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2 Thessalonians 2:6,7
6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.
7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.This scripture has always intrigued me. I have never been able to identify this restraining force and the few theories I have read regarding this do make some sense, but appear to have serious weaknesses too. The main contenders appear to be: Satan, The Church, or the The Holy Spirit. The thinking goes something like this.
- Satan is the restraining force and he does this to hide the identity of the Antichrist until the right time, so that he will be revealed at an advantageous time or a time when other necessary things need to take place first.
- The Church is the one that stops the Antichrist from being revealed because one child of God has more power under God than the Devil himself. Therefore once the Church is raptured away, there will be no opposing power left on Earth to stop him from his reign of terror until the return of the saints in the Battle of Armageddon.
- The Holy Spirit is this force because the Spirit is on Earth in God’s people, and once the Church is raptured, the Holy Spirit will be taken away with God’s people because God’s Spirit does not reside in who is left. So, once the only light and truth has left Earth, great evil and darkness will prevail for a time thereafter.
The last 2 points are obviously tied to the belief of a rapture of the Church (or the wise virgins) before the Antichrist is revealed.
Now for some speculation and I repeat, serious speculation regarding another possibility that came to me as to what the restraining force is that stops the Antichrist from being revealed.
The first thing to notice is this Thessalonians verse is talking about the Mystery of Iniquity or the secret power of lawlessness which was already working back when the verse was penned. Could it be talking about the powerful elite who are in control of the world?
Now look at the following picture. It depicts the power hierarchy of the world according to what more and more people today believe is happening. The elites are the bankers followed by corporates, then politicians, and lastly the citizens of the world. This picture clearly explains it.
Certainly in this time I have noticed an ever increasing amount of people who believe that the Central Bank, Reserve Bank, and bankers in general are the power elite of the world and it is these people who run the world financial system. These banks generate money out of nothing as they are but digits punched out in a computer screen. The result is that these bankers make huge profits for lending out units of what is essentially nothing because they are able to keep their cut which is the interest they make from lending the money out of nothing that they generate. As would be expected due to greed and history testifies to this, the Banks lend too much at times because the more they lend the more they make and this leads to recessions or a busts and the people at the poorer end of the scale lose their homes or assets because things become devalued at this point leading to those with cash or who are rich to be able to pick up bargains. Speculators dream of these cycles which enables them to speculate on when to invest and when to divest.
If history is a good teacher, then we know that the super-rich, powerful elites, and royalty that have oppressed people in the past leads to revolutions such as the French Revolution or the even the current Arab Spring. Such revolutions can change the power structure over night, but never really addressed the original problem of abuse and wickedness in high places because when one wicked power is destroyed, often another takes its place.
Now let’s imagine this on a global scale. What would happen if the current movement to bring down the power elites became mainstream and actually succeeded. Well it would certainly be bad news for the very rich and powerful who grew fat from this current system.
James 5:1-6
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.Further, what if this revolution had a leader or a leader arose in the aftermath offering a solution namely a new system for trade that was fair to all and perhaps not based on debt. Would such a person command respect for supposedly freeing people from the tyranny of past financial abuse or at least from creating a viable solution for trade? If so, what would happen if such a person himself become so powerful that he became the new tyrant perhaps even greater than all tyrants before him. Well scripture talks of the Antichrist and the Beast, and many Christians believe that this is a future world leader who will appear to have the answers in a troubled world.
Revelation 13:4
Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?”And if a new financial system took place could it look like this verse in the Book of Revelation?
Revelation 13:16-18
It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man That number is 666.Let’s take a closer look at this idea.
2 Thessalonians 2:6,7
6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.
