5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.” (2 Thessalonians 2:5–6 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul continued to instruct the Thessalonians concerning the Day of the Lord (2 Thess. 2:1-4). He reminded them of what he previously taught (I Thess. 4:13-5:11). He did not want them to forget this important information. Neither does the Lord want us to forget this important revelation. Let’s conduct a brief summary of what we have learned in 2 Thess. 2:1-4.
The Apostle Paul taught Jesus had not yet returned when he wrote this second epistle. In fact, he said the Lord would not return until two things have happened. First, there would be a great rebellion or apostasy. Second, the “man of lawlessness” must take his seat “in the temple of God” and set himself against every “so-called god or object of worship.” This man, the Antichrist (I John 4:1-6). will set up himself as the only being to be worshiped in all of creation.
“Figuring out the identities of the rebellion and the man of lawlessness is not easy. Some have suggested that Paul refers to the great rebellion of the Jews against their Messiah, Jesus, culminating in the revolt against Rome that ended with the defilement and destruction of the temple. This interpretation fits well with what we know of the first-century setting, for the Roman emperors claimed to be deities worthy of worship, allowing for virtually any of them to be identified as the man of lawlessness,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“Others have suggested that Paul speaks of a great apostasy of professing Christians who reject Christ when the final Antichrist reveals himself and demands worship. Perhaps it is best to say that these two views are not necessarily opposed to one another. It very well could be that a Roman emperor is in view in 2 Thessalonians 2 but that he is a type or foreshadowing of the Antichrist who is yet to come but who must come before Jesus consummates His kingdom.”
In today’s text, Paul said something, or someone, was restraining the man of lawlessness. The verb restraining (κατέχον; katechon) is a present, active participle. It means to hold back and hinder. It refers to preventing someone from doing something. In the immediate context, this restraining prevents the Antichrist from taking his seat in the temple of God and setting himself to be God. This restraining will continue until the Lord purposes to reveal (ἀποκαλυφθῆναι; apokalyphthenai) or make fully known this rebellious individual.
“Who or what is restraining the satanically empowered movement against God’s law and is postponing the revelation of the man of sin? Some say it is the Roman Empire. But the empire has long vanished and “the holder back” is not yet revealed. Another suggestion is that this is Satan, but it is difficult to see why he would hold back sin. Others suggest that human governments are holding back sin and the revealing of the Antichrist. But human governments will not end prior to the Antichrist’s unveiling. Nor do all governments restrain sin; many encourage it!” The Holy Spirit of God is the only Person with sufficient (supernatural) power to do this restraining. How does He do it? Through Christians, whom He indwells and through whom He works in society to hold back the swelling tide of lawless living.” [1]
May we seek to be the salt and light God has called each believer in Christ to restrain moral corruption and to be a light of God’s holiness (Matt. 5:13-16). May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] Thomas L. Constable, “2 Thessalonians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 719.
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