Who’s Holding Back the Antichrist? What 2 Thessalonians 2 Says About the Restrainer & the Rapture
Second Thessalonians 2:6-7 indicates that a restraining force prevents the man of sin, or Antichrist, from being revealed.
There are several viewpoints on what this restraining force is. In Rick Renner’s excellent book The Rapture, the Antichrist, and the Tribulation, Rick masterfully shines light on the restraining force. Here, I will briefly summarize Rick’s points on who or what this restraining force might be.
Rick points out that the common thought is that there are five things it could be.
1. The Roman Senate
Historian and theologian Tertullian suggested in about 200 AD that the restrainer was the Roman Empire, particularly in its role of maintaining law and order. This was a belief that the Roman government of the day kept the rise of the Antichrist at bay. This is flawed, as we know the Roman Empire ceased to exist, the Antichrist did not appear that day when the government was taken away. This cannot be the restrainer for the simple fact that it no longer exists, and it should be said that no government is the answer to restraining the Antichrist, for that matter.
2. The Archangel Michael
It has been suggested that the restrainer is the Archangel Michael. Who is noted for taking a stand to prevent the activities of evil principalities. This is found in places such as Daniel. Also in Jude 9, while Michael debated over the body of Moses. In Revelation 12:7, Michael and his angels fight against the devil and the fallen angels. Michael fights the dragon and holds back the forces of darkness. Michael, however, does not fit the description of “he” in 2 Thessalonians 2:7; he is a singular force and not in the midst of everything in the world at this time.
3. The Preaching of the Gospel
The Gospel is indeed being preached, and it changes the world and nations, but there is a glitch in the idea that the Gospel is the restrainer. It will never be removed. Revelation 7:4-8 tells us that there will be 144,000 Jewish preachers who will preach God’s Word even in that dark season of time. Therefore, the preaching of the Gospel cannot be the restraining force.
4. The Holy Spirit
As powerful as the Holy Spirit is, He will not be removed from the earth. The Holy Spirit will still be on earth, acting as the great “Change Agent,” even during the Great Tribulation, as some will respond to the preaching of the 144,000, with scores saved during that time (see Revelation 7:9-17). After all, Jesus said in John 6:44, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” If people are going to get saved during the Great Tribulation, the Holy Spirit must remain on earth during that time; He cannot be the restrainer.
5. The Church
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus spoke of the Church’s power, even against the gates of hell. He said, “…I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Something to remember here is that the rapture of the Church is a core New Testament doctrine and that it will one day be caught away. The Church is also present in every part of society, including the business world, athletics, the arts, education, government, the medical field, and all spheres of life. When considering the restraining force, only the Church can be found in every aspect of society worldwide. Paul tells us the rapture of the Church will occur one day. This clearly means a time is coming when the Church will be suddenly removed and taken out of the way—exactly as Paul states, at that exact synchronized moment, the Lawless One, or the Antichrist, will no longer be restrained. He will be revealed to the world.
What Is the Restrainer?
Of all these possibilities, only one logically fits the identity of the great restrainer that is currently holding back the advent of the Antichrist and the evil that will accompany the end of the age. It is the Church. Yes, the great restrainer is the Church, or Ekklesia, founded on the Rock, with Jesus Christ as Lord. All five listed things have a restraining influence on the earth and the affairs of man. Only one of these is the restrainer, the Church, the body of Christ on the earth.
As the restraining force, the Church is the presence of God that holds things back. Jesus has empowered His Church as a direct extension of Himself in this natural world. First John 4:17 says, “…as He is, so are we in this world.”
Understanding that the Church is the restrainer should give you bold-ness! It is a position of authority and dominance that, when realized, causes a believer to walk into the future with confidence rather than shrink back from the present evil age in which we live.
The Rapture of The Church
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
We will remain the restrainer until we are caught up to meet the Lord in the air. This is known as the Rapture of the Church, or harpazo, the taking away of the saints.
Some will say the word “rapture” is not in the Bible, but it is. The English word is not found in the King James Version, but the Latin word rapiemur appears in the Latin Vulgate, translating the Greek word harpazo, meaning to be seized. In the King James Version, this word is translated as caught up. God’s main purpose in taking believers away is to pour out wrath on earth, something He could not do without His people being removed.
We Will Be Caught Up!
Here are other examples of being caught up in scripture:
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter (2 Corinthians 12:2-4).
She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne (Revelation 12:5).
Another Rendering Is Taken by Force
Here are some scriptural examples of the phrase taken by force:
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force (Matthew 11:12).
All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you (John 16:15).
Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks (Acts 23:10).
During The Rapture We Will All Be Changed
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:50-54).
In that moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we will be given glorified bodies and leave this earth to meet the Lord in the air. This includes resurrected saints who will come back to life and receive their new, imperishable, glorified bodies. First Corinthians 15:51 reveals that this is a mystery. What was unknown in the Old Testament is made known in the New Testament.
Upon Seeing Jesus in His Glorified State, We Will Be Made Like Him!
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).
Imagine that moment! Suddenly, we will be caught up and, upon meeting the Lord in the air, our bodies will undergo a miraculous transformation. We will be made into the same kind of body He has, for we will be made like Him. That is amazing to ponder.
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