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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Who Is "He Who Now Restrains"?, #7
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (II Thessalonians 2:7)
We see, therefore, that interpreting II Thessalonians 2:7 to mean the Holy Spirit will be received back into Heaven before the Lord returns is not supported by the Scriptures. The belief is derived from this one verse of Scripture (because of the preconceived notion of the pre-tribulation evacuation of the believers), even though the verse itself does not make any such statement or suggestion.
In review:
The doctrine of a special, secret translation of the saints to prevent their suffering cannot be defended by any competent, straightforward interpretation of the Scriptures.
Second Thessalonians 2:7 does not speak of the Restrainer being lifted up to Heaven.
The Day of Christ, which beyond all question is the second coming of the Lord, will not occur until after the man of sin is revealed.
There is no statement in either the Old Testament or the New Testament to the effect that the Holy Spirit will be removed from the earth prior to the great tribulation.
The Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached through at least part of the tribulation period.
There are Old Testament passages that declare God will move in unprecedented power at the time of the greatest spiritual darkness.
There is scriptural support for the idea that there will be in the last days a great latter-rain revival, as symbolized by the two witnesses of Revelation, Chapter Eleven (Joel 2:23; Hosea 6:3; Zechariah 10:1).
At the end of the revival God will permit Antichrist to overcome the Christian witness by deception and force and to drive the remnant of true saints into hiding, thus effectively silencing for a season in the cities of the earth the Divine testimony (Isaiah 4:6; 26:20; Revelation 12:14).
The silencing of the Christian testimony in the centers of civilization will remove the power of the Spirit that is hindering the revealing of the man of sin. Antichrist then will be able to express fully in the earth the person, will, and ways of Satan. (from Who Is "He Who Now Restrains"?; It Is Time for a Reformation of Christian Thinking)