Who is The Restrainer of Evil in Our World?
April 13, 2020
Commentary
Why is Satan unable to reveal his “man of sin” sooner? It is because God is restraining the forces of evil in the world. Satan cannot do whatever he wants to do, whenever he wants to do it. Paul mentions a restraining force that helps keep everything on schedule (vv. 6-7). However, when this restrainer is taken out of the way the Man of Sin will be revealed. The big question is who or what is this restrainer. This restrainer is now at work in the world and will continue to work till “taken out of the midst” (v. 7).
The power of the restrainer must be greater than Satan’s. The identity of the restrainer must be made on the basis of answering the question, Who is powerful enough to hold back Satan? The obvious and only answer to that question is God. Therefore, it is only logical that the restrainer is the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit (cf. Walvoord, The Rapture Question, pp. 86-87). This also lines up with the fact that one of the first specific indications of the work of the Holy Spirit is that of restraining (Gen. 6:3).
Born-again believers will not go through the tribulation because the Holy Spirit will be removed before the “Man of Sin” is revealed (v. 8). At this point the lawless one will use “power, signs, and lying wonders” to deceive and draw a following (vv. 9-12). The spotlight is put on those who follow the Man of Sin and believe his lie (v. 10). As a result God sends a strong delusion to man because he did not receive the truth when he had a chance (vv. 11-12). Since our sovereign God indwells all believers and it is impossible for a believer to be “dis-indwelt” the only conclusion is that believers will be taken out of the way before the “Man of Sin” appears, which will signal the start of the tribulation.
Application
The Holy Spirit is holding back the man of sin and “The Lord is not willing that any should perish” (II Peter 3:9). Therefore, it is important that “I redeem the time” by doing all I can to get the Word of God out.
2 Thessalonians 2:6– 12 (NET)
6 And so you know what holds him back, so that he will be revealed in his own time. 7 For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way, 8 and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his arrival. 9 The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, 10 and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved. 11 Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false. 12 And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned.