The Holy Spirit's church-age role of indwelling believers ends at the rapture, but He remains on earth as the omnipresent Spirit of God during the tribulation.
According to Les Feldick, when the church is taken out, the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit ceases because every believer is removed. However, the Spirit is not absent from the planet—He continues as God's omnipresent presence, enabling tribulation salvation. Paul's words in 2 Thessalonians 2 speak of the restrainer being 'taken out of the way,' which Les applies to the Holy Spirit working in believers.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 — Paul directly says the hinderer will be taken out of the way, which Les identifies as the Holy Spirit's restraining work in believers.
In 2 Thessalonians 2, the apostle Paul writes about a mystery of iniquity already at work, but he explains that there is a restrainer: '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 verse speaks of someone (a person, 'he') who is currently holding back evil and will continue until that one is removed. Scripture also reveals that after this removal, 'that Wicked' will be revealed—the man of sin, the son of perdition, whose coming is 'after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved' (2 Thessalonians 2:8–10). Additionally, from Genesis 1:2, the Spirit of God is present on earth moving upon the face of the deep, showing His active presence in the world from the beginning.
Les Feldick teaches that the Holy Spirit is the present-day restrainer holding back the forces of Satan. He is 'the hinderer' of 2 Thessalonians 2, and His restraining work is carried out through the indwelling presence of the Spirit in every believer (Clip 2). When the church is raptured, that indwelling role ends, but the Holy Spirit does not depart from the earth. Les explains, 'just because the Holy Spirit goes out and finishes His role as indwelling the individual believer, doesn't remove Him from the earth. Because the Holy Spirit has always been the omnipresent of God on the planet' (Clip 3). He points back to Genesis 1:2, where the Spirit moved upon the face of the deep in the Old Testament, and notes that the Spirit was evident throughout the Old Testament even though He did not indwell believers (Clip 1). Therefore, during the tribulation, the Spirit remains to draw people to salvation, 'else no one would be able to be saved during the tribulation' (Clip 1). Les also contrasts the Holy Spirit's genuine work in the church age with the counterfeit work of the false prophet, who is a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit and will deceive many into worshipping the Antichrist (Clip 7).
No. According to Les Feldick, the Holy Spirit finishes His specific role of indwelling the individual believer when the church is taken out, but that does not remove Him from the earth. The Spirit has always been the omnipresent God on the planet, as seen from the beginning in Genesis when He moved upon the face of the deep.
Les Feldick identifies the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2 as the Holy Spirit. He explains that the Holy Spirit is presently holding back like a dam the forces of Satan so the tribulation does not break loose early. The Spirit dwells in believers, so the only 'break' God has against evil is the believer and the indwelling Holy Spirit. When that hindering one is 'taken out of the way,' it is in connection with the departure of the church.
Yes. Les Feldick says the Holy Spirit remains on earth as the omnipresent Spirit of God during the tribulation, 'else no one would be able to be saved during the tribulation, and we know they will be.' He references Revelation 7, where a great multitude comes out of the great tribulation having washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.
Les teaches that the false prophet is a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit, just as the Antichrist is a counterfeit of God the Son. As the genuine Holy Spirit draws people to the Son, the false prophet will cause people to worship the Antichrist. He does great wonders, even making fire come down from heaven, and deceives those on earth by his miracles—something the Holy Spirit would never do.
Once the hindering work of the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way, the wicked one will be revealed—the man of sin, the Antichrist. His coming is after the working of Satan with power, signs, lying wonders, and all deceivableness of unrighteousness, aimed at those who perish because they rejected the truth and took pleasure in unrighteousness.
Les Feldick maintains that the church cannot go into the tribulation because God's dealing with the Gentiles is under grace, not law. He says 'you cannot mix them.' The church age was the interim when God, by way of the working of the Holy Spirit, has been calling out a people for His name, and that calling ends when the Holy Spirit's indwelling role is finished.
Tribulation Martyrs
Les points to Revelation 7, showing that people will be converted and martyred during the great tribulation, proving that the Spirit is still at work.
The Spirit's Roles Compared
Les explains that the Holy Spirit's indwelling role ends at the rapture, but He remains the omnipresent Spirit of God on earth so people can still be saved.
The Restrainer Removed
Les identifies the Holy Spirit in believers as the present hindering force holding back Satan, and says this hindering is taken out of the way.
Not Gone from the Earth
Les directly answers whether the Holy Spirit is gone at the rapture, explaining that He leaves His indwelling role but remains as God's omnipresence.
The White Horse Rider: Antichrist or Jesus? Revelation 6
So they're going to have a time of rebuttal, but not these two men. The false prophet and the Antichrist, these two humans who are part of this unholy trinity, they're men, and they of course will go to their doom. Now Satan is going to go there as well, but he will join them sometime later.
Why Church Escapes Tribulation
Les maintains the church cannot enter the tribulation because the church age is grace, not law, and believers are taken out before it begins.
Age of Grace Calling
Les teaches that during the present interim, the Holy Spirit has been calling out a people for God's name, showing the Spirit's distinctive role in this age.
Counterfeit of the Spirit
Les shows that the false prophet is a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit who deceives the earth's inhabitants, contrasting with the Spirit's genuine work.
2 Thessalonians 2:7: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
This is the key verse about the restrainer being taken out of the way, which Les applies to the Holy Spirit's indwelling work.
2 Thessalonians 2:8: And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
After the restrainer is removed, the wicked one, the Antichrist, is revealed.
2 Thessalonians 2:9: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
This describes Satan-empowered deception that follows the removal of the restrainer.
2 Thessalonians 2:10: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
This explains why deceived perishing people are judged—they rejected the truth.
Genesis 1:2: And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Les uses this to show that the Spirit was present and active on earth before the church age.
Revelation 7:14: And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
This shows that many are saved and martyred during the tribulation, requiring the Spirit's ongoing presence.
Yes. Les Feldick teaches that the Holy Spirit remains on earth as the omnipresent Spirit of God so that people can be saved during the tribulation. Revelation 7 shows a great multitude coming out of the great tribulation with robes washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Les teaches that the Holy Spirit is the restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2:7. Indwelling each believer, the Spirit holds back the forces of Satan like a dam on a river. When the church is removed, that restraining force is taken out of the way, and the Antichrist is revealed.
The Holy Spirit does not leave the earth entirely. He leaves His church-age role of indwelling believers, but remains God's omnipresent Spirit on earth. Les says this is the only way tribulation salvation is possible.
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