Many of the people in the church of the Thessalonians had been told by false or misguided teachers that the rapture and resurrection of the Church had already taken place. This was the same rumor that had been told to the church that Timothy belonged to, 2^nd Timothy 2:16-18.
16: But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17: And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18: Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Paul wanted the Thessalonians to know that the resurrection and rapture of the church had not come and wanted them to have peace and not to be soon shaken or troubled. But know that it could not happen until there was a great falling away and that the man of sin, the Antichrist would be revealed. The resurrection and rapture would follow these events. The way he would be revealed would be that those who saw him would see him declare himself to be God in the Temple; this is the sign that this is the Antichrist. He may be revealed many other ways when events begin to point to him, but this will be a positive revelation of him. So events must occur that will allow the Antichrist to end up in the Temple and declare he himself is God. This event will happen at the middle of Daniel's seventieth week. He also said that there was someone or something preventing this event from happening. A restrainer holds back this power from coming into play.

There is a lot of controversy over this mystery in the Bible. Many ideas and thoughts have come out of the minds of those who study Bible prophecy, some pan out and some don't, however as the time of the end draws closer and closer more light is being shown to us than ever before on topics like this.

In Paul's letter to the Thessalonians he brought to their remembrance some of the things that he had taught them in the past.
2^nd Thessalonians: 2:
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:

The word "let" in verse 7 means to "withhold" just as verse 6. It is the Greek word "Katecho" used in verse 6 as "withholdeth" and again as the word "letteth" in verse 7. To refrain, hinder or withhold is the basic meaning of this word according to Strongs Concordance. This means that there is a power of some sort holding back the mystery of iniquity. In verse 7 Paul said that the mystery of iniquity was already working. The Apostle John said the same thing in his letters

1^stJohn: 4:3: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2^ndJohn: 1:7: For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

There are some that teach that the mystery of iniquity is just a mystery of sin in itself but I believe that Paul is speaking specifically about the Antichrist because this is the point he is trying to make, not a generalization of sin. He is talking about the Antichrist and the spirit of anti-Christ as well. The spirit of anti-Christ is every where even in America. The ACLU and other groups including atheist are lead about with the spirit of anti-Christ. But there is coming a leader that opposes Jesus in every way and he is a religious leader not an atheist and he will claim to be God bringing about the destruction of millions of souls through his teachings.

Who or what is this power that is holding back the Antichrist and his nations from coming into power? Some believe and teach that it is the Holy Spirit that is doing this. That he is the restrainer of evil and when the rapture occurs that he will be taken out and then the Antichrist will receive power to do his thing. This line of thinking is an invention to support pre-tribulation rapture theory. It is not possible for this to be the Holy Spirit in this case. The reason this cannot be is that there are people who will be saved during the Tribulation, it is the Holy Spirit that draws men to Christ. If he isn't here, they could never come to Christ it's just that simple.

Some believe that Michael the arc angel is the "restrainer" because he fights against dark angels and powers in the heavens, as in the story of Daniel and the dark angel called the prince of Persia. I believe this as well because the earth is greatly influenced by the powers in the heavens by both bad and good. In the twentieth chapter of Daniel God gives us the answer to this mystery. Daniel had been seeking God through prayer and fasting for 21 days. At the end of his fast an angel came from God with the answer to his prayer. He explained to Daniel that God heard his prayer on the first day. In the story we see that he came with the answer on the first day but the prince of Persia an evil angel intercepted him in the heavens and they did battle for 21 days. Finally Michael came to his rescue and fought back the prince of Persia. In verse 21 the angel explains that only Michael stood against these powers to help him. He said that he was going to go back to help Michael fight against the prince of Persia but told him that the prince of Greece was on his way.

I believe that Michael has many of heaven's angels under his authority to help him hold back the powers of darkness. I also believe that God allows nations and leaders of nations to arise and to make choices, but when it comes to certain things they are only allowed to go so far. This is where the battle between angels takes place. It is when these nations or men try to go beyond the bounds that God establishes for certain things to happen. The battles between angels have an affect on the outcome of the attempts that men assume to make.

One of the things that has opened up my mind to receive the light on this "restrainer' is an event that just recently occurred in Iraq. This revelation comes from the thoughts of those that are lead and deceived by the spirit of antichrist. It is eye opening. On October 03, 2006 Times on line came out with an article called "Waiting for the imam's return to Earth." In this article they said that Moqtada al-Sadr believes that the U.S. invaded Iraq to prevent the Mahdi, or the 12th imam from coming. al-Sadr told a crowd of thousands that the U.S. was gathering a very large gathering of information on this Madhi that is to come and all they need is a picture so that they can kill him when he does come. This is what he said, "Did you ever ask yourself about why all this, the bloodshed and the prisons? Why are the brothers fighting each other for a political game planned by the Americans? This all happened because they (the Americans) are waiting for the Mahdi and they just need his picture to complete it."

Hojatoleslam al-Sadr and his advisers are convinced that the Americans want to destroy Islam and stop the Mahdi. "The Americans are trying to hijack Islamic movements. They think that these are serving the Mahdi's interests. Whatever they did in Afghanistan and Iraq are all attempts to hijack the Mahdi's return."

This Madhi is the Messiah that Islam is expecting to return and lead Islam in a Holy Jihad (war) against Israel, America and all the nations that refuse to accept the religion of Islam. They believe that at the time the Islamic nations are strong enough to defeat these people that the Madhi will come out of a cave in the desert. That he will be the returned 12th imam that disappeared in the year 868 coming back to bring justice to the Earth. Of course this justice is to kill every living Christian and Jew in the world. He is expected to come out of the desert to be met in Damascus Syria by none other than Jesus himself who they believe died and was buried somewhere in Israel. This resurrected Jesus will meet with the Mahdi in Damascus where they will pray together and then work together to kill everyone on the face of the Earth who does not receive the prophet Mohammed and Allah as their God. Remember Jesus said, "When they say I am in the desert or here or there, believe it not."