7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.The restraining force in this line of inquiry are the power elites that run and have run the financial system of the world even since the time of Christ, (when the mystery of iniquity was already at work). If so, then it could be the powerful elite that are stopping the Antichrist from being revealed today, because they currently have the power that he will gain upon their demise. If this elite group were ever removed from their place, then that would open up a vacuum of power whereby the Antichrist could take full advantage of. A new money system is set up making him so powerful that eventually no one can buy, sell, or save unless they have the mark or the number of his name. He becomes so powerful that people say:
Revelation 13:4
… “Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?”If such a revolution destroyed the global financial system, and if such a revolution and led to the rise of a man by whom a new financial system was named after, it could look like this:
Revelation 13:16-18
It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.Who knows where this current revolution or a future revolution could lead the world. The most ironic thing is that it could end with men being more enslaved than ever before. As the saying goes, “Out of the pan and into the fire”, or “Better the devil you know”. One thing I note about these times, is that besides a growing number of people that believe in a powerful elite and who want them removed, they also appear to hate the idea of Israel because many believe that certain Jews are the powerful elite and conspire against the world and enslave it with their financial and political system. So these people along with many others believe that the nation of Israel has no right to exist.
In closing, we saw a similar hate of Jews just before the rise of Hitler. If history repeats itself, then will another like him arise and also persecute the Jews?
Please bear in mind that I am not claiming a revelation from God here. Just joining up some dots. It could turn out that a completely different picture emerges from joining these dots in another way.
This is an interesting video that explains the monetary system in Britain. The solution they talk about is a new monetary system because the old system is broken and only benefits the elite and rich. Thus, for that reason, the banking elite want to continue with the system as it is and ride the booms and busts because that is when they can obtain bargains at the expense of the poor who are getting poorer as a result of their manipulations.
This is a well argued for the view that we the Church and the Spirit in the Church is the restraining force, and upon departure (gathering together with the Lord), the Antichrist will then be revealed.
Very interesting and plausible take on the subject.However have you considered Daniel;s prophecies in ch 9&10 regarding Michael and Gabriels role in world events.
Can you reply to my em email address as well as on your blogs, I find them easier to sort.
for blogs you have to remember what you answered to, know what I mean.Hello Patrick,
I was saddened to hear your mis quotes as well as missing important quotes.You talk abut the day of Christ/tribulation/day of wrath/all in the same breath and relate them to John the Revelator. You also quote extensively from 2 Thess 2 vs1-8 as your base.There is so much here that it would take a few studies to disagree. I will start on some and see how far I get.
Rev 1 vs 1 as well as the heading it says The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him(Jesus) another topic.He Jesus sent it to John to RECORD Not REVEAL.I know this is nothing to do with your topic.Red Herring on your part.You then continue to remind your audience that there is 1 place in the bible where the word RAPTURE occurs and you were correct it is in 1 Thess 4 vs 17 ‘RAPIEMUR’ meaning to seize/snatch.The problem I face Patrick is why did you not continue in whole text. You see Thessalonians 1 and 2 was written by Paul to remind the church there of what they had been taught by Paul etc. See how many times you find ‘you know’ There had been an influx of false teachers coming into the church in sheeps clothing. Remember Simon Magus(another topic)Paul was trying to keep the congregation on track. They the congregation knew about Christ,s return/the events leading up to it. The information had been passed down by the apostles who had been told back when Jesus was alive. We are blessed today with having the records for us in Math and in Luke,as well as many other places I will try and get to them later.The first point to raise is that Jesus never said He would come twice He and the prophets have always said at the last trump.Back to 1 Thess 4vs 16. Here we have a shout and a trumpet of God Now at that moment in your scenario you say that the church has already been Raptured.End of vs 16 ‘And the dead in Christ rise 1st also look at vs 15 “we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no mean PRECEDE those who are asleep.Does this mean that we rise at some secret moment not mentioned in scripture and the at the last trump quickly scurry back in order not to precede those who are asleep.Patrick I do not want to put you down but Scripture either says it or it does not.You also go on to say that the church will not be around at the time of the Anti Christ.Well Satan(the dragon who comes out of the Pit) will turn on the church, try these verses. Dan 11:31/Dan 7:21,25 and Rev20:4,Rev 13:7 Remember the AntiChrist is revealed half way through the last 7 years. The Anti Christ will be hailed at the beginng of the 7 years as a hero. He will unite the Arabs and Rome (another topic) Half way through he will turn on the Temple and then the church.We the church will not see the wrath of God but we will experience the wrath of Satan. My question is Why die!!!go to heaven(another topic)then be returned to earth in order to fullfil”dead:in Christ rising first at His REturn. Kind of like a YoYo!!!.I urge you to read Math and Luke again and see that we will be here during the tribiulation otherwise why would time shortened for the elects sake.
