Reply to John Too http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/july2012/johnt723-1.htm

Regarding the Restrainer in 2 Thess 2:7

Since the Holy Spirit is Omnipresent, I believe a much better candidate for the Restrainer is Michael, the Archangel. Michael is the one who casts Satan out of heaven and then stands aside according to Daniel 12:1. We are told the timing is for "a time, times and half a time" in 12:7. This all lines up with 2 Thess 2:7-8.

Also, I hold the position that the "Open Door" of Revelation 2 & 3 is near the beginning of the Great Tribulation and that there is No Seven year Tribulation period. Satan and his fallen angels are only cast out of heaven at the beginning of the final three and one-half years. i.e. No Satan = No Tribulation.

The "Open Door" is the first rapture event for those found worthy to escape the Great Tribulation because they followed the Lord's instructions to Repent and be ready. I believe genuine born-again Christians can be left behind and would therefore need to remain faithful to Christ until either death or the second rapture event, "the gathering together of the elect" at the Sixth Seal (Rev 6:12-17), just prior to the wrath of God which begins at the Seventh Seal (Rev 8:1). We see the great multitude which no man can number suddenly appear in heaven following the Sixth Seal (Rev 7:9-17), as well as the 144,000 being sealed for protection from God's wrath at this time (Rev 7:1-8).

Now, please notice 2 Thess 2:1 KJV "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him,"

Paul describes the event under discussion here as the "gathering together" which I believe is the second rapture event where Christ cuts the Great Tribulation short (Matt 24:22) when he appears in the sky and shall "gather together his elect" "after the tribulation of those days" (Matt 24:29-31). The wrath of God is then poured out for the remainder of the time, times, and half a time. (Probably corresponding to the number of days of Noah's flood, Matt 24:37). Then, Christ returns and touches down on the earth.

The "gathering together of the elect" does not occur prior to the Abomination of Desolation. The Greek "Apostasia" in 2 Thess 2:3 is the root word for Apostasy which is the best definition.

YBIC,

Bill Griese