Microsoft Copilot AI's answer to: “what do you think is the most logical answer to who/what the restrainer is?”

When you look at all the internal clues in the text, the Old Testament background, and the flow of Paul’s argument, one option rises above the others as the most coherent and internally consistent.

Here’s the conclusion many careful interpreters reach (including Chuck Missler) — and the one that makes the most sense when you trace Paul’s logic:

The most logical answer: The Holy Spirit restraining through the Church

Not because it’s the “popular” view, but because it fits the grammar, the context, and the theology of 2 Thessalonians better than any other option.

Let me walk you through the reasoning — and I’ll highlight the key pieces so you can explore them further.

1. The restrainer is described in both neuter and masculine forms

Paul uses:

• τὸ κατέχον — the restraining thing (neuter)

• ὁ κατέχων — the restraining one (masculine)

The Holy Spirit uniquely fits both:

• Neuter: pneuma (Spirit) is grammatically neuter

• Masculine: the Spirit is also described with masculine pronouns when emphasizing personhood

No other candidate fits this dual grammar as cleanly.

2. The restrainer must be powerful enough to hold back global lawlessness

Paul says the “mystery of lawlessness” is already active, but the restrainer is stronger and actively holding it back.

That level of restraint requires:

• global reach

• spiritual authority

• sovereignty over demonic forces

Only the Holy Spirit checks all three boxes.

3. The restrainer must be removable without God ceasing to be God

Paul says the restrainer will be “taken out of the way.”

God cannot be “removed.”

Angels cannot be “removed” from the world.

Human governments rise and fall, but they don’t get “taken out of the way” in a single eschatological moment. (*In fact, if a government leader is overthrown someone nearly always steps in to take their place)

But the Spirit’s restraining ministry through the Church can be removed without the Spirit ceasing to be omnipresent.

This fits Paul’s logic perfectly.

4. The early church understood the Spirit as the One who restrains evil

Paul teaches:

• The Spirit restrains sin (Gal 5:16–17)

• The Spirit convicts the world (John 16:8)

• The Spirit empowers the Church to be “salt and light” (Matt 5:13–16)

The Church, indwelt by the Spirit, is the primary earthly force holding back moral collapse.

This aligns with the Thessalonian context:

Paul had already taught them this in person.

5. It fits the flow of Paul’s argument

Paul’s message in 2 Thessalonians 2 is:

• Don’t panic

• The Day of the Lord hasn’t come

• Certain things must happen first

• The restrainer must be removed

• THEN the lawless one is revealed

This is a comfort passage, not a fear passage.

The idea that the Spirit’s restraining influence through the Church is removed fits that pastoral purpose beautifully.

6. It explains why the Thessalonians “already knew” the answer

Paul says:

“You know what is restraining him now…”

If the restrainer were:

• Rome

• an angel

• human government

• Michael

• God’s sovereignty

…Paul would have no reason to be cryptic.

But if the restrainer is the Spirit’s ministry through the Church, Paul would not write it explicitly because:

• persecution was rising

• Rome was suspicious of Christian gatherings

• Paul often avoided writing things that could be politically misunderstood

This explains the intentional vagueness.

So the most logical answer is:

The Holy Spirit restraining evil through the presence and influence of the Church.

This view:

• fits the grammar

• fits the theology

• fits the context

• fits the pastoral purpose

• fits the eschatological sequence

• fits the Old Testament background

• fits the early church’s understanding

It’s the only view that checks every box.

Click for the next section to find out: If the rapture and 2nd coming of Jesus are 2 separate events, could they simply happen back to back?