SUN SEP 11 2022
THE RESTRAINER OF EVIL – Pastor Chris
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7 ESV).
There’re three restrainers of evil the Bible talks about; one is the government. Romans 13:1-4 tells us that the powers that be are ordained of God and that they’re established to restrain evil. The second restrainer of evil is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “And when He (the Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8 NKJV).
The third restrainer of evil is the Church. Jesus said we’re the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), and when light shines, darkness recedes. Among these three restrainers of evil, the Church is the one who restrains evil by the power of the Holy Spirit. The scripture states that the restrainer will be “taken out of the way.” That certainly wouldn’t be referring to government, because there’ll be governments during the reign of the Antichrist. In fact, when the Antichrist comes, he’ll establish a government.
Also, the Holy Spirit won’t be removed from the earth after the Antichrist is revealed, because He’s going to cause 144,000 Jewish men to carry out ministry in the earth after the Rapture. The Bible tells us a large multitude of people gave their hearts to the Lord during the Great Tribulation, and the only way those people could have been saved is through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
So, out of the three restrainers of evil, only the Church will be taken away before the Antichrist is manifested. The Church is expected by God to restrain evil today. We’re the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14). When we decree a thing, it’s established unto us. Satan can’t lord it over the nations; he can’t perpetuate his wickedness in the nations of the world and in the lives of men as he desires to because we’re putting him in check. We’ll continue to restrain him and reign gloriously in the earth by Jesus Christ until the Rapture takes place. Glory to God!
PRAYER / CONFESSION
Thank you, Lord, for your grace upon your Church as we reign by grace through righteousness, illuminating the nations and hearts of men with your light and truth. We restrain the forces of darkness from lording it over the nations; your righteousness, peace, mercy and truth prevail in our streets, in our schools, cities and nations, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 AMPC
6 And now you know what is restraining him [from being revealed at this time]; it is so that he may be manifested (revealed) in his own [appointed] time.7 For the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until [a]he who restrains is taken out of the way.8 And then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming.
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
2 Corinthians 11:1-15; Proverbs 29-31
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
2 Thessalonians 3:11-18; Jeremiah 29
