Identity of the Restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7

[DavidRMaas]

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7, “And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed. (7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way” (NAS).
 
Paul’s reference to a “restrainer” in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 raises several problems.  Some understand “restrainer” to refer to a good person or force that at present is holding back lawlessness and evil until someone or something is “taken out” or “removed” from “the way.”  When that occurs the “man of lawlessness” will be unveiled. 

Several problems are posed by this passage to this understanding including:

1) There is tension if not incongruity between the claims that lawlessness is now being restrained and the mystery of lawlessness is even now working. 

2) In the Greek paragraph “restrainer” translates a present tense participle (katechon).  In verse 6 its grammatical gender is neuter (i.e., “what restrains”) but in verse 7 it is masculine (i.e., “he who restrains”).  How do we account for the change of gender?  If, for example, the “restrainer” is Michael the Archangel (as some propose), how does that explain the neuter gender?  The change of gender is the reason some see both a “restraining” person and an impersonal force in the passage.  Many popular proposals read someone or something into the passage that is not mentioned (e.g., Michael the Archangel, the church, the Spirit, human government and gospel proclamation).

3) What is “taken out of the way” and when?  From where is it/he removed and to where is it/he taken? Etc.

Is there a more straightforward solution than some of the popular interpretations provided by the passage itself?

[Bob Sackett]

Don't know if you are trying to take a verb and give it a nouns property or not.

"you know WHAT restrains"  is a direct reference to "he who now restrains" in the next verse.

I do not believe these are two separate entities at all.  Actually I think it refers to us until we are raptured.

If you try to take a Greek word and get down to the itty bitty littlest detail of it, it will blow up in your face.  It was the normal spoken language and there fore it does not have to follow all of these neat little Greek rules that scholars try to force on it.

Number one, looking at it from Adam on, lawlessness has always been here but has been restrained compared to what it will be like when "the one" is taken out.  At that time there will be extreme lawlessness.  So yes it does make sense.

Bob

[Mark E. Dial]

It gets even more odd. In the 70 weeks of Dan and a few other places the word "appointed" is used not just an event of the anti Christ coming by foreknowing. Also at the point of the Rapture many of the church have run to Petra, Jordan are in hiding. Are of the great falling away or as the foolish built on sand. From my point of view the rapture takes place in Rev. 12 in the middle of the tribulation as starting with Rev. 6. Once a person as I do sees the Great Tribulation as seven years long. The first 3 1/2 years into it the anti Christ is one who is taking world leadership by deception or has but not able gain full power over people.... The Scripture does make me wonder in what sense this event is of "taken out of the way".