Most Christians are aware of the awe-inspiring events of the Old Testament in which God prepared the people of Israel for the coming of the Messiah, the Son of God, with prophecies and types. Few, however, know that the common Father of all also cultivated the fields of the nations that they may also receive the seed of His Word and bring forth fruit.  In the first part of this lecture, given at Three Hierarchs Academy in the winter of 2018,  Fr. Peter presents the signs, witnesses and prophecies, the “θεία οικονομία,” or mystery of salvation, of the coming into the world of the Messiah, the Theanthropos, Jesus Christ, the expectation of the nations. In the second part, Fr. Peter examines the opposing spirit of secularism and Ecumenism, the mystery of iniquity, which is at work through nefarious means to bring the Anti-Messiah, the man of sin, to a position of global dominion, in order for the nations to accept him as their messiah, fulfilling the prophecies of the Lord and His Apostles concerning the rise of the Antichrist.Interested in learning more about Orthodoxy? See our Orthodoxy 101 videos: https://www.orthodoxethos.com/orthodoxy101Join our LIVE Q&A with Fr. Peter Heers every Thursday evening at 8 PM (EST): http://www.patreon.com/frpeterheersQuestions? Contact us at team@orthodoxethos.com