Have you ever felt held back? Like someone in your life, a boss, a parent, a friend, a spouse, told you that you could not do something you felt like doing? What did that feel like? Did it feel oppressive? Did it feel frustrating? Did it make you angry? Imagine how the hordes of hell are feeling right now. They are being held back by the Elohim. We all feel it, we all see it. Evil beings are angry, frustrated, and attempting to fight the saints. We are under spiritual attack today, but what we are experiencing is nothing compared to what is coming in the tribulation. The principalities, powers, and demons, are all in step with the world ruler of darkness. Yet their time is held back until the Elohim stops holding them down. Something has to happen for the Elohim to stop holding back the arrival of the son of perdition. Paul explains.
There is an evil individual who wants to be a world ruler, who will trick many into believing that he is a worldly messiah. Satanas has someone in line because he knows that the time is close. Satanas is not all knowing and not all powerful, he has as much knowledge about the start of end time events as we do. Paul told us that the Elohim is holding down this false messiah’s uprising. He said it twice in just a few short verses. First, he says that the son of perdition cannot come to power until the assembly is gathered. Then he says the Elohim is holding back this evil son of destruction until the arising out from the middle. After the arising out from the middle, the son of perdition is uncovered, apokaluptō.
Last week we looked at the great divorce, the time when the redeemed of Yahweh leave the earth. Paul says that at the time of his letter it was not the Day of Christ, the Day of the Lord, because the defection, divorce, has to happen first. Then the son of perdition is revealed. Paul made it clear that the divorce happens first, before other events. He then goes on to explain it a second time with a bit of added information he wants us to know.
Paul calls this gathered group of people the episunagōgē, epi, above, and sunagō (sun, together, agō led away). Episunagōgē is the noun form of the verb episunagō. The episunagōgoē is a noun, genitive case, singular, and feminine (Robinsons Morphological Analysis Codes). In the genitive it shows possession, origin, or separation. This noun is also singular and feminine. The episunagōgē is an event, a one time event, and is in the feminine. It is the “above led away together” event. The church, ekklesia, the called out, assembly, is feminine. This event is the church, the above assembly. This is sometimes translated like a verb adding an “ing” to the word, assembling or gathering, but the word is a noun, a person, place, or thing, it is not in motion. The episunagōgē is an above assembly, not an above assembling. The above assembly takes place once, not multiple times, its is singular. This is why the redeemed are all redeemed at once, the dead in Christ rise first and the living join them in the air on the Day of Redemption. Now let’s look at the verse.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 G2065 And we ask G1161 G1473 you, G80 brethren, G5228 concerning G3588 the G3952 arrival G3588 G2962 of our Lord G1473 G* Jesus G5547 Christ, G2532 and G1473 our G1997 assembling together above assembly or complete collection G1909 unto G1473 him,
We see how changing from a noun to a verb throws off our understanding of the event. The event itself is a noun, singular, or a one time event, and it is feminine, as the ekklesia, the bride of Christ. The church is always feminine as Jesus Messiah is the bridegroom. The event of the rapture or harpazo has many different words used to describe the same thing, in this case instead of emphasizing the seizing, using harpazo, Paul says above assembly. Later Paul will explain the harpazo a different way.
Today we get to dive into the deep end with research. Paul’s letter writing has some pitfalls as we cannot tell the tone or inflection of the writer/speaker, or the mood of the writer/speaker. Paul had someone writing his letters, and the writer used the specific Greek words to communicate Paul’s emotions. The LXX-WH gives us the breakdown of each word with Robinsons’ Morphological Analysis Codes and sometimes Strongs Codes, so that we can accurately understand the word used. As we know from previous study, translators either misunderstood and misused words based on their own theological denominations’ philosophies or they were trying to work Paul’s words into a smooth English sentence. This is why, even though reading Paul’s words from the Greek are clunky, they are more accurate than the transliteration.
