2 Thessalonians 2:7 – It’s Not About the Rapture!
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 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: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
2 Thessalonians 2:5-10 KJV
2 Thessalonians 2:7 is one of those verses in the Bible that is difficult to interpret. However, I am not one to shy away from difficulty, nor am I one to subscribe to traditional interpretation if the Bible demands a better explanation. So, this verse just so happens to be right up my alley.
Traditional interpretation states that this verse is speaking on the Rapture of the church. While I do agree with the premise of the Rapture (either pre-tribulation or mid-tribulation), I do not believe that this verse should be interpreted as a passage teaching on the Rapture of the church. I believe there is a better explanation that is Biblically sound. I contest that it is explaining an important end-time event: Satan’s banishment to earth and the subsequent rise of the Beast of Revelation (the Antichrist possessed).
“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”
Before we address verse 7, the point of this post, lets go through 2 Thessalonians 2 in pieces so that we have a solid background on the message that Paul is trying to convey. In this passage of 2 Thessalonians, Paul is providing some important signs of Christ’s coming. The Thessalonians were a group of people in Thessalonica who were waiting so anxiously for Christ’s return that they began to worry. They believed Christ’s return could happen any second, and they began to put off their normal daily activities. This line of thinking can be very dangerous. We have even seen groups of people in recent times fall into the same problem. Cult leaders claim that they know the date of Christ’s return or the rapture or Armageddon (which is clearly not Biblical), and the cult members will sell everything they have or even kill themselves in order to be ready only to find that the date was wrong. The Millerites, Heaven’s Gate, and Jim Jones are examples of this way of thinking.
Paul assures the people, however, that there are important things that must happen before Christ will return.
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 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.”
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
In this chapter of Thessalonians, Paul provides one major event that MUST occur before Christ’s return. This event is the revealing of the “son of perdition.” Paul gives a vivid description of this person in verse 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.
2 Thessalonians 2:4
According to Paul, the “son of perdition” is a man who will: 1) be worshipped as a god and 2) will place his throne where the true God’s throne is – the temple in Jerusalem. Paul is clearly describing the infamous Biblical character: the Antichrist (also known as the Beast). There are many references elsewhere in Scripture which describe this EXACT scenario that Paul lists, but I will provide a few of them here for further study if needed: Matthew 24:15, Daniel 11:45, Revelation 13:4-18, Revelation 17:7-18. Some of these passages even utilize the same term “perdition” when speaking of the Beast.
Next, Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he told them these things before. However, Paul hopes that this reminder will allow them to rest assured that Christ will not return until these things come to pass.
Remember ye not, that , when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2 Thessalonians 2:5-6
Paul clarifies that the same spirit of the antichrist is already at work, but THE Antichrist (the person) is still yet to come. 1 John 2:18 restates the same concept, “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.” 1 John 2:22 clarifies exactly what this “spirit of the antichrist” is by saying, “Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” In this world, there are those who contain the same trait that the Antichrist will have which is to deny Christ. However, that spirit will come together into one person in the end times.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:…
2 Thessalonians 2:7a
While there are and will be many antichrists living around us in the end times, Paul asserts that THE Antichrist will not be revealed until a certain event occurs: “he be taken out of the way.” Ok, we now know the event, but who is this “hte” that must be taken out of the way first? This is where a thorough understanding and study of Revelation 12, 13, and 17 as well as Daniel 11:45 – 12:1-2 comes into play. Using our knowledge of Revelation and Daniel, we can see that the “he” spoken of here must be Satan and the “taken out of the way” must be Satan cast out of heaven and sent to the earth.
…only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 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”
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8
The distinction as to what the phrase “until he be taken out of the way” means is important. The most common understanding of this verse is that the “he” spoken of here is the church. So, many Christians view this passage as referring to the rapture. If this notion were true, that means that the antichrist will not be revealed until the church is raptured.
There is a major issue with this idea, however. The problem is that the church is NEVER referred to as a “he”. The church is the bride of Christ and most definitely ALWAYS is spoken of as “she.”
In addition to the misuse of the word “he,” the rapture theory ignores a better solution to the meaning of the phrase. When we take into account the timeline of the tribulation outlined throughout Scripture, this phrase aligns perfectly with another event. That event is Satan’s banishment to earth during the tribulation.
