The End of Restraint - Pete Garcia - http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=8028
Like frogs in a pot of warming water, each successive generation remains increasingly ignorant of where they are in human history. We (the collective we) march forward like a North Korean military parade, stiff necked and goose-stepping to gaudy parade music, thinking we are on some unique, untraveled path, not knowing that God already foretold this to the Jewish prophets thousands of years ago.
Every generation regards itself as the 'new' normal, ignoring the wise words of the Preacher who wrote...
That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun. Eccl. 1:9
I believe that the creation of the United States was a mystery, hidden by God, as a last act of grace for mankind, to serve as an ark if you will, for all who would come to her shores to find refuge. Not only that, but she would serve as the greatest exporter of the Gospel the world had ever seen. With the creation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, both of which have governed our nation and acted to hinder Satan's global agenda now for more than two centuries.
But I'm afraid we've reached the end of our rope so to speak. No nation has been given so much, for so long, without paying the ultimate price of national suicide once it has turned its back towards God. That really is the point, in that the great American experiment will come to its tragic and completely unnecessary end because of pride. But the end serves a purpose...in that it will pave the way for Satan's grand scheme for a global system, ran by his man, the Antichrist.
Dr. Andy Wood's systematically lays out the process for us to arrive at the very place Scriptures said we would be at so many thousands of years ago. In regards to control, there is a specific formula to arrive at the place where 'free' people, would come to accept a global government:
1) Relentless incremental changes to the Constitution
2) Removing control of US currency from the US Government
3) Spending the nation into bankruptcy
4) Dumbing down of the masses
5) Controlling the message (all mediums of communication)
6) Management by crisis
7) Regionalism
8) Globalism
Satan's goal all along, has been to bring the world back under his dominion. In Christ's day, Satan claimed to have control over all the kingdoms that were then. (Luke 4:5-6) This idea was not refuted by Jesus, so it has some merit. At the temptation, the purpose and mystery surrounding the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ had not yet played out.
However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Cor. 2:6-8
Not only did Christ conquer hell and death at the Cross, but He dislodged Satan from having total dominion over the earth. Now there would be an active Agent working against the spirit of lawlessness around the world. At Pentecost, (Acts 2) the Holy Spirit would be given and those in whom the Holy Spirit indwelt, would act as a preservative, (salt and light) to prevent the total rot of the world system from occurring before its due time. Now, Satan is not bound in chains in the abyss as some would have him, he is still the 'prince of the power of the air', and roams about "as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour". He is a very powerful adversary, and what he could not accomplish in persecution, he has excelled in corrupting.
No Restraint
On the geo-political scale, he has sought to bring low these United States because we are the number one hindrance to his ability to have a global government. To date, I think he is on the verge of accomplishing that. On a spiritual scale, he has managed to divide Christianity, six ways from Sunday. Heretical and corrupt teachings and doctrines have been introduced and repackaged so many times over, it's hard to see how the Church has made it this long. The fact that we have, proves that it is not due to man's attempts to bring in the Kingdom, nor has our religious creeds and dogmas saved us, but solely due to the restraining power of the Holy Spirit to move and preserve those who are His.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. John 16:7-14
At some point in time very soon, the Holy Spirit is going to relinquish that role as the Restrainer of lawlessness, and deliver those who are Christ's, the Church, back to Him as a chaste virgin bride. It is not that the Holy Spirit will no longer have a presence in the world, because the Holy Spirit is omniscient. But it is in this role that He currently holds during this age of the Church, that He relinquishes on the Father's command. Consider it this way, in Genesis 1:2, we see the Holy Spirit actively involved in the process of Creation. He superintends creation, and generates the life to what is created.
Yet, Creation ended more than six thousand years ago. His role in Creation came to an end at the end of the Sixth Day. Today the Holy Spirit still generates new life, but solely in the unregenerate heart of people who come to faith in Jesus Christ. But it's not that the Holy Spirit went away after the days of Creation were over...the Holy Spirit was still very much present from Gen. 1:2, all the way up to Acts 2. But His role was different in the OT, because He didn't indwell and seal every believer, but filled only those, under the direction of, and in conjunction with the plan the Father had in place. He (the Holy Spirit) would come upon certain people, even in the womb, at certain times, to accomplish certain things, and only until the time that their role in human history came to an end. Examples include: Joshua-Numbers 27:18, Samson-Judges 13:25, Saul-1 Samuel 10:10, David-1 Samuel 16:12-13, and John the Baptist-Luke 1:15.