2 Thessalonians 2:5 G3756 Do you not G3421 remember G3754 that G2089 still G1510.6 being G4314 with G1473 you, G3778 [2these things G3004 1I said] G1473 to you?
We see here that Paul is trying to clear up the confusion that entered in with false teachers and false prophets.
2 Thessalonians 2:6 G2532 And G3568 now G3588 the one G2722 constraining G1492 you know, G1519 for G3588 the G601 uncovering G1473 him G1722 in G3588 G1438 his own G2540 time.
2 Thessalonians 2:6 G2532 CONJ και G3568 ADV νυν G3588 T-ASN το G2722 [G5723] V-PAP-ASN κατεχον G1492 [G5758] V-RAI-2P οιδατε G1519 PREP εις G3588 T-ASN το G601 [G5683] V-APN αποκαλυφθηναι G846 P-ASM αυτον G1722 PREP εν G3588 T-DSM τω G846 P-GSN | αυτου G1438 F-3GSM | εαυτου G2540 N-DSM | καιρω
“And now at this very time the downward holding, know, into the apocalypse, he in the his self proper time.”
We need to look at some of the words used in this verse as the ideas that Paul communicates are important. Now at this very time, today, this present time, the katechō, know. We are to know the katechō.
2722 LSJ Gloss:κατέχω to hold fast
Dodson:κατέχω I hold fast, bind, restrain(a) I hold fast, bind, arrest, (b) I take possession of, lay hold of, (c) I hold back, detain, restrain, (d) I hold a ship, keep its head.
TBESG:κατέχω to hold back/fast
G:V
κατ-έχω
[in LXX for אָחַז, חָזַק hi., etc. ;]
__1. perfective of ἔχω (M, Pr., 116; M, Th., 155),
__(a) to possess, hold fast:
__(b) to lay hold of, get possession of: Luk.14:9.
__2. to hold back, detain, restrain (M, Th., 156 f.): with accusative before τοῦ μή with inf., Luk.4:42; before πρός, with accusative, Phm 13; absol., τὸ κατέχον (ὁ κ.), 2Th.2:6-7.
__3. Intrans., as nautical term, to put in, make for (LS, see word): Act.27:40.†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) to hold back, detain, retain
1a) from going away
1b) to restrain, hinder (the course or progress of)
1b1) that which hinders, Antichrist from making his appearance
1b2) to check a ship's headway i.e. to hold or head the ship
1c) to hold fast, keep secure, keep firm possession of
2) to get possession of, take
2b) to possess
κατέχω
katechō kat-ekh'-o From G2596 and G2192; to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, X make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.
The word katechō is a compound word, but let’s look at the tense first. The LXX-WH includes the tense voice, and the mood.
V-PAP-ASN - Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes
Tense: Present
Voice: Active
Mood: Participle
Case: Accusative
Number: Singular
Gender: Neuter
The downward holding is present tense. That means it is still current and still holding. It is in the active voice which emphasizes the doer and the doer is the one from heaven downward to earth. The mood is a participle which has characteristics of both verbs and nouns. It is accusative which answers to who or what. It is singular, and neuter, a one time verb with no gender. Therefore katechō is a present and active verb, and we would understand it as katechō-ing. As a compound word we see kata, “downward from heaven to earth”, and echō “to hold”. It is in regard to time, now.
2596
κατά
kata kat-ah' A primary particle; (preposition) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case [genitive, dative or accusative] with which it is joined)
2192
ἔχω
echō ekh'-o A primary verb (including an alternate form σχέω scheō skheh'-o used in certain tenses only); to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession, ability, contiguity, relation or condition)
Katechō-ing is downward holding or holding down. We are to know who is holding down, which is still happening in our day. This is still an active reality, still taking place.
The next word to look at is eidō, “know”.
