Good day, Yahshua!
The problem with the Restrainer being a 'circumstance' is that in v.7 the Restrainer is referred to as a "He." The context makes it clear that the Restrainer is a person/entity. And that once this Restrainer is taken out of the way, then the man of lawlessness will be revealed. It is the One who is holding back the man of lawlessness from being revealed who is referred to as "He."
The problem with the Restrainer being a 'circumstance' is that in v.7 the Restrainer is referred to as a "He." The context makes it clear that the Restrainer is a person/entity. And that once this Restrainer is taken out of the way, then the man of lawlessness will be revealed. It is the One who is holding back the man of lawlessness from being revealed who is referred to as "He."
...but here, let's check out the passage...
2 Thess 2:1-6
2 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
If we take only the key phrases, it says:
...be not soon shaken in mind...that the day of Christ is at hand...for that day shall not come, except...first...now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
From Paul's perspective, he just explained what's withholding, didn't he?