In order to stay within the scope of this post and not get too long winded, I will provide a quick outline of what Revelation, Daniel and Matthew have to say about the Antichrist. Please note that I have written several posts regarding my understanding of the timeline of the Antichrist which will provide much more in depth information and scriptural references than here. Also, there are plenty more scriptural references to many of the points listed below. I merely chose a few for length reasons.
Major Biblical ages and events:
1. The nation of Israel is chosen as God’s people and as the lineage of the Messiah who is the hope of salvation for the human race (Revelation 12:1-2).
2. Satan fights (unsuccessfully) against Israel with the hopes of destroying the Messiah. This encompasses much of the Old Testament and some of the New Testament (Revelation 12:3-4).
3. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, is born, killed, resurrected, and returned to His throne (Revelation 12:5) thus ushering in what is commonly referred to as the Church Age.
4. After the Gospel is preached to all corners of the earth (Matthew 24:14), at some point, a man arises as a world leader. This man will form a treaty with many nations for 7 years (1 “week”). He is the antichrist, but has not yet become the “Beast” as described in Revelation. He will conquer many nations (Daniel11:36-44) but will eventually come to the land of Israel, specifically Jerusalem. He will seek to place his throne at the temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 11:45).
5. Satan and his angels fight against Michael and his angels in heaven. Satan and his demons are cast down to earth (Daniel 12:1, Revelation 12:7-9).
6. Satan is angry that he is now banished to earth and attempts to destroy Israel (Daniel 12:1-2; Revelation 12:12-13). However, Israel is rescued by God and flees into the “wilderness” where she is ministered to by God for 3 1/2 years (42 months/1260 days) (Revelation 12:6, 14-16). Satan now persecutes those of Israel who are left (those who “keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ) (Matthew 24:16-22, Revelation 12:17).
7. It is at this time, in the middle of his 7 year treaty, that the antichrist is delivered a “mortal wound.” He is miraculously healed but in so doing arises out of the bottomless pit as “the Beast” who rules the 8th and final kingdom of the world for 3 1/2 years (42 months/1260 days). This event is the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by Daniel and Christ (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15). The Bible refers to this Beast (Antichrist) as the one who “was [the antichrist], and is not [killed by the mortal wound], and yet is [miraculously healed and returned as the beast].” He is likely possessed by Satan himself and will usher in the time called “Jacob’s trouble,” and he will persecute the church like never before and demand to be worshipped. Many scholars call this time (3 1/2 years) “The Great Tribulation.” The world worships him with 10 kings submitting to his rule but 3 will be subdued (Daniel 7:24). Another smaller “beast,” the false prophet, will aid the Beast in his endeavors (Daniel 7:23-26; 8:23-25; 12:1, Matthew 24:Revelation 13; 17:8,11-18).
8. Finally, at the end of the 7 year tribulation, the Beast will gather all of the kingdoms of the earth together for Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16).
9. Christ returns. The false prophet and the antichrist are sent to the Lake of Fire. Satan is chained in the bottomless pit (Matthew 24:27-31, Revelation 19:11-20:3). Christ establishes the Millennial Kingdom.
So, where on this timeline does 2 Thessalonians 2:7 take place? The most reasonable option is at event #5. Satan is taken out of the way so that when he is banished to earth, all of his power can be placed on the Antichrist who then becomes the Beast who rules the final world kingdom (8th kingdom). This event must occur at or close to 3 1/2 years into the 7 year tribulation (the middle of it) so that 3 1/2 years are left.
And then shall that Wicked be revealed…
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie;
2 Thessalonians 2:8a, 9-11
The Beast will have the power of Satan behind him (he will likely be possessed by Satan or a demon) and be able to deceive those who do not chose Christ. God will allow these people to be deceived. However, not all is lost! Paul provides a glimpse of hope when he reminds us that Christ will destroy the Beast at His Second Coming.
…whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:8b
In the end, Paul has shown that Christ comes to destroy the Beast (a.k.a. The Son of Perdition, The Antichrist, The Little Horn, The Willful King, etc.). Therefore, Christ’s return cannot take place until the Beast has accomplished what God has allowed him to.
I hope that this post clears up a phrase which many find troubling. Thanks to a thorough understanding of end-time prophecy, however, we can properly understand 2 Thessalonians 2:7. As less and less people are interested in studying or teaching Revelation and other end-time prophecy passages, this knowledge is not properly applied to the rest of the Bible resulting in interpretations that do not make sense with the passage or the whole Biblical construct.