1492 Dodson:οἶδα I know, remember I know, remember, appreciate.
TBESG:εἴδω to know
G:V
οἶδα, (from same root as εἶδον, which see),
[in LXX chiefly for ידע ;] pf. with pres. meaning (plpf. as impf.; on irregular tense-forms, see App.),
to have seen or perceived, hence, to know, have knowledge of: with accusative of thing(s),
with accusative of person(s),
θεόν,
with accusative and inf., Luk.4:41, al.; before ὅτι,
before quaest. indir.,
with inf., to know how (cl.),
in unique sense of respect, appreciate: 1Th.5:12 (but see also ICC on 1Th.4:4).
SYN.: see: γινώσκω. (AS)
Thayer:
1) to see
1a) to perceive with the eyes
1b) to perceive by any of the senses
1c) to perceive, notice, discern, discover
1d) to see
1d1) i.e. to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything
1d2) to pay attention, observe
1d3) to see about something
1d31) i.e. to ascertain what must be done about it
1d4) to inspect, examine
1d5) to look at, behold
1e) to experience any state or condition
1f) to see i.e. have an interview with, to visit
2) to know
2a) to know of anything
2b) to know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive
2b1) of any fact
2b2) the force and meaning of something which has definite meaning
2b3) to know how, to be skilled in
2c) to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (
1Th. 5:12)
For Synonyms see entry G5825
εἴδω
eidō i'-do A primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent, G3700 and G3708; properly to see (literally or figuratively); by implication (in the perfect only) to know KJV Usage: be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) known (-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wist, wot.
V-RAI-2P - Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes
Tense: peRrfect
Voice: Active
Mood: Indicative
Person: second
Number: Plural
The word eidō is a perfect tense verb, meaning completed action, but is also active voice emphasizing the reader. The mood is indicative meaning it is showing objective reality of eidō, “knowings”. Knowing the “holding down” is our comprehension. Second person means “us” or all of us. And plural means we are to know more than one thing regarding the downward holding, “knowings”. Every day we are to know and be aware of the "downward holding” which is presently active in our time. The downward holding is until the uncovering.
601 LSJ Gloss:ἀποκαλύπτω to uncover
Dodson:ἀποκαλύπτω I uncover, bring to light, reveal.
TBESG:ἀποκαλύπτω to reveal
G:V
ἀπο-καλύπτω
[in LXX chiefly for גָּלָה ]
__1. in general sense (cl.), to reveal, uncover, disclose,
__(a) of things:
__(b) of persons: pass., Christ, Luk.17:30; Antichrist,
__2. In LXX and NT, in special sense of divine revelation: Mat.11:25 (on the tense, see M, Pr., 136), ib.
(Westc., Eph., 178 f.; M, Th., 149 f.).†
SYN.: φανερόω (see Thayer, 62; Cremer, 342).† (AS)
Thayer:
1) to uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up
1a) disclose, make bare
2) to make known, make manifest, disclose what before was unknown
For Synonyms see entry G5812
ἀποκαλύπτω
apokaluptō ap-ok-al-oop'-to From G575 and G2572; to take off the cover, that is, disclose KJV Usage: reveal.
V-APN - Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes
Tense: Aorist
Voice: Passive
Mood: iNfinitive
The word apokaluptō is in the aorists tense which describes an action of the past that does not specify duration or completion. It focuses on the occurrence of the action. What is the action? The uncovering. It is in the passive voice meaning it is in reference to the action or the recipient, the object of the action, and is in the infinitive mood, meaning non-finite, action without tense. What was the past object of the action? The answer is found in the compound word kaluptō, which is of the compound word apokaluptō.
575
ἀπό
apo apo' A primary particle; “off” , that is, away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: (X here-) after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for (-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-) on (-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.
2572
καλύπτω
kaluptō kal-oop'-to Akin to G2813 and G2928; to cover up (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: cover, hide.
Here is where we understand the past object of the action. What was the action? The stealing and concealing.
2813
κλέπτω
kleptō klep'-to A primary verb; to filch KJV Usage: steal.
2928
κρύπτω
kruptō kroop'-to A primary verb; to conceal (properly by covering) KJV Usage: hide (self), keep secret, secret [-ly].
