READ 2 Thessalonians 2:6-9

There is a reason why this man of sin has not come into prominence.  There is a reason why these things have not yet taken place. 

“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.”

We are told in verses 6 and 7 that there is a delay.  Verse 6, “Now ye know what withholdeth [holds down or restrains] that he [Antichrist] might be revealed in his time.”  

He is saying that there's something restraining, holding back. Verse 7(a) - "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work…"  He is saying that the process is already underway.  Things are already moving in that direction, but verse 7(b) “Only he (personal article) who now letteth (withholdeth or restrains) will let, (will restrain) until he be taken out of the way.”   

The big question has been in Bible interpretation - what is going to restrain the coming of the Antichrist?  I think the reference here is to the presence of the Holy Spirit in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit in His church today. 

I think the Holy Spirit has dropped a special little calling card in these two verses to

indicate to us that He is indeed referring to Himself.  In verse 6 there is a neuter article- what withholdeth.  In verse 7 there is a personal article - He letteth (withholds). 

When speaking of the Holy Spirit in the Greek language, the word spirit is pneuma. It is a neuter word, and the article that goes with it is a neuter article. But when the Holy Spirit is referred to by the Lord Jesus, in the book of John, He specifically uses personal pronouns to refer to the Holy Spirit. 

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, who was already present in the world, took up a new role, a new ministry on the earth.  When you and I get saved, the Bible says the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us.  The Spirit was always here, but now the Holy Spirit is here in His people.  He is present in and working through his church - the body of the Lord on the earth.

That's why we are in the age of grace, that's why this is the age of the church. This is why the role and the ministry of the church is so very important and so very vital. 

We are the hands of the Lord in this day.  We are the voice of the Lord in this day.  We are the instrument that the Lord uses to get His gospel, his good news, out in this day. 

The blessed Holy Spirit empowers us and uses us and works in and through us as we witness and tell the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. One of these days though, the Bible says, “…only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” 

That means that one of these days the rapture is going to occur. When the rapture occurs, God’s church is going to be taken out of this world.  The Holy Spirit will cease the ministry that He is doing in and through the church now, and He will revert back to a kind of Old Testament dispensation or economy, operating in a different way.

I believe here is a prediction of the rapture of the church, and then in verse 8 it says, “And then shall that Wicked be revealed…”  

This is one of the reasons why I believe the church will not go through the tribulation.  

The church can't go through the tribulation because the Bible says that the Restrainer (Holy Spirit) must be taken out of the way.  The Restrainer is taken out of the way when God's children are gathered up to meet the Lord in the air. 

When the rapture occurs that's when the Antichrist comes, and all this begins to unfold.  

How is this Antichrist going to convince people and cause the masses to worship him?  Look at verse 9, “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan…” There are two works going on in the world, two programs developing and underway. 

God is at work in this world, but the devil is at work in this world also.  There is the working of the Lord, but there is also the working of Satan. You must be able to discern the difference between the two.  The Antichrist will be working the work of Satan. 

What will he do? “…with all power and signs and lying wonders.”  Look at those three words - Power, signs, and wonders. 

He's going to be a signs and wonders man. 

It is interesting to study signs and wonders in the Bible. 

• You will find the first real mention of signs and wonders is given in the Old Testament when the Children of Israel were in the land of Egypt.

God gave signs and wonders to convince Pharoah to let his people go.  Signs and wonders around the time of the exodus.  

• You will find also that special signs and wonders occurred in the ministry of the prophets, in particular, Elijah and Elisha.

• You will find, in the New Testament, that when Jesus came to the earth He did signs and wonders and miracles.

Why did Jesus do signs and wonders and miracles?  These things validated the ministry of the Lord. 

Acts 2:22, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs…”

He was indeed from God.  

• Powers -- the source of the strength that produces the miracle.

• Signs -- the significance of the miracle.

• Wonders -- the awe that the miracles create. Think of the kinds of things Jesus did in His signs and wonders.

For instance, Jesus walked on water.  I assure you, if there was somebody in Brownsburg, Indiana who walked on top of the water at Eagle Creek Reservoir, it would be on National TV. 

Jesus took water and turned it into wine.  He could take water and turn it into a road for walking through the Red Sea, or He could take water and turn it into wine for drinking.  

These things are not happening today.  That's not all. Jesus raised the dead.  Three times in the ministry of Jesus He raised the dead.  People were dead, and Jesus called them back to life.  No one is doing that today.  There are folks who claim to do it, but when you try to check it out, you can never validate it.  So, Jesus did signs and wonders and miracles.

2 Cor. 12:12, “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”  Why did the apostle do signs and wonders and miracles?  Why did God let them do that?  It was to validate their ministry. 

It was through the apostles that the Word of God came.  The New Testament was written by apostles and eyewitnesses of the Lord.  So, the signs and the wonders and the miracles validated their ministry until Scripture was completed.

What about signs and wonders and miracles today?  When you study the Bible very closely, you will find that the next manifestation of signs and wonders and miracles will occur when the Antichrist is revealed. 

There is a word of caution from the Lord given in Matthew 24:24. You need to take this word of caution very, very seriously. "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." 

The Bible predicts that when the Antichrist comes, he will be a signs and wonders man. 

You must be very careful of what goes on out in the church world because 2 Thessalonians. 2:9 specifically warns us of counterfeit miracles...Counterfeit signs...Counterfeit wonders. 

Do I believe God heals people?  Of course, God heals people.  Do I believe miracles occur today?  Of course, miracles occur today. 

But you must keep in perspective what are the great miracles and what are the great signs and what are the great wonders. 

We know well what is hindering the revelation of the Antichrist.  Don’t be deceived but be ready for the Lord’s coming in the air for His saints.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1.  Who is restraining evil in the world today?

2.  Describe in a few words what you feel this world will be like when men are unrestrained.

3.  What will the Antichrist be able to do when the presence of the Holy Spirit is removed?

4.  Why did both Jesus and the Apostles perform signs, wonders, and miracles?  Why are they not necessary today?