Be Careful How You Hear

 "And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming." 2Thes.2:7-8

Some people read this text and they assume that he who restrains is the Holy Spirit. They also teach that after the rapture of the church the Holy Spirit is removed from planet earth. As though all that God is doing in the end time is dependent on the church being present, and once the church is gone God cannot or will not do anything. Reading Revelation and I see God at work on every page past chapter three. The Holy Spirit is still present, still active, and still powerful. Both now and forever.

I also wonder if he who restrains is God, who will use the rapture to entice the antichrist to play his hand. God did that before, in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

" But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." 1Cor.2:7-8

God is in control. His will and his plans will happen like He planned. The church plays a role as salt and light in society. But once we are gone, we no longer play a part in the end times drama on earth. 

Not everything in the Bible is just for us. Some things are written for those who will read it during the Great Tribulation.

"Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him." Luke 8:18