Restraining the Mystery of Iniquity

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Is the Spirit of God still striving with men?

 

The answer is Yes.

Does the mystery of the 120 years find its solution in the 50 non-sequential Jubilee cycle introduced by God, a period that equals 6000 years?

The answer is Yes.

Has there been a time in history that the Spirit of God has not striven with men, before or after the flood?

The answer is No.

Is the Spirit of God striving with men in these last days?

YES!

This perspective of the 120 years solves one of the biggest complaints that is tossed in the direction of those that believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church.

The complaint goes like this:

If the Holy Spirit who indwells every single living believer who is a part of the body of Christ is raptured then how will anyone be saved after the church has departed?

In other words, this question presumes that the Holy Spirit has departed from the earth.  

This is an incorrect interpretation of scripture. 

In 2nd Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul tells us that the time is coming at the end of days when the Spirit of God will stop restraining the mystery of iniquity that is working overtime in the last days.

Sounds exactly like what happened the day the flood swept the iniquitous inhabitants of the earth away.

Listen to what the Apostle Paul says on this topic.

 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?  And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.  The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,  and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 2 Thessalonians 2:5-10

 

I believe that the Holy Spirit who resides within the members of Christ’s body that we call the Church is Restraining evil on the earth. 

There is a day coming when the Church is removed from the earth.  At that exact moment in time, the Church filled with the Holy Spirit stops restraining the mystery of iniquity

Notice that this does not mean that the Holy Spirit stops striving with mankind just as He did before the flood. 

The whole concept of God’s Spirit striving with man is revealed in the context of the “mystery of iniquity” that was the “rage of the age” just before the flood.

The same Spirit of God is going to strive with man until the time of man comes to an end in a day that Christ compares to the days of Noah.  This period ends with the Second Coming of Christ, the destruction of His enemies and the establishment of His kingdom on the earth.

There are two things in view as we seek to understand the 120 year mystery that is revealed by God in Genesis 6:3. 

The first is the Mystery of Iniquity.

The second is that God’s Spirit is presently and at present striving with mankind during the time before the flood. The Spirit of God will also be striving with mankind after the church departs and the mystery of iniquity blooms and blossoms just before the Second Coming of Jesus our Lord and just as it did before the flood.

We are told that Satan is given leave to deceive the whole world. According to the scriptures, not all will be lost during this time of great trouble. Men will be saved because the Spirit of God is still presently struggling and striving with mankind in order that they might repent, trust in God’s anointed Deliverer and be saved.  

The absence of the Church does not mean the absence of the Holy Spirit. The absence of the Church does not mean that men cannot be saved by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Obviously, they can and will, according to the scriptures, be saved in large numbers after the church is removed from the earth.  Those that are saved after the church departs from the earth are called “tribulation saints.”

The Prophetic Pattern that confirms the 120 year Jubilee Perspective

 

I mentioned earlier that I believe the bible gives us a prophetic pattern that is meant to help us understand the mysterious reference to 120 years found in Genesis 6:3.

Only one man is reported to have died when he was 120 years old. 

I believe that this man is the key to unraveling the mystery. 

And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the Lord hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan. Deuteronomy 31:2

 

And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. Deuteronomy 34:7

 

Moses is in perfect health. His eyesight has not been dimmed by age and he is full of vigor.  And yet, on his 120th year, God takes his life.
Have you wondered why?


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4 Comments Add yours

  1. Kim says:

    It’s actually doubled but good post.

  2. Steve nordyke says:

    Very clear and insightful! It makes clear many loose ends. Thanks!

  3. Missy Daly says:

    Amazing teaching!!

  4. Clyde Dye says:

    Love your teachings!

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