Who is the Restrainer in The Bible?

Answer 1

GOD the father. Generically speaking it is "God"

However the Bible is far more specific in pointing to the Arch Angel Michael and the

Church ie the body of Christ residing on Earth Currently

For details biblical studies on who or what references are mentioned, see the related link.

Answer:

If this is asking about Paul's warning to the Thessalonian Gentile church about their apprehension regarding Jesus' return to "gather them to Him" and the "Day of the Lord" [II Thess.2:1-2 - NIV; 'the Day of Christ' - KJV]... neither the KJV nor the NIV use the word "restrain." But, the Literal Bible says:

"And now the thing restraining you know, for to be revealed him in the of him time." (verse 6)

And: "the For mystery already works of lawlessness, only he restraining now, until out of {the} middle it comes." (verse 7)

(KJV - verse 6): "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time."

(NIV): "And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed in the proper time."

(KJV - verse 7): "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."

(NIV): "For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way."

Paul was very cryptic here... but he was warning the church that the Day of the Lord wouldn't come until the "man of sin" was first revealed... and a great FALLING AWAY FROM THE CHURCH occurred [verse 3]. A GREAT APOSTASY!

Most modern professing Christians don't realize that the expectations of the early church were a lot different from what the Christianity of today expects.

Paul preached the coming of Christ back to earth with the Kingdom of God. He expected it... the church was "anxious" and concerned about it.

But, today... you don't hear much about it. All you hear about is "going to heaven."

Of this apostsy of the church, Matthew Henry says:

"...Something hindered or withheld the man of sin. It is supposed to be the power of the Roman Empire, which the apostle did not mention more plainly at that time. Corruption of doctrine and worship came in by degrees, and the usurping of power was gradual; thus the mystery of iniquity prevailed. Superstition and idolatry were advanced by pretended devotion, and bigotry and persecution were promoted by pretended zeal for God and his glory. This mystery of iniquity was even then begun; while the apostles were yet living, persons pretended zeal for Christ, but really opposed him..." (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: II Thess.2:5-12)

The Truth of the matter is that is was PAUL who was the restrainer.

It was he whom God commissioned to plant the seeds of God's Truth in the Gentile churches... that "all the families of the earth" would in the end be blessed; God's promise of Salvation.

The church was under heavy opposition and persecution [from within and without] from the beginning... and Paul was constantly at work weeding out the heresies, the pagan idols, gods and practices that the Gentiles had been taught, grew up with and brought with them, and all the "false gospels" that tried to creep in -- the works of Satan, all.

Even Paul was expecting Jesus to return in his lifetime with the Kingdom. Even he was constantly expecting the "Day of the Lord" to occur at any time. This is revealed in his description of Jesus' return in his first letter to the Thessalonians, when he included himself as being among the "living" who would follow the resurrection of the "dead in Christ" into the clouds:

"...the dead in Christ shall rise first: then WE WHICH ARE ALIVE and REMAIN shall be caught up together with them..." (I Thess.4:16-17).

He became otherwise informed, however, that he wouldn't be among "those who remain" sometime between writing the first Thessalonians' letter and the second -- but would be one of the "dead in Christ" who will rise first.

Paul knew that he was about to be "taken out of the way"... the protecter of the Faith and Doctrines among the churches... the RESTRAINER who held back the anti-christ teachings -- and that the apostasy would come into the church of God on earth and the "man of lawlessness" would be revealed to those with the eyes to see.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itchy ears; and they shall turn away from the Truth, and shall turn to fables [like Santa Claus and Easter Bunnies?]... FOR I AM NOW READY TO BE OFFERED, andTHE TIME OF MY DEPARTURE IS AT HAND. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me AT THAT DAY [the Day of the Lord, the Day of the gathering of the saints into the clouds at Jesus' return]: and not to me only, but unto all them also the love His appearing." (II Tim.4:3-8 NIV)

Paul had come to know the Truth, that he wouldn't be one of those who remained and would be alive on earth when Jesus returned -- but would be, instead, one of the "dead in Christ" who would "rise first."

Paul was the "restrainer" among the early Gentile churches who kept away the coming apostasy -- the coming twisted perversion of God's Truth and pagan insertions that pass for doctrine and gospel in these last days. Teachings that no longer preach belief in the Lord's return and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth; but, in its carnal impatience, preaches "going to heaven to meet Him" instead.

"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who Loved us and by His Grace gave us Eternal encouragement and Good Hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." (II Thess.2:15-17 NIV)