What was the object of the action? Satanas stole and hid the rulership of the world from the human inhabitants until Jesus exposed him as the god of this world. Why hide it? Most people would not follow a kleptomaniac or a usurper who has no creative power or special ability. Therefore Satanas hid behind the Creator, Yahweh Elohim, and blamed all the world’s bad and evil happenings on Yahweh Elohim. Jesus Messiah exposed who is really in charge of the chaotic world. He will be uncovered as soon as the holding down is released as the son of perdition comes in the power of Satanas.
We are also supposed to know who is holding down the apocalypse, the uncovering of what has been stolen and hidden. If we notice the compound of kaluptō is kleptō, which is where we get our understanding of a kleptomaniac, someone who steals for the sake of stealing, and kruptō hides what was stolen. The uncovering is being held down until it is time for the son of perdition to be revealed. Go back to the context, the son of perdition will be revealed at the time of the uncovering. The stealing and hiding is past tense, the action of apo, “off” is taking the lid off what was stolen and hidden.
We are looking at three verbs, three action words here, the downward holding, katechō, knowings, eidō, and uncovering, apokaluptō. Since there were no punctuation marks, and we know Paul likes run on sentences, adding parenthetical phrases without markings into his letters, we have to boil everything down to the words themselves. The katechō is ongoing. We should eidō more than one thing about this. The apokaluptō will be in the proper time.
“And now at this very time the downward holding, know, into the apocalypse, he in the his self proper time.”
We are supposed to know the downward holding until the apocalypse. We are supposed to be aware that while we are on the earth the downward holding is still in place. Why? The Elohim says so. Simply because we have the indwelling of the Heavenly Father, the Son our Messiah, and the Holy Spirit, who can never be ripped out of a believer in Jesus Messiah. The believers have to leave before the son of perdition is uncovered as greater is he in us than he that is in the world.
With those three action words in mind, the downward holding, knowings, and uncovering, let’s understand the mystery of lawlessness.
2 Thessalonians 2: 7 G3588 For the G1063 G3466 mystery G2235 [2already G1754 3operates G3588 G458 1of lawlessness], G3440 only G3588 there is the one G2722 constraining G737 just now G2193 until G1537 [2out of G3319 3 the midst G1096 1he should be].
2 Thessalonians 2:7 G3588 T-NSN το G1063 CONJ γαρ G3466 N-NSN μυστηριον G2235 ADV ηδη G1754 [G5731] V-PMI-3S ενεργειται G3588 T-GSF της G458 N-GSF ανομιας G3440 ADV μονον G3588 T-NSM ο G2722 [G5723] V-PAP-NSM κατεχων G737 ADV αρτι G2193 CONJ εως G1537 PREP εκ G3319 A-GSN μεσου G1096 [G5638] V-2ADS-3S γενηται
“for the mystery now already active the lawlessness, only the downward holding at this moment until from out of middle arise”.
What is the mystery?
3466 LSJ Gloss:μυστήριον a mystery
Dodson:μυστήριον anything hidden, a mystery a mystery, secret, of which initiation is necessary; in the NT: the counsels of God, once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof; the Christian revelation generally; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation.
TBESG:μυστήριον mystery
G:N-N
μυστήρισν, -ου, τό
(< μυέω), [in LXX: Dan LXX TH Dan.2:18 ff. (רָז),
__1. that which is known to the μύστης (initiated), a mystery or secret doctrine, mostly in pl., τὰ μ. (Æsch., Hdt., al.).
__2. In later writers (Menand., Incert., 168), that which may not be revealed (not, however, as in the modern sense, intrinsically difficult to understand), a secret or mystery of any kind (To, Jth, 2Mac, ll, with).
