At first reading, verses six and seven are mysterious. " And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 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."
What is restraining the lawless one (the Anti-Christ)? What did Paul mean when he said the mystery of the lawlessness is already at work? Was the Anti-Christ alive in Paul's day and if that were true, what would be the implication for today?
The spirit if the Anti-Christ is Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9) and yes Satan was alive during Paul's lifetime and at work in the hearts of men. But, the individual whom will be called the Anti-Christ was not yet born. If left unchecked Satan would have inspired an Anti-Christ millenniums ago. Who has kept that event from taking place before the church was ready?
The Holy Spirit. Paul's words convey that God is in control of when the Anti-Christ will appear and God will make sure all his children are ready (John 17:11-12, 15, 17; Romans 8:36-39, 14:4, 8-10; Jude 1:14; Colossians 1:21-23; Revelation 12:11).
