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In 2 Thessalonians 2:7 says: “For the mystery of iniquity (lawlessness) is already at work: only “He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.” Is the Holy Spirit removed from earth when this happens? At the time Paul wrote this epistle something was and still is preventing the mystery of iniquity from coming into full power and completely being revealed. There are various opinions on who the restrainer is, some say human government, others say the church. These all have a part to play in restraining evil. From my studying the Scripture my conclusion is that this restrainer is a person (“He”) that is preventing the mystery from being revealed then and still does so today, over 1900 years later: There is only one who can restrain the mystery of lawlessness from the beginning- the Holy Spirit. Once he removes the holding back “then the lawless one will be revealed” (2 Thess.2:8) The mystery of iniquity was already in the world from the time man sinned and it has been growing, the only one who can restrain its activity through time is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit that is present on earth, through in individual believers, and the Church. He does not need people or the church body to restrain the mystery of iniquity, however, both are being used in restraining (hinders, prevents) the lawless one from revealing himself (we are salt and light in the world). As long as the restrainer continues to do his restraining work in the world and through the church the false Christ cannot come to his position of power. Once the Holy Spirit’s power to restrain is removed, the Antichrist is able to move unhindered to his appointed short time. It is at this certain time He, the Holy Spirit, will no longer prevent this mystery and “he” ( the mystery of Lawlessness, iniquity) will be revealed.V.8: “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth”Things will go from bad to much worse without the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit. This “he” (2 Thessalonians 2:6) is the son of
perdition. The mystery of iniquity will be revealed in the one
known as the False Christ who will deceive the world. The answer is that during the Tribulation the Holy Spirit is not removed from the earth, otherwise no one else can be saved. The Bible tells us He will continue His salvation work by initially sealing the 144,000 Jews to be evangelists (firstfruits-Revelation 7 and 14:4). From these 144,000 Jewish believers, an angel flying in the sky and later two witnesses to Israel an enormous revival occurs. At the same time the revival takes place a persecution of the saints also takes place. A great multitude of people no one could number is saved in the Tribulation (Revelation 7:9-14) and at the end all of Israel that survives (Zech.13:8-9) is saved (Romans 11:26-27). |
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