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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. |
Subject: Who is he who restrains?ebrain. |
Bible Note: 'Daniel wrote of Michael, the restrainer, this way: "And at that time shall Michael stand up [literally, stand still or desist from helping Israel], the great prince which standeth [whose normal and continued ministry had been to help Israel]" (Dan. 12:1); and Paul wrote of the restrainer this way: "He who now letteth [restrains] will let [continue his normal restraining ministry], until he be taken out of the way [ceases his normal ministry of restraining]" (2 Th. 2:7). The parallel between the two is conspicuous. Posted simply to present the alternate view --- Michael is nowhere called the restrainer in Scripture. --- This interpretation subtly re-frames Michael's "job", if you will. While we are told specifically that he is the protector of Israel, this interpretation has him now as "the one who restrains the mystery of iniquity." But that is nowhere attested to in Scripture. That Michael is the one that is holding back the power of evil in the world is not found in the Bible. Micheal is the protector of Israel. 2 Thess. does not tell us that Michael stops protecting Israel. Daniel, and the other prophets, tell us that in the time of the end, there will come against Israel a great persecution, and that Michael, the one who stands for Israel, will stand. Does this mean that the protector of Israel is going leave his post? I read about how Israel will flee to the wilderness, to be cared for there. I wonder where Micheal will be, and what he will be doing? Love in Christ, Mark |