"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He [God, the Holy Spirit] Who letteth [old English, meaning hindereth] will let [hinder] until He be taken out of the way" (2 Thess. 2:77For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7)).
We may not be surprised at the way evil abounds. Scripture predicts it. The world is getting worse. Soon Antichrist-the man of sin-will be revealed, and then shall be seen the apotheosis of evil, when man shall be worshipped as God. But the more widespread the evil, and the darker the night, the nearer is the triumph of Christ, the nearer is the day of glory, when He shall reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. His foes shall be, indeed, made His footstool.
All evil in this world is like one great tree, whose roots are struck deep in the bottomless pit, and whose poisonous sap springs from the abyss. One branch of evil may strike over to the right, another to the left, and to the superficial observer they may seem to have no connection; but although they seem to travel in different directions, they spring from the same root, and are sustained from the same source; and when the tree is cut down, they will fall together into the same place.
But a careful observer will find all phases of evil, traveling in different directions in detail, unite in their essence in their refusal of the deity of the Lord Jesus and of His atoning work as Man upon the cross.
At present it is not the bold denial of Christianity we have to beware of, but its secret, underhand denial. Craft and deceit characterize evil systems and evil teaching. "Every spirit that CONFESSETH NOT that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God; and this is that spirit of antichrist " (1 John 4:33And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:3)).
The way now so largely prepared, the time is not far distant when open denial will succeed non-confession of the vital truth of Christ's person. "He is antichrist, that DENIETH the Father and the Son " (1 John 2:2222Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22)).