Page 76 - Pneumatology - Student Textbook

The rapture, then, is to be seen as not just a day when Jesus returns to take His bride to Heaven. The
rapture must also been seen in the culminating work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church members by
raising them up to life (cf. 1 Thess. 4:16; cf. Jn. 6:40, 63; 2 Cor. 3:6)

Holy Spirit and the Tribulation Period

The next major event on the eschatological calendar is the rapture
of the church. We are all looking for the coming of Christ to
permanently redeem his Bride, the Church. Following the rapture,
the world will enter a seven-year period of history called the
Tribulation Period, where the wrath of God will be poured out on
mankind as never before in the history of the world. Some teach that the Holy Spirit will no longer be
present in the world to restrain sin. Is this true?

The question of the Holy Spirit not being present during the tribulation results from a misunderstanding
of 2 Thessalonians 2:7, which reads, “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one
who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.” Right now, prior to the
tribulation, one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is the restraint of evil. In verses 8 and 9, we learn that
the restraining power of the Holy Spirit holds back the “lawless one” (Antichrist) so he is not revealed
before God wills it. The passage says the Holy Spirit will no longer restrain the growth of evil, but that does
not mean He will have no ministry whatsoever.

In Acts 1:4–5, Jesus promises that His disciples would soon be “baptized with the Holy Spirit.” In Acts
chapter 2, Jesus’ promise is fulfilled. In verses 38 and 39, it is written that “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be
baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom
the Lord our God will call.’”

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is thus assured for every born-again believer, and nowhere in Scripture is
that promise rescinded. Regeneration is the Spirit’s work; without Him, no one is saved. If the Spirit were
not present during the tribulation, no one could be saved. But the fact is that a multitude that no one can
number is saved during the tribulation (Revelation 7:9–14). Therefore, those who come to Jesus during the
tribulation period will also be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Give glory to God for making that provision,
because tribulation saints will need the guidance and direction of the Spirit during that troubled time.

In the Tribulation time, there will be much witnessing and this all by the power of the Holy Spirit. Revelation
7 tells of 144,000 Jewish witnesses being sealed. This sealing is the protecting power of the Holy Spirit.
These witnesses are sealed with an immunity from death. No power on earth during the tribulation can
harm or deter these individuals from accomplishing their mission of sharing the Gospel to anyone who
would believe.

Another good reason that the Spirit must be present during the tribulation is that He is omnipresent. Since
He is everywhere at all times, He must be in the world during the tribulation.

At some point—only God knows when—the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit will be removed, the
Antichrist will be revealed to an unwitting and unsuspecting world, and the tribulation period will begin.

75