Who is the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7? — 8 Views

Bible Question:

Who is the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7?

Bible Answer:

2 Thessalonians 2:3-9 is a very important prophecy about the future. Verse 3 tells us that an apostasy (an abandonment or rejection of the faith) will occur before the man of lawlessness is revealed. Verses 7-8 say that the mystery of lawlessness is currently restraining (tense is present participle) the man of lawlessness from being revealed. Verse 6 and 7 say the man of lawlessness will be restrained until “he who now restrains” is taken away. So, who is the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7? Who is the one now restraining? First, here is 2 Thessalonians 2:6-9,

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, 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. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 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. 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; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders . . . 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9 (NASB)

Who Is Doing The Restraining?

The Man of Lawlessness Is the Antichrist

The Greek word for the restrainer in verse 7 is katecho. The word means to prevent someone from doing something by restraining or holding back. When we are told the “mystery of lawlessness is already at work,” we are to understand that it refers to the spread of sin or evil in our world (1 John 3:4-5; 5:17). The man of lawlessness is the ultimate man of evil. He is the antichrist (1 John 2:18; 4:3) who is under the control of the devil. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-9 clearly tells us that the man of lawlessness is under the control of the Satan.

This antichrist is described in Daniel 7:8, 21-27 and Revelation 13. For more information about the antichrist, visit “How can we know who is the antichrist?” A comparison of Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 and Revelation 13:1-6 reveals that this man of lawlessness is the antichrist who is empowered by Satan.

Various Views for the Identity of the Restrainer

So, who is the restrainer? There are many views as to the identity of the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7.[1] Here are seven of those views:

1. The preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ
2. Nation of Israel
3. The binding of Satan
4. The Church
5. Gentile worldwide domination
6. Human government
7. Michael the archangel

The difficulty with all of these views is that none of them can control the man of lawlessness since he is controlled by Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). When and if Satan is hindered, then the man of lawlessness would be hindered. So, the restrainer must have greater power than Satan in order to restrainthe man of lawlessness. Now, we will consider these seven views about the identity of the restrainer.

First, the preaching of the gospel will not hinder the man of lawlessness, because it cannot hinder Satan’s activity. The “Parable of the Sower” is a good example, for it reveals that Satan can and does prevent people from understanding the Word of God (Mark 13:19). The only reason anyone believes in Christ is because of the efficacious work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11). The gospel can hinder the activity of Satan only in the sense that people become believers, but Jesus told us in the parable of the narrow and wide gate that few will ever be saved. There will never be a global turning to Christ until the millennial kingdom, which will occur after the second coming of Christ.

Second, the nation of Israel cannot hinder the man of lawlessness. For 1 John 5:19 says the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. When are told that Satan is the god of this world (Matthew 4:8-10; John 14:30; 2 Corinthians 4:4), we understand that God the Father has given Satan control of this world. Therefore, no nation can hinder the man of lawlessness since they are under Satan’s control. Satan is also called the ruler of this age (John 12:31). Ephesians 2:2 says he is the prince of the power of the air. Until the second coming of Christ, Satan has been given control of this world.

Third, the binding of Satan will occur at the end of the battle of Armageddon when Satan is bound and thrown into the abyss (Revelation 20:1-4). Amillennialists and post-millennialists claim that people are able to believe in Christ because Satan is bound now. But people in the Old Testament believed in Christ even though Satan was bound. In fact, the book of Jonah states that all the citizens of Nineveh believed and repented. People believed in Christ according to the gospels (John 12:42). In fact, Satan cannot tempt people to sin and hinder the spread of the gospel. John 6:65, 44, and 37 teach that Satan cannot prevent the elect from believing in Christ. For the Father efficaciously draws the elect. Satan cannot prevent anyone from believing in Christ. He cannot hinder those who are elect. Thus the man of lawlessness cannot prevent the elect from believing in Christ. In addition, Luke 17:22-30 reports that Jesus told us in the end times evil would explode and eventually the world will be as evil as in the days before the flood and during the time of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Fourth, some believe the Church will hinder the man of lawlessness as the church Christianizes the world and people believe in Christ. But in Luke 17:22-30, Jesus told us that in the end times evil will increase before the second coming of Christ occurs. In addition, Jesus said that Satan is the ruler of this world in John 14:30. Then 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 says the, “apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness.” That is, there will be a massive worldwide rejection of the gospel before the man of lawlessness comes. That means the church is not the restrainer. It would an error to think the church hindered the man of lawlessness by more and more people becoming believers, for the Holy Spirit is the one efficaciously effective in conversion.

The fifth and sixth views are a Gentile worldwide domination of human government that will hinder the man of lawlessness. This seems possible since Romans 13:4 says, “It is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” But again we must remember that Satan was the true leader of the city of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:11-17). That is, the leadership of Tyre was under the control of Satan. He controlled and influenced them. Even when under the control of Satan and his demonic forces, governments will suppress evil to a degree, but they cannot hinder Satan from accomplishing his plans.

Seventh, there is no reason to believe that Michael the archangel will hinder the man of lawlessness. Jude 9 tells us that he refused to say, “The Lord rebuke you!” Since Michael refused to confront Satan, are we supposed, to believe that he will confront Satan so as to hinder the man of lawlessness?

The eighth view is the Holy Spirit is the restrainer. None of the views listed above explain how the man of lawlessness will be the hindered. The only biblical explanation is that God the Holy Spirit is the restrainer as He is the only one who can restrain Satan. Romans 1:20-24, 26, 28 reveal that God currently restrains evil and eventually turns unrepentant sinners over to indulge in evil. Job 1:10-12 reveals that God prevents Satan from certain activities. So, only God the Holy Spirit can restrain evil and the man of lawlessness.

Conclusion:

Today the spirit of the antichrist (1 John 4:3; 2 John 7) is already at work. False teachers are everywhere (1 John 4:1). Someday the antichrist will finally arrive and he will be empowered by the devil. However, the antichrist will not become known and possess full power until the Holy Spirit stops restraining him.