Studying Prophecy Soberly

Algebra | Archangel | Michael | Rapture | Restrainer

Bible Algebra as Seen Thru the Rapture

At times the collected books of the Bible are written plainly, but people interpret them metaphorically or allegorically. Other times, they’re written allegorically, and people take them literally—or miss the meaning altogether. And some parts are algebraic: like equations that don’t fully make sense until the final variable is added or unveiled—often by God Himself. It’s important to understand the difference and know how to approach each.

One of the most algebraic topics is the Rapture—and the identity of the Restrainer.

This will take a bit of explaining so please bear with me step by step. We know some things, these are constants, like:

A rebellion (apostasy) comes first (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
10 nations will organize (Revelation 13:1 & 17:12-14)
The Restrainer is taken out of the way enabling (2 Thessalonians 2:7)
A man of lawlessness to be revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4)
The Witnesses (Most likely Elijah & Enoch but some make the case for Moses & Elijah) appear and explain the plan and calendar of Yahweh (Revelation 11:3, 4Q382 & Midrash )
The Beast (possibly a nation-state) kills them and the Lawless One (possibly the same person as the Beast or not) takes his seat in the Temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God
The Great Tribulation (last 3.5 years) will begin
The Day of the Lord will come like a thief with a horn blast and the sky will go dark (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:16)
Messiah will reign for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4–6, Seder Olam Rabbah, Chapter 1, Sanhedrin.97a.14, 97a.12, 97b.01 )

The bible and writings are clear about these events and issues. Debate arises in how people stitch these constants together. That stitching—the “how”—is where variables come into play, and where timelines and understandings can shift. This is one reason for the wide range of eschatological views: premillennialism, amillennialism, postmillennialism, preterism, etc.

But if you read the early Church Fathers, the Prophets, and even the Essenes, the pattern closely resembles historic premillennialism, which is the framework I'm using here.

So let’s ask: Who is the Restrainer?

Option 1: Is the Restrainer the Holy Spirit?

If your answer is “yes,” this naturally leads to a pretribulational rapture view: the idea that when the Restrainer (the Holy Spirit) is “taken out of the way,” the Church is raptured before the Antichrist is revealed.

But this view raises some serious theological questions:

If the Holy Spirit is removed, does He return?
How are post-Rapture believers saved without the indwelling Spirit?
Is the Holy Spirit bound to this realm, or is His presence universal?

These are hard questions—and some responses raise even more complications than they resolve. That’s why the identity of the Restrainer is a variable in the biblical “equation.” And it's perfectly okay that we don’t have the solution yet.

Option 2: Is the Restrainer the Archangel Michael?

If you answer “yes” to this, the entire timeline shifts.

The Restrainer being Michael pushes the tribulation past the revealing of the Antichrist and toward the Day of the Lord. This would mean the Church remains present during the early Tribulation and possibly into the Great and is not raptured before it. It also places the Church squarely in the events of the end times.

Most importantly: None of the constants have changed. But just one shift in a variable causes a cascade of changes in the interpretation and placement of key events.

Option 3: Is the Restrainer the Pax of the "Roman Empire"?

If you answer “yes” to this, either case could be true. In De Resurrectione Carnis (On the Resurrection of the Flesh), Chapter 24 (written c. 208–211 AD), Tertullian states:

"What is this but the Roman state, whose removal when it has been divided among ten kings will bring on Antichrist?"

If this is correct it doesn't require the Church to be gone, nor does it require it to be here. It just requires the Peace by Force of the "Roman Empire" to be gone creating a power vacuum that the Antichrist can flourish in.

This is the challenge with prophecy. Many pastors avoid eschatology because they want to teach with certainty—and prophecy doesn't always allow that. They may deliver sermons free of ambiguity to keep things clean, or ignore other perspectives for fear of confusion. The result is often either (a) a generation raised with artificially simplified views, or (b) an unspoken frustration toward “the other side” of the debate that we're discouraged from discussing openly.

Both are mistakes.

The bible is ambiguous at times, confusing at others and still riddles in some cases. That is ok. Some parts are algebraic equations meant to illuminate but only so much, so that you know to not worry, or to know when to worry and drop everything to run for the hills.

Ancient prophets told the people of Israel what would happen, when to time the return of Messiah and how to know him but they didn't tell everything, in full detail and this was by design.

We were called to study Prophecy and learn it but not guaranteed to understand all of it.

That isn't a bug in the design, it is a feature. It is meant that way for our comfort but also to keep us trusting and reliant with our faith in Father and his Messiah. Possibly a part of the ongoing battle of light and dark as some theorize.

The main takeaway is that you are called, instructed and rewarded for studying the writings of the prophets:

I will raise up to them a prophet from among their brothers, like you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
-Deuteronomy 18:18-19

Seek and read from the book of the LORD: not one of these shall be lacking; none shall be without her mate. For my mouth it hath commanded says the LORD, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
-Isaiah 34:16

Blessed is he that reads this, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written within: for the time is at hand.
-Revelation 1:3

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place...
-2 Peter 1:19

Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
-Romans 15:4

This is why all pastors and leaders are called by God to know his prophecies and teach them to their flock, so they know times and seasons, so they can see the shadows and types that are sewn throughout all the writings. To separate each, the prophecies of God, the history of his work and the philosophical advice and only teach one at a time or worse only teach one at all is to take the body of Christ and sever the head from the hands and the heart thinking it is safer this way for all involved. It is all woven for a reason and is key to a balanced understanding of Father's plan and actions.