__3. In NT, of the counsels of God (cf. Th.:
for סוֹד), once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof;
__(a) of the Christian revelation generally :
__(b) of particular truths, or details, of the Christian revelation :
(AS)
Thayer:
1) hidden thing, secret, mystery
1a) generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals
1b) a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding
1c) a hidden purpose or counsel
1c1) secret will
1c1a) of men
1c1b) of God: the secret counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly
2) in rabbinic writings, it denotes the mystic or hidden sense
2a) of an OT saying
2b) of an image or form seen in a vision
2c) of a dream
μυστήριον
mustērion moos-tay'-ree-on From a derivative of μύω muō (to shut the mouth); a secret or “mystery” (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites) KJV Usage: mystery.
There are many mysteries. There is a mystery of the kingdom of heaven. There is a mystery of the kingdom of God. The mystery of the fullness of the nations entering in. The mystery of obedience of belief made known to all nations. The mystery of the wisdom of God. The managers of the mysteries of God. The mystery of praying in the Spirit. The mystery of being changed in the twinkling of an eye. The mystery of the fulness of times gathering together all things in Christ. The mystery of Christ and the church. The mystery of the gospel. The mystery of Christ manifest to the saints, of Christ’s indwelling the hope of glory. The full knowledge of the mystery of the Elohim Father and the Messiah where treasures, wisdom, and knowledge, are concealed. The mystery of Christ. The mystery of faith. The mystery of holiness. What then is the mystery of lawlessness?
Knowing what the mystery of the gospel of Jesus Christ is, we can determine that the mystery of lawlessness is the opposite, the entering of hades for being anti-Christ, Jesus rejectors. The mystery of lawlessness is the lustful gain of money, power, and prestige, for the selling of one’s soul. It is the mistaken belief that there is no afterlife, so that whatever one does on the earth is all there is. Death and hades is a mystery and men wanted to have death as their friend. Through envy of the devil came death to the world and they that hold onto the side of death do find it.
Wis 1:12 Seek not death in the error of your life: and pull not upon yourselves destruction with the works of your hands.
Wis 1:13 For God made not death: neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living.
Wis 1:14 For he created all things, that they might have their being: and the generations of the world were healthful; and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor the kingdom of death upon the earth:
Wis 1:15 (For righteousness is immortal:)
Wis 1:16 But ungodly men with their works and words called it to them: for when they thought to have it their friend, they consumed to nought, and made a covenant with it, because they are worthy to take part with it.
Wis 2:1 For the ungodly said, reasoning with themselves, but not aright, Our life is short and tedious, and in the death of a man there is no remedy: neither was there any man known to have returned from the grave.
Wis 2:6 Come on therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are present: and let us speedily use the creatures like as in youth.
Wis 2:7 Let us fill ourselves with costly wine and ointments: and let no flower of the spring pass by us:
Wis 2:8 Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds, before they be withered:
Wis 2:9 Let none of us go without his part of our voluptuousness: let us leave tokens of our joyfulness in every place: for this is our portion, and our lot is this.
Wis 2:10 Let us oppress the poor righteous man, let us not spare the widow, nor reverence the ancient gray hairs of the aged.
Wis 2:11 Let our strength be the law of justice: for that which is feeble is found to be nothing worth.
Wis 2:12 Therefore let us lie in wait for the righteous; because he is not for our turn, and he is clean contrary to our doings: he upbraideth us with our offending the law, and objecteth to our infamy the transgressings of our education.
Wis 2:13 He professeth to have the knowledge of God: and he calleth himself the child of the Lord.
Wis 2:14 He was made to reprove our thoughts.
Wis 2:15 He is grievous unto us even to behold: for his life is not like other men's, his ways are of another fashion.
Wis 2:16 We are esteemed of him as counterfeits: he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness: he pronounceth the end of the just to be blessed, and maketh his boast that God is his father.
Wis 2:17 Let us see if his words be true: and let us prove what shall happen in the end of him.
Wis 2:18 For if the just man be the son of God, he will help him, and deliver him from the hand of his enemies.
Wis 2:19 Let us examine him with despitefulness and torture, that we may know his meekness, and prove his patience.
