The Restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2
Last Updated:
05/28/2009 00:45
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There are two lines of
thought as to the identity of the restrainer. I believe scripture is pretty
clear on the identity because one of them has scripture in opposition to
itself. The two identities are the Holy Spirit in the church, and Michael
the archangel. Before getting into their explanations, we need to cover some
background information.
What is being restrained?
What is the restrainer restraining? "That
he might be revealed in his time." Who's
"he?" "that Wicked," who is revealed
when the restrainer is out of the way.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-10 He's not Satan because, his "coming
is after the working of Satan
with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of
the truth, that they might be saved."
So the restrainer is holding back the pre-dragon-powered
human antichrist-to-be from revealing himself by, "opposeth
and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped;
so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself
that he is God." This is at the abomination of
desolation.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 The dragon isn't cast to earth until
Michael and his angels defeat him in heaven. If Lucifer is cast out of
heaven, then that's where he is now. He sits before the throne accusing us.
Revelation 12:10 Christ is our advocate.
1 John 2:1-5 He will be cast out of heaven soon.
Revelation 12:7-13 This confirms that currently, the restrainer
is not restraining Lucifer, but the soon-to-be antichrist.
I believe when the abomination of desolation happens, it will enrage some
zealous Jews who will attempt to assassinate him and the world will see, "one
of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed:
and all the world wondered after the beast." The war will have been
won in heaven and, "when the dragon saw that he
was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man
child." He will have his followers, having just seen "the
dragon which gave power unto the beast:" resurrect the assassinated
beast when "they worshipped the beast, saying,
Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?"
I believe the indwelt beast will then go after the Jews that just "killed"
him and the world, still amazed, will follow suit or allow it to happen
because, "who is able to make war with him?" I
believe the surrounding Muslims during the first 30 days in Jerusalem and
Judea will especially join in the genocide, and later for another 1230 days
throughout the rest of the world. For more on the exact day framework of the
70th week, see the
exact day prophecies Bible study.
What is the mystery of iniquity that's already
at work?
2 Thessalonians 2:6
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in
his time. For the mystery of
iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be
taken out of the way.
Mystery (G3466)
μυστήριον
mustērion ( moos-tay'-ree-on)
From a derivative of μύω muō (to
shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" (through
the idea of silence imposed by initiation into
religious rites): - mystery.
Iniquity
(G458)
ἀνομία
anomia (an-om-ee'-ah)
From G459; illegality, that is,
violation of law or
(generally) wickedness: - iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law,
unrighteousness.
Work
(G1754)
ἐνεργέω
energeō (en-erg-eh'-o)
From G1756; to be active,
efficient: - do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty
in, shew forth self, work (effectually in).
The "mystery of iniquity" would seem to be, from the
original Greek, speaking to the silent wickedness that is already prevalent. I
personally believe this to be the spirit behind secret societies that have been working
behind the scenes to set up all the things that we know must come to pass to
bring about a one-world government and religious system under the control of
the antichrist. A little
history of the mystery of iniquity shows how ideas becoming
prevalent through societal norms have caused a blindness regarding
this wickedness by attacking and bringing doubt to God's Word. And the restrainer is holding (lettingG2722)
until taken out of the way. The restrainers act of holding is so that the
antichrist is revealed in God's timing. The silent iniquity is already at work
in the world though. So who is the restrainer? Let's examine the possibilities
according to scripture and determine what the Bible says.
Holy Spirit
dwelling in the church?
I would recommend everyone do a word study of "Holy
Ghost" and "Holy
Spirit" to see exactly what the
Rauch HaKodesh is
doing when mentioned in scripture. The term "Holy Ghost" is only found in
the New Testament while "Holy Spirit" is found in the Old and New
Testaments. They both refer to the same Spirit of God. He is the presence of
God
Psalm 51:11, the fruits of which are seen
in
Galatians 5:22-26 and a gift from God.
Luke 11:13 |
1 Thessalonians 4:8 |
John 7:39 |
Acts 2:33;38 |
Acts 8:15-19 |
Acts 10:45-47 What He does is:
And it was the Holy Ghost that implanted Christ into Mary's womb.
Matthew 1:18-20 |
Luke 1:35 We are the temples with which
that Spirit dwells when we accept Christ and are obedient to His ways of
selfless love.
1 Corinthians 6:19 The closest thing to restraining comes in Acts
16 when the Holy Ghost forbids Paul to preach in Asia.
It seems to me that the Holy Spirit is not a restrainer of evil, but our
conscience and comforter. We can still choose not to follow the Spirit of
God revealed in His Word and then we will not be in relationship with Him.
It seems that He doesn't restrain evil, but rather warns of it and helps us
through it with a joyful heart that speaks and reveals Truth to us so that
we can use our free will and choose. Those that choose against God do not
have His Spirit, He leaves unless they repent. Judgment is coming for the
wickedness that is prophesied to take over the world in the end-times.
