We disagree.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 says this:
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is 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 says this:
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is 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”
True. And Paul was telling the Thessalonians something he had already taught them and that they knew. This indicates it was not a mystery, such as the aspect of the rapture whereby those believers who are still alive when Christ comes again will be transformed and given new bodies without dying. If this passage was about the Holy Spirit being taken out, there would be other biblical support, but it is lacking. A better understanding of it is that Paul is speaking about his exegetical exposition of Daniel (which he had taught them in person), which is the primary source we have for the final seven years before Christ’s kingdom is set up on earth. Daniel 12 indicates that it is Michael the archangel who is in charge of protecting Israel and will “stand up” at the exact time the abomination of desolation occurs, Satan is cast out of Heaven (by Michael), and antichrist is revealed as an impostor seeking to destroy Israel and followers of Christ. The restrainer is Michael.
Further, this same passage (2 Thessalonians 2) specifically says the Day of the Lord come only AFTER the restrainer quits restraining and the antichrist is revealed. This places the Day of the Lord distinctly AFTER the abomination of desolation, the seventieth week midpoint, and the other events I described above.
As I’ve indicated elsewhere, the sign of the sun and moon being darkened (simultaneous solar and lunar eclipse) will mark the end of the Great Tribulation but the imminence of the Day of the Lord. The rapture will also be imminent after we see this sign. It will be accompanied by destructive asteroids. Antichrist and his mark-wearing minions will be forced to take a break from their horrific and diabolical persecution of Christians to retreat underground in terror because they will also know the Day of Wrath has finally come. But those of us who live through these days will then “look up for [our] redemption draws near.”