Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.
Posttribulationists, and some pretribulationists, have suggested other possible restrainers. These include the Roman Empire [Note: William Barclay, The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians, p. 247.] and or the emperor, [Note: Wanamaker, p. 256.] God, [Note: George E. Ladd, The Blessed Hope, p. 95.] Antichrist, Satan, and human government. [Note: Bruce, pp. 171-72; Hubbard, p. 1364; Morris, The Epistles . . ., p. 129.] Marvin Rosenthal, the "pre-wrath rapturist," believed the restrainer is Michael the archangel. [Note: Marvin Rosenthal, The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church, pp. 257-61. See John A. McLean, "Another Look at Rosenthal’s ’Pre-Wrath Rapture,’" Bibliotheca Sacra 148:592 (October-December 1991):395-96; and Renald E. Showers, The Pre-Wrath Rapture View: An Examination and Critique.] These suggestions do not fit Paul’s description. [Note: For refutation of the major views, see Robert H. Gundry, The Church and the Tribulation, pp. 122-25.] Some scholars eventually confess ignorance. [Note: E.g., Morris, p. 130.] 