Matthew 24:3-28
There's also a logic problem presented with the argument
that the Holy Spirit in the church is the restrainer. In this study we will examine who
the restrainer is and who it is not according to scripture.
There are two separate presentations of timing in 2 Thessalonians 2 in
relation to our gathering to Christ and the revealing of the antichrist. As
we will see, they make a clear point as to who the restrainer is not.
The timing of
our gathering to Christ in relation to the man of sin being revealed:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5
Now we beseech you, brethren,
by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in
mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as
from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by
any means: for that day
[our gathering unto Him] shall NOT come,
except:
- there come a falling away first,
and
- that man of sin be revealed,
the son of perdition;
- Who opposeth and exalteth
himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he
as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Here scripture gives us this order:
-
Falling away (apostacia)
-
Man of sin revealed (antichrist:
Takes place when he reveals himself at the
abomination of desolation)
-
Our gathering to Christ (harpazo)
Notice too, that the "day of Christ" is directly
connected to our gathering to Him. We see this differentiated from the day
of the Lord in several passages that talk about the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ, which is not a day of darkness, but for Christians a day of
rejoicing. (1
Corinthians 5:5 |
2 Corinthians 1:12-14)
The timing of the
revealing of the man of sin in relation to the
restrainer being removed:
This color coding only
applies IF we view the restrainer as the Holy Spirit/church, and therefore
tying the unrestraining to our removal in the harpazo.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-10
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only
he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out
of the way. And then shall
that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with
the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all
power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of
the truth, that they might be saved.
Here, if the
restrainer is the Holy Spirit which dwells in the church, we have this
order:
-
Our gathering to Christ must take place
(The restrainer [Holy Spirit/church] has to be taken
out of the way)
-
Then the man of sin can be revealed
There is a direct
opposition when defining the restrainer as the Holy Spirit symbolizing the
removal of the church before the revealing of the antichrist. By placing the
Holy Spirit/church as the restrainer, a contradiction is set up by assuming
our gathering to Christ is directly related to the restrainer being removed.
I believe the Holy Spirit wrote it this way to remove confusion. This leads
us to the clincher for me as to who the restrainer is.
Michael the
Archangel?
The answer to the
question of who the restrainer is lies in the Old Testament in a parallel
verse to the revealing of the man of sin.
Matthew 24:15-22 This event is unparalleled in all of history,
so we can define it that way. What is the event in which the removal of the
restrainer causes? The abomination of desolation, the revealing of the
antichrist. This is the beginning of the great tribulation, "such
as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall
be."
Daniel 12:1
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince
which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall
be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to
that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered,
every one that shall be found written in the book.
The time of Jacob's
trouble, great
tribulation, starts when Michael stands up. This is the
abomination of desolation, the revealing of the
man of sin. This is also the time in which the redemption of the children of
Daniel’s people, the Israelites, takes place.So Michael stands up to head to the war in heaven. At that
time, the antichrist is able to reveal himself at the abomination of
desolation. This fits the order of
2 Thessalonians 2:6-10 of the restrainer being lifted before
the revealing of the man of sin at the abomination of desolation. Then,
after the antichrist is revealed, we can be gathered to Christ in the
clouds. What's even more interesting is that
Daniel 12 is connected to
Revelation 12 around this same subject, Michael, and same time-frame.
Revelation 12:7-9
And there was war in heaven:
Michael and his angels fought
against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And
prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And
the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and
Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the
earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
It is the dragon which gives the beast his power. It
would seem that Michael is currently holding back the revealing of the antichrist, but at
some point in the future will be called to heaven to battle Lucifer. He will
prevail over Satan and he will be cast to the earth. He then goes after the
woman through the beast whom he gives power to. This is the beginning
of the
great tribulation, the
time of Jacob's trouble of Matthew
24:15-22.
Revelation 12:7-13
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the
dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither
was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast
out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the
whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out
with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come
salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his
Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them
before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the
Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives
unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.
Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come
down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a
short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he
persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
I don't think it's coincidence that Michael is specifically mentioned as
standing up right before the antichrist is revealed and we're told in the
New Testament that the restrainer must stop before the antichrist can be
revealed. The restrainer is not the Holy Spirit, but Michael the archangel,
the prince that stands for Israel. He is restraining the antichrist now
until God's timing. Then the antichrist will be allowed to reveal himself.
I should also point
out that Michael is not restraining evil... well, if he is, it's beginning
to overwhelm him according to my nightly news. The love of many is growing
colder and colder just as prophesied.
Matthew 24:12 Michael is specifically restraining the revealing
of the man of sin. It naturally happens that way because he can't be
revealed until Michael stands, and Satan isn't on earth till Michael's
in heaven throwing Satan out. The transition is at the
abomination of desolation.
Michael has restrained before...
