II Peter 3:7 says: But the heavens and the earth, which
are now ( present ), by the same word are kept in store,
reserved
It is only by the Word (Jesus) that this world even
now is being sustained; but because of the evil that
has caused its ruin, it is reserved unto a fiery death,
as well as all creatures who remain under the stains
of evil, and therefore allied with the evil one.
The question people should be asking themselves
isn't, "Why does God permit evil"; but in reality they
ought to be concerned with the relevant question, "When is
he going to render judgement against evil?"
Nahum 1:2-7 indicate that God is a jealous God,
who is slow to anger, but is also a revenger of all
who commit evil, and he will not at all acquit anyone
that rejects his merciful plan of redemption.
The history of Israel demonstrates to us that God
has imparted to humanity his law to act as a Restrainer
to evil in our world. Every civil code of governance
in the world reflects the wisdom that God instituted
through the Mosaic law. Without this code of ethics,
evil would have engulfed our world to such a monstrous degree
that it would parallel that of the pre-Flood societies.
Beyond that, Jesus instituted the Church to act as
a great Restraining influence in our world by taking
the message of hope and Grace to mankind all over
the world. Jesus further insisted that his message of
divine salvation should be extended to every corner
of the globe before the destruction of evil should ever be
enacted. I can't think of a more loving testament by
a God of Love!
But still, the Church has been admonished with a
sense of urgency and a notice of alarm, for when it
comes to pass that the Church has Fallen Away from
its first love, then, it is apparent that the Son of Perdition
is lurking in the shadows.
In the book of II Thessalonians we are exposed to
the reality of the restraining work of a supernatural
powered entity; often deduced to be either the Holy
Spirit, or the Church itself.
II Thessalonians 2:7 states: For the Mystery of Iniquity
doth already work: only "HE" who now letteth will let,
until "HE" be taken out of the way.
Paul indicates that this great restraining power will
diminish in that capacity, and actually withdraw from
obstructing the mystical working powers that operate
behind the mystery of iniquity. (evil)
This personage is personified as working in unison
with the providential plan of God's historical designs
to withold the evil one until God's longsuffering shall
have endured to the point that God's spirit has come
to the point of finishing its striving with mankind.
The "Day of the Lord" cannot ever commence until the
time arrives when God deems it to be necessary to conclude
his mission of striving. At that point, in conjunction
with the mystery of God, the great restrainer shall in
like accord withdraw from its function as the divine
inhibitor of evil in this world; thus setting the stage
for the unleashing of Demonic and Satanic onslaught
of the Great Tribulation period.
Restrain means to limit, or to restrict and to hold
back the expression of something.
Jesus relates in John 16:8 that the Restraining work
of the Holy Spirit has been charged with the duty of
reproving the world of sin and evil. The Holy Spirit
has many functions; comforter, teacher; but among his
multiple functions is the restraint of evil, and also the
Evil One (SATAN) and his protege, the man of sin!
II Thessalonians 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth
that "HE" ( antichrist ) might be revealed in his time.
The "He" that is now restraining evil in the world
is indeed the Holy Spirit! However, the functioning
body that the Holy Spirit resides within to effect the
restraining influence is the Church itself.
The Holy Spirit, like God; is omnipresent; capable
of being present in all places simultaneously. Thus the
object being removed preceding the Day of the Lord
is none other than the Church. The Holy Spirit however
is unconstrained by time-space limitations. The Spirit
was present at creation, moving over the waters; even
then performing a function in conjunction with God's
cosmological engineering of the universe.
Why do you suppose God included this information
concerning the Great Restrainer in this connection to
the day of the Lord, and the withholding of the Evil
one?
God wants people to know that there is coming a
day when there shall be absolutely no restraint whatsoever to the
capabilities of the Evil One! Restraints will all be gone!
The Great Tribulation era is a time when the evil
forces of hell shall be permitted a period of prevalent
domination on this earth, unlike anything heretofore.
Finally in Revelation 14:19 God puts an end to the
dominion of evil minded men. God does not wish for
anyone to be among this crowd of sinful revelers. He
is forewarning us today that His Restrainer shall not
always strive with man to compel them to accept his
manifest demonstration of Love on Calvary! Someday
all Hell will be turned loose on a world that has no
respect for "His Only Well-beloved Son"!
Now I repeat the question from the parable of the
vineyard owner; "What shall the Lord of the vineyard
do to those who killed his son", or reject him?
"The Lord will not at all acquit the Wicked and Evil"
The only reason that the Ten Commandments are
a controversial issue in our society today is primarily
because the world, being aligned with Satan; will not
tolerate the God of creation insinuating that there is
a force of evil in the world to be shunned.
Revelation 11:12 portrays a world that is completely
devoid of God's restrictions on its freewheeling life style.
The world unites and throws a party when God's last vestige of
restraint has been expunged. The world’s inhabitants shall send gifts
to one another, and make merriment because of that fact.
This is a Party that is unrestrained! Men shall be
wholly free to live and let live without any restraints whatsoever!
But, little does the world realize the ramifications
of rejecting the striving spirit of God. The snare will
have been set for all those who relish in the concept of
a world without the influence of a righteous God.
II Thessalonians 2:8-12 specifically indicate that after
the Great Restrainer is withdrawn, that a grand delusion
will be perpetrated upon an unsuspecting world, which
by then will have already exhausted the treasury of God's loving hand
of gracious longsuffering patience.
Whereas a world that had been blessed with the ever
present preservative light of truth, it will now find it all
the more difficult to exempt themselves from following
a master deceiver and dictator. Revelation 13 reveals to
us that the Antichrist will exercise full economic, political
and religious control over the entire world, thus making
extremely difficult for mankind to oppose the Evil One!
Romans 1:32 portrays a picture of natural man living
in a state of self-pleasure while denying that there even
is a righteous God. They exchange the truth for a lie!
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the
truth in unrighteousness!
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