth, in retribution. He’s avenging Himself, now of course, this is that great day, like what you call Armageddon, can call it what you want. But it's that great day is coming. 5. In 2 Peter 3:10 (10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Speaking of the day of judgement of Almighty God. He is coming. Now, of course, as I said here, this coming of the man of sin, the antichrist, and the mystery of iniquity comes just before this great day. But they’re related, because this manifestation of the man of sin, cannot come until the great day of the Lord is just at hand. It’s because, this manifestation of the man of sin, actually is the culmination of all the evil that brings on God’s great wrath. And by this time of course, the Bride is already Raptured. She’ll be gone. She’ll be gone when the man of sin is fully manifested in his flesh. She will not be here at that time. She’ll be here, when he is here, but not manifested. Because he’s got to be here somewhere, if the Lord’s coming in the next few years, that person has already got to be here. 6. Now notice also about this mystery, and the day of the Lord. Over in Acts 1:6-7, It says: (6) When they …(came) together, they asked … saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (7) And he said … It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. And over here in [2] Thessalonians 2:6 (6) And now (you) know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his (own season). That word in ‘his own time’ is 'his own season'. Now, both coming's are secret. The coming of Christ, and the coming of antichrist. His coming is literally a secret in the sense, that the people don’t even know what is going on. They just don’t understand it. And since the secret things belong unto the Lord our God, it would take a real revelation from the Lord for us to know, anything about either one of them. About the coming of the Lord, and about the actual coming of the man of sin. Now, you know from what Bro. Branham taught, that the people today, do not know about the coming of the Lord. They don’t do it. They don’t know it, because he said, …in I believe it was in 'Souls That Are In Prison Now', [63-11-10] I think it is. He said, “I am not saying He’s coming. I’m riding the midnight trail, saying, “He’s already come.” So therefore, the Coming of the Lord, which was a descent of the Word, by the Pillar of Fire, through the prophet’s Spirit, was an absolute secret coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, already. He is yet to come, of course, in the bodily form, which will take away the Bride. And so it is, that we did not even know what was going on, when Bro. Branham brought us the literal, revelation of Jesus Christ. He revealed the Son of man. We did not even know what was going on. It was a complete mystery. It was only afterward, that we understood, because he declared it. Just something like Jesus standing amongst the people on the River Jordan, when John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.” [Jn 1:29] He was there, but they did not recognize Him to be what He was. 7. So, there’s a great secret and mystery, to this whole thing. The Coming of the Lord, and the coming of the man of sin. And actually in both cases, everybody but the Bride, is going to be fooled, by the two coming's. Everybody but the Bride, is literally going to miss it. In other words, you’ll wake up to the Coming is already over, and wake up to the fact who the man of sin is. And in many cases, it’ll be too late, they’ll never be in the First Resurrection, and many of them, have to give their lives up, because they won’t worship the antichrist. Now, notice also, in the 3rd verse, in this 2nd chapter here, that there cannot be either the day of the Lord, or, the manifestation of the man of sin, until it is first of all, a falling away, or an apostasy. There has got to be a great falling away. Now, going back to the Septuagint again, in order to understand the use of these words, and get their basic meaning from the Old Testament. Because, you’ve got to go back to the Old Testament, to get every major truth in the New Testament. 8. We go to Joshua 22:22 to find out what this word in the Greek is, in the Septuagint meaning; falling away, or apostasy. Now, (22) The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, … Now, you’ll notice, that the word apostasy here, that’s translated to apostasy in the New Testament, is the same word in the Greek in the Old Testament, which they use for rebellion. See? Rebellion, in the Hebrew is apostasy in the Greek. Now notice, it was raising an altar, remember what happened, when Israel was going over Jordan; there were some of the tribes who stayed on one side of Jordan, and they didn’t go over to the promised land. And when they didn’t go over into the promised land, then they raised an altar, for sacrifice unto the Lord, and it was this raising of the altar, that Israel thought would be used for a sacrifice, instead of the one, which was used with the tabernacle. Which was the only one they could use in their proper worship. Now remember, as Bro. Branham said, there’s only one place to meet and worship God, and that is Christ the Word. See? So therefore, as you view the thought in the 3rd verse here, that there will come an apostasy, before either Jesus can come for His Bride, or this man of sin can be revealed for exactly what he is to the world. There has got to be a rebellion, against the Word. Because remember, in every single case, it is antichrist not anti-Jesus. It’s not anti-Jesus. Nobody’s anti-Jesus. Even the hippies love it. Everybody loves Jesus. But, it’s anticrist. Because Christ is the Word. And remember, God was not in Jesus, God was in Christ. See? It was the Christ that we are counting on, the anointing. So therefore, it is antichrist. And its rebellion, is the rebellion against Christ the Word, that we have today. 9. Also, let’s notice here, in 2 Chronicles 29:19 it’s the very same word again. And if you don’t think it’s rebellion against the Word, well, you know there is. All right: (19) More over all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the LORD. Now, you notice here, what had happened was in the reign of king Ahaz, they took all the golden vessels from the service of Almighty God, and they destroyed them. And right today, you have got the same thing in the churches. They…what they’re doing, they don’t want to serve God, according to the way God laid down, and in the channels that God ordained, that they should lay them in. In fact, I kind of liken this to I believe could be happening amongst some of the people today, who say they believe this Message. They no longer believe in Foot Washing, or Communion. They don’t believe in the things that Bro. Branham laid down. I go around the country, I hear many things that are very disconcerting. And it seems to me, that the people even amongst us, who say they believe the Message, are a little bit too much like those in the world. They have turned down in rebellion, the services that God has ordained. And they’re intruding into other services, that God has not ordained. Then also, there is the same thought in Jeremiah, where they turned to idols by going down into Egypt. See? And all of this today is happening in the last days. And the church has done it, according to Bro. Branham, until the Laodicean church has put Jesus Christ right outside, because it is the Word that they have deposed. In the apostasy therefore, is the rebellion against the Word of Almighty God, and the failure to live within the precepts of the Word. They want to worship God, and join organization, and do everything they want to do, but they don’t want to stay by that Word. 10. Now, notice again and never forget, it’s the church that’s in the apostasy. And it’s the church in its apostasy, that brings about the man of sin. Now, see here’s where the people just don’t believe it. They don’t believe it’s the church that’s going to bring about the man of sin, but they do. The mystery of iniquity in the church, brings out the man of iniquity. See? The sin in the church, brings out the man of sin. The iniquity brings out the man of iniquity. And notice what verse 10, tells about it. It says here, [2 Thessalonians 2:] (10) … all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; … (See?) The complete deception of unrighteousness. Why? Because they received not the love of the truth. Now, this was their apostasy in a nutshell, which we’re talking about. They left the truth of Almighty God. Now, notice what they called this fellow, who’s the antichrist. Now, the antichrist he’s called in verse 3, ‘the man of sin’, and also, he’s called the ‘son of