The :falling away: could mean just that those that hang onto man’s teaching of a pretrib Rapture and not a scriptural teaching will be disappointed when they realize that the AntiChrist is around when they are.I do not fear the tribulation because of 1 Cor 10:13. Remember Christ promised His followers suffering and pain. He did bring it on Satan will. Our hope is in Deliverance at Christs return in the sky for all the world to see and then they will TRemble.
The world’s suffering is only atthe 7th trump and the last vial being opened which is the Wrath of God.
We have Hope in the Knowledge of God’s Truth Not Man’s truth.We don’t sodomize the politicians though like in the picture. They along with the corporations and banks sodomize us!
Could there be a revolution? Could it eventually lead to a complete change of goverence and a new money system? We will see.
Concerning your statements about 2Thessalonians 2 . . . there are various interpretations for the restrainer and what is being restrained, which is why verses should not be lifted out of the context of their paragraph, chapter, or book including the whole Bible. Falling away is apostasy, which is turning away from the truth of the gospel. When that happens, the Spirit of YaHavah allows the person to go their own way, thus he will not restrain the sin that person has chosen, but does not leave his creation. YaHavah told Jeremiah, Do I not fill heaven and earth, said YHVH. That is an everlastingly true statement because YaHavah is everlasting to everlasting. The following is quoted from the Word of YHVH Bible.
1—Now we beseech you, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to him, 2—that you are not soon shaken in mind, or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, that the day of Christ is imminent. 3—Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], until there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin is revealed, [who is] the son of perdition; 4—who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called Deity, or that is worshipped; so that he (thinking himself) as god, sits in the temple of YHVH, showing himself that he is god. 5—Do you not remember, that, when I was still with you, I told you these things?
6—And now you know [who] restrains, that he [the lawless one] might be revealed in his time. 7—For the mystery of iniquity is already at work: but restrained, until removed from the midst. 8—And then shall that lawless one be revealed, whom YHVH shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9—whose coming [the lawless one] is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10—with all deceit 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 YHVH 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.
—-
Note for 2Thessalonians 2:3-5—Paul makes it very clear that the coming of Jesus Christ is not imminent. The son of perdition, a.k.a., the fourth beast of Daniel and the common term—Antichrist, must be exposed first by the coming of Jesus Christ to destroy him (vs. 8). Revelation 11:15—the third woe at the seventh trumpet.Note for 2Thessalonians 2:4, 6, 11—Verse 4, you are the temple of YHVH. The phrase, “sits in the temple of YHVH” is an expression of apostasy. Verse 6, there is only one power that can restrain sin, which is the Spirit of YHVH. He will reveal and remove the son of perdition at the appointed time. Vs. 11—those who will not believe the truth will be deluded and damned.
Note for 2Thessalonians 2:7—The context of verse 7 below is about sin being restrained by the Spirit of YaHavah until the day of our Lord’s return. Sin is restrained in faithful Believers by the Spirit; otherwise, it is busy at work among the sinful. This is consistent with everything Jesus taught.
Referenced with Strong’s Dictionary—7—For G1063 the G3588 mystery G3466 iniquity G458 even now G2235 be active G1754 but G3440 restrained now G2722 G737 until G2193 removed G1096 from G1537 (the) midst G3319
This chapter ends with encouragement to hold fast to the truth of the gospel.
