Is the Holy Spirit still present on earth during the tribulation after the church is raptured?
Yes. When the church is removed, the Holy Spirit’s role of indwelling the believer ends, but He remains on earth as the omnipresent God. He is not absent during the tribulation; His indwelling role ceases, yet His omnipresence continues throughout the seven years. He was evident on earth before the church age and will be during it.
Les explains that the hinderer of 2 Thessalonians 2:7 is the Holy Spirit in the person of the believer, and He hinders until He is taken out of the way at the departure when the church is removed. When the church is gone, the Spirit’s role as indwelling the believer has ended. However, Les stresses that the Holy Spirit will still be on earth as the omnipresent God. He points back to Genesis 1, where the Spirit moved upon the face of the deep, showing the Holy Spirit was evident throughout human experience. During the church age He indwells believers, but He remains the omnipresent Spirit of God. So even during the tribulation, He is present, though not in the same indwelling role.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.