Who Is "The Restrainer" And What
Happens When He Is Removed
Shortly Before the Tribulation?
By Dr. Jack Van Impe
Brief and Editied Descripion of "Van Impe Presents"
by Daniel Silliman at "Christianity Today":
Every week for more than 30 years, Van Impe appeared on TV as the host of his own half-hour show, Van Impe Presents, offering eschatological commentary on current events. Alongside his wife Rexella, Van Impe read the latest headlines and explained how they connected to prophecy about the Antichrist, one-world government, and the rapture of true believers that might happen at any moment.
"We only report the news from the latest papers and magazines," Van Impe once said, "but we use the Word of God to show you that it means Christ is coming."
Van Impe reached a global audience from his studio in the suburbs of Detroit. He had memorized tens of thousands of Bible verses, earning himself the nickname "the Walking Bible." He would recall Scripture on his show as he explained his apocalyptic theology, before ending each episode with a call for viewers to prepare for the end by accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior.
"Few reached a larger audience than evangelist Jack Van Impe," historian Paul Boyer wrote in his landmark study of prophecy belief in modern America. "Bible quotations studded Van Impe's apocalyptic predictions, including not only the familiar ones from Revelation, Zechariah, and 2 Peter ... but also more obscure selections from Joel, Zephaniah, Malachi, and ... Ezekiel."
By the mid-1990s, Jack Van Impe Presents aired weekly in about 25,000 cities in the US and Canada, and in more than 150 other nations around the globe.
(January 19, 2020) Jack Van Impe, a popular televangelist and one of the world's most well-known end times preachers, died at the age of 88. His passing was confirmed Saturday by Jack Van Impe Ministries International.
The Restrainer
There is a great deal of confusion concerning the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT during the tribulation hour. This has resulted from a faulty understanding and interpretation of 2 Thessalonians 2:7 (KJV): For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
The term "letteth" is the Old English word for "hinders." The picture being painted here is the rise of the Antichrist. 2 Thessalonians 2:6 (KJV) states: "And now ye know what withholdeth that he (the Antichrist) might be revealed in his time." Then verse seven makes it clear that the HINDERER, the HOLY SPIRIT, is taken out of the way.
Here is another reason millions believe in the pre-Tribulation rapture. WHY? THE HINDERER lives in the hearts of HIS people: Romans 8:9 (KJV): "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the SPIRIT, if so be that the SPIRIT of GOD dwell in you. Now if any man have not the SPIRIT of CHRIST, he is none of HIS." Also, 1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV): "Know ye not that ye are the temple of GOD, and that the SPIRIT of GOD dwelleth in you?" Because of this truth, GOD's SPIRIT cannot be taken unless those in whom HE lives are taken. HALLELUJAH! One should note, however, that the SPIRIT's removal only speaks of HIS "restraining" power.
Let me prove this assertion: The HOLY SPIRIT is GOD, the third member of the GODHEAD. As GOD, HE omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all powerful), and omnipresent (everywhere at all times). Therefore, the HOLY SPIRIT cannot be removed from the earth because HE, as GOD, is in all places constantly. David states in Psalm 139:7-10 (KJV): 7 "Whither shall I go from THY SPIRIT? Or whither shall I flee from THY Presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, THOU art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, THOU art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall THY Hand lead me, and THY right hand shall hold me."
Since the HOLY SPIRIT is everywhere at all times, only HIS restraining influence over sin is removed during the Tribulation hour.
Presently Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (see Matt. 5:13-16). The evacuation of Christians, in whose hearts the HOLY SPIRIT lives, is the way--the only way--HIS restraining influence on sin is removed, ridding the world of salt and light. Christians are GOD's preservative forces, as well as, the dispellers of darkness. Imagine what happens when the SPIRIT's restraining influence (the Church) is removed via the rapture. Quite literally, all hell will break lose upon the earth.
-- Quote From Dr. Jack Van Impe --
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