Who is holding him back?
2Thess 2:6,7 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 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.
Who is holding him back? I believe Paul is referring to the Holy Spirit holding him back. Though some say that it is the church which is holding him back and that the Rapture takes the restriction away. But this is not true. For the Rapture doesn't occur until after the rebellion and the anti-Christ is revealed. Furthermore the "one" is singular (literally masculine singular), not a community, just as the Holy Spirit is spoken of in the masculine singular in John 16:13
But then others object to it being the Holy Spirit in that if the Holy Spirit is taken away, then he would have to take the Christians with Him, else they would be without the Holy Spirit. But this is a misunderstanding of the diversity of the roles of the Holy Spirit. He permanently indwells those born of God. But He also interacts with unbelievers. He interacts with them to lead them to Christ. And He also interacts with them to restrict their lawlessness! Perhaps he is what even unbelievers at times call their "conscience". Taking away the conscience of unbelievers is not to say that He leaves the world, nor is it to say the He leaves the believers. But without a conscience, it is inevitable that the world will show its true colors - its hostility against God and God's people. Thus Paul writes of such on effect in Romans "Since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done." Rom 1:28
But Paul's main point is that in his time he will be revealed and the Christians will know it. So this is not a secret hidden event which can be easily overlooked.
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
2Thess 2:6,7 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 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.
Who is holding him back? I believe Paul is referring to the Holy Spirit holding him back. Though some say that it is the church which is holding him back and that the Rapture takes the restriction away. But this is not true. For the Rapture doesn't occur until after the rebellion and the anti-Christ is revealed. Furthermore the "one" is singular (literally masculine singular), not a community, just as the Holy Spirit is spoken of in the masculine singular in John 16:13
But then others object to it being the Holy Spirit in that if the Holy Spirit is taken away, then he would have to take the Christians with Him, else they would be without the Holy Spirit. But this is a misunderstanding of the diversity of the roles of the Holy Spirit. He permanently indwells those born of God. But He also interacts with unbelievers. He interacts with them to lead them to Christ. And He also interacts with them to restrict their lawlessness! Perhaps he is what even unbelievers at times call their "conscience". Taking away the conscience of unbelievers is not to say that He leaves the world, nor is it to say the He leaves the believers. But without a conscience, it is inevitable that the world will show its true colors - its hostility against God and God's people. Thus Paul writes of such on effect in Romans "Since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done." Rom 1:28
But Paul's main point is that in his time he will be revealed and the Christians will know it. So this is not a secret hidden event which can be easily overlooked.
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
