***To those wondering about rapture theory. Read below. I added emphasis in all caps and asterisks ***
2 Thessalonians 2
King James Version
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, ***nor by letter as from us***, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 ***Let no man deceive you by ANY means***: for that day SHALL NOT COME, EXCEPT THERE COME A FALLING AWAY FIRST, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
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:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2:6, "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time."
And now you know what withholds, and the word withhold is the word restrains, something that holds back.
You know the restraint that he might be revealed in his time. He says there is a restraining force that is keeping the antichrist from being revealed.
He could be on the earth alive right now waiting to be revealed. And this restraining force is keeping him because it's not time.
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."
For the mystery of iniquity is already working: That's in Paul's day.
And right now, whether the person is alive or not, we have the one world system taking shape, and then he'll step right in to the situation.
Only he who now letteth will let, and that's the nice Old English language. It's the same word hinders, or restrains.
He says and he who is restraining, will continue to restrain until it's time for the antichrist to be revealed, until he be taken, that is this restrainer be taken out of the way.
There is much speculation as to what is the restraining force. We know for sure it's God.
Some people believe it's the Spirit of God in the church, that at the rapture when we're removed from the earth, that God's Spirit in the form of His people is gone.
That is true. But as we study through Revelation, we find out that it's the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit himself, whether it's in His people or not in His people, it is the Holy Spirit. God's Spirit will remove the hold, or restraining on the man of sin, and he will be revealed. God's Spirit is the only thing holding this person back. I believe that once God's Spirit is gone from the earth, there will be no more restraint. I'm not sure I would call the rapture a theory. The Bible speaks of it as a real event.
Dear "Jesse" i agree with you here. Because as long as God's Spirit is on earth, He will not destroy the one or those who live here. Then a few years remain for the doubters to come to God and as everyone knows it will be a terrible time. But some will make it, those are the ones mentioned in Revelation 20:4. Some will probably disagree with this. But read it sometimes, pray over it and see. We're not there yet. Should now the mark of the beast come shortly. We all have little time to survive, right? Until then, may we be confident in God's promises. Love each other deeply and forgive each other. Then everything will be fine, i Jesus name. God bless you all in Jesus, i love you all in Christ. Stay strong in the word. Act 1
I am wondering how the Holy Spirit can ever be absent from the earth. I believe that God is omnipresent, ( present). That there is not any place in all creation that He is not present. So, I don't think that it is possible for God to remove Himself from any place. It would go against His essential ontological nature.
I agree the Holy Spirit will not leave. Don't we wish it was written what Paul told them, 2 Thess. 2:5. I am not a believer in the rapture as taught, I believe confuses end-time prophecy. A key is "Even him, who's coming is after the working of Satan". The beast is out of the bottomless pit, is he who is retrained? Rev 9, 11, and 17. Just a thought to look into.
I think we are warned to be ready for Christ's return. I take that as an admonition to grow in faith, to know the Scriptures, especially what Jesus said would happen, (after all He is the One who truly knows what will come about), and to practice loving God and others each day. This is the walk we are called to. This is the way the Spirit uses to conform us to the image of Jesus. This is the upward calling of Christ Jesus. This is the light we shine out to those who are unsaved. This is the concern we have for those we can help and the help we do give. This is the using of our intellect to gain insight into God's wisdom so that we can explain this wisdom to others. This the willingness to be taught by other believers from the Word.
I could go on and on. I just wanted to emphasize that we have plenty to do with our hours and minutes each day as we live a godly and obedient life. One day we may have to sacrifice our life for the sake of our testimony of Jesus. We should be preparing ourselves to be persecuted and martyred, not raptured, since we do not know the day, nor hour of Christ's return, but we do know that the world will increase in its hostility towards God and those who follow after Him. Jesus said that we will be delivered up by authorities as well as even family members. So, I want to be prepared in the best way. if I am raptured and do not have to go through the sufferings predicted, then that will be great. But, I want to develop a heart that is willing to suffer loss of all for Christ according to His will for me.
