2Thessalonians2:6-7 explained

[BlindSeeker]

II Thessalonians 2:5 - Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And 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.

Paul’s manner of writing here should make every believer ask the question, "Why didn’t Paul just articulate these things again in more detail in his epistle?" With a matter of such great importance, what could be his reason for not putting forth a clear and coherent teaching on this apostasy which the Holy Spirit had revealed to him was going to take place? Especially when Paul’s normal pattern in his epistles was to be very meticulous and thorough when presenting to the saints the oracles of God; yet here he goes no further than to write to them “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?”

It is evident Paul felt it was wisdom to trust the Holy Spirit to help them recall these pertinent things, for he continues with “ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.” Hence it seems evident that the Apostle Paul under the unction of the Holy Spirit was writing with great carefulness and was unwilling to formally document those things which he had communicated to them in person.

Our curiosity about why Paul stated things the way he did should be even more heighten when we consider that in those days, delivering a letter was considerably costlier, laborious, and time-consuming than merely writing one; especially compared to the ease of email correspondence nowadays. So it wouldn’t have been prudent for Paul to be so vague in his letter unless it was intentional.

Also, note that it is only here in II Thessalonians 2:5 that Paul is found imploring his readers to “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things,” which makes a clear departure from Paul’s normal manner of wholly giving himself to clearly define “these things” whether in person or letter. Therefore, Paul had to believe there was more wisdom in being vague and petitioning them to recall, than there was in establishing an official document outlining “these things" with Silvanus, Timothy and his name being attached to it.

His following comment concerning “when I was yet with you,” makes it obvious he was confident they would recall what he had taught them in private and “know what withholdeth.” For though Paul openly preached to the Jews and Gentiles alike that Jesus was the Christ, there were some things he knew should only be taught to those who by their rebirth and salvation had a firm foundation of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and therefore were able to be entrusted with some "meat" from God’s word.

Consequently, as evident even here in this thread, because of Paul’s elusiveness in II Thessalonians 2:5-7, there has been a diversity of interpretations concerning “what” it was that “withholdeth” and "who" the “he” might be “who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” For most of what is being taught and believed nowadays is contrary to what was almost a unanimous consensus of thought among protestant believers. Because for centuries most Protestants believed this “man of sin… son of perdition” Paul speaks of in the epistle refers to the position of the papacy, or the succession of popes of Roman Catholicism.

What many believers nowadays are ignorant of is that this theology which is being widely taught and accepted by non-Catholics concerning the antichrist rebuilding the temple and becoming a world leader was originally taught by a French monk known as Adso of Montier-en-Der who died in 992 A.D. Though a prolific writer of poems, hymns, and biographies of the lives of saints, Adso’s most famous work was his “Letter to Queen Gerberga on the Place and Time of Antichrist,” which became known as the “Little Book on the Antichrist.”

However, this theology which was so articulated over a thousand years ago by a Catholic monk, was rejected by essentially every protestant commentator who sought to defend the truth with their pen. For they acknowledged Paul’s speaking in II Thessalonians 2:3 of “a falling away first” as being the rise of Roman Catholicism, and “that man of sin… the son of perdition” as the succession of popes.

Polycarp’s use of the term “antichrist” agrees with the Apostle John who does not reference a single antichrist, but rather a class of people functioning under a spirit of antichrist.  In the second century, Polycarp, deemed to be an apostolic father, in his Letter to the Philippians, paragraph 7, warned the Philippians that everyone who preached false doctrine was an antichrist.

 I John 2:18 - Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

Nowadays, the two most popular theories being promoted about “what” it was that “withholdeth” and "who" the “he” might be “who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way” are the rapture of the church, or, the removal of the Holy Spirit of God from the world in the last days before the rise of an antichrist figure.

First, it must be noted that while the Apostle Paul was a preacher of righteousness who was given revelations and vision, he did not preach solely from the position of his authority as an apostle. Rather it was always Paul’s habit to utilize the sure word of prophecy as his greatest resource to persuade others of the truth of the Gospel. For Paul knew if his message was in agreement with the prophets, then on the authority of that which was “written,” he had a solid foundation whereby he could persuade men that his message was worthy of their consideration.

Romans 16:25 - Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:  27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

Ephesians 2:19 - Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.

It is estimated that Paul quoted, referenced, or made clear inference to the Law and the Prophets approximately 268 times in his known epistles. His position regarding the surety of scripture is made further evident by his acknowledgement to Timothy “that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” and reminding Timothy that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Paul wrote to the Corinthians “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” Likewise, he wrote to the Thessalonians that they too “became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.” Therefore, when he told them to “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good,” he did so because it was his own conviction that as a believer he too must prove all things by the scriptures. The reason I stress these things is to make the point that “what withholdeth” was something that Paul could have taught to the Church of Thessalonica from either the Law or the Prophets. This is confirmed to us by Luke’s record in the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 17:1 - Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

Having presented scriptural evidence confirming Paul’s method of revealing “the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and [was] by the scriptures of the prophets,” let us go on to the second point and examine those aforementioned “critical details concerning those events which occurred while he was in Thessalonica.”

