Michael the Restrainer

There is currently a force at work holding back the man of lawlessness from being revealed.  Eventually, this force will cease restraining at the command of Yahweh and the Antichrist will be revealed to us.

[2Th 2:6-9 LSB]  And you know what restrains him [the man of lawlessness] now, so that in his time he will be revealed. [7]  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains [Michael] will do so until he [Michael] is taken out of the way [by Yahweh]. [8]  And then that lawless one will be revealed—whom the Lord Yeshua WILL SLAY WITH THE BREATH OF HIS MOUTH and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming— (Isa 11:4) [9]  whose coming is in accord with the working of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,

Paul reminds the people of Thessalonica that they knew (this was common knowledge to them) who/what this force was.  This force is preventing the revelation the lawless one until Yahweh declares "it's time".

There is spiritual warfare occurring behind the scenes.  Scripture tells us that Michael the archangel is the guardian and protector of Israel.

[Dan 12:1 LITV]  And at that time, Michael shall stand up, the great ruler who stands for the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of distress, such as has not been from the being of a nation until that time. And at that time, your people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the Book.

Note that Michael "standing up" correlates with the revealing of the man of lawlessness.  The important point is that Michael will take some kind of action, after which the man of lawlessness is revealed and the Great Tribulation begins.

Daniel chapters 10-12 also establish Michael as one who restrains and wars against demonic principalities whose influence manifests in kings and kingdoms that arise on the earth. This is part of Michael’s job description.

After Michael arises, or withdraws/standing aside, the great tribulation period (3.5 years) will begin. It is at this point that the Antichrist will be revealed.

[2Th 2:3-5 LITV]  Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, because that Day WILL NOT COME unless first comes [1] the falling away, and [2] the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, [4]  the one opposing and exalting himself over everything being called God, or object of worship, so as for him "to sit in the temple of God" as God, setting forth himself, that he is God. (Dan. 11:36; Eze. 28:2) [5]  Do you not remember that I told you these things, I yet being with you?

Currently, Michael is Israel's prince.  In Daniel, the demonic forces had to deal with him, and in the future - so will the Antichrist.  The antichrist will have to go through Michael to get to Israel and that will not happen until Yahweh declares the time.  When the time arrives, Yahweh will signal to Michael to "arise".  At this point, Satan will express his authority through the man of lawlessness.

Revelation 12:7–17 supports viewing Michael as the Restrainer because it links the cessation of Michael’s war against the dragon with the unprecedented persecution of God’s people, which is consistent with 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7 and Daniel 11:45–12:1.

[Rev 12:7-9 LSB]  And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, [8]  and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. [9]  And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Satan's wrath begins... great tribulation.

[Rev 12:12 LSB]  “For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

Satan, through the man of lawlessness, will first go after Israel.  When those plans are thwarted he will turn his attention to the saints (Rev 12:13-17).

Satan will have to wait until God signals the restraining force to arise out of the way before the man of lawlessness can have the opportunity to sit in God’s temple declaring himself to be God. The end-time events will occur according to God’s timing and plan. God is not slow in executing his plan, rather he is patiently waiting because he desires more people to come to repentance.

[2Pe 3:9 LSB]  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Extra-Biblical Sources 

There are a few other sources which speak towards Michael being the restrainer.  When Paul mentioned that the Thessalonians knew who/what was restraining, he was likely referring to his previous conversations with them.  However, they may have also known because of Daniel's writings. 

Below are a few extra-Biblical sources for the same sentiment.

Jewish Interpretation of Daniel 12:1

Many rabbinic commentators (including Rashi) understood that Michael "arises" or stands up at a critical moment — implying he had previously been restraining or holding back full evil against Israel. When he steps back or arises in a new way, the final tribulation begins.

1 Enoch (Ethiopic Enoch) – Chapter 20 & 90
Michael is repeatedly called one of the chief archangels and the guardian of Israel. In 1 Enoch 90:22–25, Michael is involved in the final judgment and the restraining of evil forces until the appointed time.

Midrash & Rabbinic Literature
Midrash Rabbah (on Exodus and Daniel) describes Michael as the defender and restrainer of Israel against the accusations of Satan and the nations.  In Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer (Chapter 27), Michael is portrayed as the angel who stands guard over Israel and restrains the forces of destruction until the time of redemption.

Talmud & Later Commentaries
In Talmud Bavli, Yoma 77a and other passages, Michael is called the "Prince of Israel" and is seen as the one who restrains judgment or punishment from falling fully upon the Jewish people.

Rashi, on Daniel 12:1, notes that Michael’s arising signals the removal of restraint, allowing the final distress to come.

Dead Sea Scrolls (War Scroll – 1QM)
In the War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness, Michael is presented as the chief angelic prince who fights for Israel and restrains the power of Belial (Satan) until the final battle.

Notes

Daniel’s use of the Hebrew term ʿmd comports with the ceasing activity of the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7.

The Greek term parerchomai in Daniel 12:1 of the Septuagint (LXX) means, “to pass by,” which corresponds with the ceasing of restraint in 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7.

See also Colin Nicholl's understanding of the masculine and the neuter in reference to Michael, where in verse 6, it is in the neuter gender to katechon (“what holds him back”), and in verse 7, it is in the masculine gender ho katechōn (“the one who holds him back”). Nicholl believes the best explanation is recognizing the Greek can use the neuter gender to refer to a person while the emphasis is on an exceptional quality of the individual (e.g., 1 Cor 11:5; 1 Cor 1:27–28; Gal 3:22; John 3:6; 17:24; 1 John 5:1–4; Matt 12:6). Thus, the neuter in verse 6 refers to Michael with a focus on his restraining ministry, while the masculine in verse 7 refers to Michael himself.