Wis 2:20 Let us condemn him with a shameful death: for by his own saying he shall be respected.
Wis 2:21 Such things they did imagine, and were deceived: for their own wickedness hath blinded them.
Wis 2:22 As for the mysteries of God, they knew them not: neither hoped they for the wages of righteousness, nor discerned a reward for blameless souls.
Wis 2:23 For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of his own eternity.
Wis 2:24 Nevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the world: and they that do hold of his side do find it.
As for the mysteries of the Elohim these lawless ones knew them not. This is why the son of perdition is a perfect representation of men full of death. He is the embodiment of Satanas in human form but he looks like a savior to the world.
“for the mystery now already active the lawlessness, only the downward holding at this moment until from out of middle arise”.
Now we come to the word active.
1754 LSJ Gloss:ἐνεργέωvto be in action, to operate
Dodson:ἐνεργέω I work, accomplish, am operative I work, am operative, am at work, am made to work, accomplish; mid: I work, display activity.
TBESG:ἐνεργέω be active
G:V
ἐνεργέω, -ῶ
[in LXX: Num.8:24 B (עֲבֹדָה צָבָא),
__1. intrans., to be at work or in action, to operate (opp. to ἀργέω): before ἐν, with dative of person(s),
__2. Trans., to work, effect, do: with accusative of thing(s),
"always used of some principle or power at work" (Meyer), to be actuated, set in operation: 2Th.2:7; before ἐν,
Thayer:
1) to be operative, be at work, put forth power
1a) to work for one, aid one
2) to effect
3) to display one's activity, show one's self operative
ἐνεργέω
energeō en-erg-eh'-o From G1756; to be active, efficient KJV Usage: do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in).
The mystery is now active or operational. It is on display for everyone to see. The mystery of lawlessness.
458 LSJ Gloss:ἀνομία lawlessness
Dodson:ἀνομία lawlessness, iniquity lawlessness, iniquity, disobedience, sin.
TBESG:ἀνομία lawlessness
G:N-F
ἀνομία, -ας, ἡ
(< ἄνομος), [in LXX for עָוֺן, פָּשַׁע, פֶּשַׁע, תּוֹעֵבַה, רֶשַׁע, etc. ;]
lawlessness, iniquity:
acts or manifestations of lawlessness: Rom.4:7 (LXX), Heb.10:17.†
SYN.: see: ἁμάρτημα, ἄνομος (AS)
Thayer:
1) the condition of without law
1a) because ignorant of it
1b) because of violating it
2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness
ἀνομία
anomia an-om-ee'-ah From G459; illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness KJV Usage: iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.
The mystery is lawlessness that is actively on display. This is not in the context of Mosaic law, but humanity in general. Oppressing people to satisfy a lust or a desire is evil under any circumstance. The people that Solomon was writing about loved death, not life.
The nations are called into the fullness of times. But the lawless do not care about the mysteries of the Elohim. The holy saints come up out of the middle of the lawless ones.
3319 LSJ Gloss:μέσος middle, in the middle
Dodson:μέσος middle, in the middle
middle, in the middle, between, in the midst of.
TBESG:μέσος midst
G:A
μέσος, -η, -ον
[in LXX chiefly for תָּוֶךְ ;]
middle, in the middle or midst;
__1. prop., as an adj.:
__2. In adverbial phrases, neut., μέσον, τὸ μ., as subst.: ἀνὰ μέσον, with genitive, between (cl.; in LXX: Gen.1:4, al.), elliptically (but see M, Pr., 99), 1Co.6:5; = ἐν μ., among, in the midst of (El., § 39, 2; 40, 8; cf. in LXX:
Thayer:
1) middle
2) the midst
3) in the midst of, amongst
μέσος
mesos mes'-os From G3326; middle (as adjective or [neuter] noun) KJV Usage: among, X before them, between, + forth, mid [-day, -night], midst, way.