We also see that the Holy Spirit is called by different names in the OT and NT; the Spirit of God, the Spirit, Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Deposit, Seal, Earnest, Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord, Spirit of Christ, Spirit of life, Teacher, Witness. Why then is there such controversy over the title of Restrainer? From 2 Thess. 2:5-12
Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 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. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
Now, compare the passage below from 2 Thess 2, to that of John 16 mentioned earlier, and see the difference in the world, once the Holy Spirit is removed, and you will see that the Restrainer can ONLY be the Holy Spirit.
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
How can God simultaneously send the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, but simultaneously send a strong delusion at the same time so that they reject the truth and believe a lie? These cannot be both active at the same time. Something has to give, and what will give, is the role the Holy Spirit plays in this current dispensation. Again, it's not that the Holy Spirit goes away, it's that His role changes to work in conjunction with the Father's overarching plan for the judgment and redemption of mankind.
Currently, the Holy Spirit convicts, draws, baptizes, seals and indwells those who profess true faith in Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 12:13, Eph. 1:13-14, 2 Cor. 1:21-22) The sealing and indwelling is permanent, and in order for the Holy Spirit to be removed, this absolutely means, that those He indwells, have to be removed as well, or else Scripture is lying when it states...
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Eph. 1:13-14
And so it is Pre-Tribulation Rapture, (1 Thess. 4:13-18, 1 Cor. 15:51-56, Rev. 3:10) which serves as the mechanism or process, by which true, born again, Spirit filled, believers, are removed from the earth, which subsequently removes the role of the Holy Spirit as the Restrainer, and then unrepentant man will be given over to this delusion that God sends. Will people come to faith after the Rapture of the Church? Yes, as Revelation chapters 6-7, 13, 17 make mention of those who are martyred for their faith in Christ. But these believers are not included into the body of Christ known as the Church. These are like OT believers, who have to maintain both their faith and their actions (ie...not taking the mark, treatment of Israel) to receive their reward, that will most likely cost them their lives. These Tribulation Saints, are not preserved through the seven years, because we read that Antichrist is given the power to overcome them.
It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. Revelation 13:7
Conclusion
Despite Satan's best efforts at crushing the Church and trying to contain the spread of the Gospel, it has spread to every corner of the earth. Despite Satan's best efforts at trying to corrupt the Church, God has maintained a remnant in every generation that has not denied His name, nor His Word. Despite Satan's best efforts at trying to thwart or derail God's plans of a global, satanic caliphate, God has raised up nations to stand in the way. Despite Satan's efforts to shipwreck the faith for those of us in these dark days, God's promise of redemption shines even brighter and clearer in the Scripture.
Many Americans and even the allies of the United States, are hopeful that the upcoming 2016 elections means potentially undoing what our current administration has spent the last eight years on, and restore America back to her former greatness. To restore a sense of normalcy and balance in global affairs. I believe those that believe this are disillusioned by both the power of Satan, and confused with the purpose and plan God has already set in motion. I know that sounds fatalistic and that whatever happens, happens, but there are so many things in play now, prophetically speaking, that it can't be undone. One of the first things Satan began dividing the Church over was its understanding of the last days. If you believe that the Church has to usher in the Kingdom ourselves, well then, the Devil has some beach front property in Arizona he would like to sell you.
We don't know how soon all this will play out, but at the pace at which events are picking up, it would seem sooner, rather than later. Paul told the Thessalonians, that we (those waiting for the Lord to return) would not be caught unaware. (1 Thess. 5:1-4), but to the world His coming would be like a 'thief in the night'. Jesus warned the Church at Sardis that if they if they (believers in a dead-orthodoxy church) would not watch, His coming would also be like a thief in the night. (Rev. 3:3) Our task and purpose here as believers in the final days, is not to reclaim this fallen world for Christ, or to set up His Kingdom for Him, but simply to stand. To withstand the evil day, and hold on to the hope of His return. And...
