THE PRESENT INVENTION PROVIDES ANTAGONIZING ANTIBODIES THAT BIND TO INTERLEUKIN-7 RECEPTOR (IL-7R). THE INVENTION FURTHER PROVIDES A METHOD OF OBTAINING SUCH ANTIBODIES AND ANTIBODY-ENCODING NUCLEIC ACIDS. THE INVENTION FURTHER RELATES TO THERAPEUTIC METHODS FOR USE OF THESE ANTIBODIES AND ANTIGEN-BINDING PORTIONS THEREOF FOR THE TREATMENT AND/OR PREVENTION OF TYPE 2 DIABETES AND IMMUNOLOGICAL DISORDERS, INCLUDING TYPE 1 DIABETES, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE, AND LUPUS.