The One Who Holds Back - 2 Thessalonians 2:7

The Argument: Verses 6-7 read "And now you know what is holding [the lawless one] back, so that he will be revealed at the proper time... the one who now holds [the power of lawlessness] back will continue to do so until he is taken away, and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus Christ will... destroy by the splendor of his coming". The argument goes that the "one" holding back the lawless one is in fact the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit resides in the Church. Thus, the Holy Spirit is only taken away when the Church is. Thus, the lawless one is revealed only after the Church is removed, but (obviously) before Jesus destroys him with the brightness of His coming. Therefore, the Church being removed to meet Christ in the air (the "rapture") and Christ's return in power and glory are two separate events.

The Problem: This argument is based on the assumption that "the one" is the Holy Spirit. However, "the one" is not clearly identified in the passage, nor anywhere else in the Bible. Certainly, the actions of "the one" seem to be consistent with actions that the Holy Spirit might perform, but this is hardly proof! We must therefore very carefully check our conclusions against other scriptures before coming to a firm conclusion.

In This Case: We need not turn a single page of our Bible to see that the "two returns" idea is not consistent with Biblical doctrine. The idea rests heavily on the supposition that the Church will be taken away before the lawless one is revealed. However, we do not need to do any supposing at all about this matter - only a few verses earlier, in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, we are told explicitly when the Church will be taken up. The Thessalonians were asked, "concerning the coming of our Lord and our being gathered to Him... not to be unsettled... for that Day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed". The passage could not be clearer - We are not taken until after the antichrist appears - and so we will be here to see (and experience) what he does until Christ destroys him. Whatever Paul meant by "the one now holding back" (and the rest of this passage), he cannot have meant that we will escape the Trouble via a "secret rapture" before the antichrist's appearance.

So What? What's The Big Problem?: One big danger from this widespread false doctrine of Christ's return is this: a vast number of Christians will be totally unprepared for the trouble when it comes. As the antichrist sets himself up in the temple, and begins to demand worship, these Christians will realize that they are about to witness the worst 42 months ever seen in human history - a 42 months they thought they would escape. Evidence from world events and from Biblical prophecy indicates that this 42 months will occur soon - within the lifetime of many of us alive today. However, instead of preparing our hearts, storing up the word, and crying out to God "Make me strong lest I fall!", many of us reassure our hearts with a false hope which will fail us at the worst possible moment. I am concerned for my brothers and sisters in Christ - and for myself - lest we compromise or fall away at that time. "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)

Final Notes: The doctrine about two returns, that is, of a pre-tribulation "secret" rapture, first appeared only one or two centuries ago. It was included in an otherwise very good Bible commentary, and through this commentary, it gained widespread acceptance amongst the Christian community. This does not make the doctrine true! Those who hold to it do attempt to support it from other passages besides this one. It is of my opinion, having examined arguments from both sides, that none of these passages can support the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture (when we treat the scripture as we ought). Please, if you are a believer in this doctrine, don't simply cling to it with a closed heart and mind! Search the Word of God to see what God says about the return of the Son. Christ's return is good news for His disciples! Be encouraged that soon He will come to take us home, and that although persecution will come, "our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed in us". Amen, come Lord Jesus!

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