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Rev. 3:10-11
Like frogs in a pot of warming water, each successive generation remains increasingly ignorant of where they are in human history. We (the collective we) march forward like a North Korean military parade, stiff necked and goose-stepping to gaudy parade music, thinking we are on some unique, untraveled path, not knowing that God already foretold this to the Jewish prophets thousands of years ago.
Every generation regards itself as the 'new' normal, ignoring the wise words of the Preacher who wrote...
That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun. Eccl. 1:9
I believe that the creation of the United States was a mystery, hidden by God, as a last act of grace for mankind, to serve as an ark if you will, for all who would come to her shores to find refuge. Not only that, but she would serve as the greatest exporter of the Gospel the world had ever seen. With the creation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, both of which have governed our nation and acted to hinder Satan's global agenda now for more than two centuries.
But I'm afraid we've reached the end of our rope so to speak. No nation has been given so much, for so long, without paying the ultimate price of national suicide once it has turned its back towards God. That really is the point, in that the great American experiment will come to its tragic and completely unnecessary end because of pride. But the end serves a purpose...in that it will pave the way for Satan's grand scheme for a global system, ran by his man, the Antichrist.
Dr. Andy Wood's systematically lays out the process for us to arrive at the very place Scriptures said we would be at so many thousands of years ago. In regards to control, there is a specific formula to arrive at the place where 'free' people, would come to accept a global government:
1) Relentless incremental changes to the Constitution
2) Removing control of US currency from the US Government
3) Spending the nation into bankruptcy
4) Dumbing down of the masses
5) Controlling the message (all mediums of communication)
6) Management by crisis
7) Regionalism
8) Globalism
Satan's goal all along, has been to bring the world back under his dominion. In Christ's day, Satan claimed to have control over all the kingdoms that were then. (Luke 4:5-6) This idea was not refuted by Jesus, so it has some merit. At the temptation, the purpose and mystery surrounding the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ had not yet played out.
However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Cor. 2:6-8
Not only did Christ conquer hell and death at the Cross, but He dislodged Satan from having total dominion over the earth. Now there would be an active Agent working against the spirit of lawlessness around the world. At Pentecost, (Acts 2) the Holy Spirit would be given and those in whom the Holy Spirit indwelt, would act as a preservative, (salt and light) to prevent the total rot of the world system from occurring before its due time. Now, Satan is not bound in chains in the abyss as some would have him, he is still the 'prince of the power of the air', and roams about "as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour". He is a very powerful adversary, and what he could not accomplish in persecution, he has excelled in corrupting.
No Restraint
On the geo-political scale, he has sought to bring low these United States because we are the number one hindrance to his ability to have a global government. To date, I think he is on the verge of accomplishing that. On a spiritual scale, he has managed to divide Christianity, six ways from Sunday. Heretical and corrupt teachings and doctrines have been introduced and repackaged so many times over, it's hard to see how the Church has made it this long. The fact that we have, proves that it is not due to man's attempts to bring in the Kingdom, nor has our religious creeds and dogmas saved us, but solely due to the restraining power of the Holy Spirit to move and preserve those who are His.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. John 16:7-14
At some point in time very soon, the Holy Spirit is going to relinquish that role as the Restrainer of lawlessness, and deliver those who are Christ's, the Church, back to Him as a chaste virgin bride. It is not that the Holy Spirit will no longer have a presence in the world, because the Holy Spirit is omniscient. But it is in this role that He currently holds during this age of the Church, that He relinquishes on the Father's command. Consider it this way, in Genesis 1:2, we see the Holy Spirit actively involved in the process of Creation. He superintends creation, and generates the life to what is created.
Yet, Creation ended more than six thousand years ago. His role in Creation came to an end at the end of the Sixth Day. Today the Holy Spirit still generates new life, but solely in the unregenerate heart of people who come to faith in Jesus Christ. But it's not that the Holy Spirit went away after the days of Creation were over...the Holy Spirit was still very much present from Gen. 1:2, all the way up to Acts 2. But His role was different in the OT, because He didn't indwell and seal every believer, but filled only those, under the direction of, and in conjunction with the plan the Father had in place. He (the Holy Spirit) would come upon certain people, even in the womb, at certain times, to accomplish certain things, and only until the time that their role in human history came to an end. Examples include: Joshua-Numbers 27:18, Samson-Judges 13:25, Saul-1 Samuel 10:10, David-1 Samuel 16:12-13, and John the Baptist-Luke 1:15.
