Question about "The Wicked one" as mentioned in Thessalonians

The thing with the way the bible explains things though is that it is so hard to follow, maybe it's just me, or maybe reading the Bible isn't enough to understand but my question is how do you know that "the wicked one" is also "the antichrist"? is the antichrist mentioned in the New Testament? If yes, then where? I hvaen't finished readin git yet. In fact I'm just starting on Revelations today. Also how do you know he is being restrained NOW, in 2007? I hope this doesn't come across like I don't believe what youre saying because I do, I just need to know how and why you know what you know. That's the only way I can believe things.

honestly speaking, this topic of 2 Thessalonians about the wicked one is quite a controversial issue. since it is prophetic in nature, i may not be able to explain in details the true and deeper interpretation of said topic. Although the term antichrist is not used in the new testament but it is being described in Revelation 13 as the first beast...some points of resemblance can be considered: Link : http://www.biblebelievers.com/Pink/antichrist14.htm 1. The first Beast receives his power, seat, and great authority from the Dragon, Rev. 13:2. Cf. 2 Thess. 2:9 - "Him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders". 2. :All the world" wonders after the first Beast, Rev. 13:2. Cf. 2 Thess. 2:11,12 - "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe the Lie; that they all might be damned", etc. 3. The first Beast is "worshipped", Rev. 13:4. Cf. 2 Thess. 2:4 - "He as God sitteth in the temple of God". 4. The first Beast has a mouth "speaking great things", Rev. 13:5. Cf. 2 Thess. 2:4 - "Who...exalteth himself above all that is called God". Note also that in Rev. 13:5 it is said of the first Beast, he "has a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies". Is not this one of the chief characteristic marks of the Antichrist? 5. The first Beast makes war on the saints, Rev. 13:7. Cf 2 Thess. 2:4 - "Who opposeth...all that is called God", that is, he will seek to exterminate and obliterate everything on earth which bears God's name. From these points of analogy it is evident that the first Beast of Rev. 13 and the Man of Sin of 2 Thess. 2 are one and the same person.