perdition’. And in verse 8, he is called ‘that wicked one’. Of course, in verse 7, he’s called the ‘mystery of iniquity’. Now, which of course, is the teaching itself too. As Bro. Branham said, “You can’t crown a teaching.” But he said, “You let that spirit, and that teaching, which is a teaching and a spirit, you get it in a man, you can crown the man.” Well, there’s a mystery of iniquity is a teaching…it’s a spirit, but you can’t pin it down until it goes into a man. Well, it’s in a man now, and they're going to crown him. 11. Now, He’s called then, ‘man of sin’; ‘son of perdition’; and the ‘wicked one’. Now, two of those titles are identical. Because, man of sin, and wicked one, are wrongly translated. They should both be translated as ‘lawless one’. The lawless one. That 3rd chapter of 1 John. And the 4th verse. And notice, It says, (4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. Now, as I told you many times, this is the wrong translation. Every other translation, puts it right…just about every one anyway. Sin is ‘lawlessness’. Now, (4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law… Transgradial(?) goes against the law. Breaks the law. Now actually, you cannot break a law. If you could break a law, then you destroy it. Because a broken law is a destroyed law. If I can break the law of gravity, then there’s no more gravity. See? If I can break the law of cohesion, there’s no more cohesion. See? And there’d be none of these laws left. You cannot break a law, or you would destroy it. For all things are made by the Word. And all things are maintained by the Word. So therefore, nobody can break the Word of God, or destroy the Word of God. Because if you could break the Word of God, then it would destroy its effectiveness, and nothing would be maintained. Because all things are made by the Word, and all things are maintained by the Word. If I can break the Word of God, then I’d break this universe. Everything would fly to pieces. So, I can’t do it. See? 12. Now, what it is, is this: As I said before, you take the very laws that God laid down, for an intended purpose and you use them for something else. Or, you try to attain, some purpose God wants, by using some other law, than the law that God ordained. The same thing. See? You take the law, and you use it wrong, or you try to get where God wants you to be, and you try to get there in a wrong way. You try to focus on some purpose. Like as I said many times, the Bible said, “Go into all the world preach the Gospel.” And what your disciple is all people, make disciples of them. All right. A woman could say, “Well, that’s the Word of God, I’m going to fulfill the purpose of God, and I’m going to go and preach.” All right. You See? That’s exactly lawlessness. Because, that’s sin. Because a woman can’t do it. See? She can prophesy, she can pray, she can testify, she can do many things in conjunction with her husband, perhaps. Like Prisea and Aquila did. Which was not unlawful in the Scripture. But for her, to go ahead and achieve a purpose. See? As if God laid down a purpose, to be achieved. But, she’s doing it contrary to God’s Word, because He forbade her to do it. Then you see, you’ve got that same lawlessness right there. And so, it’s just like that we mentioned concerning these ones that are false anointed. They’re doing many things, that God’s Word said, “Do.” But they’re doing it, in a wrong way. 13. Now, the original iniquity, as we mentioned last night, is in Genesis 2:17. Genesis 2:9 (9) And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant (in) sight, good for food; the tree of life in the midst of the garden, and the tree of (the) knowledge of good and evil. And then in verse 17, (17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that (you eat thereof (dying) thou shalt surely die. Now, you’ll notice in here, that it’s the knowledge of good and evil. Now, what is this knowledge of good and evil? There is only one thing it can mean, and that’s perversion. Because, everything that God made was good. Now, knowledge is the ability to know something. And usually, it has to do with ‘know how’. So, what the people are doing here in Genesis, would be that they’re using something that they know how to use, but they’re using it wrong. Because you see, God made all things good. 14. In other words, it’s a perversion of the truth. And this was exactly what we found out according to 1 John 3: which we read concerning Cain. Read that the other night, and showed you what it was. (12) … Cain, … was of that wicked one, (and remember, this is exactly what the anti-Christ is called) …(he) slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Now, there’s two kinds of work, righteous, and unrighteous. An unrighteous work is an evil work. A righteous work is a proper. What is a righteous work? The righteous work was Abel operating within, or worshipping God, within the framework of the Word. Which was, sacrifice the blood first, then offer the gifts of the ground. And of course, Cain wouldn’t do it. He said, “I’m going to sacrifice to God my own way. I’m going to worship God.” And he did it by offering fruit. And God said, “What you did was right, but you didn’t divide right.” See? It’s just like when women winning souls. What she did was right, but she didn’t divide right. Right. That’s exactly why it would be impossible for any woman preacher to be in the Bride. It would be impossible. You say, “Well, you’re reading somebody....” I ain't reading nobody out. I didn’t write the Bible. I only preach it. Either God’s a liar, or He’s not a liar. Because the Bride is one hundred percent with that Word. Whatever she does, has got to be by Word. There’s no other motivation for it because, the Word and the Spirit are absolutely one. And the Spirit could never tell anybody to go opposite to the Word, unless they are already going to go off. God would say, “Okay, go right ahead.” See? They can’t do it. 15. Now, remember as I showed you last night, how that Jesus called Israel of the same seed as Cain. See? Same thing. He said, “You’re just like your…like your forefather Cain, that’s in the 8th chapter of John, verse 44. (44) (You) are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father (you) will do… Notice, the word lust in here, is ‘pleasure’. The word lust is too strong, because it is not translated from the Greek as lust, …that’s like a driving force, which is immoral. This word is pleasure. And the pleasures of your father…in other words, you’ll go your own way. That’s why the Bible says, “She delivers pleasure and is dead, while she liveth.” [1 Tim 5:6] See? Wanting your own way. See? And there’s only two ways, one is the way of God, which is by the Word, and the other is a perversion. See? (44) … He was a murderer from the beginning, abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him… Notice, that what It says. There was no truth in him. Thy Word is truth. There is no Word of God, in the false church. See? Jesus said that, “There is no place in you for My Word.” [Jn 8:37] Isn’t that what He says? Sure. He said, “Because, you kill me, because my Word has no place in you.” Why was it that Cain killed his brother? Because the Word had no place in him. 16. Now what was that Word, that had no place? The true revelation of the Word, because he already had the Word, because he was sacrificing. How else would you sacrifice? See? No revelation, being apart from the Word. This is why Bro. Branham’s Message is so serious. And this is why the Message is the Third Pull. Not something else. See? Even though it’s in simplicity, and It's so strange. Say, "Why would God do it?" Don’t ask me, ask God. Here’s the mystery of Elijah, restoring the church. Why does God do this? Don’t ask me, ask God. I didn’t write the Book. He never asked me what He should do about it. I’m not going to ask Him, I’m just going to preach it, I'm fool enough to believe it. And if I miss it on the grounds that I believe in God, then who cares? That’s right. No place else, you can turn. See? Prophet was vindicated. If you can’t believe what the prophet taught, you aren’t going to believe anything. See? Well you better not believe anything. Because the only thing you can believe is a lie. If he didn’t tell us right, the whole thing is crazy, and a lie. Notice, now he said, “Why have you not understood my speech?” He said, “Because you cannot hear my words.” Which is to understand by revelation what it’s all about. He just wiped them off. Now, see? 17. Now, going back again here, he says, [John 8:] (45) …(Because) I tell you the truth, (you) believe … not. (46) Which of you convinceth me of sin? (That’s confute, one word that I say.) …if I say