Biblical Study of 2 Thessalonians 2:1–8 (Continued)

Verses 5–7
⁵Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? ⁶And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. ⁷For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

If there is one thing that further reinforces this false teaching of a Rapture of the Church before the Great Tribulation, it is the misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the expression "he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." This verse 7 is indeed poorly interpreted. Today, virtually everyone seems to agree that what is restraining the public appearance of the Antichrist is the presence of the Church or of the Holy Spirit; and therefore, for all those who support this theory, the Church must first be raptured — which they interpret as "taken out of the way" — and then the Antichrist will appear. However, upon examining the Scriptures, you will see that the exact opposite is true. You will see that the Holy Spirit and the Church will indeed be present during the Great Tribulation. Otherwise, how do you explain the ministry of the two Witnesses during the reign of the Antichrist — the beast — in Revelation 11? Under what power will they work?

What people ignore or forget concerning prophecy — especially end-times prophecy — is that examining a single prophecy is insufficient to confirm an event. Indeed, in most prophetic cases, the Lord has repeated a prophecy at minimum twice; some even more than five times. Let us examine these verses closely.

Verses 5–7
⁵Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? ⁶And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. ⁷For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

In the first four verses that we studied (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4) in the first part of this teaching, the Lord taught us clearly that His coming and our gathering together with Him could only take place after the apostasy and the appearance of the Antichrist (verse 3). Therefore, without this appearance of the Antichrist, there is also no Rapture of the Church. And at this point, the Word speaks to us of both what and who restrains the appearance of the Antichrist.

In fact, by examining the first four verses of 2 Thessalonians 2 alone, we can already understand that what — or who — restrains the Antichrist so that he appears only in his appointed time is neither the Church nor the Holy Spirit; for the Word plainly states that first the apostasy must have come AND that the Antichrist must have appeared before we can speak of the Lord's coming and our gathering unto Him. How do you explain that the Church — which is to be raptured only well after the appearance of the Antichrist — could still be preventing him from appearing? This makes no sense. Thus in verse 6, the Bible speaks of that which restrains — that is, a thing — and in verse 7 of he who restrains — that is, a person.

Let us begin with that which restrains — the thing. Let us read Daniel 8:23.

Daniel 8:23
And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

Daniel 8:23 (Ostervald Version - French)
And at the end of their reign, when the sinners shall have filled up the measure, a king of bold countenance and skilled in intrigue shall rise up.

This passage from Daniel speaks of a king who must arise or appear after certain events; and one of the events — one of the conditions of his appearance — that the Bible establishes here is that sin must first reach its peak: its final level. This is expressed by the phrase "when the transgressors are come to the full" — or in other words, when the wicked have filled up the measure of their revolt against God. This is precisely the mystery of iniquity that the Apostle Paul speaks of. By examining verses 24 and 25 of this same chapter (Daniel 8), we see that the king who must arise at that point is none other than the Antichrist — the man of sin. We therefore understand that as long as sin does not reach its final stage, the Antichrist will not appear either; this is what restrains him.

However, the Bible informs us at verse 7 of 2 Thessalonians 2 that this mystery of iniquity is already at work — that is, the cup of sin is already full. And this can be observed even in our day: men marrying each other, human beings engaging in intimate relations with life-size dolls and robots. Despite all this, he has not yet appeared. In verse 7, the Bible teaches us that while it is true that the cup of sin is full, it is also necessary that he who still restrains — a person — be taken out of the way.

Did you know that the Antichrist — the last political ruler — in order to begin his reign requires that the current great power and its head of state collapse? For he alone must reign in what will be the last world government. Let us return to Daniel 8:23.

Daniel 8:23
And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

Daniel 8:23 (Ostervald Version - French)
And at the end of their reign, when the sinners shall have filled up the measure, a king of bold countenance and skilled in intrigue shall rise up.

