My argument (which is the pre-trib stance) is not to say that the "Spirit" is "removed FROM THE EARTH," but that His "restraining role" (and in connection with "the Church which is His body") will be taken away (at the time of our Rapture), and I've pointed out in past posts (not sure if in this thread or in related threads) the great similarities between what 2 Thessalonians 2:7b-8a is saying, to that of Lamentations 2:3-4 [context Lam2:1-7], where it says (in a "judgment" context):
--"He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy [meaning, 'have at it, dudes!'], and he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about." (showing a removal of a "restraining force/role" [though we know "God" is everywhere present, so not saying HE HIMSELF is removed, see]), and where...
--2Th2:7 says, "the One restraining at present, will restrain, UNTIL out of the midst he be come [come to be], 8 AND THEN [kai tote] shall that Wicked be revealed..." (which "revealed" I believe occurs at the START of the 7-yrs/70th-Wk, not the later mid-point that many suggest, and I've explained why I see it this way, in many posts). I've pointed out how THIS SEQUENCE is repeated 3x in the 2Th2:3-9 text, as well as being the identical SEQUENCE that 1Th4-5 also had stated. [much more, but this should suffice for now... no one reads the long posts ]
--"He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy [meaning, 'have at it, dudes!'], and he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about." (showing a removal of a "restraining force/role" [though we know "God" is everywhere present, so not saying HE HIMSELF is removed, see]), and where...
--2Th2:7 says, "the One restraining at present, will restrain, UNTIL out of the midst he be come [come to be], 8 AND THEN [kai tote] shall that Wicked be revealed..." (which "revealed" I believe occurs at the START of the 7-yrs/70th-Wk, not the later mid-point that many suggest, and I've explained why I see it this way, in many posts). I've pointed out how THIS SEQUENCE is repeated 3x in the 2Th2:3-9 text, as well as being the identical SEQUENCE that 1Th4-5 also had stated. [much more, but this should suffice for now... no one reads the long posts ]
Only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way
Letteth-->Hold down, possess, seize, retain, take
Let -->HAVE or HOLD
TAKEN -->cause to be, to become, come into being, be assembled, brought to pass, arise, finish
Only he that now holds down or possesses will continue to HAVE Or HOLD until HE COMES INTO BEING or Arises..........
NOW......WHO empowers the BEAST? By what POWER does the BEAST stand?
?? Can the BEAST rise at any time or MUST HE come into being FIRST.............
Two things are required before the beast as the so called Anti-Christ can rise....
a. TIME
b. Whomever it is comes into being
WHO empower him? SATAN
My view.....regardless of any and all that have made this verse out to be the Holy Spirit restraining....I do not believe it....The one who has the power to empower will hold that power until it is TIME and the one that is going to be used ARISES........