2 THESSALONIANS 2:7
Greek Text (both the Received and the Critical texts are identical)
τὸ γὰρ μυστήριον ἤδη ἐνεργεῖται τῆς ἀνομίας· μόνον ὁ κατέχων ἄρτι ἕως ἐκ μέσου γένηται
Strong's Concordance
katechó: to hold fast, hold back
Original Word: κατέχω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: katechó
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ekh'-o)
Definition: to hold fast, hold back
Usage: (a) I hold fast, bind, arrest, (b) I take possession of, lay hold of, (c) I hold back, detain, restrain, (d) I hold a ship, keep its head.
King James Bible
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
New American Standard Bible
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way.
All three translations say the same thing, and identify the Restrainer as a Person.
Who is this Person who can restrain the mystery of iniquity, which includes the worldwide worship of Satan and the Antichrist?
We go to the book of Job and see that God is the Restrainer of Satan. Satan was barred from killing Job, and that is what we see in this book.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, thatthere is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. (Job 2:3-6)
YEP...does not say the Holy Spirit is the ONE....
Letteth -->Hold down, POSSESS, SEIZE, RETAIN, TAKE
TAKEN-->cause to BE, to become, come into being, be assembled, brought to pass, to arise
LET-->HAVE, HOLDS FAST
ONLY HE that NOW POSSESSES, HOLDS DOWN, RETAINS WILL continue to HAVE or HOLD FAST until HE is ASSEMBLED, ARISES, COMES INTO BEING
WHO is the POWER behind the rise of the MAN of SIN, SON of PERDITION?
COMING --> ADVENT, by implication PHYSICAL COMING or PRESENCE
WORKING-->ENERGY, OPERATION, EFFECTUAL WORKING, EMPOWERING, ENABLING
EVEN HIM, WHOSE ADVENT or PHYSICAL COMING is after the EFFECTUAL WORKING POWER of SATAN
NOW translate that.....it is not the HOLY SPIRIT restraining...........the power behind it is SATAN and HE WILL HOLD THAT POWER until the ONE that is to BE COMES ON THE SCENE
NO WHERE does it say it is the HOLY SPIRIT restraining.....another fallacy invented by the imminent return doctrine......