The identity of the Restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2 is a difficult problem in reading the apocalyptic section of the letter. Paul says there that the Man of Lawlessness cannot be revealed until the “restrainer” is removed. The problem is that he does not explicitly state who / what the restrainer is. Both the restraining power and the mystery of lawlessness are active at the time Paul writes. The restrainer must therefore be something that was active at the time of Paul and will continue to be active until the Day of the Lord. As a result, there are a number of suggestions as to the identity of this restrainer / restraining power.
There are two issues that need to be resolved with respect to the identity of the restrainer. First, there are lexical issues: What does the verb κατέχω mean? It can mean to hold back or restrain, but also “to hold fast, keep secure.”
Secondly, and perhaps more problematic, there are grammatical issues. In verse 6, Paul uses a neuter singular participle, but in verse 7 he uses a masculine singular participle. These two words should not refer to the same thing according to the rules of the Greek language. The first must have neuter referent, the second a masculine. The many suggested alternatives for understanding this passage can be categorized as taking the restrainer as a good force or an evil force.
From the time of Tertullian on, the neuter participle was taken as a reference to the Roman empire, and the masculine to the emperor himself. The verb means “to restrain,” therefore it is the rule of the Roman empire (or the rule of law, God ordained political order, etc) that restrains the chaos of the man of lawlessness from being revealed. The primary problem with this view is that Paul does not have a political rebellion in mind, but rather a religious apostasy, a rebellion against God. It is also difficult to see Paul claiming that the fall of Rome will be the beginning of the tribulation period and the power of the Anti-Christ.
Oscar Cullman, followed by T. Munck argue that the neuter participle is the preaching of the Gospel, and that the masculine participle is Paul himself as the key leader of the evangelical outreach in the first century. There is a serious problem with this view in the fact that Paul appears to believe that he will participate in the return of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13ff), this interpretation would need to have Paul taken out of the way before the beginning of the Day of the Lord.
I . H. Marshall defends this position by accepting the first participle as the preaching of the gospel, but changing the identification of the second to something other than Paul. Essentially he sees the God as restraining the forces of evil in the present age so that the preaching of the gospel can be fully accomplished. The force that is holding back evil is an angel or some spiritual being working on God’s behalf. This presupposes the idea that the gospel must be preached to the whole world before the Day of the Lord, which is simply not a Pauline requirement for the Day of the Lord. This position is appealing since it makes God the restraining power, but one must deal with the “taking away” of the restrainer. God could not be removed, although his role as a restrainer may be.
Roger D. Aus (JBL 96 [1977]: 537-553) attempts to make 2 Thessalonians reliant on Isaiah 66 in a number of places, therefore the source of the restrainer also found in Isaiah. While the word does not appear in the LXX, 66:9 does talk about the shutting up of the womb as an image for the delay in restoring the fortunes of Israel. Aus argues that Paul is freely translating the MT at this point, using katexw to mean delay of the Day of the Lord. While it is possible that the verb could be used to translate the Hebrew of Isaiah 66:9, it is far from the most obvious choice, and Paul simply uses the verb without any modification.
Charles Gilbin devotes an entire monograph to 2 Thessalonians 2 and develops a unique theory concerning the problem in the church as well as the identity of the restraining power. Gilbin sees a specific charismatic prophet within the church that has delivered the prophetic message that the Day of the Lord has begun. He therefore argues that katexw in the neuter has the sense of a prophetic seizure, and that the masculine pronoun refers to a false prophet. There are several problems here. katexw only has the sense of a prophetic seizure in the passive, both verbs are active here. Additionally, it is hard to understand why Paul would argue that the entire Day of the Lord is held in check until a single false prophet in a small local is taken out of the way.
As early as Darby (Notes, 452), the restrainer has been identified as the Holy Spirit in the Church. Walvoord, for example, argues in his prophetic writings that the restraining power is the Holy Spirit. This is not essentially different than I. H. Marshall described above, although Darby and other following Dispensationalist have made far more of this than Marshall would allow. If the restrainer is the Holy Spirit, then this passage becomes a clear argument in favor of a pre-tribulational rapture. The Holy Spirit is restraining the satanic influences in the world through the activity of the Church the Body of Christ. When the Body of Christ is removed from the world, the Satan is free to attack the world through the Anti-Christ.
Obviously this is a powerful argument for the pre-trib position. But is the Restrainer the Holy Spirit? Is that what this passage is really saying? It can be objected that the grammar of the passage makes the identification of the Holy Spirit as the restrainer impossible since the restrainer is masculine and the word for Spirit is neuter. If the genders are properly interpreted, they need to refer to two different things, albeit coordinated things. An additional problem is that the Holy Spirit is not explicitly mentioned in the passage. The gospel is (in chapter 1), and the forces of evil are clearly in the context, but the Holy Spirit is not.