Acts 17:4 - And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. 5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. 8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.  9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go. 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

What should be gleaned from the above passages is that Paul reasoned the scriptures for three Sabbaths with the Jews and certain “devout Greeks,” or converts who already believed in the God of the Jews. However, in Paul’s first epistle we learn that many within this “great multitude of Greeks” in Thessalonica were still in their pagan idolatry before they heard Paul’s Gospel and came to an acknowledgement of Jesus as the Christ.

Based upon Paul’s account in his first epistle, it would seem Silvanus, Timothy and him were in Thessalonica much longer than just the three Sabbaths mentioned by Luke, for he used the time not only to win many of the Greeks to the Lord, but also the time to teach them tenets of the faith that would enable them to endure the “much affliction" he speaks of "with joy of the Holy Ghost.” He further spoke of how they had become “ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia, for from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything.” That is quite an endorsement of their well-established faith.

Likewise, Paul’s mention of their “work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope” is a further indication that Paul and Silas continued to minister to the Gentiles after their turning from “the Jews which believed not.” For Paul writes how they all “became followers of us, and of the Lord” and in so doing had “received the word in much affliction,” and yet still possessed “patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Therefore, this all would seem to indicate that the duration of their stay was sufficient to not only lay the foundation of Jesus as the Christ in their lives, but to also teach them many other things that were foretold by the prophets. For now knowing these things and having faith, they were waiting “for his Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

However, one must not fail to give attention to those details recorded by Luke about the “Jews which believed not, [and ] moved with envy, [and ] took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.” This was no small commotion, for they “drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city,” and made charges against Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus; that these whom Jason had received “that have turned the world upside down are come hither also… and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.”

These are not minor complaints, for these are accusations of treason against Caesar and Rome. Hence “they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things and when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.” This means Jason was required to give money as a security, or bond, before they would let him go. Understanding the seriousness with which Rome dealt with those who were seditious and traitors against Caesar, a penalty of certain death, “the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea.”

Plus, before their going to Thessalonica, Paul and Silas had been in Philippi where they had been beaten and accused of going against the customs of Rome there as well.

Acts 16:20 - And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

 Thus, it is both understandable and unmistakable that the brethren had greatly feared for the lives of Paul and Silas and were greatly desirous to deliver them from any danger that might befall them based upon these new accusations. And yet, with reasonable confidence we can be sure their apprehension was not based solely upon the events in Philippi or a few Thessalonian “Jews which believed not” and those “certain lewd fellows of the baser sort.” For from both Paul’s epistle and Luke’s account in the Acts of the Apostles we can safely conclude they understood that there were many things on the horizon which were soon going to transpire concerning God’s judgment upon Israel. All this obviously being part of that to which he was referring by saying “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” It would in addition seem safe to conclude that Paul would have obviously articulated to them much of what he may have learned from Luke and others concerning what Jesus Christ had taught concerning the aforementioned “wrath to come.”

Luke 19:43 - For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

However, Paul would have reinforced these words of Jesus with what was already written by the prophets when ministering to the Jews and devout Greeks which believed. Below are passages which very likely would have been addressed by Paul.

Deuteronomy 28:49 - The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; 50 A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young: 52 And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

Isaiah 29:13 - Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

Jeremiah 26:18 - Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

Micah 3:8 - But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. 9 Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. 10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. 11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. 12 Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

Now please take careful note of the following two passages. For again, in Acts chapter 13, we find Paul speaking using Habakkuk’s prophecy to warn the men of Israel of the “wrath to come.”

Habakkuk 1:5 - Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. 6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs. 7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

Acts 13:16 - Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience… 40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

Quoting Habakkuk, Paul rebuked the Jews for being “despisers” of God’s word which was now being revealed to them through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore he warned them, that they were going to perish just as those Jews did when the Chaldeans first destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. Yet we know from history that the coming destruction of which Paul was warning them was not going to be by the Chaldeans this time: rather Rome was going to be the instrument of God’s wrath whereby once more Zion was going to “be plowed as a field” and Jerusalem again destined to “become heaps.”

Paul would have easily been able to preach to the brethren at Thessalonica that after “the wrath to come” of God judging the Jews, that Rome too in time, like the three empires before it, would fall.

So let’s look at what has been discuss so far-

1. Paul and Silas were accused, beaten, and thrown in jail in Philippi for teaching customs which are not lawful to receive, neither to observe for the Romans.

