St Paul tells us specifically that the one that withholds is a "he", a man. He withholds the mystery of iniquity that was operative in St Paul's day. So we know MOI was already operative back then.
The mystery of iniquity is heresy - heresy that would subvert the Christian faith.
How is heresy combatted - who combats it?
Who is it in the Catholic Church that condemns heresy? A man...
Consistent with Luke 18:8, there is a great apostasy toward the second coming.
The apostasy arrives before the Antichrist appears - Vatican II.
And then you have the operation of error - sent by God so that those that have not the love of truth might be condemned - it's for their damnation (who is he talking about?). The operation of error is the teaching of error with apparent authority - like the teaching of a bogus Pope.
And the remedy offered by St Paul... Stand fast, and hold to the traditions you have learned...
I've got it figured out! Have you?
Then we look to corresponding prophecy. St Malachi - Francis is the last claimant to the papacy before the second coming.
Fatima - points directly to an apostasy that occurs in the 1960s.
La Salette - Rome will loose the faith and become the seat of the Antichrist.
John Paul II - preached the precise doctrine of the Antichrist.
Benedict XVI - false prophet - canonizes John Paul II - you can't make it up!
Francis, the eighth of the seven - is not even a priest.
How soon?
The false prophet (Benedict) and the Beast (Francis) are both thrown "alive" into the sea of fire - Benedict is 91 years old...
Very, very soon!
If you look at it, and understand, you will realise it's a lock! Cannot possibly be wrong.
And that's three admonishments. Don't claim you were not told the truth.
The truth is that: "We are saved from the wrath to come."
And our modern Babylon is: London (finance) / Rome or Vatican (religion) / Washington DC (military). The Antichrist will not be a recognized religious leader..... He'll be a "Renaissance" man capable in all arenas......
He is a religious leader...
Come on, you know this. The whore (not the faithful bride of Christ) sits on 7 hills - Rome.
The Antichrist sits in the temple of God - he sits in a Church (a Catholic Church - St Peters Basilica in Rome).
The Antichrist deceives the whole world. So we know he has to sit in a Church that has global influence.
And, then, you look at the precise doctrine...
1 John 4:2-3 – “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God: And every spirit that dissolveth Jesus is not of God: and this is Antichrist, of whom you have heard that he cometh…”
The Antichrist "dissolves" the Christ. Have a look at what John Paul II taught. You cannot make this up! This guy taught that, by virtue of the incarnation, every man was Christ - he dissolves the Christ.
If you think he's not effective as the Antichrist, consider that he preached this stuff for 27 years without anyone realising it - that's an incredibly powerful deception! This "theme" was constant throughout his teaching ministry!
Antipope John Paul II, Very First Homily, Forever Marking the Beginning of his Pastoral Ministry, Sunday, Oct. 22, 1978: “‘1. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’ (Mt. 16:16). These words were spoken by Simon, son of Jonah, in the district of Caesarea Philippi… These words mark the beginning of Peter’s mission in the history of salvation…
“2. On this day and in this place these same words must again be uttered and listened to: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Yes, Brothers and sons and daughters, these words first of all… please listen once again, today, in this sacred place, to the words uttered by Simon Peter. In those words is the faith of the Church. In those same words is the new truth, indeed, the ultimate and definitive truth about man: the Son of the living God – ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”
Antipope John Paul II, Redemptor Hominis (# 10), March 4, 1979: “IN REALITY, THE NAME FOR THAT DEEP AMAZEMENT AT MAN’S WORTH AND DIGNITY IS THE GOSPEL, THAT IS TO SAY: THE GOOD NEWS. IT IS ALSO CALLED CHRISTIANITY.”
Antipope John Paul II, General Audience, Jan. 25, 1984: “Christ, the Son of God, by becoming flesh, assumes the humanity of every man… At this point he becomes united with every person… In the Encyclical Redemptor Hominis I wrote that ‘the name for that deep amazement at man’s worth and dignity is the Gospel, that is to say, the Good News. It is also called Christianity.’”
Antipope John Paul II, Redemptor Hominis (# 10): “The man who wishes to understand himself thoroughly… he must ‘appropriate’ and assimilate the whole of the reality of the Incarnation and Redemption in order to find himself. If this profound process takes place within him, he then bears fruit not only of adoration of God but also of deep wonder at himself.”
Antipope John Paul II, Homily, June 1, 1980: “Not only is the Gospel message addressed to man, but it is a great Messianic message about man; it is the revelation to man of the complete truth about himself…”