2Th 2:1-10 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.
There were debates of when the Rapture would take place even in the Apostle Paul’s day. He taught on the topic of the Rapture more than any other Apostle. Some believe that it is because he was caught up (harpazo) to the third heaven. (2 Cor. 12:2-4) He knew what glory was like and wanted to encourage the brethren with teachings on being “caught up” (harpazo). The debates of when the Rapture is to occur still go on today. You would think that people would learn but they still bicker. It is sad that the Christian world spends time debating rather than leading lost souls to Christ.
But let’s take a look at what the Holy Spirit teaches us in Paul’s writings. The Spirit wants to make sure that we are not “soon shaken in mind, or be troubled.” God is literally telling us to STUDY and have a sure footing on what we believe. Notice that verse 2 warns us that there will be preachers’ words, or letters that appear to be from the Apostles stating that the Second Coming is at hand. Even in his day, the Paul-taught Thessalonians were swaying in their doctrine. Can you imagine how much worse it is today?
Paul emphatically repeats, that the Second Coming will not come until there come a falling away first and that the Antichrist will be revealed. (verse 3) All Rapture viewpoints agree on this point. Paul continues to remind the Thessalonians in verse 5 that the Rapture will happen prior to this: “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things”? The Pre-Tribulation Rapture is such an important topic that Paul felt the need to expound further. Here is where all other Rapture viewpoints collapse.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 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:
Something/someone is hindering the Antichrist’s entrance to the seven-year Tribulation period. (2 Thessalonians 2:6) For the Antichrist’s “spirit” is already at work; in fact, even in Paul’s day. But someone (verse 7) is stopping the Antichrist’s appearance! He who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. The Greek word for “letteth” is:
katechō
kat-ekh’-o
From G2596 and G2192; to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively): – have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, X make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.
Who alone can hold back the forces of evil on the earth? God of course! With the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Church, the evils of this world cannot overpower.
The Holy Spirit is like the dam in today’s picture. He restrains the time of Jacob’s trouble from happening “until he be taken out of the way.” (verse 7)
Mat 16:7-8 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 I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
We see that the devil cannot dominate this earth and gain control of it because Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church! Where is the Holy Spirit located? He is located within every born-again believer! (Acts 8:15, Ephesians 1:13) The Holy Spirit is who restrains the Antichrist from making his appearance. The Holy Spirit’s restraint is exactly like a dam. But once the church is removed, that dam breaks and the the devil’s evil waters have free reign on this earth.
But how does this prove that the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation period?
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 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:
Verse 7 tells us that the Holy Spirit’s restraint will be removed, taken out of the way. Paul doesn’t stop there. He tells us immediately afterwards, “then shall that Wicked be revealed“! We know this is the Antichrist because he is revealed after the Rapture. We don’t know how long after the Rapture but we DO know that it is after the Rapture. We know the Wicked one is the Antichrist because he is consumed by Christ at His Second Coming! (verse 8)
I hope this settles the Pre-Tribulation Rapture viewpoint in your heart. There are so many Scriptures that support this view. The imminence of the Rapture is important so believers will continue working for the Lord so when the Rapture does occur, they are busy doing His work. Those who claim to be Christians but don’t lift a finger doing Christ’s “Great Commission,” should question whether they have a Pharisee’s heart. What is that? The Pharisees knew a LOT of Scriptures but did not possess the meaning in their hearts. They did the works but did not have the converted heart. Their hearts were made of stone. They were circumcised on the outside (their flesh) but their hearts were not.
Friend, you must be born again in order to participate, no matter what viewpoint you hold. Friend, if you are not born again, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Don’t you want to be a part of the Church when she is raptured into the clouds to meet Jesus? (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!