2. Shortly after Paul and Silas go to Thessalonica, only to have to flee because a strong accusation was asserted that “Jason and those he had received [Paul and Silas], were doing things that were contrary to the decrees of Caesar, and saying that there is another king, one Jesus.” These charges asserted treason and seditious activity, crimes which carried the penalty of death in Rome.

3. It is evident Paul preached on the “wrath to come” which easily can be seen to be in agreement with Jesus’ prophecy concerning Jerusalem and Israel.

4. That Paul could have easily taught the Thessalonians concerning the fall of Rome according to scripture is sufficient enough cause to believe that he did so. Thus, Paul is seen in Acts quoting Habakkuk while in Antioch earlier before his coming to Thessalonica to the Jews, confirming to them the destruction that was coming to Jerusalem.

Now add to that how historically it can also be seen exactly how both Constantine’s alleged conversion to Christianity and the eventual fall of Rome literally gave way to the Rise of Roman Catholicism and the Papacy.

Through these points it becomes evident why those Christians, who were mercilessly persecuted for centuries for clinging to their faith in Christ Jesus for refusing to acknowledge as legitimate the usurped authority of Catholicism and the Papacy, had universally considered the profane institution of Rome to be the “great apostasy” and wholeheartedly viewed the position of the papacy as “that man of sin [which would ] be revealed, the son of perdition."

In this light, it should be easy to see why it was wisdom for Paul to be elusive and not to write in his Epistle to the Thessalonians that Rome was going to have to fall first in order to make way for this great apostasy and the son of perdition. Furthermore, the phrase “son of perdition” is only used twice in scripture, once by Jesus in reference to Judas who ended up being a false apostle, and here again used by Paul in reference to the Papacy which by Catholicism is said to be overseen by a continuation of apostles now referred to as popes. However, in the eyes of true Protestants, the popes have all been false apostles and betrayers of truth just as surely as Judas was. So perhaps all this lends us cause to understand Paul this way...

II Thessalonians 2:3 - Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 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. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? [How that God will judge His people, and afterwards will likewise judge those nations whereby He chastised those who are called by His name, causing those nations to fall?] 6 And now ye know what withholdeth [Rome] that he [the false apostle] might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he [Rome] who now letteth will let [prevent his rise ], until he [Rome] be taken out of the way [falls]. 8 And then shall that Wicked [lawless one] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

[LeavesSeeds]

yes, 'research'.   find the original language/meaning.  no one, nothing, is "removed" nor "taken out" in the original Scripture, and it doesn't fit in when mis-read that way either.  keep seeking, and God's WOrd is that you shall find.   The truth is just not popular.

18 hours ago, douggg said:

 

"restrainer" is not in that translation either.

"the one" is the Lord Jesus Christ.    the "he" is Jesus, not himself, but the body of Christ, is taken out of the way.

 

 

[angels4u]

11 minutes ago, BlindSeeker said:

Ok.

Nice to see you doing some research. It's just a shame it's about me and not the topic....

Now you know.

 

Blindseeker, I can't remember if you believe in the Trinity?

[BlindSeeker]

7 hours ago, angels4u said:

Blindseeker, I can't remember if you believe in the Trinity?

Hello Angels4u, I'm not really sure how that is part of the OP or how it would have any bearing on what I've said so far...

But since I have taken the time to articulated my beliefs in this link on how The Lord's Christ is Christ the Lord, the only "ONE LORD" of Scripture I'll share it with you if you care to take the time to read. But apart from my sharing this out of respect to you and your question, I would rather not discuss any this further on this particular thread out fo respect to Douggg.

Perhaps another thread if you started one and if I have time to properly participate in it.

[angels4u]

3 minutes ago, BlindSeeker said:

Hello Angels4u, I'm not really sure how that is part of the OP or how it would have any bearing on what I've said so far...

But since I have taken the time to articulated my beliefs in this link on how The Lord's Christ is Christ the Lord, the only "ONE LORD" of Scripture I'll share it with you if you care to take the time to read. But apart from my sharing this out of respect to you and your question, I would rather not discuss any this further on this particular thread out fo respect to Douggg.

Perhaps another thread if you started one and if I have time to properly participate in it.

 

Thanks Blindseeker, I will read it !  

No, I will not take away from Doug thread, I don't really like it if they do it to my thread either

God Bless !

 

[BlindSeeker]

1 minute ago, angels4u said:

Thanks Blindseeker, I will read it !  

No, I will not take away from Doug thread, I don't really like it if they do it to my thread either

God Bless !

Thanks. Stay blessable, on fire, and unburnable!

 

[angels4u]

Just now, BlindSeeker said:

Thanks. Stay blessable, on fire, and unburnable!

