2 Tessalonicenses 2

2 Tessalonicenses 2

Cole adds that "MacArthur (Commentary, pp. 278–279) understands it to be the Holy Spirit, but not removed with the rapture of the church (which he understands to happen before the tribulation). Rather, he argues that the Holy Spirit will continue His restraining work until the middle of the tribulation, when He will cease that work, allowing the man of lawlessness free reign during the last half of the tribulation." (Lesson 4: God's Comfort in an Evil World ) As you can see from the preceding two well-known expositors disagree on the identity of the restrainer. In his sermon Steven Cole summarizes it this way "The bottom line is, with all of these different interpretations about the restrainer, we can only be tentative. But to use these verses to argue for a pre-tribulation rapture of the church (Swindoll's view above) is to read that view into the text. Even MacArthur (who holds to the pretribulation rapture) does not interpret it that way. What we can know from this text is that God sovereignly determines when the restrainer is removed so that the man of lawlessness will be revealed. Biblical prophecy is not a matter of God’s merely foreseeing what will happen, but rather of His predetermining what will happen." So that - Term of purpose. In his time - Time is not chronos but kairos a fixed period of time marked by suitableness, and this is like a season in which (rotten) fruit will grow. God is in total control of all time (even though often it does not appear that way). In His infinite wisdom and by His sovereign omnipotence He has allotted a "season of sin" for the "man of sin" to reign supreme. That is "his time," and it is a very short time (relative to eternity), for it will coincide with the time Jesus referred to as the Great Tribulation, a 3.5 year (1260 days, 42 months, "time, times and half a time" - see synonymous time phrases; cp REv 17:10 = "he must remain a little while.") season when God will allow fallen man (and the fallen angel Lucifer) to do what he has always wanted to do and that is to the god of this world. It will become obvious that "man's best" is actually the worst rulership the earth has ever experienced. But the good news is that the Greek word kairos indicates this evil time will have an end, the "season" of the Antichrist being abruptly terminated by the return of the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev 19:11-21-read commentary) which Paul describes in 2 Th 2:8! He will be revealed - This is a prophetic promise that is absolutely sure to occur. When the Antichrist is revealed, God will "take the lid off" so to speak and make it obvious to all that this is the man Scripture refers to as the Antichrist. He will take center stage in world history. He will have his "moment in the sun," which will be eclipsed in a moment by the Son (2 Th 2:8) and his throne will be darkened (Rev 16:10+)! "History" is still HIS story, and the "history" of the Antichrist is but an exclamation mark signifying that this present evil age (Gal 1:4+) is about to be terminated and the next age, the age of Messiah, is about to commence! Maranatha! Amen! Come quickly! (Rev 22:20+) Restrains (2722)(katecho from katá = intensifies meaning + écho = have, hold) means to retain whether by avoiding the relinquishing of something. It was used literally of holding one to keep them from going (as in Luke 4:42). Katecho was used figuratively with the idea of restraining or keeping someone (Antichrist) from exercising power (see 2Thes 2:6-7). A closely related figurative use of katecho means to hold down or suppress as the ungodly do to the truth about God (see note Romans 1:18). Time (season, opportunity, proper time) (2540)(kairos) means a point of time or period of time, time, period, frequently with the implication of being especially fit for something and without emphasis on precise chronology. It describes the period as especially appropriate and favorable (the right time). Stated another way kairos is distinguished from chronos (time) because kairos views TIME from the aspect of the strategic opportunity it provides, and not simply a change from the past into the present into the future, not mere duration. (Trench)Something that lasts for a season and so is transient, temporary or enduring only for a specific period of time. Kairos is a period which is especially appropriate - a favorable time (at the right time). Will be revealed (601)(apokalupto from apó = from + kalúpto = cover, conceal, English = apocalypse - see of apokalupsis ) literally means to remove the cover from and so the idea is to remove that which conceals something. Almost all of the NT uses have a figurative use, especially to some aspect of spiritual truth that was heretofore hidden but now has the "lid removed" so that it can be seen (understood). Thus apokalupto means to "take the lid off", to remove the cover and thereby to expose to open view that which had heretofore not been visible, known or disclosed. The idea is to make manifest something previously secret or unknown. Apokalupto conveys the idea of "taking the lid off" and means to remove the cover and expose to open view that which was heretofore not visible, known or disclosed. It means to make manifest or reveal a thing previously secret or unknown. It describes removing of a veil (an unveiling) or covering thus exposing to open view what was concealed. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Phillips Translation Evil is already insidiously at work but its activities are restricted until what I have called the "restraining power" (of God) is removed. the mystery of lawlessness: 1Ti 3:16 Rev 17:5,7 is already at work: Ac 20:29 Col 2:18-23 2Ti 2:17,18 1Jn 2:18 4:3 he who now restrains: 2Th 2:6 2 Thessalonians 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries For - Term of explanation. Explains the lawlessness what will reach its height in the Antichrist, is already present. The mystery of lawlessness is already at work - The mystery of lawlessness is continually being energized (energeo in the present tense - continually) in this age (just look at the news in 2020 if you doubt this!). Mystery (musterion) does not mean mysterious but is used in the NT to describe that which is divinely being made known. In a word, our Sovereign, Omnipotent Creator is allowing this "mystery" to be energized in this present evil age (Gal 1:4+). Make no mistake that our trustworthy God is still on His Throne and is still in complete control of the final unfolding of His divine plan of redemption, a plan which includes this last, short gasp of man grasping to be "God for a day," so to speak (note that the meaning of Antichrist is instead of Christ [see note above] and opposed to Christ!)! Lewis - There were already forces of lawlessness that were struggling to move forward even in Paul's day. These could be identified as the doctrines and practices that the Antichrist would later embody. What is the mystery that is revealed here? Although lawlessness has always been known, what was not clear was that someday this "spirit of lawlessness" would become incarnate in the man of lawlessness (also see 1 Jn 2:18; 4:3). The apostle John presents a truth that parallels the mystery of lawlessness writing By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome (nikao in perfect tense = in this context means conquerors forever!) them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:2-4+) Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18+) Only he who now restrains (katecho in present tense) will do so until he is taken out of the way - Who is "he?" I agree with Swindoll (see above) the only one with the power to hold down the deluge of lawlessness and the appearance of the son of lawlessness is the Omnipotent Holy Spirit. And when His presence and power in Christ's Spirit Filled Church is removed from planet earth, the gates of Hades are temporarily opened to unleash a flood of evil the magnitude of which the world has never seen nor will ever see again! THOUGHT - Dear reader, if you are not yet safe in the "Ark" (in Christ), then may God's Spirit move in your heart to draw you to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and Jesus will rescue you "from the wrath that is to come." (1 Th 1:10+).