In the most recent revival of this argument, Charles Powell (BibSac 154 [1997]: 321-333) sees the preaching of the Gospel as a part of the restraining force, but settles on the first referring to the Spirit and the second to God, with not contradiction based on the Trinity. He notes that in John 14:26 the Holy Spirit is called ho paravkletos, a masculine noun referring the neuter pneuma. This avoids any grammatical difficulties, and sounds quite a bit like I. H. Marshall.
It may be objected that the Old Testament very clearly indicates that the Holy Spirit will be active in the tribulation (Joel 2, for example.) If he is removed at the beginning of the Tribulation, how can he be “poured out” as Joel predicts? It is possible to argue that the restraining function of the Spirit through the Body of Christ will end at the rapture, although the functions of empowerment for ministry or prophecy will remain. Obviously God, who is omnipresent, cannot be “removed,” therefore there is some sort of shift in activities, such as at the time of the Flood.
Therefore it is best to conclude that the Restrainer power is God, through the Holy Spirit and the positive effects of the preached Gospel. The Spirit is active in the world as a preserving agent, a ministry that will end at the time of the Rapture, allowing the events of the tribulation to unfold.
Btw, this position of Michael The Archangel as “the Restrainer” appears interesting!
Sad that you did not get more mileage or dialogue on this most profound subject! Btw, exegetically 2 Thess 2: 3-7, the working of the mystery of lawlessness under divine restraint had already begun in the time of the Apostle Paul! This really does place GOD as the Sovereign & Providence of HIS Creation and People!
Hello,
Thank you for your article. Any question of who the Restrainer must take Colin Nicholl’s findings into consideration concluding it is Michael.
In the April 2000 volume of The Journal of Theological Studies, Colin R. Nicholl published a seminal article, “Michael, The Restrainer Removed (2 Thess. 2:6-7).”
In summary he shows:
1. Contemporary Jewish literature viewed the characteristics of Michael having eschatological pre-eminence as the chief opponent of Satan and Restrainer of God’s people.
2. Michael is viewed as a celestial restrainer of God’s people in Daniel 10–12, the passage serving as the source for Paul’s exposition in 2 Thessalonians 2:3–8.
3. Daniel’s use of the Hebrew term ʿmd comports with the activity of the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7.
4. The Greek term parerchomai in Daniel 21:1 of the Septuagint (LXX) means, “to pass by,” which corresponds with the ceasing of restraint in 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7. (This, in my opinion, is the smoking gun, No scholar ever before Nicholl made this connection. In personal contact with him [he was my former professor] he was amazed that no scholar discovered this before). And since Paul has this very text in mind, it makes sense he would use the terminology of restrainer.
5. Early Rabbinic interpretation of Daniel 12:1 perceived Michael as “passing aside” or “withdrawing” just after Antichrist’s establishment near or at the temple mount (Dan 11:45), just before the eschatological unequaled tribulation against God’s people (Dan 12:1).
6. Revelation 12:7–17 supports viewing Michael as the Restrainer because it links the cessation of Michael’s war against the dragon with the unprecedented persecution of God’s people, which is consistent with 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7 and Daniel 11:45–12:1.
Since its publication, there is a growing consensus among scholars (not to mention noted Jewish scholars) that Nicholl’s conclusions are correct. His article has been published in his important monograph as well, _From Hope to Despair in Thessalonica: Situating 1 and 2 Thessalonians_ Cambridge University Press, 2004.
Sincerely,
Alan Kurschner
http://www.alankurschner.com
DR WALTERS COMMENT– THERE ARE IN EXISTENCE A PLETHORA OF NON-BIBLICAL PROHECIES IN “Z3 NEWS”, TERRY BENNETT’S “THE SOUTH IS GOING TO TO SAVE THE REPUBLIC…” ETC WHICH INDICATE THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL EXPERIENCE A BANKING/MONETARY CRISIS, CIVIL WAR ,COLLAPSE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (WHICH GEORGE WASHINGTON AND SEVERAL OTHER RELATIVES OF YOURS TRULY FOUNDED) FOLLOWED BY AN INVASION/ U. N. OCCUPATION, AND THERMONUCLEAR WAR… AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT AMERICA IS MYSTERY BABYLON (SEE APOCALYPSE/REVELATION 17 AND 18 AND MY COMMENTS ON THE MICHAEL BOLDEA WEBSITE ENTITLED “E-MAIL FROM MICHAEL BOLDEA TO STAN JOHNSON”… IN WHICH CASE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ARGUABLY MAY
BE THE “RESTRAINER.” THESE PROPHECIES FURTHER INDICATE THAT THE ANTICHRIST WILL ARISE AND TURN PLANET EARTH INTO A LIVING HELL FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF THE UNITED STATES AS A SUPERPOWER…EVEN THOUGH VIRTUALLY ALL THE PROPHECIES INDICTE GOD WILL SAVE AMERICA FROM TOTAL ANNIHILATION (I.E., TECHNICALLY, THE UNITED STATES WILL WIN THE WAR).
