John Calvin Commentary 2 Thessalonians 2:7

"For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only [there is] one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way." — 2 Thessalonians 2:7 (ASV)

The mystery of iniquity. This is opposed to revelation. For since Satan had not yet gathered enough strength for Antichrist to openly oppress the Church, he says that he is carrying on secretly and clandestinely what he would do openly in his own time. He was therefore at that time secretly laying the foundations on which he would afterward build the structure, as actually happened.

And this tends to confirm more fully what I have already stated: that it is not one individual who is represented by the term Antichrist, but one kingdom, which extends itself through many ages. In the same sense, John says that Antichrist will come, but that there were already many in his time (1 John 2:18).

For he admonishes those who were then living to be on their guard against that deadly pestilence, which was at that time shooting up in various forms. For sects were rising up which were the seeds, so to speak, of that unfortunate weed which has nearly choked and destroyed God’s entire field.

But although Paul conveys the idea of a secret manner of working, yet he has used the term mystery rather than any other, alluding to the mystery of salvation, of which he speaks elsewhere (Colossians 1:26), for he carefully insists on the struggle of opposition between the Son of God and this son of perdition.

Only now withholding. While he makes both statements in reference to one person—that he will hold supremacy for a time, and that he will soon be taken out of the way—I have no doubt that he refers to Antichrist; and the participle withholding must be explained in the future tense. For he has, in my opinion, added this for the consolation of believers: that the reign of Antichrist will be temporary, its limits having been assigned by God.

For believers might object, “What good is it that the gospel is preached, if Satan is now hatching a tyranny that he is to exercise forever?” He accordingly exhorts to patience, because God afflicts His Church only for a time, so that He may one day grant it deliverance. And, on the other hand, the perpetuity of Christ’s reign must be considered, so that believers may repose in it.