the truth, why do (you) not believe me? (47) He that is of God heareth God's words: (you) therefore hear them not, because (you) are not of God. And you’ve been hearing God’s Word, every single day. Preacher, read the Book. We’ve all read the Book. What was it? They didn’t have a revelation. See? 18. Now, with that, we go to Matthew 15:3-13 (3) But he answered … Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? There you are. Why do you transgress the commandments of God, by your tradition? You know what they were doing? They were doing everything God told them to do, plus they are adding to it. When did God say they had to wash their hands like they pretended they had to wash their hands at all? There was a certain amount in there of washing your hands, washing pots and all those things. But they added to it. They got to a place where they said, “You can only have so much weight upon your feet, lest you had too much weight to carry on a certain day.” And all kinds of things they added to the Word of God. (4) For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. (5) But (you) say, Whosoever shall say to his father or mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; Whatever all that is, I don’t know, but you can tell right here, they’re getting around the Word of God. They’re getting around It. (6) And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have (you) made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 19. In other words, the Word of God is powerless, and God will not back up any man’s tradition. And because they won’t receive God’s pure Word, then He won’t then, no Word can be backed up. The Word is void to them. (7) (You) hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, (8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines (the mystery, teaching of the mysteries) the commandments of men. So, the worship that they have is absolutely vain just like Cain. (10) And he called the multitude, and said, Hear, and understand: (11) Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, (that) defileth (the) man. (12) Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? (13) ( And) he … said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. This is exactly why Bro. Branham taught that: 'Spoken Word was Original Seed'. That there was no such thing as anybody ever receiving the Word of God, unless he’s original seed. Right here. Every plant, (13) …, (that My) Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. And of course, that’s true. 20. Now, a while ago, I said this lawless one, could only come at a certain time. And this is absolutely true. He could only come at a certain time. So, let’s look at it, and find out how that time is. We get first of all, some Scripture over here in Matthew 7:21-23, which you all know. (21) Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, (you) that work iniquity. And what’s this man called? The man of iniquity. Which is, you that work lawlessness. Now, how in the name of common sense, can you work lawlessness? Because if there’s no law there, you can’t work. So, It tells you what it is. The works are apart from the law of God. See? And yet it’s the same works, that God said to do. Cast out devils, heal the sick, raise the dead, and so on. See? 21. Now, you can find out about that in 'God, of This Evil Age' [65-01-01] page 18, Bro. Branham comments on it. Now, over here in, Matthew 24:24. It says: (24) For there shall arise false Christs, (even lying) prophets, and shall (show) great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Now, also, we’ll read verse 25-26 (25) Behold, I have told you before. (26) Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. (See?) 22. Now, with this, Acts 2: which I’ve talked to you many times about. It says in the 16th and 17th verses. (16) … this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; What was it? The outpouring of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. Signs and wonders. (17) And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon (a-double l ) flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: Now, and on my servants, and on my handmaidens, I’ll pour out My Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. See? And I’ll show wonders in heaven. You'll notice in there, there’s two groups of people, as I’ve said many times. He said, “Your group, and My group.” See? Now with this, verse 21. See? (21) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. There’s a special calling on the name of the Lord, at the end-time, that there wasn’t previously. Because it’s at the end-time, the name of the Lord shall be known in the west, as it was in the east. That’s Isaiah. The name of the Lord will be known in the west. Which it wasn’t previously, until the end of this Age. And that is the name of the Lord, of course, is the Lord Jesus Christ. 23. Now, from these verses of Scripture that I read to you, It tells you what the lawless one, is doing. The lawless one at the end-time. He is actually a man that is anointed to do genuine signs and wonders, by the Holy Ghost. Because this is exactly what iniquity is, and lawlessness. It’s where men and women are using gifts, and signs and wonders, but they are false to the Word. But, the Bible calls them false prophets, and false teachers. So, they are true to the anointing of the power but, they are false to the Word of Almighty God. Now, notice also, in Matthew 24:11-12 what It says, along this same line. (11) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. What’s a false prophet? Doing signs and wonders. (12) And because iniquity shall abound, … Where’s iniquity? In the false prophet. And what are we doing? Genuine signs and wonders. (12) … the love of many shall wax cold. (See?) Love is going to wax cold. They’ll be no need for loving the truth anymore, loving the things of God. You’ve got everything in your lap. See? The Spirit’s poured out. And when the Spirit of God is poured out, …a statement Bro. Branham made, I caught the other day, where he was saying, from the Book of Acts, “When the Spirit of God is poured out, then God empties Himself in the church.” He empties Himself. And at this time, is when the signs and wonders, are going to be going on, with though genuine, the people are contrary to the Word. 24. Now remember, he calls them false prophets. And a prophet is a man with the Word. A false prophet, has the false Word. The true prophet, has the true Word. And it’s the false prophet that they’re going to deceive many. See? And it’s this that's going to bring, the lukewarm condition in Laodicea. Right? Because It says the love of many is going to wax cold. Going to bring on this condition in Laodicea. See? People can operate apart from the Word of God. See? Now, Pentecostal shuck foreruns the antichrist, because all the poison of all Ages, is poured into her. Why? Because it’s a shuck. All the poison of all Ages. Remember, the shuck gets burned. Remember, God judges the last generation. He said “I’ll require the blood of all the generations at the hand of this generation.” And at the hand of the generation of the Pentecostal shuck, that all the poison pours into her. And the last plague of Israel was spiritual death. And the last plague in this age is spiritual death. That’s right, because Bro. Branham said so. And the last Age is harvest. So, you see, there’s your mystery, that we’re looking at. We’re seeing it. What was it that Mr. Pentecost [David du Plesis] said? He said, “I was in Rome, and it was a breath of fresh air.” Spring air, or whatever he called it. Where he’s been before, I don’t know. But if that’s the spring air, or fresh air, you could just imagine where he’s been going. And, this is some kind of a cheese factory, …Limburger. He was certainly someplace, to make him say a thing like that. And he said that the Pentecostal movement, was so deep in the Roman Catholic church…which it is. That one day, God was going to bring revival to the whole world, through the Pentecostal church. There is your mystery of iniquity, staring you right in the face, and they don’t even know it. 25. Now notice, that it is a man, finally, because as I said, you cannot crown a spirit. It has to become a man, in order to give him the full sway upon the earth. Now also notice, that Bro. Branham said, by the Holy Ghost, and remember, an angel of God came to Zacharias and talked to him, so, an angel of God came to William Branham, and said, “You cannot teach Pentecostal babies, doctrine.” That’s right, you can’t do it. The Pentecostals did not receive the Word of God, and they turned down Church Order. And remember, Bro. Branham said, “That Church order was part of the Seven Seals.” That’s in the 'Unveiling of The Mighty God'. [64- 06-14] Just look it up for yourselves. In other words, they took perversion in its peak, instead of the truth in its peak. And today they are in a state of lawlessness, which will bring about the lawless one. Because Pentecost will not operate in the framework of the Word; short skirts, short hair, painted faces, women preachers, tongues talking in every meeting, …they are a million miles from reality. I’ve got no fuss with them, I just giving you the truth. Because they’re the shuck. 