Paul was talking to Christians....
2 Thessalonians 2
1Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
NIV
You said -- "Paul was talking to Christians...."
Well, maybe I should have said that I was referring to Jesus in Matthew 24.
But, with 2 Thessalonians 2, yes..., Paul is talking to Christians. I have this in the translation that I'm reading (which is a "study translation" used by many seminarians). It's the New American Standard, a good study translation.
1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy [here is "apostasia" - see below] comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?
See an analysis of the verse and the meaning of "apostasia" from --
http://www.pre-trib.org/article-view.php?id=165
NOW..., here is the setting. Paul had already told them before that the Rapture would happen *before the Day of the Lord*. Now, at this time (of the writing of the letter) -- they *are upset*!
Why are they upset. That's because some people have been telling them that -- "No, you're actually *in* the Day of the Lord right now." Then they got upset, because Paul said that they wouldn't be (when he had talked to them personally, before).
You see, if Paul had told them before, that you'll see the Antichrist *revealed* first -- and then the Rapture will occur -- these people would have answered those other who said "You are in the Day of the Lord right now" -- with a "yawn" and said "So what, we haven't seen the Antichrist revealed yet. Big deal!"
BUT, no! They didn't understand that from Paul, and hence, that's why they're upset and that's why Paul is calming them down with this explanation.
He then says, "No, don't you remember that *first* the "apostasia" will happen and *then* the man of lawlessness is revealed.
Later on, down in the paragraph, Paul also refers to the Spirit being taken out of the way (verse 7), which currently restrains. And since the Spirit is in every believer, He acts as that restraint, right now -- until He is "taken out of the way".
The body of Christ, is a powerful restraint in the world, until we are taken out of the way and then the man of lawlessness is revealed.
You can get into the technicalities of Dr. Thomas Ice's by reading the link I gave.
Regards,
Star Traveler