Restraining Revival

Introduction: What is keeping the Antichrist from emerging? If you answered the CHURCH, you are correct! Are things shaping up for the Antichrist to arise on the scene? Your thoughts? How can we tell?

1. The Church is holding back the Antichrist! (2Thess 2:5-8)

“5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”

Look at the phrase, “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.”

The word “withholdeth” is κατέχω: (kat-ekh’-o), which means to hold fast, back, detain, restrain.

Even though the word “what” is in the neuter form, here it refers to the Holy Spirit within the Church. The same tense is used in the gospels to refer to the Holy Spirit. Technically speaking, the Holy Spirit cannot be completely removed because He is omnipresent. However, His indwelling presence (in the Church) is taken away in this instance, and yet He remains on the earth.

“until he be taken out of the way.” So right now, we are the wall that is holding the Antichrist back. Can you feel the pressure against the wall?

2. Next, the Antichrist will be revealed! (2Thess 2:8)

“8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”

That is, he will move on the scene, make a covenant with Israel and then ultimately “sit in the temple of God” desiring to be worshipped as God.

“Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (2Thess 2:4)

The devil has always wanted to be worshiped. (see Isa 14 & Ezek 28). He will succeed only for a brief season. His time will come to an abrupt end.

Conclusion: Jesus is coming. The Church will be evacuated. The Antichrist will appear. His demise is imminent.
 
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese