2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
A major spiritual shift takes place. The restrainer is removed.
2 Thessalonians 2:7
Lawlessness appeals to the sin nature, or rebellion of man, rejects every boundary of God, and throws off all temperance in life.
The lawless one is already at work!
After the rapture, he will be without restraint.
There are two major theories regarding the restrainer:
1. The Holy Spirit
2. The Church
1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 John 3:24
Prayer is a great restraining power.
When the restrainer is removed, Satan will be free to push mankind lower and lower.
At some point, Satan will offer the same deal to the Antichrist that he offered to Jesus.Matthew 4:8-9
The beginning of the tribulation is marked by the Antichrist making a peace deal with Israel.
Many theologians believe there will be some brief period of time between the rapture and the start of the tribulation.
Settle this in your mind: the enemy will never have peace with the Jew or with the Christian.
After the rapture, Satan will turn his destructive attention to Israel.
It is the Battle of Gog and Magog.
America seems to be non-existent. There are three theories for this:
1. We have been weakened by the rapture.
2. We have lost our power in some war or collapse.
3. We have lost our will to support Israel.
This force will be overwhelming, but it will be destroyed by God in four acts.
Ezekiel 38:18-23
There is debate about when this battle takes place.
1. Some say just after the tribulation begins.
2. Others say before the tribulation begins.
In the last days, terrible times shall come.