Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.
"There is little evidence that believers will be indwelt by the Spirit during the tribulation. The possibility of a universal indwelling of all believers in the tribulation is opposed by the revelation of 2 Thessalonians 2:7, that the one restraining the world from sin, i.e., the Holy Spirit, will be ’taken out of the way’ during the tribulation. Unrestrained evil characterizes the tribulation, though the lack of restraint is not total (cf. Revelation 7:2; Revelation 12:6; Revelation 12:14-16). The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the saints in itself would contribute to the restraint of sin, and it, therefore, is taken away. The tribulation period, also, seems to revert back to Old Testament conditions in several ways; and in the Old Testament period, saints were never permanently indwelt except in isolated instances, though a number of instances of the filling of the Spirit and of empowerment for service are found. Taking all the factors into consideration, there is no evidence for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in believers in the tribulation." [Note: John F. Walvoord, The Holy Spirit, pp. 151, 230. Cf. Thomas, "2 Thessalonians," p. 325; and Charles C. Ryrie, First and Second Thessalonians, p. 113.] 