Hi GiGi. What you say is correct; God is an omnipresent God but I think that John 16:7,8 may help us here. If God sent forth His Spirit specifically as those verses suggest, then it would be safe to believe that God can take away, or even hold back His Spirit for His Own reasons. If the restrainer is the Holy Spirit & He is taken out of the way, then those who enjoy His infilling, must needs be taken too. But if the Spirit is only held back, then that might give weight to those who don't subscribe to an imminent rapture.
And then to add to this mystery, the other option that is also given, is the one who restrains is human government. In any case, Paul's readers seemed to have understood what Paul was referring to.
I do think that the Holy Spirit is ever present and active in all of creation. I do not think He will ever remove Himself from this realm because it is God's power that sustains everything and accomplishes everything in history. I do think that the Holy Spirit was present in the earth during Jesus' lifetime, but He was not indwelling believers at the time Jesus promised to send Him to the apostles saying that the Spirit would be in them.
If the church is removed from the earth in a rapture, that does not mean that the Holy Spirit is unavailable or not present in the world to convict the world of sin, draw men to Jesus, regenerate people, and bestow grace upon those destined to be saved.. I don't think that this action on the part of the Spirit will ever cease as long as there are humans on earth in need of God's grace and mercy.
But perhaps the removal of the church and its influence will be what allows the antichrist to reveal himself. Or, as you said, maybe it is the removal of some forms of government, such as representative democracy or other type of government that respects individual rights or national sovereignty that would fight against a one world government takeover, that will allow the antichrist to "rule the world" as a whole and single unit.
Perhaps it will be some other restrainer that we do not know of. But when it is removed, the antichrist will rear up and overtake control of the nations promising peace and expecting loyalty and even worship.
I, personally, do not spend a lot of time pouring over ideas about the end times and the antichrist. I believe that God will make us fully aware of signs of the times as they happen. I am not putting my head in the sand, by any means, but I prefer to spend my time learning the whole of God's Word to us and to grow in faith and knowledge of Jesus. I also daily wish to live the day for God in His way. I am very comfortable living this way. He will keep me in perfect peace.
Thank you GiGi for your further thoughts to which I fully concur. Even if we're not privy to those extra details which could help set us straight in knowledge, our anticipation as we see world events unfold, keeps us hopeful, waiting & longing to meet the Lord Whom we love, Who did everything for us to secure that love.
Which scripture states its the holy spirit that letteth?
I'm not settled on who or what is keeping Satan at bay.
Some theories i've heard,
The holy spirit
The church itself as a whole (seems unlikely to me)
Michael and his angels (see below)
Revelation 12:7-12
King James Version
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, *NOW* is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Seems like satan stays in heaven and is stuck in heaven until he and his are cast down after the war with michael and his angels in heaven.
Honestly Steven , I would advise anyone who has recently started on their journey to salvation to concentrate on getting to know God and Jesus before trying to figure out the workings of satan . As Christians he should only play a very tiny part in our lives . The stronger your relationship with God and Jesus is the less you ever even think about satan .That's my experience . I hope it will be yours also .
2 Thessalonians 2
King James Version
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, ***nor by letter as from us***, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 ***Let no man deceive you by ANY means***: for that day SHALL NOT COME, EXCEPT THERE COME A FALLING AWAY FIRST, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
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:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Consider verse 6
And now you know what withholds, and the word withhold is the word restrains, something that holds back.
You know the restraint that he might be revealed in his time. He says there is a restraining force that is keeping the antichrist from being revealed.
He could be on the earth alive right now waiting to be revealed. And this restraining force is keeping him because it's not time.
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."
For the mystery of iniquity is already working: That's in Paul's day.
And right now, whether the person is alive or not, we have the one world system taking shape, and then he'll step right in to the situation.
Only he who now letteth will let, and that's the nice Old English language. It's the same word hinders, or restrains.
He says and he who is restraining, will continue to restrain until it's time for the antichrist to be revealed, until he be taken, that is this restrainer be taken out of the way.
There is much speculation as to what is the restraining force. We know for sure it's God.
Some people believe it's the Spirit of God in the church, that at the rapture when we're removed from the earth, that God's Spirit in the form of His people is gone.
