Subject: Who is the one holding back? |
Bible Note: I am afraid it does, sorry, I don't agree with you. We already have established that. This is my view, not dogmatic, just a view: 2 Thess 2:1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, (Please note the passage I quoted is speaking of our Lord's return and the believers being taken off of the earth, just as it is speaking in this passage, i.e., our gathering together to Him) 2 Thess 2:2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (some were teaching that the great suffering they were experiencing was because the day of the Lord had already come and they had many questions and worries about it. The day of the Lord is a series of events.) 2 Thess 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 2 Thess 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 2 Thess 2:5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 2 Thess 2:6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. (this takes place after the believers have been taken off the earth. We know that the work of the Holy Spirit is to live in believers and convict them of sin and enable them to live a life overcoming sin and live to righteousness, in other words, loving Christ Jesus and obeying Him) 2 Thess 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. (Anywhere you have godly people they influence the lives of others in their families, their co-workers, everywhere they go because an unbeliever sees their lives and how they follow Christ Jesus obeying Him, loving Him. This is a restraining influence because even those who do not follow Christ are affected by these believers) 2 Thess 2:8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; (Then is a time phrase - it tells when something is going to happen. We know that there are many, many names for the anti-christ and the lawless one is one of them. He does not follow Christ Jesus. He opposes Him and His followers but through the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers He is thwarted from doing as he pleases totally) 2 Thess 2:9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, (There is an appointed time for this and I believe that is what you and I differ on. So in the attitude of christain peacefulness let us not break fellowship because we do not agree, ok? I respect and value your thoughts and I hope you will show me the same respect even if it differs from yours. Thanking you in advance, your sister-in Christ) |