Daniel 10:10-14
And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees
and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man
greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand
upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word
unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for
from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to
chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for
thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and
twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to
help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I
am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter
days: for yet the vision is for many days.
Daniel 10:21
But I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and
there is none that holdeth with me against these, but Michael your prince.
Holdeth
(H2388)
חזק
châzaq (khaw-zak' )
A primitive root; to fasten upon; hence to seize, be strong
(figuratively courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair,
fortify), obstinate;
to
bind, restrain, conquer: - aid, amend, X calker, catch, cleave,
confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage (-ous,
-ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make
hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man,
mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize,
be (wax) sore, strengten (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong
(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly,
withstand.
This is the same "withholding"
in
2 Thessalonians 2:6 speaking about the restrainer, who I
believe is Michael the archangel.
Withholdeth
(G2722)
katechō (kat-ekh'-o)
From G2596 and G2192
to hold down
(fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively): -
have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, X make toward, possess,
retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.
Letteth
(G2722)
kat-ekh'-o
From G2596 and G2192; to hold down
(fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively): - have,
hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, X make toward, possess, retain,
seize on, stay, take, withhold.
At God's command,
Michael will stand up and go to fight Lucifer in heaven. Lucifer will be
cast down and Michael will no longer be restraining the revealing of the
antichrist so all hell will break loose on earth, literally, as Lucifer
deceives the whole earth whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of
life.
Revelation 13:7,8
I also believe heaven
is outside of time. So Michael could leave to heaven and we would
simultaneously see Lucifer cast out. It's all in God's timing and that's
what is so wonderful about Bible prophecy. We can always trust exactly what
the Word says, and He wants us to know the details.
Amos 3:7
How long is it from the time
Michael stands up and the time of Jacob’s trouble starts?
Daniel 12:5-7
Then I Daniel looked, and, behold,
there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and
the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said
to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How
long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the
man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held
up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that
liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he
shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these
things shall be finished.Revelation 12:9-17
And the great dragon was cast out,
that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole
world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with
him. [Abomination of desolation]
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the
accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day
and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word
of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore
rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the
earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great
wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon
saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman, which brought
forth the man-child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great
eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is
nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the
serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood
after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and
swallowed up the flood, which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the
dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of
her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of
Jesus Christ.
So 3½ years is how long the
great tribulation
lasts. This would also match with this being the time during which power is
given unto the beast because that ends at Christ’s return when Christ throws
him and the false prophet into the lake of fire in
Revelation 19:20. How long
is the beast given power for?
Revelation 13:4-10
And they worshipped the dragon,
which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, who
is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was
given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was
given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in
blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them
that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints,
and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and
tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,
whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world. If any man has an ear, let him hear. He that
leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the
sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of
the saints.
So is this the same time that Michael stands up?
2 Thessalonians 2
Now we beseech
you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering
together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled,
neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of
Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall
not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all
that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the
temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I
was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth
that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth
already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out
of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord
shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the
brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the
working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all
deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [The wicked on the earth]
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but
had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to
God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the
beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and
belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining
of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and
hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our
epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which
hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope
through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and
work.
I believe that the
Magog attack
will occur before the abomination of
desolation, possibly sometime between
May 28, 2009
and before the end of 2008 due to the
HIStory,
Our Future Bible studies. I believe the reason scripture lays events
out as they are is that the antichrist will declare himself God in the
rebuilt temple on the Temple Mount. Because Israel will be following God
after the protection from Iran, Turkey, Russia, Libya and others someone
will react to this blasphemy with an assassination and he will be wounded to
death.
Revelation 13:3
It is at this time that Lucifer is cast from heaven to the earth.
Knowing he has but a short time, he goes after Israel in Judea first, the
time of Jacob's trouble and the beginning of the great tribulation. This is
why Christ warned those in Judea to run to the mountains when they saw the
abomination of desolation.
So the study of the identity of the restrainer has connected to many
other events of end time prophecy. It revolves around a very central time
and spiritual shift when Lucifer is cast from heaven to the earth where he
takes out his wrath on God's people, the Jews first, then her remnant and
believers in Yeshua worldwide. I believe the tools for the implementation of
this war against the saints is already coming into existence politically
with the
Alliance of Civilizations. However, the final 3½ years of Satan's wrath
all revolves around Michael the archangel both releasing the antichrist to
be identified and casting his master down to be with him so
God's wrath will be poured
out on them in the following years. This just goes to show us how sheltered
we actually live now because it isn't until Michael is told to cast out
Lucifer that Satan's full wrath is allowed to be loosed on the earth. Then
you will be killed for believing in Yeshua. Fortunately, we have been
promised to escape God's wrath, and unless we're in Judea we probably won't
see the brunt of his wrath. However much can change in the world between now
and then...and probably will. Get in your prayer closet and into God's Word,
build your relationship with Him.
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