KingJ
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"And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 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. And then the lawless one will be revealed..." — 2 Thess. 2:6–8
1. Only God Can Effectively Restrain Evil and Satan
The force restraining the rise of the Antichrist (the “lawless one”) must be greater than Satan and capable of holding back evil globally. No government, law, or human institution fits that role perfectly or consistently. Only God Himself—specifically the Holy Spirit—has that power (Job 1:12; John 16:8; 1 John 4:4).
2. The Holy Spirit Has a Unique Restraining Role in This Age
John 16:8 – Jesus said the Spirit would “convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.”
The Spirit restrains sin and holds back judgment, working primarily through the Church as salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16).
When the Church is raptured, the Spirit’s current restraining ministry is “taken out of the way.”
3. The Change in Language from "What" to "He" Supports a Divine Person
2 Thess. 2:6 – “What is restraining” (neuter) / 2 Thess. 2:7 – “He who restrains” (masculine)
This grammatical shift fits the Holy Spirit: Neuter: The Spirit (Greek Pneuma) is grammatically neuter. Masculine: He is also a person, not just a force (John 14:26; John 16:13–14).
Other options (like government, law, Michael the archangel) do not align well with both forms.
4. The Holy Spirit Is Often Depicted as “Withholding” Evil or Judgment
Genesis 6:3 – "My Spirit shall not always strive with man…" (before the flood). The Spirit delayed judgment until God's appointed time.
Similarly, in 2 Thess. 2, the Spirit holds back lawlessness until God's set time.
5. The Antichrist Cannot Be Revealed Until the Restrainer Is Removed
2 Thess. 2:8: “Then the lawless one will be revealed…”
The Restrainer is not merely stopping an ''antichrist press release''. The antichrist knows "his time is short" and acts with "great wrath" Rev 12:12. We can expect all hell to break lose on day 1. 2 Thess 2:4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped''
6. Early Church Fathers and Scholars Have Supported This View
Though not universally held, some early interpreters, like Irenaeus and Tertullian, saw divine restraint involved.
Modern scholars like John Walvoord, J. Dwight Pentecost, Charles Ryrie, and others strongly affirm the Holy Spirit as the Restrainer.
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Common Alternative Views (and Why They Fall Short):
A. Human Government - Not powerful enough to restrain Satan; governments often empower evil.
B. Law - Law alone doesn’t restrain the Antichrist’s supernatural rise or lawlessness.
C. Michael the Archangel - A strong being (Dan. 10:13), but not divine. Also referred to as “he,” but never “what.”
D. The Church (alone) - The Church is the vessel, but the power is the Holy Spirit within her (Acts 1:8).
1. Only God Can Effectively Restrain Evil and Satan
The force restraining the rise of the Antichrist (the “lawless one”) must be greater than Satan and capable of holding back evil globally. No government, law, or human institution fits that role perfectly or consistently. Only God Himself—specifically the Holy Spirit—has that power (Job 1:12; John 16:8; 1 John 4:4).
2. The Holy Spirit Has a Unique Restraining Role in This Age
John 16:8 – Jesus said the Spirit would “convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.”
The Spirit restrains sin and holds back judgment, working primarily through the Church as salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16).
When the Church is raptured, the Spirit’s current restraining ministry is “taken out of the way.”
3. The Change in Language from "What" to "He" Supports a Divine Person
2 Thess. 2:6 – “What is restraining” (neuter) / 2 Thess. 2:7 – “He who restrains” (masculine)
This grammatical shift fits the Holy Spirit: Neuter: The Spirit (Greek Pneuma) is grammatically neuter. Masculine: He is also a person, not just a force (John 14:26; John 16:13–14).
Other options (like government, law, Michael the archangel) do not align well with both forms.
4. The Holy Spirit Is Often Depicted as “Withholding” Evil or Judgment
Genesis 6:3 – "My Spirit shall not always strive with man…" (before the flood). The Spirit delayed judgment until God's appointed time.
Similarly, in 2 Thess. 2, the Spirit holds back lawlessness until God's set time.
5. The Antichrist Cannot Be Revealed Until the Restrainer Is Removed
2 Thess. 2:8: “Then the lawless one will be revealed…”
The Restrainer is not merely stopping an ''antichrist press release''. The antichrist knows "his time is short" and acts with "great wrath" Rev 12:12. We can expect all hell to break lose on day 1. 2 Thess 2:4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped''
6. Early Church Fathers and Scholars Have Supported This View
Though not universally held, some early interpreters, like Irenaeus and Tertullian, saw divine restraint involved.
Modern scholars like John Walvoord, J. Dwight Pentecost, Charles Ryrie, and others strongly affirm the Holy Spirit as the Restrainer.
----------------------------
Common Alternative Views (and Why They Fall Short):
A. Human Government - Not powerful enough to restrain Satan; governments often empower evil.
B. Law - Law alone doesn’t restrain the Antichrist’s supernatural rise or lawlessness.
C. Michael the Archangel - A strong being (Dan. 10:13), but not divine. Also referred to as “he,” but never “what.”
D. The Church (alone) - The Church is the vessel, but the power is the Holy Spirit within her (Acts 1:8).
