"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."
2 Thessalonians 2:7 ESV
I just had a question about this verse. I believe that God is the one who can restrain the lawlessness that is already at work. But I wonder what it means that this will be until he is out of the way?
Thanks,
David Bentley
(404) 205-2692
I think that "the one who restrains it" is probably an angel like in Revelation 7:1. But whether an angel or God the statement "until he is out of the way" doesn't refer to destruction, but rather a moving aside to allow the lawlessness to go forward with full strength. When God's timing for the end to come the time for this restraint will end and the restrainer will move aside and allow the lawless one to proceed forward.
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