He is coming! The return of our Lord is drawing near! What a wonderful and indescribable promise! As we consider the evil in this world, our anticipation and excitement for His glorious return overcomes us. Although the day and the hour is a mystery, we can be eagerly watching for that magnificent day when the saints are caught up to be with the Lord forevermore (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This is our excellent comfort. This is our glorious delight.
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When the Holy Spirit is removed.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 (ESV)
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.
Right now, prior to the tribulation, one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is the restraint of evil. In verses 8 and 9, we learn that the restraining power of the Holy Spirit holds back the “lawless one” (Antichrist) so he is not revealed before God wills it. The passage says the Holy Spirit will no longer restrain the growth of evil.
Currently, the restrainer holds back lawlessness, but he will be removed someday. When he is out of the way, lawless activities will culminate through the man of lawlessness. But who is the restrainer? Only the Holy Spirit has the power to hold back sin from becoming full blown. He does this through His convicting ministry. Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit would convict the world of sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8). He will do so through Jesus' followers, but at the rapture Jesus' followers will be removed from the earth, and the earthly influence of Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, will be greatly diminished. His unique sin-restraining ministry through saved believers will be gone: He will no longer convict the world of sin through believers. Therefore, lawlessness will reach an unprecedented manifestation.
The Bible frequently uses “the world” or “this world” to refer to the present evil system of opposition to God. So, the Bible never teaches that Satan actually rules over the entire world, but that he is ruler over the current system of sinful opposition to God. In other words, he’s leading the rebellion against God.
Thanks for explaining your thoughts so clearly and taking the time to do so. I hope you are right. This particular verse has been in my sight for several weeks now. I have listened to others, reviewed the Greek, and my conclusion is that it's not necessarily a future event as we thunk of it. It is in going and had already started as paul wrote it. I'm not fully convinced that it is an end time prophecy. I hope you are right, I'm ready to go but I am prepared to stay. In every parable regarding the wheat and tares, the tares are gathered first. Plus rev:18 the people of God are called to come out of Babylon. The church by this time (today)has joined itself to Babylon so God has to call his people out. He wouldn't have to do this if the church would have stayed separate.
I believe we are close. There are signs to look for. I’ve gone thru this and from when it was first written, to today, we can add the seriousness ALL warning. From Covid-to Ukraine to hatred of Christians, to unnatural weather phenomenon- etc. All seem to have increased.
https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=3960&gclid=CjwKCAiArY2fBhB9EiwAWqHK6r0tXIHilpDdx2tvKFjW_t7N0jGaHDk430WX5vbLdRzpzY2cRhBFbBoCMlEQAvD_BwE
Are you aware that the Jewish Temple which will be a major sign and that already is being built. Not on the location, but the cedars of the framework are built and stored in secret. The RED CALF has been born and is in Israel. ALL the implements have been fashioned ready for use, all the Priests garments have been made. etc.
I don’t believe the Antichrist has been revealed as yet, but he is waiting in the wings though. God will reveal him soon enough.
Yes I am aware of all of that. Thank you. The end draweth neigh. Thanks for the link.