For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He may be out of the way.
Truth to Learn
The restraining one is probably a reference to the Holy Spirit.
Behind the Words
The word “mystery” is transliterated from the Greek noun musterion. This word is used at least twenty other times in the New Testament. In each case it describes a truth that has previously been hidden but that is now being made known.
“Lawlessness” is from anomia, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” or “without” and nomos, meaning “law.” So, anomia literally means “without law” or “lawless.”
The word “already” is translated from ēdē, which is an adverb of time meaning “now,” “even now,” or “already.”
“May be” is from the verb ginomai, meaning “to begin to be” or “to become.” It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood, indicating probability or possibility. Thus it is translated as “should become” or “may be.”
The words “out of the way” are translated from the Greek words ek mesou. Ek means “out” or “out of” and mesou, a form of mesos, means “in the midst, either in time or position.” Therefore ek mesou means “out of the midst.”
Meaning Explained
In this current chapter, Paul has been focusing on the Day of the Lord, that period of time when God will judge the inhabitants of the earth. Back in verse three, he told us that this day will not come until the apostasia occurs and the “man of lawlessness” is revealed. But, Paul taught us that the “man of lawlessness,” whom the Apostle John calls “the antichrist,” will not be revealed until the restraining force is taken out of the way.
As we discussed in yesterday’s verse, we don’t know for certain what this restraining force is, but it seems reasonable to conclude that it is the Holy Spirit of God. The primary argument against such a conclusion is the fact that in yesterday’s verse it was referred to as a “restraining thing” (neuter article and verb in the Greek), whereas in today’s verse He is referred to with a masculine article and verb (literally, “the restraining one”). This is not a problem when you realize that Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit both in the neuter and the masculine. In John’s gospel, He refers to the Holy Spirit as “the helper” (neuter) and as “the spirit of truth” (neuter), but He also refers to the Holy Spirit as “He,” which is a masculine pronoun in the Greek (see John 14:26, 15:26, 16:13-14).
The “mystery of lawlessness” is probably a reference to the fact that sin and lawlessness are already present in the world, but will be revealed in full force after the restraining one is taken out of the midst. This may be a reference to the rapture, when the church and the indwelling of the Spirit are taken off the earth. Keep in mind, however, that the Holy Spirit is God, who is everywhere present at all times. We know that the Holy Spirit will still be present and active during the Tribulation because people will be saved during that terrible time, but He will not be restraining evil during that time like He is today.
Application
I firmly believe that the church will not be present for any part of the Tribulation, which is very comforting. However, that doesn’t mean our work is done. We need to be witnesses of the gospel of Christ more and more as that day approaches.
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved