The Man of Lawlessness and the Restrainer

By:  Dale Weckbacher

2 Thessalonians 2:5-7

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ⁶ And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. ⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

(ESV)

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 is a teaching by Paul concerning the Man of Lawlessness Aka the Antichrist.  The purpose of the teaching is in response to an erroneous letter sent to the church in Thessalonica stating that the day of the Lord, or the second coming of Jesus, had already occurred (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2).  With the promise of the second coming of Jesus to take his church to be with Him as a source of comfort for the church (1 Thessalonians 4:18), this erroneous teaching would have been devastating to a church suffering persecution.  Aware of this false teaching, Paul addresses it by reminding them that the day of the Lord will not occur until the rebellion, and the coming of the Man of Lawlessness to power occurs (2 Thessalonians 2:3). 

This Man of Lawlessness is more commonly referred to as The Antichrist.  Paul goes on to tell us what the Antichrist will do once rising to power.  While many believe this man will be a political figure, 2 Thessalonians2:4-5 teaches that he will be someone removing every god or object of worship and take his seat in the Temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.  However, 2 Thessalonians 2:6 reveals the existence of a restrainer, or restraining force that is at work holding back Antichrist from taking power.

The lawlessness of the spirt of antichrist existed in the world during the time of Paul and still exists today (1 John 4:2-3).  However, the restrainer is still in place preventing The Antichrist from rising to power leading us to ask, who is this restrainer?

The answer unfortunately is unclear with some believing it is the Holy Spirit present in every believer and others believing it is Michael the Arch Angel.  (1)  However, I believe the specific identity of the restrainer is unimportant for if it was, Paul would have most likely identified it for us.  Instead, I view the existence of a restrainer as a demonstration of the grace and mercy of God holding back the ungodly Antichrist so everyone has an opportunity to receive Jesus as Savior and join Him when he returns to take his church home with Him (2 Peter 3:9).

If you are reading this and have already accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, rest assured, the day of the Lord has not come and even if you die before Jesus returns, you will precede those still alive and meet Jesus in the air when he returns (1 Thessalonians 4:15).  However, if you are not one who has accepted Jesus as your Savior, I want to invite you to do so now before the restrainer is removed and the Man of Lawlessness, the Antichrist appears. 

Accepting Jesus as your savior is not difficult and does not require you to pay any penalty for your sins for Jesus has already done that with his death on the Cross.  All that is necessary is for you to ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and make Him Lord of your life.  Please take a moment to pray with me now and insure you escape the rule of the Man of Lawlessness,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

We do not want to be on this earth when the Man of Lawlessness, the Antichrist rises to power but instead want to be among those taken up to meet Jesus when he returns for His church.  Thankfully, there is a restrainer in place preventing the emergence of Antichrist but a day will come when that restrainer is removed.  I encourage you not to delay but to accept Jesus as your savior now before it is too late. 

1. Bible Study Tools. 14.4.2. Who is the Restrainer. www.biblestudytools.com. [Online] Bible Study Tools. [Cited: November 12, 2016.] http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/revelation/related-topics/who-is-the-restrainer.html.