Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 133

May 13;   2 Thessalonians 2:7;   189/260(I);   ‘Power of the Church’

2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.    NIV

Paul wrote this second letter (epistle) to the church of Thessalonica because there was great fear and confusion.  It seems the church was told or a letter was written to the church telling them the rapture had occurred and they missed it.  The rapture is when the Lord Jesus returns to call all Christians home to heaven before the extremely challenging time of the tribulation begins.  The Lord always gets His people out before judgment comes.  He did that for Noah and his family and the Lord got Lot out of Sodom and Gomorrah before He destroyed those cities.  The antichrist, is either alive or will be shortly.  The antichrist is a pawn of the devil and does all he can to deceive the world during the tribulation and get those who are deceived to follow him.  The antichrist plays a minor role in the end time scenario.  The Lord Jesus Christ is dealing with Israel and the rest of humanity who have rejected Him.  This verse teaches that the antichrist cannot reveal himself until ‘the one who now holds it back’ is removed.  Many have taught the One holding the antichrist back is the Holy Spirit.  But the Holy Spirit cannot be removed from the earth, He is the One convicting the lost to be saved.  If the Holy Spirit is gone no one will be saved.  The one who holds the antichrist back is us, the Church.  We have authority over the devil and his plans.  Once the rapture occurs the antichrist can reveal himself.  Think of the power and authority over evil we the Church have.  We have to know this and live our lives accordingly.  What a waste if we do what we need to do. Use that authority to set the lost free.