Page 75 - Pneumatology - A Study of the Holy Spirit

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, before 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that promise rescinded.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.

Holy Spirit and the Millennium
At the end of the Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ will
occur. He will establish the Millennial Kingdom and then
pronounce three different judgments (of living Gentiles, of living
Jews, and of Old Testament and tribulation saints; cf. Joel 3:1-2;
Matt 25:31-46; Ezek. 20:34-38; Matt 25:1-30; Dan 12:2-3; Matt
16:17; Rev 20:4-6). Jesus Christ will also throw into the lake of fire
the Antichrist and his false prophet (Rev 19:20), then have Satan
bound for the entire millennial reign (Rev 20:1-3). The millennial reign of Christ will last for one thousand
years. During this time, peace will rule, and “it appears that at that moment all who enter [the millennial
kingdom] will be redeemed.” So, how will the Holy Spirit function during this period? Will there still be a
need for Him?

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