That is true. But as we study through Revelation, we find out that it's the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit himself, whether it's in His people or not in His people, it is the Holy Spirit. God's Spirit will remove the hold, or restraining on the man of sin, and he will be revealed. God's Spirit is the only thing holding this person back. I believe that once God's Spirit is gone from the earth, there will be no more restraint. I'm not sure I would call the rapture a theory. The Bible speaks of it as a real event.
I agree the Holy Spirit will not leave. Don't we wish it was written what Paul told them, 2 Thess. 2:5. I am not a believer in the rapture as taught, I believe confuses end-time prophecy. A key is "Even him, who's coming is after the working of Satan". The beast is out of the bottomless pit, is he who is retrained? Rev 9, 11, and 17. Just a thought to look into.
Love your posts and you, God bless.
RLW
Nice to hear from you.
I think we are warned to be ready for Christ's return. I take that as an admonition to grow in faith, to know the Scriptures, especially what Jesus said would happen, (after all He is the One who truly knows what will come about), and to practice loving God and others each day. This is the walk we are called to. This is the way the Spirit uses to conform us to the image of Jesus. This is the upward calling of Christ Jesus. This is the light we shine out to those who are unsaved. This is the concern we have for those we can help and the help we do give. This is the using of our intellect to gain insight into God's wisdom so that we can explain this wisdom to others. This the willingness to be taught by other believers from the Word.
I could go on and on. I just wanted to emphasize that we have plenty to do with our hours and minutes each day as we live a godly and obedient life. One day we may have to sacrifice our life for the sake of our testimony of Jesus. We should be preparing ourselves to be persecuted and martyred, not raptured, since we do not know the day, nor hour of Christ's return, but we do know that the world will increase in its hostility towards God and those who follow after Him. Jesus said that we will be delivered up by authorities as well as even family members. So, I want to be prepared in the best way. if I am raptured and do not have to go through the sufferings predicted, then that will be great. But, I want to develop a heart that is willing to suffer loss of all for Christ according to His will for me.
Beautifully said, God bless,
RLW
And then to add to this mystery, the other option that is also given, is the one who restrains is human government. In any case, Paul's readers seemed to have understood what Paul was referring to.
I do think that the Holy Spirit is ever present and active in all of creation. I do not think He will ever remove Himself from this realm because it is God's power that sustains everything and accomplishes everything in history. I do think that the Holy Spirit was present in the earth during Jesus' lifetime, but He was not indwelling believers at the time Jesus promised to send Him to the apostles saying that the Spirit would be in them.
If the church is removed from the earth in a rapture, that does not mean that the Holy Spirit is unavailable or not present in the world to convict the world of sin, draw men to Jesus, regenerate people, and bestow grace upon those destined to be saved.. I don't think that this action on the part of the Spirit will ever cease as long as there are humans on earth in need of God's grace and mercy.
But perhaps the removal of the church and its influence will be what allows the antichrist to reveal himself. Or, as you said, maybe it is the removal of some forms of government, such as representative democracy or other type of government that respects individual rights or national sovereignty that would fight against a one world government takeover, that will allow the antichrist to "rule the world" as a whole and single unit.
Perhaps it will be some other restrainer that we do not know of. But when it is removed, the antichrist will rear up and overtake control of the nations promising peace and expecting loyalty and even worship.
I, personally, do not spend a lot of time pouring over ideas about the end times and the antichrist. I believe that God will make us fully aware of signs of the times as they happen. I am not putting my head in the sand, by any means, but I prefer to spend my time learning the whole of God's Word to us and to grow in faith and knowledge of Jesus. I also daily wish to live the day for God in His way. I am very comfortable living this way. He will keep me in perfect peace.
I'm not settled on who or what is keeping Satan at bay.
Some theories i've heard,
The holy spirit
The church itself as a whole (seems unlikely to me)
Michael and his angels (see below)
Revelation 12:7-12
King James Version
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, *NOW* is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Seems like satan stays in heaven and is stuck in heaven until he and his are cast down after the war with michael and his angels in heaven.
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