The reign spoken of here is that of the greatest current world powers with their heads of state — such as the USA and its president. Understand that as long as the president who holds authority over other nations and their heads of state does not lose that authority or dominion, the Antichrist will not appear either. The Antichrist — this last human political ruler the world will know — will share his authority or dominion with no one; he alone will dominate the entire world. He who currently restrains the Antichrist is therefore not the Church or the Holy Spirit, but this political leader who holds authority over the other nations — such as the president of the USA. It will be necessary for this head of state to be removed or set aside. This is the one who restrains him.

2 Thessalonians 2:7
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way

2 Thessalonians 2:7 (Ostervald Version - French)
For the mystery of iniquity is already forming; it is only necessary that the one who is presently an obstacle to it be destroyed.

If, as most people believe today, the one who restrains is the Holy Spirit or the Church — and the Church must be raptured before the Great Tribulation (which they interpret as "taken out of the way") — this means, firstly, that the Church will no longer be upon the earth during the reign of the Antichrist; and secondly, that there will be no action of the Holy Spirit during this period of the Antichrist's reign — and therefore no conversion (given that He is supposed to disappear). How then do you explain the presence of the two Witnesses of God under the reign of the Antichrist? Under what power will they work — the Holy Spirit or some other spirit? How do you explain their miracles?

To understand all of this more fully, let us turn to Revelation 11:3.

Revelation 11:3–7
³And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. ⁴These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. ⁵And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. ⁶These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. ⁷And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

The question at this point is: who is the beast that kills the two Witnesses? Is it not the Antichrist? If the Holy Spirit is going to disappear before the reign of the Antichrist — that is, before the Great Tribulation — how do you explain these miracles that the two Witnesses will perform during the Great Tribulation? Will God send a second Holy Spirit during the Great Tribulation after the first has disappeared before it? Or will He remove a portion of the Holy Spirit before the Great Tribulation and leave another portion on earth during the Antichrist's reign? Understand therefore that it is neither the Church nor the Holy Spirit that is preventing the Antichrist from appearing. The Church and the Holy Spirit will indeed be present during the reign of the beast — the Antichrist (Revelation 13:7). We will return to these two Witnesses later in this teaching.

Still, if as people believe, the Church or the Holy Spirit is to be removed before the reign of the Antichrist — it seems He would be suppressing him — how then do you explain Revelation 7:9–14?

Revelation 7:9–14
⁹After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; ¹⁰And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. ¹¹And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, ¹²Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. ¹³And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? ¹⁴And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

If, as it is said, the Holy Spirit is to disappear before the reign of the Antichrist, how then do you explain the conversion of this multitude of people during the Great Tribulation? The Bible tells us plainly that they come out of the Great Tribulation — that is, out of the period of the Antichrist's reign — and that they washed their robes. What does washing their robes imply? Is it not repentance? Can one speak of repentance or conversion without the work of the Holy Spirit? Who convicts hearts of sin? Is it not the Holy Spirit (John 16:7–11)? And yet you maintain that the Holy Spirit must disappear before the reign of the Antichrist. Understand once and for all: the Church will pass through the Great Tribulation, and it is neither the Church nor the Holy Spirit that is preventing the appearance of the Antichrist.

You might say to me here that it is only a part of the Church that will remain during the Great Tribulation. Beloved, understand that the Church of God remains the Church of God — the Church of God is one and unique. When God raptures His Church from the earth, whatever remains will be nothing of His Church. Note also that any church that does not attend the Marriage Supper is not the Church of the Lord. Indeed, the final destiny of the Church — which is the Bride of Christ — is to pass through the Marriage Supper with Him immediately after the Rapture.

At this point, we also draw the attention of God's children to the theory that states the Great Tribulation is only for the Jews. This teaching is completely false and diabolical, for the Bible — in verse 9 of Revelation 7 — speaks of people from every nation, every language, every tribe, and every people who come out of the Great Tribulation.