When looking at the beast in Revelation 13:1 we are reminded who some of the nations of the Antichrist will be. From what the book of Daniel taught us it is very clear who some of these nations will be. The mouth of the lion on this beast is Iraq, the bear's feet on the beast are Iran, and the body of this beast is made up of Egypt, Syria, Macedonia and Thrace. Iraq will play a very strong role because it shows Iraq as the mouth of the lion. I doubt very seriously that the Antichrist will come from Iraq because of other prophecies. In Daniel it says that he will come from one of the four nations that were under Alexander the Great's kingdom. Iraq is the old nation of Babylon and doesn't come from any of these. The fact that they are shown as a mouth of a lion is significant in this way. A lion roars very loud sometimes to the point of shaking the ground. You certainly notice when he speaks. I believe that Iraq is going to give a very strong voice of support for the Antichrist and will help convince millions of Muslims to follow after him. This will be the most notable thing about them. But in order for this to happen something is going to have to take place in that part of the world.

America and her allies in Iraq are going to have to leave. I believe that it is American presence in Iraq and Afghanistan that is preventing Iran and Syria from teaming up with the Hezbollah and trying to invade Israel. America stands between Iran and their allies or they would destroy Israel. The Iraqis are right about one thing in their belief and that is that America is preventing the Muslim nations from becoming strong enough to began an invasion on Israel and America. This could not be if it wasn't for the fact that Michael the arc angel is causing this to be. I am sure that heaven has helped America in this effort. But the time for America to step down from this role on the world stage has got to happen in order for the Antichrist to make his appearance.

Iran will soon have nuclear power; Korea has already attained this. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that Korea gives Iran the information they need to accomplish this goal as well. Most nations do not understand what God has been doing with America. Most of the liberal professors that are teaching our colleges are ignorant to this and are constantly trying to undermine this action that America takes when it comes to world powers. They think that we are trying to be a bully in the world. But, if it weren't for America doing what it does, the world would be in a lot worse shape than it is. Soon America will pull out of Iraq both because the politicians will make their case and cause us to step down or because of some other persuasion. But it will happen and Iraq will fall into the hands of the Antichrist and his Islamic regime. All of these things will eventually lead to a union of Islamic nations. Once they gain enough power they will do what the Devil intends for them to do.

I believe that Michael is the restrainer. I also believe that while he wages war in the heavenly atmosphere, or spiritual world, that he uses men and nations on earth. He does this in order to bring about the results that he knows are God's wants and will. In order to understand the way this happens takes a number of scriptures. Around the middle of last seven years Satan will be fighting harder than ever to gain control over the earth through the spirit of anti-Christ. God will at that time make the decision to cast him out of the heavenly atmosphere where this demonic warfare takes place all the time.
Revelation 12: 7: And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8: And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9: And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

When Michael casts the Devil and his angels to the earth at the middle of the last 7 years Satan will go into the Antichrist to live in his body until Jesus comes back at the time of the end. According to Daniel, Michael's position will change from the heavenly to earthly and he will stand on this earth to fight against Satan and the Antichrist on the earth. This is how Michael the restrainer is taken out of the way. He will no longer be needed to fight in the heavens because after the battle ends in the heavens it will continue to be fought upon the earth.
Daniel 12:
1: And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Michael will stand up for Israel and help them to escape from the Antichrist at the time of his invasion giving them a helping hand through out the remainder of the Tribulation during the last 3 and a half years. Many things will happen after Satan and his angels are defeated in the heavens. Satan will enter the Antichrist, invade Israel and very quickly go into the New Temple in Jerusalem. There he will declare himself to be God. This is the abomination of desolation that Daniel spoke about. Michael will give Israel a helping hand as they escape to the place that God prepares for them. He will then call for seven nations to come and fight against the Antichrist and his people that have now occupied Israel.

Over the next few years the Antichrist and his nations will be driven out of Israel all the way back to the river Euphrates in Iraq. At that time the Antichrist will send out ambassadors to other nations to ask for help, China will be one of these nations. China will enter the war and world war three will erupt. I am sure that America will be one of the countries that will fight for Israel. The Islamic people hate us just as much as they hate Israel. After China enters the war all of the nations that Michael called to help will be driven back to Jerusalem where the line will be drawn. Michael will not allow it to go any farther than this. Then Christ will return to gather the Church, eat the marriage supper in heaven, and then return to destroy these armies that are gathered against Jerusalem in the valley of Megido. Michael the arc angel, the restrainer will play a great role in all of this.

To bottom line all of the thought in this teaching is this: Michael fought against the prince of Persia which was an evil angel that was in charge of a region of power that Satan promoted on the earth. Michael was not fighting to free that region from that power but only fought to get Daniel's prayer answered. Dark angels are in power over different false religions, governments and earthly powers and are only allowed to do what God will allow them to do. God can and does bring these powers down or allows their continuance only according to his will. In order for the Antichrist to be revealed God will have to move his angel out of the way to allow the Islamic nations to come into power. At this moment this is not happening because Michael is blocking the Dark angel of Islam and keeping them from coming together. This is restraining this power from coming into existence. Only when they come together will the Antichrist become known to the Church. The way Michael is taken out of the way will simply be that God will ask him to step aside long enough for all of these things to happen. I hope you are able to understand this concept, thank you.

Your brother in Christ
Tommie Spurgeon