Thanks and I have considered the above in the past. It is thought provoking. With regards to "he" and the debate it generates...Paul spoke in such clear terms and then we get to the "he" and it seems Paul goes cyrptic on us at that point. Don't know, maybe not seeing it, but good believers seem to have differing opinions and how one defines "he" pushes towards a particular view.
Not knowing how much has been offered in the way of 2 Thessalonians 2, I will paste the entire chapter in the KJV so maybe we can go verse by verse and work on this a bit:
2 Thessalonians 2
King James Version (KJV)
2 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 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.
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?
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:
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.
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
>> “6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.” <<
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Bing! - “The Woman” who is taken to the temporary hiding place at the beginning of the trib (Rev 12:14-17) is the only significant change that Paul could be talking about, and that will likely be a substantial portion of the saints.
I had always taken that as occurring after the revealing of the Abomination, but I can’t see where it is clear cut.
Yeshua stated that those he came for were “The lost sheep of the House of Israel” which are the bulk of “the Woman.”
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way.
Look at the word 'withholdeth' and 'letteth'.
kat-ekh'-o
From G2596 and G2192; to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively): - have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, X make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.
(e-Sword: Strong's Concordance)
to wit:
And now ye know who hangs on that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who hangs on now, until he be taken out of the way.