Mystery Of The Restrainer Solved

[Michael The Disciple]

From a Facebook posting:

Part 1

Various false teachings about the restrainer .
Some teach he is.
• The Holy Spirit
• Jesus
• The church
• Michael the archangel
• Roman government
• Human government
• Satan
There all wrong !
Why?
Paul never said they were.
The question to ask is what is being restrained.
If you start out with the wrong thing being restrained or withheld you will come to the wrong conclusion as to who is the restrainer.

If you read the text in 2 Thessalonians 2 there are certain things that stand out.
• The restrainer is referred to as both an it and a he.
• Paul said "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."
• One common sense observation is Paul said "I told you these things" also "and now ye know", that would indicate he just told them.
Here's another common sense observation. The subject is still the same, the main revelation being hindered or restrained is the revelation of Jesus, not the man of sin.
That is why very few understand this text , they are trying to make it say something it doesn't. If you read the passage with Jesus "that he (Jesus) might be revealed in his time." makes much more sense , not to mention you don't have to speculate because the letter was just that , a letter not some crypted message.

2Th 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
2Th 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
(Suffering is a part of Gods plan for us. 2 Tim 3:12 is one example of that.)
2Th 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven his mighty angels,
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(What revelation are we talking about ? It's the revelation of Jesus.)
2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
2Th 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
(Note that he doesn't separate his coming from our gathering unto him.)
2Th 2:2 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.
( The false teaching that he will come at any moment just got blown out of the water right here, there is something that must take place first.)
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;
(Here is where most everyone loses it, that day shall not come except! What day? Not 2 days , not 2 more comings , no, that day! The day he returns and gathers us unto himself . There is an exception to his return . A restrainer , something that is withholding that revelation.
This is an area of deception , not just a difference of opinion. Paul said let no man deceive you!
HAVE YOU BEEN DECEIVED?
Who (what) is the restrainer?
It's the man of sin!
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he (Jesus) might be revealed in his time.

[Michael The Disciple]

The Restrainer Part 2

(Doesn't vs. 5 and 6 make more sense now? Paul says I told you these things, and then says and now you know.)
Folks it dosn't get any clearer than that.
2 thes 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity(spirit of antichrist) doth already worknly he(the antichrist , man of sin) who now letteth ( restrains or withholds ) will let (restrain or withholds), until he (antichrist) be taken out of the way.
(See that's how the restrainer can be both a he and an it.)
(The spirit of antichrist was already at work, but the antichrist himself was not yet revealed thus hindering or restraining or withholding Jesus revelation in his time according to God's plan.)
1Jo 4:3 And 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.
1Jo 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.

(Jesus himself told us antichrist was coming first and said he ( Jesus) is coming after the tribulation and that before his coming the sun would be darkened and the moon blood , he also asked the question when he would come would there be faith on the earth "the falling away".Most importantly he said, Behold I have told you before. )
2Th 2:8 And then (at that time) 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:
The wicked one will be revealed by the Lord when he destroys him with the spirit of his mouth and the brightness of his coming.
He is revealed by the fact that he declares himself as God. However the scriptures are silent as to how long after that he is destroyed.
Here is why I say that.
Act 12:22 And the people gave a shout, [saying, It is] the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Act 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
And now you know too!

[Lafon]

Wow! It never ceases to amaze me how some can "twist" the language of the Bible in a manner to "make it fit" their preconceived opinions!

Isn't the answer regarding the identity of the "restrainer" that Paul wrote about in II Thessalonians 2:6, disclosed within the very same passage? I certainly think so, and it is "time." Therefore the "it" and the "he" which restrains, or prevents the revelation of the "man of sin, the son of perdition," is none other than "time"! When the appointed "time" arrives, then he will be revealed.

Why is this so hard for many to understand? Before He ever spoke the first words of creation, God devised a plan wherein ALL things would be accomplished within the constraints of "time," yea, even the birth of His own fleshly body could NOT occur until "the fullness of TIME" wherein He determined that it should occur (see Galatians 4:4). Therefore God has decreed that there will come to pass a moment in "time," one that He has appointed, whereby Satan will be allowed to become manifest in a human body ... and that will NOT happen UNTIL that appointed "time" arrives!

Indeed, it is crucial to the proper understanding of Paul's statement of II Thessalonians 2:6, that we recognize this as another one of the "hard to understand" statements of Paul's writings, which Peter advises us "they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures to their own destruction" (II Peter 3:16).