 

 

Same for you !!

[Omegaman 3.0]

On 5/26/2016 at 3:13 PM, bopeep1909 said:

Who do you think is the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2:6?

I go with Michael the Archangel, personally, but I am open to other options.

I was asked to look into this thread because of some of the speculative nonsense in it.

I am afraid that the passage is a bit mysterious, and will always be an opportunity for speculation, until it is fulfilled.

I do not see anything here that I think needs deleting, though I did delete one post that said that another post is trash, and should be deleted, how is that for ironic? If that person would like to refute things said, they should feel free to do so, but there is not call you just hop in and call another posters stuff "trash". No need for hit and run posts here, discussion is what this forum is for.

No, since there is speculation on this topic, for any interested in my own, semi-unusual thoughts, they are contained in a video. It you are really interested in th topic, and have an open mind, I suggest watching it, and perhaps taking some notes on the Bible verses cited, and come to you own conclusions (speculations).

 

[post]

On 5/26/2016 at 7:02 PM, douggg said:

"restaining" in that translation is the witholdeth in the KJV.    Anyway,  "restraining" is a verb, not a noun.    There is no "restrainer" in the text.

 

What about I try to repackage that verse, for clarity.    Here goes....

"And now you know what is keeping the man of sin from being revealed in his time."

The what is simply that the body of Christ will be taken out of the way first.

the kjv is not the be-all / end-all source for what the scripture says -- this was written in Greek, not ye olde Anglish. 
it's a translation - a good one, to be sure, but it isn't perfect, and as the English language usage evolves, some things as written in English 400+ years ago are better stated today with different words. 

 

Strong's Transliteration Greek English Morphology 2532 [e] kai καὶ And Conj 3568 [e] nyn νῦν now Adv 3588 [e] to τὸ that which Art-ANS 2722 [e] katechon κατέχον is restraining, V-PPA-ANS 1492 [e] oidate οἴδατε, you know, V-RIA-2P

 

notice that the word in the scripture translated into English "is restraining" ((or in the KJV, "is withholding")) is a verb. not a noun, but the scripture speaks of "that which" is restraining -- referring to a being, here in verse 7, "the [one] restraining" -- in nominative masculine singular case:
 

3440 [e]	monon	μόνον	only [there is]	Adv
3588 [e]	ho	ὁ	the [one]	Art-NMS
2722 [e]	katechōn	κατέχων	restraining [it]	V-PPA-NMS
737 [e]	arti	ἄρτι	at present	Adv
2193 [e]	heōs	ἕως	until	Conj
1537 [e]	ek	ἐκ	out of	Prep
3319 [e]	mesou	μέσου	[the] midst	Adj-GNS
1096 [e]	genētai	γένηται.	he might be [gone].	V-ASM-3S

if you can explain how this Greek word doesn't mean "restraining" then go for it. 


((Greek breakdown copied from biblehub.com)) 

[post]

18 minutes ago, post said:

the scripture speaks of "that which" is restraining -- referring to a being, here in verse 7, "the [one] restraining" -- in nominative masculine singular case:

here's something interesting -- the "restrainer" in 2 Thessalonians is referred to using masculine singular tense. 

but in the very same letter, the addressee "the church" is feminine:

 

3588 [e]	tē	τῇ	to the	Art-DFS
1577 [e]	ekklēsia	ἐκκλησίᾳ	church	N-DFS
2331 [e]	Thessalonikeōn	Θεσσαλονικέων	of [the] Thessalonians,	N-GMP

(( this is from 2 Thessalonians 1:1   ← full text in the link ))
 

i think this obvious gender mis-match throws a serious wrench into the interpretation that the church itself is "the restrainer" / "the withholder" 

so here's something you'd never grasp if all you ever study is the words of the kjv ((or any English translation, because English language does not carry gender information)), without that the Spirit guide you in your understanding. 

not that we cannot comprehend the mystery of God without studying Greek/Hebrew -- because by the Spirit we are taught all things, even if we do look at the original languages! but that there is certainly great value for understanding and knowledge for us if we are able to learn to look into these things. their ready availability all over the internet for us is a huge blessing in our time! 
all the same we should all be careful not to think we're 'experts' just because we have resources. i am not trained in these languages at all. i just know how to look things up. if someone who is trained to comprehend this stuff would correct me, please do so!! i would love to gain understanding by the rebuke  
 

 

English does not carry gender information or all the tenses and cases that Greek grammar uses. so information is necessarily lost when we translate the scripture to English. our language simply cannot contain the information in the original -- it is a "lower dimension."
this information - present in the scripture as written - can only be found by (1) the guidance of the Holy Spirit miraculously teaching us and/or (2) studying the original languages. 
if you're kjv-only, here's another reason for you to drop the pretense.