The identity of the “restrainer” mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:6 has been a source of much debate and speculation among Bible scholars over the years. In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul is writing to correct a misunderstanding among the Thessalonian believers that the day of the Lord had already come. He assures them that two things must happen before Christ’s return: the rebellion and the revealing of the “man of lawlessness.”
In verse 6, Paul says “And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.” This verse indicates that there is a force or entity that is currently restraining the man of lawlessness from being revealed too soon. Once this restrainer is “taken out of the way” (verse 7), then the lawless one will be revealed and the day of the Lord will come.
So who or what is this mysterious “restrainer” that is holding back the antichrist and the end times events? Let’s look at some of the main theories that have been proposed:
The Holy Spirit
One common view is that the restrainer refers to the Holy Spirit. Those who hold this view point to verses like Genesis 6:3 where the Spirit strives with men, and John 16:7-11 where Jesus says the Spirit will convict the world of sin and judgment. The Holy Spirit works in and through the church to restrain evil in the world. When the church is removed from the world at the rapture, the Spirit’s restraint will be lifted and the antichrist will be free to come to power.
While this is a plausible view, the main challenge is that 2 Thessalonians does not specifically identify the restrainer as the Holy Spirit. It seems odd that Paul would refer to the Spirit in such vague language if that is who he had in mind.
Human Government
Another common theory is that the restrainer refers to human government and authority structures that maintain law and order. Supporters of this view argue that civil government has a role, whether they know it or not, in holding back anarchy and rebellion against God’s purposes. When restraints on immorality are removed, it paves the way for the lawless one.
The strength of this view is it recognizes that God works through secular authorities to accomplish His will. However, it is debatable whether human government has the power on its own to restrain worldwide evil and the plans of Satan.
The Church
Some interpreters believe the restrainer is the church and its gospel witness. The church has a unique presence and authority to hold back spiritual forces of darkness through prayer, evangelism, discipleship and speaking the truth. When the church is removed at the rapture, then the antichrist will have free reign.
This view fits well with the context of 2 Thessalonians and recognizes the power of a faithful church. Yet it is questionable whether the often weak and divided church has the power in itself to restrain global evil forces.
Michael the Archangel
A few commentators propose that the restrainer is Michael the archangel, based on passages like Daniel 10:21 and 12:1 where he aids and protects God’s people. The strength of this view is recognizing angelic forces are involved in spiritual battles.
Nevertheless, Michael is not mentioned in 2 Thessalonians, so it requires making assumptions to equate him with the restrainer. And Scripture does not clearly portray Michael as having a decisive role in end times events.
The Rapture Itself
A small number of interpreters argue that it is the rapture itself that serves as the “restrainer.” In this view, the restraining influence is actually the absence of the church – once the church is raptured then the antichrist will be unrestrained. But identifying the rapture as the restrainer requires an unusual reading of the text.
Most scholars conclude that none of these views alone adequately accounts for the identity of the restrainer. Another proposal that several commentators find convincing is:
Combination of the Church and Holy Spirit
This view holds that the restrainer refers to the Holy Spirit working in and through the church. This combines the strengths of the church and Holy Spirit views while avoiding the weaknesses of seeing them in isolation. The Spirit’s presence in believers powerfully equips and emboldens the church’s witness.
The removal of the church at the rapture will mean the Spirit’s unique work through God’s people will cease. Additionally, some hold that the rapture may prompt the Holy Spirit to change his mode of operation in the world. This fits well with the context of 2 Thessalonians and the events preceding Christ’s return.
Looking at the passage, Paul says in verse 7 “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.” The debate often centers around if “he” refers to the Holy Spirit or the church as restraining. However, recognizing them both provides a compelling explanation. The church is strategically located and empowered to restrain evil because that is where the Spirit is at work in the world.
Consider these reasons why this combined view of the church empowered by the Holy Spirit makes good sense:
- It avoids the weakness of separating the Spirit from the church which he indwells.
- It sees both the Holy Spirit and the church as vital partners used by God to hold back evil.
- It explains why the restrainer is powerful enough to restrain lawlessness across the earth, not just in certain places.
- It accounts for why the restrainer is referred to with a masculine pronoun “he” – the Spirit’s power manifested through the church.
- It aligns with God’s pattern in Scripture of the Spirit empowering God’s people for His purposes.
This view also fits well when we consider a key part of the church’s role is preaching the gospel and making disciples:
2 Thessalonians 3:1 – Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.
The proclamation of truth restrains lawlessness. And it is the Spirit who convicts people’s hearts and empowers the preaching of the gospel message. The combined power of the Spirit-filled church holds back the tide of evil.
In summary, this view sees the “restrainer” as referring primarily to the Holy Spirit, who exerts His restraining influence through the church in this present age. Both the Spirit and the church help restrain evil, but the church only has power through the Spirit’s presence and work within it.
Additional biblical support for the Spirit/church view:
- The Holy Spirit has an important role in end times events (Joel 2:28-32; Revelation 22:17).
- The church has a unique authority and spiritual influence while present on the earth (Matthew 16:18-19; Matthew 5:13-16).
- The rapture marks a significant transition point in the Spirit’s dealings with the world (John 14:17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
- Believers have victory over spiritual forces of darkness now by the Spirit’s power (Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 John 4:4).
- The preaching of truth restrains evil by convicting people’s hearts (2 Timothy 3:16-4:5; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
This view acknowledges the partnership between God’s Spirit and people in carrying out His work in this age. Once the church is removed at the rapture, that partnership will temporarily cease, allowing evil to advance unimpeded. Recognizing the church as the locus of the Spirit’s restraining activity brings together the biblical evidence on this issue.
Summary of Main Points:
- The restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2:6 refers to the one who holds back the man of lawlessness from being revealed until the proper time.
- The identity of this restrainer has been widely debated among Bible interpreters.
- Main views are the Holy Spirit, human government, the church, Michael the archangel or the rapture itself.
- Each view has merits but also unanswered difficulties on its own.
- A compelling explanation is that the restrainer refers to the Holy Spirit working in and through the church.
- This view combines the strengths of the Spirit and church restraining evil and spreading truth.
- The Spirit’s special presence in believers empowers the church’s witness and enables it to hold back spiritual darkness.
- Biblical support shows the partnerships between the Spirit and God’s people in carrying out His work.
- When the church is removed at the rapture, so will the Spirit’s unique work through them, allowing evil to advance.
- Seeing the Spirit and church together as the restrainer fits the context and explains the transition that will occur when believers are raptured.
The combined work of the Holy Spirit and the church provides a compelling explanation for the identity of the mysterious “restrainer” in 2 Thessalonians 2. Recognizing how God uses His Spirit and people together as partners sheds helpful theological light on this debated issue.
Though we cannot be certain, this view that the restrainer refers primarily to the Holy Spirit working through believers matches what Scripture reveals about the end times. It emphasizes how God still moves in this age to hold back and defeat evil through His Spirit-empowered church as it carries out His mission.
But a day is coming when the church will be removed from earth and the Spirit’s special restrainer role through them will end. Only then will the man of lawlessness be free to deceive and dominate the world for a brief but terrible time, until Christ’s return defeats him and ushers in God’s kingdom forever.
