The Lexicon says "that which hinders, Antichrist from making his appearance". Satan does this. He is withholding and detaining the Antichrist till the right time when he is given the keys to the pit (Rev. 9.1). The major factor Satan is waiting for is the revived Roman Empire based on the 7 hilled city of Rome. The European Union just recently exceeded USA with greater GDP of about 20 trillion. USA is only about 18 trillion. Antichrist will need that kind of power to operate with. Satan will step out of the way for the Antichrist Nero resurrected take hold. Neron Kaiser = 666 in Greek (Rev. 13.18). Judas resurrected is the other "son of perdition" mentioned in the Bible, will be the False Prophet who exalts Nero as Prince William or whoever it will be. It's always fun trying to figure out who it is.
"Until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way" suggests an individual such as Satan to let the Antichrist flourish not a body of people. What this is all about is Satan unleashing the Antichrist at the opportune time when certain elements come together. The Church body of Christ remains on earth, only the overcomers out of the Church are raptured alive (Rev. 12.5). How else can people come to Christ during the Tribulation without the Church and the Holy Spirit. That would make no sense at all. God could never be that cold-hearted like in the new tv series "The Leftovers". Satan is using this tv show to lead people astray.
Why would you make mutually exclusive the Holy Spirit and the remnant Jews preaching for they do so by the Holy Spirit? The 144,000 in Rev. 7.1-8 is simply referring to a remnant of Jews who will end up receiving Christ. Whereas the 144,000 in Rev. 14.1-5 are the overcomer class out of the Christians and more specifically out of the overcomer class are 144,000 that are closest to Christ who are first raptured according to readiness. They were Christians who kept as virgins. Be careful here now because Antichrist will proclaim abstinence as a virtue. He is very sneaky.
Yes, with the Holy Spirit still on earth during the Tribulation He still convicts people of sin and leads them to Christ and adds to the Church.
I can not accept the idea that the restrainer is Satan. Why would Satan want to hold back evil????
No sir, that makes no sense at all to me. As for men as you have listed, I can not see anyone able to hold back lawlessness. IMO opinion it has to be the Holy Spirit and anyone is welcome to disagree with that opinion.
As I look at the world today, lawlessness is rampant. Even now with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit the world is falling apart from lawlessness. Just think how it will be if there is no Holy Spirit present on the earth.
He will be on a differant mission during thr tribulation period after the church is removed. Now the Spirit of God is sealing us unto the day of redemption when He will present us to the Lord Jesus Christ. If He did not do that, we would never make it.
IMO there will be NO believers left on this earth after the Rapture. Now remember, the church DOES NOT SAVE ANYONE! It is the Holy Spirit who convicts and saves and seals the believer.
Now as for the 144,000. The 144,000 of chapter 7 is the same ones in chapter 14. I know that there are some problems connected with that view but I still believe that it is the best understanding.They are the sealed, Jewish virgin men who Jesus started out with and He came through the Tribulation not losing a single one. What is that a picture of........Once saved always saved!!!!!
IMO, since the Holy Spirit is not indwelling believers during the Tribulation there is then only one way to be saved and it has 3 points.
1) Meet/contact one of the 144,000 Jewish virgin men.
2) accept Christ as they give the gosple to the lost man
3) and then refuse the mark of the beast.