26. Now, let us take some more time now, on this word ‘iniquity’. All right. Back in Matthew 23:27-36. (27) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrities… What was the Pharisee? He was the educated one, a hypocrite. (27) …. for (you) are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. (28) Even so (you) also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within (you) are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. That’s what this church age is today. A great big show, and full of iniquity. Lawlessness. (29) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because (you) build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, Those who were with the Word. See? (30) And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Those with the Word. See? (31) Wherefore (be you) witnesses unto yourselves, that (you) are the children of them which killed the prophets. (32) Fill (you) up then the measure of your fathers. (33) (You) serpents, (you) generation of vipers, how can (you) escape the damnation of hell? (34) Wherefore, behold, (he said, because of this) I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them (you) shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall (you) scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city: (35) That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom (you) slew between the temple and the altar. (36) Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. (37) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, (remember it’s Babylon, now Babylon) thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens … (but you) would not! (38) Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (39) For I say unto you, (You) shall not see me henceforth, till (you) shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. 27. Now, notice in there, verse 28, He called them hypocrites, and full of iniquity. Now, what is a hypocrite? He is a man playing a part on the stage, because he has changed his mask. He is a great make believer, just like over here in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (4) Who opposeth and (exalts) himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that (he the hypocrite…he’s a hypocrite) …(sits) in the temple of God, (showing) himself that he is God. (But, he ain’t God.) Then what is he? He’s a hypocrite. The great hypocrite now is on the scene. What’s the great hypocrite? He’s there because of iniquity. Nobody gets there just because he’s a hypocrite. That’s politics. This fellow is iniquitous. He’s working outside the framework of the Word. He’s operating and doing things out of power, but not according to what God called ‘the proper discernment, or proper revelation of the Word.’ He’s bypassing a true critical judgement of it. Now, notice Jesus, how He avoided iniquity because, He said, “What I see My Father do, that I do.” He never had iniquity in His life. Because only what He saw His Father did…He did. These people, did anything, anytime they wanted to, and how they wanted to do it. 28. Let’s go look at it over here in Hebrews 1:9, we might see something on that. (9) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Verse 8 says, (8) But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. God, fulfilling His Word, by His Word. God abiding by His Own Word. When did God not abide by His Own Word? See? (9) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity… He said, “You love to stay within the framework of the Word.” Which of you can confute me …find Me wrong in one word? Which of you as Bro. Branham said, “Jesus said, can find me where I didn’t fulfill every Word of the Scripture, said about me?” He did it according to the truth. You loved it, and you hated any operation of the Word of God, outside of the framework. Or try to worship God apart from the Word…and so on. Notice, It says, (9) … therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. There’s your real ruler, right there. The antichrist is the fraud. 29. Now, see what God has done for us, in Titus 2:14. (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. What’s He purified us from? He purified us from the misunderstanding, and an improper attitude toward the Word of God. That’s exactly right, because this is where the whole problem lies. See? If you don’t have the gospel, you’re judged without the gospel. Well, you’ve got that Word, you’ve got to be judged by it. And He purified a peculiar people of what? Zealous unto good works. Which is abiding by the Word. Zealous for those in the Word. See? (15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. 30. Now, let’s drop back to the title of this man, in 2 Thessalonians here. He is also called, the son of perdition. Not just the wicked one, which means lawless, or iniquity means lawlessness. This man that’s doing these mighty works, contrary to the Word of Almighty God. Now, perdition means destruction. The son of perdition means the son of destruction. Which ends in spiritual, and eternal disaster. It is the absolute ruin, as far as the purpose of existence, is concerned. The son of perdition, is where you see a man, exemplified before the whole world, to end up in complete ruin as far as the purpose of existence is concerned. In other words, there was no use for that person to exist at all. How tragic for the those of that spirit. Because, they’ll all be destroyed with him. They are living for God in their own way. Utterly lost, just like this man. Right. 31. Now notice, [2 Thessalonians 2:] in verse 4, what It says. (4) Who opposeth and (exalts) himself above all that is called God, … Now, what is this? Now, watch the Word. (4) Who opposeth and (exalts) himself … So therefore, there are two more titles, in his name right here. The opposer, and the exalter. That’s right. The opposer, and the exalter. Not just the man of sin, the lawless one, the iniquity, the son of perdition, but he is also called the opposer, and the exalter, two names. 32. Now, Zechariah 3:1 brings out in the Greek about this one that is opposing. It’s antichrist. (1) And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. That’s the same word in the Hebrew and in the Greek. Oppose, opposing, in opposition to God. And yet, he is sitting there as though he is God. Opposing God. See? Right? Opposing Him, yet standing there as if he is God. 33. Now. Let us see how this is viewed the New Testament. Let’s see how he withstood Christ. Opposed Him. Luke 13:17 (17) And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: … What is he? The adversary, same word. Satan opposing Christ, how? Through the people that were the religious ones of His day. See? Adversary. In opposition. Opposing Christ. Notice how he opposed the Elect. {Luke] chapter 21: and verse 15. (15) For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries (your opposition, your opposers,) shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. (He opposes the Bride, the Elect.) 34. Al1 right, 1 Tim. 1:10 (10) For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary (or, in opposition) to (the) sound doctrine; Satan, the great opposer. Christ, the Bride, the Word. In opposition. See? In Opposition to God Himself, in opposition to the Bride, in opposition to the Word of this day. Now, a literal translation for oppose, or the opposer, is one who sits over against. And this is antichrist, because that’s what we’re talking about. Because here’s what Bro. Branham said we know, and especially the Church Ages, he brought out the fact that, "the antichrist took the place of Christ, so, he sits over against.” He’s sitting there, the hypocrite, the opposer, calling himself the Lord, but everything he’s doing is in direct opposition to Almighty God, though it looks like it’s the real thing. If this is not the most diabolical thing, and something that the world is just not going to grasp. Because they don’t understand antichrist is doing this. 35. Antichrist to them opposing God, means, “No more prayer in the schools.” “No more mentioning Jesus’ name.” “No more worship.” “No more of this,” it’s communism. They’ll never see what I’m talking about. What Bro. Branham taught us, if it takes a thousand years. They’re blind. They’re blind. See? So, they take the word, ‘oppose’ to mean different, we don’t take the word oppose, to mean oppose, I’m going to stand out there and withstand God, and say, “There’s no God”. It’s not that at all. It’s …?...the whole thing. It’s the opposition within the framework of the church. Just like a member reading several years ago about a …it’s in the Church Ages…about a man that was an editor of a newspaper. And he said, “I can understand, (he said), how the communists would fight religion and try to destroy Christianity. But (he said) when you see people going to a Bible School, where they are taught by theologians to destroy Christianity, what in the world is the matter with them?” There’s something wrong somewhere. This is exactly what we’re talking about here, is this subtlety, this mystery here. Now, he’s the opposer. See? Opposing reality, but a fraud opposing God, while pretending to bring the people to God. You say, “What kind of a fellow would do that?” Well, we’re just beginning to learn what kind of a fellow he is. Since Bro. Branham taught us. The next thing he’s called, ‘the exalter’. 