So in the spirit of that lets explore possibly why the restrainer could very well be the Archangel Michael and not the Holy Spirit.

2 Thessalonians – Preconditions to the Day of the Lord

In this verse, the Apostle Paul outlines events that must occur before “the day of the Lord” (Christ’s return) happens:

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
-2 Thessalonians 2:3

In this verse, the Apostle Paul outlines events that must occur before “the day of the Lord” (Christ’s return) happens. This suggests a falling away or great rebellion in faith precedes other end-time events. Once that is done the path is made clear for the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction, the Antichrist.

Now we beg you, siblings, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering to him. That you are not scared, or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no one deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except first falling away, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, proclaiming himself that to be God.
-2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

According to the text, the order is: (1) a widespread rebellion, (2) the revealing of the lawless one, (3) then the day of the Lord. Paul explicitly says the day of the Lord “will not come” until these things happen first. No specific restrainer is named in these verses, but it establishes the timing that the lawless one’s unveiling is a prerequisite event.

2 Thessalonians 2:6 – Something Currently Restraining the Lawless One

Here Paul reminds the Thessalonians that a force is presently holding back the revelation of the “lawless one”:

And so you know what holds him back, so that he will be revealed in his own time. For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way,
-2 Thessalonians 2:6-7

The phrase indicates something present is actively holding back the man of lawlessness. The identity is not stated (Paul assumes his readers know it and to be so obvious as not needing a historical record), but clearly a restraining power is at work “now” (in Paul’s time). In other words, the man of sin has an appointed time to appear, and until then, the restraining force keeps him in check. The text emphasizes that the lawless one will only be revealed at the proper or appointed time, not before.

This indicates a specific restraining entity (“he”) is currently holding back the lawlessness. He will continue restraining up until a certain point when he is removed. The phrasing “taken out of the way” or “out of the midst” implies the restrainer will be removed or step aside, ending his holding-back action. There is a gender neutral description in the first half of the verse of the action "that which restrains" (τὸ κατέχον) but in the second verse is identified by a male description of He who retrains (ὁ κατέχων). There was a clear point to identify a male personage.

Daniel 12:1 – Michael “Stands Up” and Unprecedented Trouble Follows

In the Old Testament, Daniel 12:1 is often linked to the idea of a restrainer. It describes the archangel Michael and a sudden change in his role that coincides with the start of the great tribulation:

At that time Michael, the great prince who watches over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress unlike any other from the nation's beginning up to that time. But at that time your own people, all those whose names are found written in the book, will escape.
-Daniel 12:1

This marks the Archangel Michael performing an action at the time of great time of unequaled trouble (the Great Tribulation), an action that will bring about the escape of the people found with their name written in the book of life. Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake - some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting disgust. The phrase "at that time" is repeated, stressing that Michael’s action and the tribulation are synchronized. The plain reading suggests Michael had been protecting Israel, and when he “stands up,” the shield is effectively removed, allowing the final crisis to hit. Daniel 12:1 thus alludes to a restrainer-like role – Michael’s protective restraint is in place until that moment, after which unparalleled trouble erupts.

In Summary

Michael is named in Daniel 12:1 and Revelation 12:7–9 as one who fights on behalf of God’s people and restrains evil in heaven as the Prince (see ruler Daniel 10:21) of Israel.

Michael is depicted as removing his restraint (or stepping aside) at a key moment before a time of great tribulation (Daniel 12).

His confrontation with Satan (which we will cover to a larger degree elsewhere) in heaven directly results in Satan being cast down to earth (Revelation 12), aligning with the idea of a “revealing” or unleashing of evil.

So while Paul never names Michael, the behavior, timing, and function of Michael in Daniel and Revelation closely match the pattern of the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians. Based strictly on the texts.

Nowhere in the Bible is the Holy Spirit described as a "restrainer" or said to be removed or taken out of the way.

The language Paul uses (“taken out of the way,” 2 Thess. 2:7) doesn’t align naturally with other passages that describe the Holy Spirit's permanent, indwelling presence in believers.

He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever... You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
-John 14:16–17

Ephesians 4:30 makes it clear that all believers will be sealed with the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption. If the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth, it’s hard to explain how He continues to indwell believers during the tribulation or how people could come to faith (which Revelation shows does happen).

If this is true, then Michael is the restrainer and the Church could very well last until Satan is cast out in rage for a short time and Jesus comes to collect those whose names are written in the book while or after Michael wages a war.

If it isn't and something else or someone/group else is the restrainer (like God himself as covered well by Dr. Michael Heiser 's Naked Bible Episode 224) than the Church is taken at a different time in a different order only changing the variables.

This is how even slight changes in a variable can have compounding effects even with all else being the same. Many do not want to talk about eschatology because they can't "know without question" something but that is not what we are called to do and not why we are told prophecy in the first place by Father. It is to comfort us, to focus us and to prepare us for the events and times we are to be a part of. It is important to understand aspects that are locked and aspects that are variables.

-The Tutor

Read "Messiah ben David"

To learn more about the second coming of the Messiah.

Read "One World Government"

To learn about the implications of the whole earth or region or land?