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2:7 τὸ γὰρ μυστήριον ἤδη ἐνεργεῖται τῆς ἀνομίας· μόνον ὁ κατέχων ἄρτι ἕως ἐκ μέσου γένηται
2 THESSALONIANS 2:7 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.
There is already a question asking ‘who’ the ’he’ is, and I am aware that there is much historical and current debate over this.
But, I’d like to take a step back and ask …. how do the translators get ‘he’?
Anonymous
hahahah John Mushenhouse I am JUST loving the Greek here for Link Hudson Ricky Grimsley Brett Dobbs 2:7 τὸ γὰρ μυστήριον ἤδη ἐνεργεῖται τῆς ἀνομίας· μόνον ὁ κατέχων ἄρτι ἕως ἐκ μέσου γένηται and whatever lovely translation rightly rendered He with capital H to indicate the Body of Christ #JustLovinIt
Anonymous
John Mushenhouse you would see them greek specialists comments on a actual greek text post #guaranteed
Anonymous
When the Greeks got the Gospel, they turned it into a philosophy; when the Romans got it, they turned it into a government; when the Europeans got it, they turned it into a culture; and when the Americans got it, they turned it into a business.
Anonymous
Troy Day That’s a great quote!
Anonymous
Testing the Apostles of the New Reform Apostolic and Prophetic.
The apostles of the New Reformed Apostolic and Prophetic, do not intend to be mere missionaries and church founders. Rather, they claim to have a formal position in church government, similar to that of the Apostles of Christ. In our assessment, however, the NAR leaders have not been able to produce biblical support for their teaching that today’s apostles must govern the church. But even if they could provide needed support, the apostles of NAR would still have to pass five biblical tests to be genuine apostles.
What are these tests? First, they must have literally seen the risen Lord. Secondly, they must have received a specific commission from Christ in the form of the first commissioned during the Apostolic Era. Third, they must perform miracles that testify to their authority as apostles of Christ. Fourth, any new teaching or practice they promote must be backed up in scripture.. And fifthly, they must exhibit an exemplary quality of ministry and lives of the highest level of virtue and integrity. Let’s see the first one of these.
An appearance of Christ.
Seeing Jesus personally is something many—but not all—the NAR apostles claim to have experienced. Apostle Peter Wagner believes that a personal appearance of Christ should not serve as a fiery test to determine whether a person is truly an apostle. Why not? It’s curious. For Paul, having “seen Jesus our Lord” was a criteria for all the apostles of Christ (see 1 Cor. 9:1). So why are the Apostles of NAR exempt? Wagner is not saying so. (He claims, however, that about twenty percent of the apostles he knows have seen Jesus personally.) However, other prominent apostles of the NAR, like Rick Joyner, do believe that an appearance of Christ is a non-negotiable requirement for being an apostle.
But claiming to have seen Christ is not enough. For such a statement to be believed, the person making it must prove that the appearance took place. How to do it ? In the case of the Apostle Paul, other people could bring testimonies to back up his assertion. Paul’s traveling companions were present when Christ appeared to him. They did not see Christ, but they saw the bright light, and heard the sound of his voice. They also saw the powerful effect that Christ’s appearance had in Paul: it blinded him for three days. After his appearance to Paul, Christ also appeared to another person, Ananias, in a vision and spoke to Paul of his appearance. Ananias, therefore, could provide another testimony that would corroborate Paul’s affirmation. Furthermore, and this is crucial, Paul sought counsel with the Apostles of Christ after a long period of reflection and self-examination. Three years into his Christian life he ascended to Jerusalem to see Peter—the recognized leader of the Twelve—and stayed with him for fifteen days (Gal. 1:18). Paul sees this encounter as a validation of his own credentials as an apostle. Evidently, the time spent with Peter was crucial in confirming Paul’s status as Apostle. It was proof that he was real.
Paul’s instant and radical conversion—from a persecutor of Christians to one of his best-known leaders—suggested he had a genuine encounter with Christ. Christ’s appearance to Paul wasn’t just an empty statement without independent validation. Others could attest to it and the transforming effects it had on their life (Gal. 1:11-24).
The Apostles of NAR cannot rule out the requirement to have seen Christ.. And if they have actually received an appearance from him, then others should be able to confirm it. Surely God, who appointed no less than twelve official eyewitnesses to contribute to the writing of the four accounts of the Gospels about the life of Christ—and the same in the case of Paul—God would be equally interested in providing multiple voices of witness to verify that a modern day apostle has experienced a literal visit from Jesus Christ.
– R. Douglas Geivett and Holly Pivec.
God’s Super-Apostles Encountering the Worldwide Prophets and Apostles Movement. (The Super Apostles of God. Encounter with the Global Movement of Prophets and Apostles).
Anonymous
It is the Holy Spirit who restrains evil, not the Church.
The Church has been persecuted and martyred for 2000 years. Our impact is limited and temporary. Check out ministries like the Voice of the Martyrs.
In the first half of the Trib people will flock to the one world leader, thinking utopia is in the making, “peace and safety.” It is God sending strong delusion to believe the lie.
In the middle of the Trib the HS ceases His restraint of evil so AntiChrist can be revealed to the world. Satan is cast down, knowing his time is short (Rev. 12), indwells the world leader, and enters the Temple, committing THE apostasy of all apostasies: declaring himself to be God.
(In the Greek it is not general apostasy; it has the definite article – he apostasia, THE apostasy, a particular one).
Anonymous
Duane L Burgess but Philip Williams does NOT believe the Holy Spirit is a He with capital H as in person Charles Page may too be left behind
Anonymous
Troy Day i do believe he is the Lord Jesus. The Scriptures also teach. But I know that you follow Catholic tradition.
Anonymous
Philip Williams did you mark yourself safe after the national reset
Anonymous
Troy Day that was from the Prince of the Principality of the Air.
Anonymous
of which chief director of radio-com. company thou wast
Anonymous
Troy Day was always fighting him, turning his hierarchical network to a peer-to-peer.
Anonymous
Philip Williams so He is NOT the SPIRIT here? Duane L Burgess
Anonymous
Troy Day our warfare is not against flesh and blood
Anonymous
Philip Williams what are you talking about? WHO is HE in 2Thes Ricky Grimsley long ago established he aint got a clue either …
Anonymous
Troy Day ‘He’ is the Lord! The context is what holds back his Coming, which is the power of sin in the church! The man of lawlessness is man in the church proclaiming himself God, pretty much how many churches operate.
Anonymous
Philip Williams the Lord is in Heaven – are you saying the Body of the Lord is the real restrainer here Ricky Grimsley dont want to admit?
Anonymous
Troy Day sin in the church, temple, body of Christ restrains the Lord’s return.
Anonymous
Troy Day nope. The restrainer is Michael
Anonymous
Ricky Grimsley which makes you a mormon or a moron
Anonymous
It is implied by the Holy Spirit only.
Anonymous
Duane L Burgess well now reformed Kyle Williams will tell you IF Holy Spirit is taken NO one will be getting saved during the Tribulation
Anonymous
Duane L Burgess
IF the Holy Spirit is removed no one could be saved during the Tribulation and Philip Williams Link Hudson Ricky Grimsley will be all out of luck with Kyle Williams
Anonymous
Should be translated ‘the thing holding back Jesus’s Coming’ which is the sinfulness of man in the Church removed at the separation of the wheat and tares at the end of the age.