36. All right. This is taken from Daniel 11:36, this is from the Septuagint, (36) And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt him- self, (notice) and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: … Now, if the indignation is going to be accomplished, and if it's the same thing that I think it is, which is the over spreading abomination, this is exactly where the Roman Catholic church takes over, and said, “Now, you worship the way we want, or you die.” You break the covenant right there. Because the over spreading abomination is not nearly as the Dome of the Rock in the places where Solomon’s temple was built. But it actually is where the Roman Catholic church takes over this very thing here. Now, he’s going to prosper. They’re going to follow him and love him, until he stands up or rears up on his two hind feet …so to speak. 37. Now, note Ezekiel further to this, 28:14-19. (14) Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. (15) Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. What iniquity? Lawlessness. See? Doing those things that you have the ability to do, in the name of the Lord, but, outside the Word. (16) By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore, I will cast thee as profane (thing) out of the mountain of God: … That mount of God would refer to a high place, I believe that refers to the structure that God had built, in His kingdom with the people. (16) …I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. (17) Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, (that’s what this Seven Church Age is…lacking nothing,) thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: … There’s your tree of knowledge of good and evil, right there. (17) … I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. (18) Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore, … 38. The traffic…you think this modern day, church is going to bring them all to God. Like Bro. Branham said, “The Methodists want the Baptists, the Baptists want the Presbyterians, and the Pentecostals want them all.” They’re going to get them all too. They’ve got to, because it’s the shuck. (18) …(but) I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. (19) All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. Now notice, he is the exalter. He was leading the worship of God, …that’s right, but finally to himself. See? Leading in the worship of God, but then finally to himself. 39. Let’s notice also in Isaiah 14:12-17, because this is the same fellow…the exalter. (12) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou (cast) down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: (The ‘stars of God’, you know, are the messengers.) I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the (earth) He's going to look like the greatest messenger that ever was on this earth. Bigger than any of them. (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (16) They … shall look upon thee (narrowly), and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; (17) That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; (and) opened not the house of his prisoners? In other words, a man of such great power to have absolute control. See? He has promised that he is going to bring worship to himself, all the time, being a hypocrite he’s leading in the worship of God. See? Opposer, and exalter. Now, I trust you notice, in the Laodicean Church Age, that there is a spirit of anarchy. At the end-time, also according to the Book of Timothy. Because in the word Laodicea, means, 'people’s rights'. Which means the people rise in anarchy, and rebellion against the Words of the day. Also, they say, “We are great people, we have need of nothing.” That’s all you ever hear. “This great society of ours, can more than take care of itself, if we’ll only do it.” 40. Now, you can see where this leads him, which is over here in 2 Thessalonians 2:4, again of course, that’s our study. (4) … so that … as God (he sits) in the temple of God, (showing) himself that he is God. Which is I said is the overspreading of abomination. The pope in Jerusalem, taking over all the world, and forgiving their sins. See? Also, he takes over the temple, which is the church, the people, takes it all over. Now, notice very, very carefully. How does this terrible spirit fit in today? As I said, it’s very simple. Men operating in the spirit and gifts apart from the Word. Because remember, Satan was the anointed cherub that covered. See? Now, anointed people… notice, it is this very thing, according to Acts 2:16-18, that brings not the Millennium, but, the Great Tribulation. Now watch that. 41. Let’s go back to Acts. My, if the people would only recognize this, they would understand what’s wrong today in the world. But, they don’t understand it. Now, let’s look at again, this is that spoken of by the prophet Joel [2:] (28) And it shall come to pass (in the last days said God) …I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; … And then he said, “What’s going to happen?” There’s going to be a great prophetic outburst. Then, verse 19. [Acts 2:19] (19) And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: (20) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: Now, it tells you right here, what the antichrist is going to bring about. It’s not going to bring a Millennium like Mr. Pentecost tries to tell you; and the great things are going to come upon the earth, in a great revival. This anointing, which is going to fall upon everybody, is going to bring the Great Tribulation. It’s going to bring in the antichrist. Isn’t it? Certainly, it is. Yes sir. Then, will come the Millennium, after the tribulation, and the new start. See? Now, do not the people with the anointing today, act as Satan? The people with the anointing, act just as Satan. See? The church bypasses the Word, until anybody can worship God, only through the church. They come to church, join the church, everything’s okay. So, never mind the Word. See? 42. Is this what it means when It says, “He makes himself God?” Sure, he does. That’s why he makes himself God. He makes himself God through the church. It’s the church that brings the man of iniquity on. Nobody else. He doesn’t make himself. The church makes him. Remember I read to you a long time ago, in the Book of Isaiah…I think it was, no maybe Jeremiah, I forget where it was…where it shows that the antichrist is as big as the people make him. They’re the ones that make him God. It’s the church that makes him God…Now, the church built him an image, and gives him the power. If it weren’t for the image, he’d never get there. It’s the church that is doing it. So, without the church itself, he could not do, what he wants to do. But, he is able to do it, because the church is what is giving him all his power, to bring about this super world system, and organization, that will take the world over. You’ll notice in verse [2 Thessalonians 2:] 8. (8) …then shall that Wicked (one, be destroyed) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming: God’s bright coming, will destroy the lawless one. Here is when he becomes the son of perdition, or the son of destruction, and ruin. It does not mean annihilation. That is much later, at the White Throne judgement. But he and his system, and all that follow, perish. All the wealth, and the accumulation, and membership of all the churches are destroyed. 