Your caps-lock is on, this is not good form on the internet.
The restrainer is the last person on earth among the gentiles who will put to the body of Christ.(The time of the gentiles will be fulfilled) The last Adam.
Assumption junction. Nowhere does it say that the restrainer restrains the man of lawlessness.
Daniel 10:21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
2388 chazaq khaw-zak’ a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer:–aid, amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, WITHSTAND.
Zechariah 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
7854 satan saw-tawn’ from 7853; an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good:–adversary, Satan, WITHSTAND. see HEBREW for 07853
WITHSTAND.
It’s true what they say, the devil is in the details.
Ah ha ha ha ha ha!
Your choices are:
1. Gabriel
2. Michael
3. Satan
2 Thessalonians 2:6 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:
Please note the unknowns:
iniquity – ?
mystery – ?
restrain – restrain what?
out of the way – whose way?
2 Corinthians 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Could that qualify as a mystery? They know Michael but Satan is still enigmatic to the Jews.
1. Restraining – Revelation 12:7-8 (to prevent his ejection from heaven)
2. Out of the way – Revelation 12:9-12 (heaven’s way)
3. Revealed – Revelation 13:1-4 (rises up out of the sea)
The restrainer is Satan.
unspeakable words
not lawful for a man to utter
You forgot. Nowhere does it say that the restrainer restrains the man of lawlessness.
Jacob’s trouble must come to pass, but can’t unless Israel’s guardian angel is taken out of the way. Michael gets my vote
It’s nice to see I am not alone. Jacob Prasch often mentions a Greek scholar that also holds this view but Jacob himself does not (He as a pre wrath still thinks it’s the Holy Spirit restraining). It is crystal clear that the one holding is the same one that will be revealed (Satan) as the entirety of the passage is about satan.
.
Their is a mistranslation of 2 thess 2:7, nothing is taken out of the way, but comes out into being
2193 1537 3319 1096
heōs ek. mesou genētai
ἕως ἐκ μέσου γένηται
until out of [the] midst he comes to be
Conj Prep. Adj-GNS. V-ASM-3S
That mistranslation confuses who is being restrained in v2:6
and their is just 1 article I found:
http://www.bibletruth.cc/the_restrainer.htm
(Please ignore his bad usage of Gods names, because his argument apart from that flaw is sound concerning 2 thess 2)
that breaks it down grammatically to convey what Paul intended to remind them concerning sub-events we are commanded to watch for that lead up to Yeshua’s return and our gathering to Him as a post-great trib event.
The thessalonians concern and confusion was not about the antichrist but the Day of the Lord sense they were receiving false reports of that particular event
With accordance to 2:6 who and what is being held back (restrained) to be revealed at their proper time is the 2nd and final parousia of Messiah Yeshua being the Day of the Lord. And what (neuter) and who(masculine) according to the Greek grammar is restraining the Day of the Lord and our gathering to Him up into the sky to meet our King before the events of Matthew 25 are the great apostasy of the Hebrew Faith and the reveal of the antichrist which are the present works of lawlessness.
What prevents the antichrist from coming on seen to reveal himself is the great apostasy of the Faith on a global scale. So that global falling away is what must take place in order for the antichrist to come into being out of the midst of where he is to then reveal himself.
A.T. Robertson explains that an idiomatic use of the neuter singular may appear when an abstract expression is used to sum up a whole mass of ideas or expressions. (A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research, Nashville: Broadman, 1934, p.409.) The “whole mass” in our text is “the apostasy and the revelation of the lawless one.” Paul utilizes the idiomatic neuter singular participle, katecon, (the “abstract expression”) in place of these two events to “sum up” what is holding back the coming of the Messiah. The resulting translation can read something like this: “and now you know what things are holding back (the coming of the Lord).”
Paul’s emphasis then changes in verse 7 from those events holding back the day of the Messiah to the specific individual who is holding it back. The lawless one is the central figure among those prophetic last-days events which must occur. So when Paul focuses in on that person, it is natural that the participle describing him would be masculine in gender – katecwn. Where as in verse 6, Paul reminds his readers that they know what events are standing in the way of the Lord’s coming, here in verse 7, he zooms in specifically on that man whose revelation is “holding back” or standing in the way of the Messiah’s parousia.
Therefore the participle in verse 6 is neuter because the apostasy and the revelation of the lawless one are those events (katecon, neuter) which are standing in the way of (“holding back”) the Messiah’s coming. Then in verse 7, the participle is masculine (katecwn) because Paul is talking about the lawless one himself, whose appearing must occur first, and is consequently “holding back” the day of YHVH
Restrainer is Michael The Archangel.