—-
HOLD FAST TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
13—But we are bound to give thanks always to YHVH for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because YHVH has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of His 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 precepts which you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 16—Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and YHVH, even our Father, which has loved us, and has given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17—comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.Hi PBTB.
This page does not purport to be anything but a speculative theory.
It was written with little or no understanding as to what the restraining force might be. Just food for thought thrown out there.
If it is wrong and can be proven so based on a completely different understanding, then good, I call that progress.
Anyhow, thanks for your post. It is longish, but I will try to read it.
🙂
We know that the rapture cannot occur until the anti-Christ is revealed, according to 2 Thes.
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.
And Matthew 24:15 the revealing of the Anti-Christ is called the Abomination of Desolation:
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
This will be the beginning of what is called “the great tribulation”.
Then the rapture will occur as follows: Matthew 24
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The restraining force is simply God keeping him, the Anti-Christ, from being revealed until the gospel is preached to every nation. Matthew 24
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
At that time the scriptures state:
Revelation 13
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.
Daniel 7:
And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Those that did not believe the gospel at this time will be sent strong delusion that they should believe a lie, that they might be judged:
2 Thes 2:
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.
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.
Love in Christ,
MartyWe know that the rapture cannot occur until the anti-Christ is revealed, according to 2 Thes.
2Th 2:3
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;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. And Matthew 24:15 the revealing of the Anti-Christ is called the Abomination of Desolation:
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
This will be the beginning of what is called “the great tribulation”.
Then the rapture will occur as follows: Matthew 24
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The restraining force is simply God keeping him, the Anti-Christ, from being revealed until the gospel is preached to every nation. Matthew 24
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
At that time the scriptures state:
Revelation 13
5 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.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 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.
8 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.
Daniel 7:
20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Those that did not believe the gospel at this time will be sent strong delusion that they should believe a lie, that they might be judged:
2 Thes 2:
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
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:
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.
Love in Christ,
Marty@PBTB
I agree with most of what you wrote. Then again, most of it was scripture.
I wasn’t sure about this though.
Note for 2Thessalonians 2:3-5—Paul makes it very clear that the coming of Jesus Christ is not imminent. The son of perdition, a.k.a., the fourth beast of Daniel and the common term—Antichrist, must be exposed first by the coming of Jesus Christ to destroy him (vs. 8).
The fourth beast is Rome right. But Rome was conquered. Are we not told elsewhere however (in the context of all beastly kingdoms) that five kings have fallen, one is (sixth/Rome) and one is yet to come (seventh). And that the eighth king to come would be of the seventh and will go to destruction. This would mean that Rome is not the threat anymore if it is the sixth right?
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Is not the Holy Place where the Dome of the Rock is now?
3—Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], until there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin is revealed, [who is] the son of perdition; 4—who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called Deity, or that is worshipped; so that he (thinking himself) as god, sits in the temple of YHVH, showing himself that he is god. 5—Do you not remember, that, when I was still with you, I told you these things?
Firstly, what did Paul tell them? He told them the temple was “our” body. The man of sin who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called deity or is worshiped, could well be our-self…and man in general, (think of scientific medical and technological advances over the past so many years.)
6—And now you know [who] restrains, that he [the lawless one] might be revealed in his time. 7—For the mystery of iniquity is already at work: but restrained, until removed from the midst. 8—And then shall that lawless one be revealed, whom YHVH shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9—whose coming [the lawless one] is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10—with all deceit 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 YHVH 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 speaking about lawlessness, again with the great “falling away”.
The restrainer is often thought to be the Holy Spirit convicting us of sin “And when he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” If we are no longer convicted of sin, and lawlessness sets in, the Holy Spirit is taken from the temple (the body), but man still has the ability to use power, lying wonders and signs.
“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’’ (Matt 7:22)
Thoughts only.
8—And then shall that lawless one be revealed, whom YHVH shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
That makes perfect sense!
Matt 24:37-42.
“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. “Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. “Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
“House being broken into”, get it?
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