43. That’s what It says over here in Hebrews 12:27-29] (27) And this word, Yet once more, (signifies) the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. (28) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: These people do not serve God, acceptably. Only the Bride, because, she goes by the Word. 44. Notice over here, in Revelations 18: 4-10. We don’t need to read It, though we could. (4) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that (you) be not partakers of her sins, and that (you) receive not of her plagues. (5) For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. (See, even then) (6) Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. (7) How much she hath glorified (notice, how much she hath glorified) herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit as a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. (8) Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who (judges)her. (9) And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication (with her), and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, (10) Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is (her) judgment come. The absolutely, the son of perdition. Why? Because he epitomizes, or symbolizes, every-thing the present church system is going to get. Utter destruction and ruin. The whole thing is blotted out. It can’t be otherwise. We’ll walk upon the ash of the wicked. (See?) Only treasures in heaven, will matter then. As Bro. Branham said, “Covet not this earth’s vain riches.” 45. Now, notice also, verse 9, back in 2 Thessalonians 2: (9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, Now, this verse belongs with verse 4. See? Because he opposes God, exalts himself above God. Yet, demands worship, as the hypocrite, saying that he is God. See? You’ve got to come to God by him and his system. Because remember that he’s head of the church now. He epitomizes the church everything that was poured into the church, was poured into that man now. They just pour it into him, and give him the whole thing. Now, because It tells how he got just where he is. See? This mystery of iniquity is a great power ministry that deceives the people. Now, I remember for a long time, because I didn’t know better, I used to think that Matthew 12:24-24 was genuine signs and wonders there, But over here in Thessalonians, it is not genuine signs and wonders, but, lying signs and wonders. But according to the Greek, everything he does is real. That’s right. There are no lying signs and wonders. All is real. But the purpose is to destroy by lies. Making them believe lies. See? 46. Now, see, It says here in [2 Thessalonians 2:] verse 4, (4) … (showing himself, sitting) in the temple of God, (showing) himself that he is God. In other words, in the Greek it says, “Proving by demonstration, that he is God.” Just like Judas did. Judas had an anointing upon him, but he was the devil. This man here, with a genuine anointing upon him. See? Will absolutely be doing genuine signs and wonders, proving that he is God. My, what a day is coming ahead. See? Now, there was ten signs and wonders that the Bible said could happen. 47. We look at many of them over here in, …2 Chronicles 18: 19-23, this is the destruction of Ahab. (20) Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? (21) And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so. Remember, Ahab was that wicked king that defiled Israel. (22) Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee. (and so on) (23) (And) Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? You can see in here, how it is that this end-time group, that’s going to believe the lie of the antichrist in preference to the Word which has come to us by the prophet of God. 48. Now, notice, It also says here, in Thessalonians, “Whose coming is after the working of Satan”. [2 Th 2:9] Now, how does Satan work? Why, we know how he works. He works through lies. Now, to get a contrast, on how Satan works, and how the Holy Spirit works. We look at 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (13) But we are bound to give thanks alway (for) you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: The Holy Spirit always works by the Word of God, in the believer, and out here, it’ll work apart from the Word. See? Always, it will be that way. So, Satan wants beauty, he always did. This one wants beauty, he wanted great power, just like Cain. Beauty and power, just like Nimrod. And today, it’s the same thing in this Laodicean Church Age. Everybody is looking for the ‘charismatic power of God’, as they call it. Gifts and manifestation, and they want to see a big thing come upon the earth. Everything they want is big, big, big, big, big. And do you know what it is? It’s all deficit spending, just like our government. One of these days, it’s going to collapse, because there’s a dependence upon God, and God is not with them. He’s merely manifesting His power. 49. Now, notice in [2 Thessalonians 2:] verse 10, again, It says here. (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. The antichrist system and ministry, takes hold of the people with all deceit of unrighteousness, … now we looked at unrighteousness last night, what is it we showed you? It originated back there with Cain. See? Holding the truth in unrighteousness, and repressing it. And, where is it? It is in them that perish. And who perishes? All that take the mark of the beast, or of course, some refuse it, and then of course, they will die for it. Now, why must this occur? It must occur because It says in verse 10, (10) …they received not the love of the truth, … 50. Now, what’s that love of the truth? Hebrews 6:4 (4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, (as Bro. Branham said, “That’s the end-time Message.”) (4) (and) have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) …tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, That’s exactly what we see today. (6) If they shall fall away, (having falling away), to renew them again to repentance;( they will never change their mind, because,) they (crucified) the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (See?) It’ll never, never come back, they're all lost. Now, notice It says here, “Because they receive not the love of the truth.” [2 Th 2:10] 51. Back in Exodus 28:30 Bro. Branham spoke of this. (30) And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: … Notice where it is, it’s on the heart, because, that’s where a man believeth. (30) …and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually. Now notice, this word in the Hebrew is Urim Thummim. In the Greek, it is manifestation and truth. That’s what Bro. Branham said, “If you’ve got the Urim Thummim today, is the Word of God.” Now notice, manifestation and truth. What is manifestation and truth? It’s what Jesus did. “If I had not done the works other man did, and they had no sin.” [Jn 15:24] Now, what were the works for? The works were in order to make the people believe. This is manifestation, and truth. So, it with Bro. Branham. The great ministry that God gave him, was Urim and Thummim. It was manifestation and truth. Now, what do they do? They turned down the truth, but they want manifestation. So, what does God do? God, gives them manifestation, because the manifestation they love, but, the truth, they hate. They want the love of power, they go for the power, they go for all the gifts, and all those things. You see? But then, they lose it. 52. Now, notice, in [2 Thessalonians 2:] verse 11 and 12, (11) And for this cause … What cause? Manifestation of truth. The irrefutable proof, that the truth is of God. And they crucified the Son of God, (11) … God shall send them strong delusion, (like Ahab. See?) that they should believe (the) lie: Now, what is strong delusion? I believe it’s the same as Matthew 24:24 (24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall (show) great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. The strong delusion. I believe that the end-time is a great, great, gift ministry that’s going to cause the people to believe the lie. Satan’s original plan whereby he seduced Eve. He said to her, “You will not die.” That, was the great lie. He said, “You, won’t die.” 53. Now let’s go find out if she’ll die or not. Isaiah 28:15-16 (15) Because (you) have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: (That’s the Great Tribulation, and death.) for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Now, they know that. Bro. Branham said, “They know this is the truth.” Why? Because they saw it manifested. Manifestation, and truth. (16) Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. What is it that Peter said about this? He said, “They stumble at the rock of offence.” Which was the Word. Wasn’t it? Now, (17) Judgment also will I lay (one) the line, and