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NASB | 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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness [rebellion against divine authority and the coming reign of lawlessness] is already at work; [but it is restrained] only until he who now restrains it is taken out of the way. |
Bible Question: If the One Who restrains Who is taken away is the Holy Spirit surely this MUST mean there is a Pre-Trib Rapture... because He is OMNIPRESENT. There is NOWHERE for Him to go. It MUST refer to the taking away of the Holy Spirit IN HIS PEOPLE THE CHURCH? How else can this verse be interpreted? |
Bible Answer: Hi E.T. Pastor, This is my understanding of this verse: Those who will use this passage as a proof-text for the pre-tribulation rapture go on to say that the Holy Spirit within the church is that which restrains the wicked one from being revealed, so that the wicked one cannot be revealed until the church is removed. II Thessalonians 2:5 “Do you not remember that I told you these things, I yet being with you? And now you know the thing holding back, for him to be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness already is working, only he is holding back now, until it comes out of the midst. And then the Lawless One will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume by the spirit of His mouth, and will bring to nought by the brightness of His presence.” This passage, however, does not actually say what the restrainer is, or how it operates. Following is a literal translation of this key verse: to gar musthrion hdh energeitai ths anomias monon ‘o katecwn - for mystery already works the lawlessness only he keeping down arti ews ek mesou genhtai now until out of middle becomes Omitted in this verse is what this restrainer comes out of the middle of. Does it come out of the middle of the general population, i.e. the church? Does it come out from the middle between the antichrist and his power-broker sponsors who will usher him into his agenda? There are other possiblities still. The one actual clue we have is the masculine article, indicating “he”, or personification. The restrainer is a person. From verses such as Jude 1:9 “the LORD rebuke you”, 1 John 3:8 “For this the Son of God was revealed, that He might undo the works of the devil”, and 1 John 4:4 “because He in you is greater than he in the world”, we know that we are not the ones with power against evil, but it is God. I believe that the Holy Spirit is He Who is now “keeping down” the mystery of lawlessness, but whether this is through the church, or as a direct work, the scripture does not say. While the scripture does teach pre-tribulation rapture, this passage does not serve as proof. I am interested in your comments on this. Love in Christ, Mark |