Thanks! Finally!
So in 3b he is revealed: I counted 34 English translations that puts it "Is revealed." So we have established this as fact. Yes, I further agree: once he is revealed he "opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God "
Here is a sample of the 34
AMP
Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed],
NIV
Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
EHV
Let no one deceive you in any way, because that day will not come until the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed—the son of destruction.
ESV
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
ESVUK
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
Now let's look at verses 6-8
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
First notice the parallelism in the colors: red is about a restraining power and purple is the revealing
The same parallel is seen in verse 3
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;
Do you see this? Do you agree there is parallelism?
Now back to verses 6-8: HOW does Paul inform us will the man of sin be revealed "in his time?" Paul explains there is a restraining force restraining the revealing, so he cannot be revealed BEFORE his time? It should go without saying and without Paul spelling it out that GOD sets the timing. God wants His revealing at a certain time.
So Paul's answer to HOW is simple: the restraining force or power will be "taken out of the way" at the right time. Agreed?
My point is this: since in 3b the man of sin IS REVEALED, then in 3a somewhere there must be a restraining force "taken out of the way."
Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy [apostasia: departing"] comes first
Go ahead: search every word looking for anything that could possibly be the restraining force "taken out of the way."
Let no one no, does not fit
in any way deceive or entrap you no, does not fit.
that day will not come no, does not fit
apostasia: departing" this could fit!
The only word or phrase that I find could possibly be a restrainer "taken out of the way" is "apostasia" which in the first several English translations was translated as a "departing."
Could a "falling away" fit a restraining force? How could something evil restrain something evil and be taken out of the way AT THE RIGHT TIME so the revealing would happen in GOD's time? Sorry, it does not fit.
Now look at verse 6 again;
6 And now ye know what withholdeth
CSB
And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time.
CEB
Now you know what holds him back so that he can be revealed when his time comes.
CJB
And now you know what is restraining, so that he may be revealed in his own time.
CEV
You already know what is holding this wicked one back until it is time for him to come.
DARBY
And now ye know that which restrains, that he should be revealed in his own time.
Paul wrote, "and now you know who or what is restraining....."
Why would Paul write that? The "now" is there in the Greek. NOW you know...just as if Paul had just TOLD US who the restrainer is. In fact, Paul did just tell us. Yet many still don't know because they don't understand this passage.
I have shown over and over that the first part of apostasia from strong's is apo and Strong's tells us it could mean a part of a whole group moved spatially to a different location. And the other half "stasia" meaning stationary or not moving. It is an absolute fact that the rapture will happen so fast the rest of the world will seem not moving.
Since Paul's theme for this passage is the gathering which really is a departing, I think this is Paul's real meaning. The Holy Spirit is the restraining force: HE knows the right timing. And He, working through the church to restrain, will be "taken out of the way" with the church. A moment after the rapture and the Holy Spirit will have no one on earth He can use.