3Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4Who opposes and exalts himself against everything that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he sits in the temple of God as God, making himself appear to be God. 5Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you this? 6And now you know what restrains him, so that he may be revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of iniquity is already at work: only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-7
Iniquity is defined in the Bible as the attitude and activity of rising up against another person. In the account of Abel’s death at the hands of his brother Cain, it stands out in the narrative that Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.[1] The definition of this act of rising up against Abel is defined by Cain himself as iniquity, when he admits: And Cain said to the Lord: My iniquity is too great to be forgiven.[2]
The definition extends to God, in the text of the second epistle to the Thessalonians, because when someone rises up against their brother, they rise up against God. We see it clearly explained in the following texts:
But if it is from God, you cannot overthrow it; lest you be found even fighting against God.
Acts 5:39
And there arose a great cry: and the scribes who were of the Pharisees’ party arose and contended, saying: We find no evil in this man; and if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
Acts 23:9
Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed: and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
Romans 13:2
Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
Romans 14:4
The mystery of iniquity is the satanic operation implanted on earth to promote in men and women, primarily in the children of faith, an attitude of rising up against their brother, and against everything that suggests authority.
Iniquity has taken root in the hearts of men and women, and it procreates in iniquity. It is a very subtle operation of which men and women of faith are unaware, because it presents itself in the form of commentary, pointing fingers, constructive criticism, personal rights that are defended. In many hidden forms.
It is iniquity —the rebellion in the heart of man— that generates the violence that plagues and devastates many of the cities we currently inhabit.
In the text of Genesis, we observe that just when Cain admits his sin, he also recognizes that at some point someone will kill him in the same way he killed his brother: and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.[3]
Cain begot a generation with rebellion in their hearts, and Lamech, Cain’s great-great-grandson, operated in the arrogance of establishing iniquity as his household’s way of life: And Lamech said to his wives: Ada and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech: I have killed a man for wounding me, And a young man for striking me: If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.[4]
The violence in our cities is not the result of social crises, economic conflicts, or marginalization of groups; it is the result of rebellion rooted in the hearts of men and women, who establish, like Lamech, personal and individualistic lifestyles, in complete opposition to what is arranged in God’s heart.
It was violence, precisely, that caused God to decide to blot out man from the face of the earth. The earth was filled with violence.[5]
But it is not only the rebellion in the hearts of men and women far from God that causes violence in our cities; but more, and above all, the rebellion that has stuck to the hearts of men and women of faith, because through it Satan obtains legal right to operate freely in violated cities.
The definition given by the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that what is seen is made of what was not visible,[6] not only serves to explain how material things were formed following the model of spiritual things, but also allows us to understand, and establish, that the evident situations that afflict a city —unfaithful husband or wife— arise from what has been established in the hearts of faithful men and women, positioned there by God to sanctify the city.
The establishment of the revelation in Jesus, that men and women of faith are the salt of the earth, authenticates the doctrine preached by the apostle Paul: just as the faithful spouse sanctifies the unfaithful spouse, it is the men and women of faith who sanctify the city where they are placed by God. It is the salt of the covenant that holds back God’s judgments on cities:
And you shall season all your meal offerings with salt; neither shall you suffer the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your meal offering: with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
Leviticus 2:13
A heart of a man or woman of faith invaded by iniquity, rebellion, and opposition to what God demands for a region is what empowers the various adverse situations that Satan will use to oppose and rise up against God Himself.
It is precisely the apostle James who established that each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. James threw down the religious idea that the personal and social conflicts we confront are produced and permitted by God; it is men and women of faith who fuel them with the elements of iniquity that have been established in their hearts: When someone is tempted, let no one say that God is tempting them: for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.[7]
After desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. What we see in our societies in an uncontrolled way, and in excessive amounts, is powered by the rebellion that has taken root in the hearts of men and women of faith. Rebellion against God’s processes, and against what He has established.
How is it possible? —someone might ask, if they are supposed to bless the families of the earth. Precisely for this reason, rebellion in the heart of a man or woman of faith can empower violence in our cities.
We explain it this way: Paul explained to the faith community of Corinth that men and women of faith have the spiritual capacity to sanctify the unfaithful spouse: For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife (faithful), and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband (faithful).[8] Now, let’s review: What happens if the woman or man of faith (faithful) allows rebellion to take root in their heart? Their capacity to sanctify will be diminished, and on the contrary, their capacity to sanctify will be changed by the capacity to feed the violence that is already part of the lifestyle of the unfaithful man and woman.
Another way to examine it is by following the capacity to bless that the man and woman of faith received through Abraham, that in him all families of the earth would be blessed. If rebellion and iniquity take root in the man and woman of faith, their capacity to bless will become a curse and will become the engine that will empower the violence of those who are far from God. It is established in the book of the prophet Malachi:
If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name, says the Lord Almighty, I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.
Malachi 2:2
So, the violence of our cities and communities is only evidence of the iniquity that has taken root in the men and women of faith of such communities.
Iniquity is an adverse comment made about a person by a third party in their absence. It is constructive criticism; it is defamation; it is not allowing someone the opportunity to defend themselves against the accusations of others, and accepting them as valid.
Iniquity is rising up against one’s brother. Jesus emphasized that anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.[9]
Iniquity is not tolerating your brother, believing them inferior and incapable of doing the same things we do. Jesus suffered rebellion even from His own disciples, one of them denigrated Him to such a degree that he did not believe that anything good could come from His community.[10]
Iniquity —rebellion in the heart of man— is opposition to what is arranged in God’s heart. Jesus established the way to measure rebellion in the heart of a man and woman of faith, when He said:
8 But you are not to be called Rabbi, for you have one Teacher, and [you are all brothers]{.underline}. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father’, for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ. 11 [The greatest among you will be your servant]{.underline}. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Matthew 23:8-12
According to this rule, iniquity —rebellion in the heart— is the tendency to develop followers (fans); the tendency to highlight personal achievements to be admired by others; the arrogance of not allowing other fellow servants to teach us, and believing that we don’t need them; believing ourselves unique and exclusive, and claiming rights over revelation.
Is there iniquity —rebellion— in the hearts of men and women of faith?
What did we say that God did not speak? What did we do that God did not command us to do? What did we certify as good that God had discarded? What did we raise up that God did not approve? What did we offer that God did not know about? What about the strategies we used to plant and grow churches that God did not design? What about the vanity with which we use God’s name?
The prophet Hosea denounced the iniquity of the people who did and said what God had not said or ordered:
They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval. With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction.
Hosea 8:4
Is there iniquity —rebellion— in the hearts of men and women of faith?
Miriam, the sister of Aaron and Moses, rose up against Moses, and her arrogance about how God had used her as a prophetess, despising her brother Moses, led her to suffer from leprosy for seven days. The church is full of leprosy, and has become unclean.
We have risen up against our brother, and against God. When we want to resolve the violence of our cities, let’s not think about joint church meetings, prayer chains, and even fasts, such strategies without the due realization that we need to repent for having risen up against our brothers, and against God, will only bring to light the levels of hypocrisy —pharisaic attitude— that has taken root in our hearts, and will further empower the legal right given to Satan.
Pastor Pedro Montoya
[1] Genesis 4:8
[2] Idem 4:13
[3] Genesis 4:14
[4] Idem 4:22
[5] Idem 6:7-11
[6] Hebrews 11:3
[7] James 1:13
[8] 1 Corinthians 7:14
[9] Matthew 5:22
[10] John 1:46
