The Restrainer
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
There are different ideas about who or what is the restrainer, withholder, of the appearing of the antichrist.
This paper will address the issue with spiritual logic to gain wisdom on the subject.
KJV 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
1. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2. 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.
Paul was writing to the saints to assure them that the first resurrection was still future and had not happened yet as some had falsely reported.
KJV 2 Timothy 2:17-18
17. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18. Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Paul continues by giving the saints information of events that must happen first before the return of Jesus and the gathering of the elect saints in the resurrection.
3. 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;
4. 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.
5. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
These comments completely prove false the idea of a pre or mid tribulation rapture because Paul plainly says the antichrist will be revealed before the saints are gathered to Jesus.
6. And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
The time of the revealing of the antichrist is yet future therefore Paul cannot be the restrainer because he is dead.
7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
A better understanding of verse 7 can be seen if we look at the Young’s literal translation. The He who allows or letteth is God; the he that is “taken out of the way” is the antichrist. “Until out of the middle it comes” may refer to when God brings all iniquity to an end and removes the antichrist and Satan from the scene. This does not speak of the removal of the Holy Spirit from the Earth; the Holy Spirit is God our Father and the Fathers spirit is omnipresent therefore it cannot be “removed”.
LIT 2 Thessalonians 2:7
7.
|3588| the
|1063| For
|3466| mystery
|2235| already
|1754| works
|3588| of
|0458| lawlessness,
|3440| only
|3588| he
|2722| restraining
|0737| now,
|2193| until
|1537| out of
|9999| {the}
|3319| middle
|1096| it comes.
For the mystery of iniquity is already at work: only God who now allows it will allow it until the antichrist is taken out of the way. God allows Satan to do what Satan will do in the future, no one else does. The times and the seasons are in Gods power.
This more agrees with the truth of what we know than any other idea currently held by others.
8. 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: (This is taking the antichrist out of the way)
9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (This is how God will allow or let)
13. 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:
14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16. 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,
17. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
There are different ideas about who or what is the restrainer, withholder, of the appearing of the antichrist.
This paper will address the issue with spiritual logic to gain wisdom on the subject.
KJV 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
1. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2. 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.
Paul was writing to the saints to assure them that the first resurrection was still future and had not happened yet as some had falsely reported.
KJV 2 Timothy 2:17-18
17. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18. Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Paul continues by giving the saints information of events that must happen first before the return of Jesus and the gathering of the elect saints in the resurrection.
3. 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;
4. 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.
5. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
These comments completely prove false the idea of a pre or mid tribulation rapture because Paul plainly says the antichrist will be revealed before the saints are gathered to Jesus.
6. And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
The time of the revealing of the antichrist is yet future therefore Paul cannot be the restrainer because he is dead.
7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
A better understanding of verse 7 can be seen if we look at the Young’s literal translation. The He who allows or letteth is God; the he that is “taken out of the way” is the antichrist. “Until out of the middle it comes” may refer to when God brings all iniquity to an end and removes the antichrist and Satan from the scene. This does not speak of the removal of the Holy Spirit from the Earth; the Holy Spirit is God our Father and the Fathers spirit is omnipresent therefore it cannot be “removed”.
LIT 2 Thessalonians 2:7
7.
|3588| the
|1063| For
|3466| mystery
|2235| already
|1754| works
|3588| of
|0458| lawlessness,
|3440| only
|3588| he
|2722| restraining
|0737| now,
|2193| until
|1537| out of
|9999| {the}
|3319| middle
|1096| it comes.
For the mystery of iniquity is already at work: only God who now allows it will allow it until the antichrist is taken out of the way. God allows Satan to do what Satan will do in the future, no one else does. The times and the seasons are in Gods power.
This more agrees with the truth of what we know than any other idea currently held by others.
8. 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: (This is taking the antichrist out of the way)
9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (This is how God will allow or let)
13. 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:
14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16. 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,
17. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
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