
Since I deleted the post there, why not post it here to open the topic of who the restrainer is?
So, what are your thoughts on how the restrainer works?
Obviously, only God can restrain evil. God now dwells in His saints who are His body whom He purified and strengthens to battle evil, thus restraining the evil in the world.
God said to work while there is still light, which means you won't be able to work when it is dark. Scripture says it will be dark at the last trump, the end of the tribulation. God promises to refine and protect the saints as they go through trials until the end.
No taking of the Holy Spirit out of saints, for He "is with us always, unto the end of the age", a promise.
No taking of the Holy Spirit from the earth. The Holy Spirit will be very active through the entire tribulation!
No removing the saints since they, by the Holy Spirit, battle principalities girded in the full armor of God through trials and tribulations unto the end of the age. If the Holy Spirit is there, so are the saints, for that is where God dwells.
2 Thessalonians 2 is about restraining apostasy by holding steadfast.
The false teaching that the second coming of Christ had already taken place was confusing the saints.
Pauls states clearly why Christ has not yet come:
First - the falling away
Next - man of lawlessness revealed
Finally - man of lawlessness presents himself as God.
Since the saints had not seen these three events, Christ had not yet come. The teaching otherwise was false. Stand firm against this false teaching. Division in the church over Christ's return is the result unless the false teaching is repented of and the teachers of it are saved or restored. No way is false teaching to be tolerated in the gathering of the saints.
Paul then says their holding fast (being steadfast, grounded in the truth, obeying the commands) is proof that the falling away had not yet happened. When the saints see they are but a remnant in the churches that preach false doctrine, then you know the next thing will be the revealing of the man of lawlessness. Paul makes it clear that believers will be here to see all three of these signs given by Jesus. Restraining the false teaching is restraining the evil one.
Restrains. Not removes. Held back until the right time.
God restrained the rains after the flood. And yes, rain continued to fall from the time of Noah until now.
God restrained the evil one world leader project at Babel. And yes, the people are continuing to gather under one world leader as at Babel.
Noah was still there, protected in God's care. God will do "just like in the days of Noah", said Jesus.
The saints are the restrainer, yes, holding back the ones who fall away, and just go with the flow until gone.
It is the Saints that God uses through His Holy Spirit indwelling the believers to strengthen them in times of trouble. He promises this over and over. He sets us up on high places, but does not take us out of the battle.
We are commanded to be alert! God even used a donkey to restrain Balaam. So I am confident He can even use us in these days of so many Balaams. He already has used you saints of truth to restrain false teaching in my life.
Thank you!

What thinkest thou?