As we meditate upon this portion of scripture, ask the Holy Spirit for revelation as well as the mind of Christ. My word for you today is a prophetic word, ‘for such a time is this’.
2 Thessalonians 2 begins with… “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ AND our gathering together to Him” – The Holy Spirit is addressing TWO subjects here that are to take place in the last days… firstly, the return of Jesus to earth together with the church, and secondly, ‘the gathering together to Him”. These are two separate events as laid out clearly in scripture and as emphasized here by the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit goes on to commend His church ‘not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter’. No matter what is going on around you right now… DO NOT BE SHAKEN! Be strong in the POWER of His might, in Jesus Name! Do not forget who you are! You are a king and a priest in Christ and you are RULING on earth in His Name! The devil is under your feet and he cannot harm you! You are in the secret place of the Most High (Jesus) and you are SAFE under His wings. Though a thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand may fall at your right hand, the plague shall not come near you!
The Holy Spirit continues in verse 3-4 - Let no one deceive you by any means; for ‘the second coming of Jesus’ will not come unless the falling away (the departure) comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition (the antichrist).
The Greek noun translated as falling away is ‘apostasia’, usually translated “apostasy,” should be translated “departure.” The word is a Greek compound of apo “from” and istemi “stand.” Thus, it has the core meaning of “away from” or “departure.” The first seven English translations of apostasia all rendered the noun as either “departure” or “departing.”
Some believe that there will be a great rebellion and falling away in the church in the last days… that may be the case with some religious, philosophy oriented, wordily people who have a form of godliness, but deny the POWER, but that is NOT what this scripture is referring to. This scripture is referring to the ‘gathering together of the church in Jesus’, to the departure of the church known as the catching away, or the rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (AMP) says, “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the [blast of the] trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord!”
Verse six and seven says… ‘And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 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.’
The Passion Translation says, ‘For the mystery of lawlessness is already active, but the one who prevails will do so until he is separated from out of the midst.
New Living Translation says, ‘For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.’
HE WHO RESTRAINS IS THE CHURCH!
It cannot be the Holy Spirit, since people will be saved during the tribulation when the antichrist is ruling.
HE WHO RESTRAINS IS YOU AND I!
We reign as kings and priests in Christ and we have total dominion authority over every work of the devil! We rule, and as long as you and I use our authority in Christ, the entre plan of the devil will be held back and restrained. When The Lord removes us, the antichrist will be revealed and will take over.
Do not be pushed around by this antichrist system! You and I are in charge under the dominion authority of Jesus! Remember as you have been taught… we rule by decree as kings and priests in Christ! Stand your ground, bind the devil, decree PEACE, prosperity and freedom! Arrest COVID-19 and all of the powers of darkness associated with it – bind them up and cast them into the sea, in Jesus Name!
As we take our place, the Holy Spirit will be poured out on all flesh… the former and the latter rain together… the greatest revival ever! Then, as we stand in VICTORY, Jesus will take us as His triumphant church! Glory be to God… what a day that will be!
Blessings on you, Nick