righteousness (with a) plummet: Sure. In other words, everything is judged by the Word of God, because that’s the plummet and the line. (17) …and hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, (that's great tribulation) and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. You know how water will uncover things? Judgement will uncover: (18) And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then (you) shall be trodden down by it. 54. Everyone today believes, they’re going to miss the Great Tribulation, and they’re going to be taken in the Rapture. They’re not going to, they’re going to get caught in it, because they believe the devil’s lie. They think they can do what they want apart from the Word. When a man of God came on the scene, absolutely vindicated as a prophet of God for this day. They turned It down and God said, He’s going to take away their refuge of lies. And because they had believed the lie, and they’ll die. It’s the very same thing again, that the devil told Eve. He said, “You shall not die.” But she did. And they’re going to die for this. See? And notice, that they took pleasure in believing it. Believing what? The lie. You talk to anybody, and they're stimulated, saying, “Bless God, we’re going to make the Rapture.” And everybody is Rapture crazy. Yeah, they are all just drunk on it. Rapture, Rapture, Rapture, Jesus Coming, Jesus Coming, Jesus Coming. Already came, and they didn’t even know it. See? Now, they get all their thrill, and all their joy, but their pleasure, they got pleasure in it…oh my, they’re happy. You ought to hear the people that didn’t like Bro. Branham, said, “So glad he’s dead”. Their stimulation lies, in gifts and lies. Ours is in the Word, revealed and vindicated by the Holy Ghost. See? 55. Now, what does he say to the Bride? Back here in 2 Thessalonians 2: Again, what’s he say to that Bride? I read part of It. But let’s read It some more. Back in 13 again. (13) (Beloved) we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, … because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification (in other words, separated by) the Spirit and belief in the truth. Remember, many people get separated by the Spirit. But they never get the truth. (14) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of (the) Lord Jesus Christ. That’s the Rapture, and the Wedding Supper. (15) Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and (hold the teachings) which (you) have been taught, whether by word, or epistle. (16) Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and … given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, (17) Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. (Got to be by the Word. See?) Now, Paul said to this group of people, “Let no man beguile you.” In that day he was saying, “Don’t let anybody fool you.” But that time is going to happen right away. Today, you can change it, and say, “Don’t let anybody fool you, because that time could happen anytime.” Now, notice the words in the Greek for ‘beguile’. It is the word; ‘diaskedázo’, it is used in Romans 7:11. Beguile. For sin, taking an occasion by the commandment, deceiving and by esteeming. In here, it sets forth the influence of sin. But it also means, self deception. Let no man deceive you, also means, don’t get deceived yourself. 56. Notice what It says in 1 Corinthians 3:18 (18) Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you (seems) to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. That’s good teaching for this day. You think you know the Word? You don’t begin to know along side of the prophet. Because you’ve got no proof you know any Word, but he had the proof. Because he could prove it. Also used…in 2 Corinthians 11:3 (3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted… (See?) Don’t be beguiled. Used also in 1 Timothy 2:14 (14) …but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. All of these things show us that it is only too easy, to get deceived. 57. In Romans 16:17-18 , same word, (17) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Bro. Branham said, “Stay away from.” (18) For they that are (they that) serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Oh sure, you could get a pretty sermon preached, and make you feel great. Jump up and down, and scream and talk in tongues and have a great time, and be just as fooled as the old devil fooled Eve. See? All the ways you could be fooled. Satan has got a list to lie to you. You can deceive yourself, because, “Well I couldn’t believe that these folks…well, I..I...I couldn’t believe for one minute that just a few of us will make the Rapture, and all the rest of the folk won’t make it.” Go ahead. Deceive yourself, go ahead. Oh my, they’re fair speeches. Sure, deceived. Deception by his instrument, by his tools, by the gifts. Everything Satan can get his hand on at the end-time, is getting loaded with deception there's only one place and that's flee to the Word. There’s no other place to go. See? 58. Now, just a note here on the fact of Satan deceiving. How did he, thoroughly beguile Eve? Now notice, Satan himself did not do it. He used the serpent. Satan got to the human race, by serpent seed, and he keeps his hold in the same manner. See? Bro. Branham said, “It is not communism, it is the church system, headed up by the pope of Rome.” See? A man in whom Satan could incarnate himself. He takes the world by flattery, and by seduction. He takes over all in an alliance, but he destroys the whole world and himself, by it. See? Satan does it. Doing it by these emissaries, preachers, and everything he can get his hands on. See? 59. Now, in closing, let us go to 2 Timothy 3: Bro. Branham used this a lot. Here is where Paul said, “The end-time would bring Jannes and Jambres back.” Remember, the verse 13 then, (8) Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. (9) But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be made manifest unto all men, as (was) their's also. (10) But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, (love), patience, (and) (11) Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. (12) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (13) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. That’s what he said is going to happen, with Jannes and Jambres. But, notice now. (14) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. (15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in (Jesus) Christ. Paul said listen, “You were taught the Bible, since you were a child. You know what the Word says. Now, he said, “You saw me, and knew what my proof of authenticity, and revealing the Word of God really was.” 60. Now he said, “you abide in it.” Now, at this day and age when (13) … evil seducers wax worse and worse, (which they are) … You’re going to see more and more of the anointing in this world. I believe it, I didn’t used to for awhile, but I believe it. What the Scripture teaches. Bro. Branham himself said that, “After he was gone, there would be a crop, a real crop of these anointed ones, come up.” He's gone. Now, the crop is on, and it looks like from where I stand today, reading the Scripture, that we are about to witness, the greatest ministry the world has ever seen. Until even today, the man of sin, in whom Satan is going to incarnate himself, could possibly have, the greatest ministry, that the world’s ever seen. I don’t mean like Bro. Branham’s now, or Jesus Christ. But I mean, a tremendous ministry will be the influence and power, and it will all be done, in the name of religion. 61. It’s going to come right out of the church. The whole thing is in the church. And as Paul the apostle said, there’s only one hope that you and I’ve got, and that’s the Urim and Thummim, which is manifestation and truth. That we know wherein we stand. There will be nothing left, that we can stand on, but the Word of God, and say, “We saw, a vindicated prophet, and we believe what was ‘Thus Saith the Lord’”. Now, looks to me then from where I stand, it’s going to get awful shaky. From what I studied, and try to show you, although I talk fast and try to cut it down. As I see the Scripture today, we are entering in to one of the shakiest periods, if not the shakiest period, the world’s ever seen. It’s really going to be shaky. And there will be more people maybe falling away, than what we ever thought of. You say, “Well, I never thought that person would fall away.” I don’t say that this is going to happen. But from where I stand, it certainly looks to me that the severe light that Bro. Branham placed in this Word, is coming to pass, and is going to come to pass pretty fast. We’re just about to see ministries that are just incomparable, and it’s going to be for one thing. It’s to deceive everybody but the very Elect. Why? Because they will not stay with the Word. Three Gods, water baptism, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, women preachers, clothes doesn’t matter, slacks are okay, this and that’s okay. It’s a hundred percent contrary to the Word of God. And as I view what Bro. Branham taught, I can see that it’s a good thing he kept it simple. He didn’t lay down a lot of rules and things to abide by. But he laid it down simple. 