Paul tells us "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the world" (2 Thess. 2:7).
Evil is now working full-blown in the world but will increase when the Holy Spirit is moved from the earth. This is what the apostle is saying in this passage of Scripture. "Lawlessness" is present now in the world and it is having an effect. By writing "mystery" Paul refers to that which is "too profound for human ingenuity" (BAG), or that is mysterious or illusive in its nature and cannot be comprehended, though evident for it can be seen. Lawlessness is a dark spiritual force that is inspired by Satan himself. It is a rebellion and is in conflict with all that God is and that He sets forth as truth. The man of lawlessness (v. 3), whose power is presently at work in the world, will someday be revealed.
"Already" and even now this attitude of confusion, this lawlessness, is working itself (producing energy). The voice of the verb (a middle or passive in Greek) is important for interpretation. If it is a passive voice, that it means that rebellion against God is going on now. Alford takes lawlessness as "ungodliness—refusal to recognize God's law. Since ungodliness is mysterious, going on now, and it cannot be manifested fully, "its real character and full scope are not yet disclosed." Though rebellion was obvious in Paul's day.
It would someday be evident, this spirit of lawlessness would be incarnate in "the man of lawlessness." This would be when the man of lawlessness would be revealed, the man of sin, the Anti-Christ.
"Only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way." The masculine article "Ho" in front of the participle ("the one who is restraining," or "the Restrainer" - supporting the idea that this is the Holy Spirit.)
This is the only answer that makes sense, though some believe the Holy Spirit leaves the earth when the Church is raptured. Although the Spirit of God has a vital ministry with the Church during this present age of grace. He is still operative during the Tribulation. Men will still come to saving faith during this terrible period, and that work will be accomplished by the Holy Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit, who is the Restrainer, restrains sin until a certain time period comes about. Then the Restrainer "should become" or come into being! In Greek the passage actually says "He simply moves over, He does not leave." The change has to do with His restraining work not His salvation work.
The Holy Spirit was hindering or restraining when this epistle was written, but He has continued to do so, and will "until He be taken out of the way," or probably more accurately "until He becomes out of the way." "The Spirit shall become out of one sphere into another," or "He that withholds, disappears from the midst, or is taken out of the way, removed." (Ellicott)
Some say "ginomai" cannot be translated "to be taken out of the way," but evidence exists to the contrary that is well in line with Greek usage. "The phrase is used of any person or thing which is taken out of the way. … He that hinders shall be removed" (Alford).
"Ek" with the various verbs it uses can read, "removal out of the way, or midst." That there was someone in the way, the Holy Spirit, who would in the future be taken out of the way, is palpably the point (Ritchie). To be taken out of the way is not to be entirely
removed.
As already hinted at above, the middle voice of "ginomai" may prove helpful in fully understanding this passage. Since the verb "ginomai" is deponent in form it may not denote removal by an outside force but instead be indicating a determined act on the part of the subject, the Restrainer. "The Holy Spirit is going to move out of the way, He is not going to be taken out of the way." Many commentators miss this distinction. The Holy Spirit will continue to exist in order to save the lost during the Tribulation. --Dr. Mal Couch (Thessalonian Commentary, AMG)
