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A Study in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2

In the previous article, He Who Restrains, the restrainer, according to the pre-tribbers, in Second Thessalonians chapter two is the Holy Spirit:

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

2 Thessalonians 2:7

The purpose of this study is so examine the essential role of the Holy Spirit. We must carefully examine scripture to see what the role of the Spirit has in regard to ministry and His role in this world.

One misunderstanding  among those who are pre-tribbers is that somehow there will be many who will be saved during the tribulation. There will be the "tribulation saints" and the 144,000 who will "evangelize the world." All this will happen when the Holy Spirit is allegedly in heaven with the church.

One thing we must remember, the Holy Spirit is God and He is omni-present, He's everywhere. Another is that a true believer cannot be saved without Him. Jesus said:  

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God... Except a man be born of water (natural birth)  and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 3:3, 5-6                           

In the above verse, it is clear about  being born again.  There are two births. Our first birth is our natural birth when we came fourth from our mother's womb. The second birth is when the Holy Spirit regenerates our spirit. Again this can't happen to the newly reborn if the Holy Spirit is on vacation during the tribulation.

We must know the role of The Spirit in regard to our ministry. In Acts, Jesus said:  

Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit gives us as Christians power to be witnesses for the gospel of Christ. It's inconceivable to believe that the 144,000 will be able to "witness to the world" if the Holy Spirit is "raptured into heaven," especially when they have no training and will be unversed in scripture. 

We must know the Spirit's ministry to us. In the Gospel of John, Jesus said:  

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you...But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

 

John 14:16-17, 26 

Jesus refers the Holy Spirit as "the Comforter." The Holy Spirit will teach all believers all things and remind them of everything that Christ taught His disciples. How are the "tribulation saints" going to be taught all things when the Holy Spirit is in heaven? What will happen at the time of trial when "tribulation saints" are tempted and the Holy Spirit isn't there to remind them of what Jesus taught us?

During that night before Jesus was arrested which led to his crucifixion, He was with His disciples. He spoke with them about the Holy Spirit in regard to this world:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

John 16:7-11

Jesus said the Holy Spirit will convict the world in regard to sin, righteousness and judgment. It will be highly impossible for men during the tribulation to be convicted of these things if the Holy Spirit is raptured with the church. As we also have seen that man cannot be born again without the Holy Spirit.

There are those who believe that the "period of grace" ends when Jesus comes to rapture His church out. And somehow that there will be something to replace it for the condition for salvation. However, there is nothing in scripture that supports their belief. Throughout the bible, people always have been saved through grace through faith. We see this in reference to Abraham: 

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Romans 4:3

See also Genesis 15:6

Paul wrote in Ephesians:
 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The prophet Joel as he described the events up to the day of the Lord:  

Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. If the "period of grace" ends at the "pre-trib rapture" then how are the Jews who haven't believed in Christ going to be saved when they call out for their messiah at the last moment when Jesus appears if it isn't through God's grace?

We must conclude that if the saints in the tribulation are martyred for the testimony of Jesus, then they are also saved by grace-through their faith in Jesus Christ.

Going back to the words of Jesus, in relation to the Holy Spirit, John Wrote: 

In the above verse whoever believes in Jesus, the Holy Spirit flows from within them. This must also include those who are believers in the tribulation. Therefore, the Holy Spirit must be here during that time.

But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Mark 13:11

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       Articles in this study

He Who Restrains  

Signs And Lying Wonders

With A Shout!