^What withholds^ is not specified here though it no doubt was when Paul ministered in person at Thessalonica.<p>The ^he^ and ^his^ are not associated with a particular being in this passage.<p>I rather think that `what withholds` is Michael, the archangel Dan 10:13,20,21 Dan 12:1.<br>There are many who believe it is the church.<br>While yet others believe that it is the HolySpirit.<p>The fact that there are Christians on the earth at the time of Jesus` return counters the supposition that the church is withholding.<p>The fact that the HolySpirit is in the body of believers who are still on earth at the return counters the supposition that the HolySpirit is withholding.<p>The ^man of sin^, the beast, is to whom the ^he^ and ^his^ refer.