A-GSN - Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes
Part of Speech: Adjective
Case: Genitive
Number: Singular
Gender: Neuter
The word mesos in the genitive case modifies the noun anomia, lawlessness, which also is in the genitive case, indicating possession and shows the middle of the lawlessness. The understanding is “surrounded by lawlessness”, or “among lawlessness”. What happens in the middle of the lawlessness? There is something coming into existence, into being, or arising.
The downward holding is until from out of the middle comes into being or arises. What is the broader context? The above gathering, v1. The divorce, v3. when the above congregation meets and the angels celebrate. The saints are called up, are seized, to meet Yahweh in the air. We are seized out of the middle or out of the midst of the lawless on the earth. Those who are planning and plotting evil against us, as Solomon noted, are left with the son of perdition.
“for the mystery now already active the lawlessness, only the downward holding at this moment until from out of middle arise”.
1096 Dodson:γίνομαι I come into being, am born I come into being, am born, become, come about, happen.
TBESG:γίνομαι to be
G:V
γίνομαι, Ion. and κοινή for Att. γίγν- (M. Pr., 47; Bl., §6, 8 Mayser, 166 f.),
[in LXX chiefly for היה ;]
__1. of persons, things occurrences, to come into being, be born, arise, come on:
a first appearance in public,
before ἐκ (of birth),
__2. Of events, to come to pass, take place, happen:
far be it, God forbid: f.), with indic,
before καί and indic.,
with accusative and inf.,
ὡς δὲ ἐγένετο, before τοῦ with inf., Act.10:25; with dative of person(s), to befall one: with inf.,
__3. to be made, done, performed, observed, enacted, ordained, etc.:
before διά with genitive,
__4. to become, be made, come to be: with pred.,
before ὡς, ὡσεί,
Thayer:
1) to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being
2) to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen
2a) of events
3) to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage
3a) of men appearing in public
4) to be made, finished
4a) of miracles, to be performed, wrought
5) to become, be made
Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
γίνομαι
ginomai ghin'-om-ahee A prolonged and middle form of a primary verb; to cause to be (“gen” -erate), that is, (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literally, figuratively, intensively, etc.) KJV Usage: arise be assembled, be (come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, be done, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.
Vine’s:[ 5,,G1096, ginomai ]
"to become, to take place," is sometimes suitably translated "arise;" e.g., Matthew 8:24; Mark 4:37, "there arose a great tempest." So of the arising of persecution, Matthew 13:21; Mark 4:17; this might be translated "taketh place;" of a tumult, Matthew 27:24, RV, "arising," for AV, "made;" of a flood, Luke 6:48; a famine, Luke 15:14; a questioning, John 3:25; a murmuring, Acts 6:1; a tribulation, Acts 11:19 (RV); a stir in the city, Acts 19:23; a dissension, Acts 23:7; a great clamor, Acts 23:9. See BECOME.
V-2ADS-3S - Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes
Tense: second Aorist
Voice: middle Deponent
Mood: Subjunctive
Person: third
Number: Singular
We should understand this word in the context, the second aorist is a simple completed action. The middle deponent voice denotes an active meaning, subjunctive describes the particular action in the future, something that has not occurred. It is an idea of “coming into being or existence, to take place, or arise.” We could say that “something is being birthed”. It also is in the third person, meaning that it is not Paul or those at Thessalonica, it is “the others” who are alive at the time that the downward holding is taken off. It is in the singular meaning it is one event. There are not many harpazo’s, just one. This tells us that the downward holding is until from out of the middle, comes into being, is birthed, takes place, or arises, of people living at that time, in one action. What comes into being? The above assembly. The dead put on incorruption and the mortals put on immortality. All those who are called up are changed in the twinkling of an eye, the mystery.
“for the mystery now already active the lawlessness, only the downward holding at this moment, until from out of middle arise”.
