Paul's message about a "restrainer" is one of the classic ways used by some modern scholars to "prove" that there really is a distinction bewteen the second coming and the rapture. Here is part of the passage:
II Thessalonians 2:6-8. "And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time...he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed..."
Question: Since the restrainer is the Holy Ghost, does not His removal from the earth mean that the Church is lifted up just as antichrist takes power?"
Jumping at conclusions is not as good exercise as digging for facts. Please consider the following.
In Scripture, angels are the "restrainers." Do you see the angel of the Lord stopping Balaam's donkey, Numbers 22:23-24?
Look at the curse on David being administered by an angel to whom God eventually says "Restrain your hand."
Consider Daniel who reported that an angel shut the lion's mouth, Daniel 6:22.
Consider in that same book the restraining of the nations by Michael and Gabriel, Daniel 10:20-21.
More to the point of our present study, examine Revelation 9:1-2 and see who is in charge of the bottomless pit, out of which antichrist will rise, Revelation 17:8. Is it not an angel? Does he not have authority to lock and unlock the "pit"? When he is taken out of the way, from this pit will come the man of whom Paul speaks.
Now if the Holy Ghost is indeed not the restrainer, two points follow:
1. There is no need for a rapture at this time.
2. There is no need to explain how people can be "saved during the Tribulation without the Holy Spirit," as pre-trib theologians must do if they insist that God essentially leaves the planet. No, He'll be here doing the work He always does until the last man avails himself of the blood of Christ.
One more quick "problem passage" that many point to when looking for proof texts for the pre-trib theory. It's in Luke 21: "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Question: Does not Jesus here imply that there is an escape from the Tribulation, and that we ought in fact to seek it?
In the light of all that we have learned so far, the explanation of this verse becomes relatively easy. Let's try to determine first what "these things" are that Jesus is talking about. In the chapter, a parallel to Matthew 24, he has spoken of days of vengeance, distress, wrath, falling by the edge of the sword, signs in the heavens, men's hearts failing them, carousing, drunkenness, cares of this life, the snare of His return.
What are the "things" we should watch for and pray to escape? Why, the fate of this world's evil men! The judgment of God on sin! And how is it that we will "stand before the Son of Man?" First, our salvation, then, the rapture! Before this touching down to earth, before the ultimate wrath falls, before He annihilates His enemies, He will catch us up to meet Him in the air.
This is not about escaping trouble. Or persecution. These things are promised to every child of God in every generation, and the last generation is no exception. No, this verse is talking about being sure of our salvation, being faithful unto death, and therefore escaping God's judgment and standing ultimately in His presence.
http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!
And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.
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