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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: The Restrainer - Revisited! |
Bible Note: Hi Robert, Thanks for responding to my post. I understand what you are saying. Unfortunately I raised too many issues in my previous post, please let me stick to "the restrainer" for a moment. I agree with your observation that the "star fallen from heaven to earth" would seem to be a spiritually fallen angel in Revelation 9:1. The angel in Revelation 20:1, which throws Satan into the bottomless pit is apparently not fallen. Taking both these passages into account, along with what was previously posted, one may assert: 1) The antichrist/beast is the entity restrained. 2) The location of restraint is the bottomless pit. (from previous post) 3) He (the Lord Jesus) who owns the key to the pit is the restrainer, directly or indirectly. 4) When He yields the key of the pit to the fallen angel, the beast will arise from the pit. 5) At the end of the tribulation period the beast will again be restrained there for 1000 years. Would you agree with these assertions? Could the pit be synonymous with hell or Hades? The passages below may be helpfull. Why does 2 Thess 2:6 refer to "what restains" while v. 7 refers to "who" restains "until He is taken out of the way"? This post is getting lengthy - perhaps we can take up the "with His saints vs. for His saints" issue in another thread. I shouldn't have raised the issue in this one. 2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 3:7 ¶And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; |