At this point in my writings, it’s time to discuss some end-times biblical characters beginning with those representing the Holy Spirit to whom we can look in these last days for light and truth in anticipation of Christ’s glorious return. The Holy Spirit’s presence will provide a counterbalance and restraint to the growing darkness and deception that will usher in world Babylon’s and the Anti-Christ’s rule here on earth for a short time prior to the return of Christ and the establishment of his eternal heavenly Kingdom.
Now that more believers are becoming convinced that we are living in the last days we are witnessing increased chatter and reference to potential key end-times players of the adversary who will come onto the scene. Of course, believers are also rightly anticipating Jesus Christ’s return. At the same time, many are also attempting to guess as to what figure will arise onto the international scene as the Anti-Christ to rule in the interim.
Surprisingly, however, there is very little talk about some other key biblical figures mentioned in scripture who must necessarily be present prior to the revealing of the Anti-Christ and prior to Christ’s return. While there is some indication that these individuals may actually be kept hidden in the last days, they should still be addressed given the highly significant and important work that God will do through them.
In this passage, I will discuss two of the most well-known end-times figures presented in the New Testament who are likely one and the same individual/Spirit: 1) The Comforter, and; 2) The Restrainer. These complement many verses and indications in the Old Testament that refer to the Lord’s Spirit with us as he fights in the end times spiritual kingdom war.
1) The ‘Comforter‘- First, the ‘Comforter‘ is the Holy Spirit according to Jesus (Jn. 14:26). Jesus also referred to this figure a few times as the Spirit of truth (Jn. 15:26). The Comforter, referred to as “he,” is obviously an extremely important end-times figure because he will be sent directly by Jesus himself (and the Father) (Jn. 15:26). Equally important is the work that Jesus and God the Father will do through the ‘Comforter‘ in the end times. We are told that he will accomplish the following:
- Testify of and glorify Jesus Christ as the one and only true God (Jn. 15:26, 16:14)
- Serve as a teacher and reminder of the words of Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:26)
- Demonstrate the sin of the world (and unbelief in Christ) in contrast with true righteousness (Jn. 16:8)
- Bring judgment on evil and the evil prince of the world (Jn. 16:11)
- Take from what is of Jesus (and the Father) and make it known (Jn. 16:14-15)
- Dwell in (believers) (Jn. 14:17)
- Abide with believers forever (Jn. 14:16)
There are some who believe that the ‘Comforter‘ will manifest as an actual individual; that is, in person, just as Jesus did. After all, Jesus did say, “I will send you another Comforter” (Jn. 14:16), likely implying one who lives in the natural just like Jesus did. Certainly, some of the duties described above are those that might be accomplished by a person in the flesh, even if he is to be kept behind the scenes or hidden. If the Holy Spirit manifests as a person in the last days, then it is logical to believe that he will be established on earth given the context in which he is described by Jesus in the book of John.
2) The ‘Restrainer‘- In Second Thessalonians (Chapter 2) it is clear that, prior to the Anti-Christ being revealed, there will be one who “lets,” “holds back,” or restrains. And scripture in this chapter states that “he” or the one who “lets”- i.e. the ‘Restrainer’- must first be “taken out of the way” and then the man of lawlessness can be introduced.
Once again, just like the ‘Comforter‘ discussed above, the ‘Restrainer’ is commonly seen as the Holy Spirit. And this appears to fit accurately since Paul mentioned that the one who now lets will continue to do so until he is taken out of the way, thereby implying the same Spirit existing in Paul’s time that continues through the end times until being taken. And so here many bible prophecy experts describe the Christ-believing church as representing the Holy Spirit or ‘Restrainer‘ and that it is the Church that will be “raptured” and removed (from earth) before the unveiling of the Anti-Christ. This simply means that the current-day version of the Church and Holy Spirit originally set up here on earth at Pentacost and existing within believers will be removed prior to an Anti-Christ figure being revealed. Here, I pose the following questions:
But if the ‘Restrainer’ is the Church/Holy Spirit, then is it the Church that accomplishes the work of the Holy Spirit/Comforter (in #1) above? It could be in a loose sense but it doesn’t quite seem to fit, especially considering the level of apostasy that we see in the church today.
And if the Holy Spirit in the person of the ‘Restrainer’ in the same person as the ‘Comforter’ (in #1 above), can he accomplish all of those things listed above if he is removed from the earth and removed prior to the unveiling of an Anti-Christ figure?
I would just interject the possibility, again, of the Holy Spirit existing in the last days as a physical person. In the case of the ‘Restrainer,’ scripture does refer to “he” or “the one.” And the Restrainer could (emphasis on “could”) possibly be a person who is one-in-the-same with the ‘Comforter’ described (in #1) above.
I would also add that the meaning for the ‘Restrainer‘ being “taken out of the way” (2 Thess. 2:7) based on Greek language is similar to one who is “taken out of or from the midst.” As a very simple hypothetical example, this is the same meaning such as one who gets taken out of a waiting area to go into an appointment in another area/room. In other words, this meaning for “taken out of the way” appears to be different from the meaning of being “caught up” (meaning a forceful and violent snatching in a Greek translation) when the Apostle Paul talks about believers being raptured and meeting Jesus when he comes in the clouds accompanied by a trumpet blast in the scenario described in First Thessalonians, Chapter 4.
So, my rhetorical question back to the bible prophecy experts and interested readers like yourself is whether taking the Restrainer out of the way is actually a different event than the “catching up” of believers?
I tend to believe so.
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In conclusion, it seems to be an understatement that both the ‘Comforter‘ and ‘Restrainer‘ are highly important end-times figures. This is especially the case given that both could represent the same Holy Spirit and that either or both could be an actual person living among us in these last days.
With the important scripture that we are given in God’s Word about the end-times Holy Spirit as a person who precedes or coexists during Christ’s return it is shocking how little he is discussed, especially among those who claim bible prophecy expertise. I discuss him as a biblical figure in detail others in my books Biblical End Times, Volumes 1 and 2.
Meanwhile, I mentioned in my last passage how Zechariah prophesied that many or even all prophets in the last days will be ashamed. I believe topics such as discussed in the current passage, as well as in my next passage on an end-times ‘Jacob’ figure, along with others to come, are representative examples of content that, for some reason, bible and prophecy teachers do not want to touch or consider. My own opinion is that there is a glaring omission and gaping hole in prophecy discussion that cannot be chalked up purely to mistaken oversight. Surely those who have spent a career in this area should be able to at least openly discuss and provide analysis for these issues-especially in the current times in which we live. At the same time, this omission says a lot about the spiritual kingdom enemy that prevents and denies truth at all costs.
Grace and Peace,
Lion’s Lair (LL)
Lion's Lair 
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