To conclude our study of the text of 2 Thessalonians 2:1–8, we may ask one final question: what will take place after the Antichrist — the instigator of the Great Tribulation — has appeared?

Verse 8
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The answer is, of course, the second coming of Jesus Christ. Once again we understand from this verse that the Antichrist will already be upon the earth before the coming of the Lord; and it is by the brightness of the coming of Jesus Christ that he will be destroyed.

CONCLUSION on 2 Thessalonians 2:1–8:

There will never be a Rapture of the Church without the manifestation of the apostasy and the appearance of the Antichrist — and therefore never before the Great Tribulation. Retain this: the only messiah or saviour — who will of course be a false one — who will appear before the Great Tribulation will be the Antichrist, for he must necessarily manifest himself before the tribulation he will bring upon the saints of God. At this point, I trust you are beginning to understand that the objective of this false doctrine advocating a rapture before the Great Tribulation is to cause you to accept the Antichrist at his appearance before the tribulation; and whoever accepts the Antichrist automatically becomes an enemy of God, whose final destination will be the lake of fire (Revelation 14:9–11). The Word bears witness in verses 9 and 10 of 2 Thessalonians 2 that the appearance of that Wicked one will be accompanied by all manner of lying miracles, signs, and wonders; and in Matthew 24:5, that the multitude will be seduced and will follow him.

Verses 13–15
¹³But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. ¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

These verses speak to us of the dead in Christ who must be raised at the coming of the Lord. And as always, note that the Lord speaks of the coming — and not of the comings — as though there were several. If there were two comings, as the multitudes believe today, the Lord would surely have specified this at verse 15: "we the living who remain for the first coming of the Lord..." — but He speaks only of the coming, to signify that there will be only one return of Christ. The interesting thing in all of this is found in the following verses.

Verses 16–17
¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

What do these verses speak to us about? They speak of the return of the Lord and the Rapture that will follow — and just as in 2 Thessalonians 2, the Lord informs us of what will happen before His descent from heaven: a signal will be given, the voice of an archangel will be heard, and the trumpet will sound. Let us pause for a moment on the trumpet that must sound. We know that the Bible speaks of 7 trumpets — of which trumpet is this one speaking? Let us read 1 Corinthians 15:51–52.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52
⁵¹Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The resurrection of the dead in Christ will only be possible at the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; to speak of the resurrection of the dead at the last trumpet is also to speak of the coming of the Lord and the Rapture of the Church. What will happen, then, when the last trumpet sounds and the dead rise? Let us read 1 Corinthians 15:21–24 once more.

1 Corinthians 15:21–24
²¹For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. ²²For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. ²⁴Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

The answer is, of course, the end. The end in question is not the end of the world, as some might think, but the end of human government — and of the Antichrist's in particular; from that point, Christ will establish His own kingdom. If the Bible speaks at verse 24 of delivering up the kingdom to God, it is because it was under the dominion or reign of someone else. And all of this will only take place at the second coming of Jesus Christ at the moment when the last trumpet sounds. And to those of you who believe that the Lord will first return before the Great Tribulation — and then again afterward — tell me: at which trumpet have you seen the Lord return other than the seventh — that is, the last? Furthermore, note that in 1 Corinthians 15:23, the text speaks of His coming — and not of His comings.

Revelation 11:15
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Daniel 7:13–14
¹³I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. ¹⁴And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

CONCLUSION on 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17:

The coming of the Lord will only take place when the last — seventh trumpet sounds, the dead are raised, both the living and the resurrected are caught up, and then the Lord will establish His own kingdom — the Kingdom of Heaven — by neutralizing the Antichrist and his power. There will therefore be NO rapture before the Great Tribulation; the Rapture will take place after the Antichrist has established his kingdom. Consequently, there will be no second rapture for the so-called "redeemed" — for Christ Himself will reign upon the earth afterward (for one thousand years).

Be blessed!