For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.
He who now letteth (hindereth) will let. He (the Roman heathen religion) will continue to be a hindrance to the growing movement in the church for universal power. Until he be taken out of the way. This means until the pagan or heathen religion of the Roman empire is replaced by the professed Christian religion that was claimed by the ambitious bishops (158).