What restrains the antichrist? We know satan, is the power behind the antichrist, and the ruler of the world John 14:30. Any ruler wants to be known and adored.
The church in Thessalonica was concerned that they had missed the rapture because of events in the world around them 2 Thessalonians 2:1. They asked Paul if “the day of the Lord” had come and if the end time judgment was upon them 2 Thessalonians 2:2. They worried that they had missed being “caught up” (raptured) as Paul had previously written about in his first letter to them in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 .
Paul tells them not to be worried or deceived. “The Day of the Lord and the end time judgment is not yet here”. The believer will be raptured first.
Two things need to happen before antichrist is revealed:
(1st) A falling away must occur, before the Antichrist can be revealed. The “Falling away” is translated as the apostasy or the abandonment of faith in Jesus alone. Now is the time of church closing and its membership in rapid decline, a clear warning of the time we are in. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
(2nd) There is a person or force that is (restraining) keeping the antichrist from revealing himself. In verses 6 and 7 Paul describes the restrainer as both “what” and “he”. When that power is removed from holding back, then the antichrist will be revealed. The mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way and then the lawless one will be revealed 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8.
Good news is we will be raptured before the antichrist manifest himself.
He who Restrains
Scripture doesn’t say specifically what or who the restrainer is. Paul does tell the Thessalonian congregation that they already know who the restrainer is (verses 5,6). The scripture never says explicitly who the restrainer is; perhaps he told them in a sermon he spoke to them.
Throughout time bible scholars have looked into who is the “restrainer”, the force holding back the antichrist from taking full control over the earth. Some have said it was the Roman government, the church, angels, the gospel, or the Holy Spirit.
Whoever or whatever is restraining the ruler of this world from making himself known. The power of the restrainer must be greater than the power of Satan and all of his demons.
Holy Spirit Restrains and Raptures
I wrote before, that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit. The third person of the trinity (Godhead), the Holy Spirit is the power of God. He is God the Spirit who has more than enough power to hold back and contain Satan and his demon army. The Holy Spirit is the force that convicts the world of sin. When He is taken out of the way the world will be free of guilt and without conscience; The antichrist will rule the world. Take comfort in knowing that believers are not children of wrath.
He is the same power that is sealed within believers Ephesians 1:13,14. Believers both alive and asleep who are sealed with Him will be (raptured) and taken away to heaven. We will be caught up to be with the Lord forever 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8, Paul warns us that our rapture will come like a thief at night, so keep watch and guard your minds. When everyone is saying peace and safety then suddenly God’s judgment of wrath will be upon the earth, the children of darkness. But believers who walk in the light (knowledge) of God need not be caught off guard. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but stay awake and be sober. We are not children of darkness, so that day should not be a surprise to us. So be ready, always living in the light, and wearing the helmet of salvation.