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Lafon

Wow! It never ceases to amaze me how some can "twist" the language of the Bible in a manner to "make it fit" their preconceived opinions!

The sad thing is everyone says that very thing when they read or hear anything that disagrees with their own intepretation of the scripture.

[Lafon]

Originally Posted by mfblume

The sad thing is everyone says that very thing when they read or hear anything that disagrees with their own intepretation of the scripture.

Ain't that the TRUTH!!! Sad, yet true.

[Michael The Disciple]

Lafon

Isn't the answer regarding the identity of the "restrainer" that Paul wrote about in II Thessalonians 2:6, disclosed within the very same passage? I certainly think so, and it is "time." Therefore the "it" and the "he" which restrains, or prevents the revelation of the "man of sin, the son of perdition," is none other than "time"!

Lafon,

My brother the point of the article is that what is being "restrained" is NOT the man of sin being revealed.

Rather Paul was writing about what is witholding or restraining the REVELATION OF JESUS!

When Paul said and now you know what restrains that HE may be revealed in HIS TIME.........he refers to the revelation of Jesus that he wrote about in Chapter 1:7.

2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven his mighty angels,

The thing that is restraining (holding back) this happening is the man of sin has not yet been revealed showing himself to be God.

So the confusion is people are confused about 2 Thess 2:6

2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he (Jesus) might be revealed in his time.

They go off by thinking that verse refers to the man of sin INSTEAD OF JESUS.

[Lafon]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Lafon



Lafon,

My brother the point of the article is that what is being "restrained" is NOT the man of sin being revealed.

Rather Paul was writing about what is witholding or restraining the REVELATION OF JESUS!

When Paul said and now you know what restrains that HE may be revealed in HIS TIME.........he refers to the revelation of Jesus that he wrote about in Chapter 1:7.

2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven his mighty angels,

The thing that is restraining (holding back) this happening is the man of sin has not yet been revealed showing himself to be God.

So the confusion is people are confused about 2 Thess 2:6

2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he (Jesus) might be revealed in his time.

They go off by thinking that verse refers to the man of sin INSTEAD OF JESUS.

MTD, I MUST disagree. Why you might wonder. Well, it has to do with the fact that Paul had written in the previous passages (4-5) concerning the revelation of the "man of sin ... the son of perdition." Therefore his statement of II Thessalonians 2:6 is merely a continuation of this SAME issue, and in NO way should be interpreted to imply, or even infer that he was referring to the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In all of my many years of association with Christendom, including many while, like yourself, as a member of the Church of Christ, I must inform you that I have NEVER, not even once, heard of or read anything that would even come near to your explanation!

And while I found the contents of the first two postings to be most astounding, I would be less than candid if I failed to tell you that yours is even more so! In fact, I am somewhat shocked.

[Michael The Disciple]

MTD, I MUST disagree. Why you might wonder. Well, it has to do with the fact that Paul had written in the previous passages (4-5) concerning the revelation of the "man of sin ... the son of perdition." Therefore his statement of II Thessalonians 2:6 is merely a continuation of this SAME issue, and in NO way should be interpreted to imply, or even infer that he was referring to the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

My friend you are letting the man made chapter division confuse you. The main topic throughout is the coming (revelation) of Jesus that starts in chapter 1:7.

2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven his mighty angels,

All that follows concerns THIS. The topic does not switch because the Bible makers inserted CHAPTER 2 into the mix. Read it as if its one flowing thought and you will see what I mean. By the time we reach verse 6 of chapter 2 it should be clear. What witholds the coming of Christ is that there has not yet been the falling away and the man of sin revealed.

The son of man cannot be revealed until these 2 things occur. The coming "revelation" of Jesus is what is being held back not the coming revealing of the man of sin.

You are partly right in that it is a matter of time.

[Lafon]

Michael, tis true that one can "teach an old dog new tricks."

Upon careful consideration of your explanation, I must confess, while extending to you a hearty "thanks," for I DO grasp what you have stated, with some reservations, or should I say, "qualifying" remarks ....

It appears that I was confusing the words of vs. #7-8 and unwittingly allowing them to cloud my thinking. The "HE who now letteth will let, until HE be taken out of the way," is, in my opinion, a reference to time. When the allotted "time" has been "used up," or expired, "then shall that Wicked be revealed." And it is the Wicked who is the "man of sin ... the son of perdition" that "the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming."

Again, I thank you for your correction of my thinking about this important matter.