62. Then, as I see it here, that we have got to know this Word, and stand with this Word. And never vary one… no matter what comes. If it looks like you haven’t got a thing, and I haven’t got a thing, just stick with the Word anyway. See? Don’t be confused, because remember, they are going to believe the lie. And that is; we are going to be taken in a Rapture, we’re not going to die. We’re going to miss the tribulation. Because it’s right after the great anointing, that the tribulation sets in. See? And remember the Spirit of prophecy is two-fold, it’s antichrist or it’s Christ. The true Spirit of prophecy, is the testimony to the Word. That’s right. The other, is an anointed ministry that is apart from the Word. Now, we can take our choice today. To stay with the Word of God, which at this point is a letter…is a letter. This is the most tragic thing that I see today amongst us. There are people getting very alarmed, because they don’t see a lot of things going on. They’re not content to be with Noah in the ark, until the seven days are over, and the flood begin to descend. They want to see the ark with a jet motor on the back, and skimming over water that’s not there, and you know, scooting over mountain tops that don’t even exist. They’re looking for great big things, they’re looking for great big programs and mighty things. I am not against mighty miracles, I’m for them, but they must be done according to the Word of God. And we see that the people today, have deserted this Word, which was given to us by absolute vindication. And remember, before there ever is a Jannes and Jambres, there was a Moses, who stood alone with that Word. 63. And remember, William Branham was the man to come on the scene in the dirt with the power of God, and the Word of God. Therefore, anything that follows and contrary, is absolutely antichrist. Can’t miss it. Now, I don’t care what they produce. Remember this, that Bro. Branham said, “Jannes and Jambres these men could out produce even Moses.” Didn’t bother him one little bit. I believe that’s a sign that telling us that there could come a day, when even William Branham’s ministry will be out produced. And he could stand up and say, “Well, alright, bring the crowds.” And the crowds come, and maybe great healings, and great ministries, great political influence, and great things coming on here and there, just stick with that Word, that's all. Why? Because there can be no counterfeit, unless, there’s an original. And remember, the original is the original. You can’t have an original after there’s a number one, it will never work. Number one, is always number one. Everything that follows William Branham is number two, three, four, five, and six. So, you got to stay with the Word of the Lord, and this will give us everything that we have need of. I don’t believe there’s one other thing we have need of, other than the Word of God, at this particular time. There can be a great test come. And the test I believe, is going to be the test that’s laid out here. That it’s going to be one where Satan’s trying to get the minds of the people, and simply by fine reasoning, their great promises, great things that can come before us. Satan attempting to capture minds of people. But remember, we have already had our minds with the Word of God. And if we stay with the Word of God, there’ll be no problem…there’ll be no problem. To go from the Word of God, I believe we could have a great problem. 64. So, I hope you understand a little better now what this mystery of iniquity is. It’s that spirit that was so close in your original Church Ae same signs and wonders would be done, but one would be off the Word. And from what I say today, I never saw it this way before. I used to sort of hang back, and not believe that there would be a great ministry of power, outside of truly anointed men of the Holy Ghost. And when Bro. Branham came, I gave it up, but I still hung back. I still could not see an antichrist coming, with a genuine miracle ministry. But according to the Greek, he will have a genuine, miracle ministry, but he’s going to be off the Word. He is going to be the full sum total manifestation of the church, poured into him. Because they’re going to give him all the power, and he’ll just control the whole world. And they’ll find themselves dead, because they have sold themselves into spiritual death, which is the last plague of Egypt. This is where I believe we’re standing right today. And it could be a matter of months before this very man is on the scene to take over. He’ll take his captivity captive, and they’ll be caught in the trap and they won’t even know what’s happened to them. Because it's so close to God. Four hundred prophets stood there, and Micaiah said, “You’re all wrong.” And God said, “The four hundred prophets will deceive, because I’m allowing them to deceive.” And God Himself, is going to allow this thing to happen. And why? Because, they turned down the manifestation and the truth. They... with Bro. Branham, without even knowing one word of the Greek, said, “This is your Urim and Thummim,” right here. What a tremendous thing that we know we have the truth of Almighty God. Amen. Shall we rise, and end in prayer. Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You today that You’ve given us the revealed truth, and simple as It may be. And It may be, Lord, to be something like simple-mindedness, to the people of the world, that they don’t see what we see. But, O God, we thank You, that we are able to have been able to hear the Word of the Lord as preached by Your prophet, and even to hear the recorded tapes. And we thank You my God, that It is truth. Help us, Lord, as we study Your Word, based upon the secrets that he revealed unto us. That we’ll be able to understand that Word, and grow in grace, in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Lord, if there be any doubt in the minds this afternoon, I pray You’ll dissolve them. I know, Lord, it’s sometimes difficult to grasp some of these things, because we have been so long sought, something opposite, that we just wonder. God, I pray today, that whatever has been spoken, is generally the truth. That there might not be anything that stands against it, but to be welcomed and to be exalted in the place of honor which it should be, which is in every chamber of our very being. Let the truth prevail. O God, we don’t want anything that to stand in the way, just be wide open, not gullible. No, there’s no place for gullibility amongst the true servants of God, because we know that we’ve got the building pillar, the Lord Jesus Christ. But the Spirit of God, to teach us and lead us all the way. Now, Lord, go with those that must go. We pray You give them journeying mercies. And guide them, and direct them, Lord, that may we come together again, to satisfy the desire and hunger of our hearts. To work it with each other, and to love and honor Thee, O God. And in all things, we pray Jesus, that You’ll be with us, and Lord, if we should not be able to ever come again, until the other side of Jordan, we pray there not be one of us missing. Lord God, may it be a great day that each one of us stand there. And in Your glory to shine. One to be like You. And one to be like each other, because we know that every part of the body would be thoroughly identified in and through Jesus Christ our Lord. Now, Lord God, we pray again, You’ll cleanse us of every sin that we have done Lord. The sins of omission as well. Cleanse us of every thought O God. And above all, circumcise our hearts, and our minds. That there be not one thing contrary, O Lord, in our faith, to the true revelation of the Word of God. Until one day, Lord, we walk up to the Tree of Life, and enter into Eternal Life, eating and drinking, not missing one heartbeat, one eye wink, one moment, Lord, of drawing a breath, but walk right in. Now, unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be all power and honor and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Let’s sing that chorus .I Love Him' ...Amen. The Lord bless you. Mystery of Iniquity # 3 (1472) Page PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 1