2 Thessalonians 2:6

When he was with them Paul had told the Thessalonians what was restraining the unveiling of the man of lawlessness (i.e., Antichrist, 2 Thessalonians 2:3; cf. 1 John 2:18). However, he did not restate the identity of the restrainer here. Nevertheless it seems that the Holy Spirit is the restraining influence in view. [Note: See Gerald B. Stanton, Kept from the Hour, pp. 92-107, for a full discussion.]

"To one familiar with the Lord Jesus’ Upper Room Discourse, as Paul undoubtedly was, fluctuation between neuter and masculine recalls how the Holy Spirit is spoken of. Either gender is appropriate, depending on whether the speaker (or writer) thinks of natural agreement (masc. because of the Spirit’s personality) or grammatical (neuter because of the [neuter] noun pneuma; see John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:13-14) . . ." [Note: Thomas, "2 Thessalonians," p. 324.]

Posttribulationists, and some pretribulationists, have suggested other possible restrainers. These include the Roman Empire [Note: William Barclay, The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians, p. 247.] and or the emperor, [Note: Wanamaker, p. 256.] God, [Note: George E. Ladd, The Blessed Hope, p. 95.] Antichrist, Satan, and human government. [Note: Bruce, pp. 171-72; Hubbard, p. 1364; Morris, The Epistles . . ., p. 129.] Marvin Rosenthal, the "pre-wrath rapturist," believed the restrainer is Michael the archangel. [Note: Marvin Rosenthal, The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church, pp. 257-61. See John A. McLean, "Another Look at Rosenthal’s ’Pre-Wrath Rapture,’" Bibliotheca Sacra 148:592 (October-December 1991):395-96; and Renald E. Showers, The Pre-Wrath Rapture View: An Examination and Critique.] These suggestions do not fit Paul’s description. [Note: For refutation of the major views, see Robert H. Gundry, The Church and the Tribulation, pp. 122-25.] Some scholars eventually confess ignorance. [Note: E.g., Morris, p. 130.]

The Holy Spirit accomplishes His ministry of restraining lawlessness in the world mainly through the influence of Christians whom He indwells, specifically through their gospel preaching. [Note: See Charles E. Powell, "The Identity of the ’Restrainer’ in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7," Bibliotheca Sacra 154:615 (July-September 1997):329.]

"One of the distinctive features of the dispensation of grace in contrast to prior periods is the fact that the Holy Spirit indwells everyone who is regenerated. In the coming period of the kingdom on earth this divine blessing will also be a prominent feature and everyone who is saved will be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

"There is little evidence that believers will be indwelt by the Spirit during the tribulation. The possibility of a universal indwelling of all believers in the tribulation is opposed by the revelation of 2 Thessalonians 2:7, that the one restraining the world from sin, i.e., the Holy Spirit, will be ’taken out of the way’ during the tribulation. Unrestrained evil characterizes the tribulation, though the lack of restraint is not total (cf. Revelation 7:2; Revelation 12:6; Revelation 12:14-16). The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the saints in itself would contribute to the restraint of sin, and it, therefore, is taken away. The tribulation period, also, seems to revert back to Old Testament conditions in several ways; and in the Old Testament period, saints were never permanently indwelt except in isolated instances, though a number of instances of the filling of the Spirit and of empowerment for service are found. Taking all the factors into consideration, there is no evidence for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in believers in the tribulation." [Note: John F. Walvoord, The Holy Spirit, pp. 151, 230. Cf. Thomas, "2 Thessalonians," p. 325; and Charles C. Ryrie, First and Second Thessalonians, p. 113.]

Many interpreters use the absence of specific revelation about the Spirit’s indwelling during the Tribulation to their advantage. Some (e.g., normative dispensationalists) believe the silence argues for no indwelling. Others (e.g., progressive dispensationalists) believe it assumes that indwelling continues.