The mystery of lawlessness is now already active, but the downward holding is keeping the chaos of the tribulation at bay, until, until, until, out from the middle we come into being or arise. After the coming out from the middle, the arising, and then the lawless one is uncovered. Paul puts the timing very specifically, that the arising from out of the middle comes first, then the lawless one is uncovered.
Imagine the people at Thessalonica wondering if the harpazo passed, the Day of the Lord passed, and being confused as to the revealing of the son of perdition. Paul is this specific for a reason, which is to our benefit, because our understanding of the harpazo and the tribulation has been very mixed up. But because we can study the exact words used, in their intended tenses and voicing, we can have an accurate understanding of Paul’s letter.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 G2532 And G5119 then G601 [3shall be uncovered G3588 1the G459 2lawless one], G3739 whom G3588 the G2962 Lord G355 shall consume G3588 by the G4151 breath G3588 G4750 of his mouth, G1473 G2532 and G2673 shall render [4useless G3588 1the G2015 2grandeur G3588 G3952 3of his arrival]; G1473
2 Thessalonians 2:8 G2532 CONJ και G5119 ADV τοτε G601 [G5701] V-FPI-3S αποκαλυφθησεται G3588 T-NSM ο G459 A-NSM ανομος G3739 R-ASM ον G3588 T-NSM ο G2962 N-NSM κυριος G2424 N-NSM " ιησους " G337 [G5692] V-FAI-3S ανελει G3588 T-DSN τω G4151 N-DSN πνευματι G3588 T-GSN του G4750 N-GSN στοματος G846 P-GSM αυτου G2532 CONJ και G2673 [G5692] V-FAI-3S καταργησει G3588 T-DSF τη G2015 N-DSF επιφανεια G3588 T-GSF της G3952 N-GSF παρουσιας G846 P-GSM αυτου
“And at that time uncover the lawless (that the Lord Jesus take up the Spirit the mouth his and render useless, the manifestation/epiphany the coming parousia his).”
We see here that the LXX-WH reads a little different, as it is stated Yahweh Jesus will take up the Spirit of his mouth. Will the words he speaks be the words of the Holy Spirit, the true logos and rhēma?
At this time, what time? The time when the downward holding ends when the ones in the middle of lawlessness arise, Yahweh Jesus will render the lawless useless at his epiphany his parousia, coming. Paul brings this back to verse one. There has to be the arising or birthing out from the middle, the downward holding has to lift, and Jesus then will come with his armies.
If we were to read this as Paul spoke we might understand the parenthetical part as follows:
“And at that time uncover the lawless (that the Lord Jesus take up the Spirit the mouth his and render useless, the manifestation/epiphany the coming parousia his) whose arrival is according to the energy of Satanas.”
The next sentence, verse 9 refers back to the uncovering of the lawless which comes in the power of Satanas. Without the parenthetical phrase:
“At that time uncover the lawless whose arrival is according to the energy of Satanas”
In Paul’s parenthetical insertion, we see something John told us about.
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
When the above assembly comes into existence in the heavens, in this one time event, she comes out of the middle of lawlessness. She then gets ready to come back with Jesus at his epiphany. Jesus uses the Spirit of his mouth, both rhēma and logos, because he is King of Kings and Lord of lords.
Paul started in verse one explaining the parousia, and the above assembly. He is giving us added details that we are to know, or knowings. There is someone from heaven to earth downward holding the uncovering of the son of perdition until from out of the middle comes into being, the above assembly, this is the mystery.
We feel the tension and the unrest in the world among the lawless ones. They know their time is coming when they get to rule under their lord Satanas, and they are poking and prodding the ekklesia until she is taken out from the middle of them. We can expect the temperature to continue to simmer and eventually come to a boil. There will be more cries for silencing the Body of Christ on earth, and there will be continued persecutions of Christians everywhere. Christianity is the most abused world religion, in all first world “free” countries, not to mention the physical victimizations in third world and communist countries. What do we do? Rejoice! Our time to be taken out of the middle of lawlessness is nearer than it was yesterday.