We also see that the Holy Spirit is called by different names in the OT and NT; the Spirit of God, the Spirit, Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Deposit, Seal, Earnest, Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord, Spirit of Christ, Spirit of life, Teacher, Witness. Why then is there such controversy over the title of Restrainer? From 2 Thess. 2:5-12
Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 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. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
Now, compare the passage below from 2 Thess 2, to that of John 16 mentioned earlier, and see the difference in the world, once the Holy Spirit is removed, and you will see that the Restrainer can ONLY be the Holy Spirit.
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
How can God simultaneously send the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, but simultaneously send a strong delusion at the same time so that they reject the truth and believe a lie? These cannot be both active at the same time. Something has to give, and what will give, is the role the Holy Spirit plays in this current dispensation. Again, it's not that the Holy Spirit goes away, it's that His role changes to work in conjunction with the Father's overarching plan for the judgment and redemption of mankind.
Currently, the Holy Spirit convicts, draws, baptizes, seals and indwells those who profess true faith in Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 12:13, Eph. 1:13-14, 2 Cor. 1:21-22) The sealing and indwelling is permanent, and in order for the Holy Spirit to be removed, this absolutely means, that those He indwells, have to be removed as well, or else Scripture is lying when it states...
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Eph. 1:13-14
And so it is Pre-Tribulation Rapture, (1 Thess. 4:13-18, 1 Cor. 15:51-56, Rev. 3:10) which serves as the mechanism or process, by which true, born again, Spirit filled, believers, are removed from the earth, which subsequently removes the role of the Holy Spirit as the Restrainer, and then unrepentant man will be given over to this delusion that God sends. Will people come to faith after the Rapture of the Church? Yes, as Revelation chapters 6-7, 13, 17 make mention of those who are martyred for their faith in Christ. But these believers are not included into the body of Christ known as the Church. These are like OT believers, who have to maintain both their faith and their actions (ie...not taking the mark, treatment of Israel) to receive their reward, that will most likely cost them their lives. These Tribulation Saints, are not preserved through the seven years, because we read that Antichrist is given the power to overcome them.
It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. Revelation 13:7
Conclusion
Despite Satan's best efforts at crushing the Church and trying to contain the spread of the Gospel, it has spread to every corner of the earth. Despite Satan's best efforts at trying to corrupt the Church, God has maintained a remnant in every generation that has not denied His name, nor His Word. Despite Satan's best efforts at trying to thwart or derail God's plans of a global, satanic caliphate, God has raised up nations to stand in the way. Despite Satan's efforts to shipwreck the faith for those of us in these dark days, God's promise of redemption shines even brighter and clearer in the Scripture.
Many Americans and even the allies of the United States, are hopeful that the upcoming 2016 elections means potentially undoing what our current administration has spent the last eight years on, and restore America back to her former greatness. To restore a sense of normalcy and balance in global affairs. I believe those that believe this are disillusioned by both the power of Satan, and confused with the purpose and plan God has already set in motion. I know that sounds fatalistic and that whatever happens, happens, but there are so many things in play now, prophetically speaking, that it can't be undone. One of the first things Satan began dividing the Church over was its understanding of the last days. If you believe that the Church has to usher in the Kingdom ourselves, well then, the Devil has some beach front property in Arizona he would like to sell you.
We don't know how soon all this will play out, but at the pace at which events are picking up, it would seem sooner, rather than later. Paul told the Thessalonians, that we (those waiting for the Lord to return) would not be caught unaware. (1 Thess. 5:1-4), but to the world His coming would be like a 'thief in the night'. Jesus warned the Church at Sardis that if they if they (believers in a dead-orthodoxy church) would not watch, His coming would also be like a thief in the night. (Rev. 3:3) Our task and purpose here as believers in the final days, is not to reclaim this fallen world for Christ, or to set up His Kingdom for Him, but simply to stand. To withstand the evil day, and hold on to the hope of His return. And...
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Rev. 3:10-11
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