II Thessalonians 2:6-7
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“And now you know what withholds that He might be revealed in His time. For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only He who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way.”
This awkwardly-phrased KJV translation requires help to be clear. It is actually a prophecy concerning the false, universal Babylonian religious system that has dominated Christendom for 2,000 years and has always sought to enter and destroy God’s Church. God’s Spirit literally “withheld” this system from, at that time, crushing the young New Testament Church (II Thess 2:6) that Christ was raising up through Paul and the other apostles.
The “he” of II Thess 2:6 is the final, end-time man of sin (II Thess 2:3), referred to in the book of Revelation as the false prophet. To suit His Plan, God did not want this man revealed too early, even though the system that he will lead (II Thess 2:7) has long been active and caused tremendous harm to the world and, periodically, to Christ’s Church.
The end of II Thess 2:7 is better translated, “only He [God through the Holy Spirit] who now restrains will, until he [the man of sin] come up out of the midst.” The man of sin comes—and this will happen soon in our age—“out of the midst” (after 2,000 years and after the apostasy) of the false system of this world’s churches. This individual and his partner, a European-based superdictator will be destroyed by Christ’s coming (II Thess 2:8). Suggested reading:
• Who or What Is the Beast of Revelation?