The secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7, NIV 1984).
My Advice – History tells us that there have been dark ages, lawlessness, and evil before. Some so bad that people thought how could it get any worse? But it did, and it will. So bad that “if those days had not been cut short, no one would survive.” (Matthew 24:21–22, NIV 1984).
“Those days” were cut short once before, and were described this way, “and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5, NIV 1984). Every, only and all? Oh my! So, it will be again. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37, NIV 1984).
It would be already if “the one [the Holy Spirit] who now holds it back [did not] continue to do.” So that more can “survive” (be saved). In the meantime, with increasing fervor, the multitudes refuse “to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason, [they refuse the truth] God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:10–12, NIV 1984). Hearts so hardened, minds so deluded, delighting so much in wickedness, that they “believe the lie” and “refused the truth.“
My Advice – We may not live long enough to see “those days,” although “the secret power of lawlessness is already at work.” Even so, “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34, NIV 1984). In the meantime, “stand firm and hold to the teachings…passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by [Scripture].” (2 Thessalonians 2:15, NIV 1984).
The Brew Is A Musing 