psychic test: THE TIME OF THE ANTICHRIST

There is a great deal of scripture which gives a gooddescription of world at the time of the Antichrist. He willarrive on the scene at a time when the world will hail him as theanswer to the problems of a troubled society. What will make theworld so quick to accept a virtual dictator? Many have felt thata war which comes close to reaching global proportions may makemankind realize that a one world government is all that canprevent a global holocaust. Others have thought that when thebelievers disappear at the time of the rapture, all of the"negative thinkers" will at last be gone and no longer will be inthe way of a humanistic utopia and unity will be assured.Whatever the cause, there is some restraining force which must beremoved before the Antichrist can come upon the scene. Thatmoment is controlled by God, since He is the author of allevents. II Thessalonians 2:2-7 - "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 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. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things. And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way." What is this "one who now holds it back" which will need tobe taken out of the way? Many have said that it is the HolySpirit which will be removed from the earth at the time of therapture of the church. This would leave evil in the worldunopposed by the Spirit of God, so evil would then become rampantand cause the world of lawlessness and rebellion described as thetime of the end. Theologically, I question this, although I usedto ascribe to that theory. Rather, I believe the Holy Spiritwill still be on earth to guide and comfort the "great multitude"of Revelation 7:14 who will come to salvation out of the greattribulation. Regardless, the time of the Antichrist iscontrolled by God, and he will not come forth until the stage isready in God's plan.