Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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"The "removal of that which restrains"
That would be the removal of the Caesars under the "then" Roman empire..
hello turnorburn, dirtfarmer here
Would you mind explaining how, "the removal of the Caesars under the "then" Roman empire", is the removal of that which restrains?
thanks dirtfarmer
Calvin here,
Hello Chopper, we greet again.
I have heard this idea of the Holy Spirit a few times before, but I'm uncertain about how this might be exactly.
The Holy Spirits role is to point to and to glorify Christ.
I don't see though how this ministry would necessarily restrain the man of sin/antiChrist, though it'd be true enough that the man of sin would find it hard going to gain much headway in the light of Jesus.
Nevertheless, my thinking favours the Holy Spirit.
But I note that He is taken out of the way (of lawlessness) but not removed from companionship with believers.
When this happens, evil will rival the evil of Noah's generation.
Your thoughts?
hello calvin, dirtfarmer here
When the body of believers, "the Church", is taken out (raptured) then the abode of the Spirit is removed.
1 Corinthians 6:15 & 1
v15," Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
v19," What? know ye not that your body is temple of the Holy Spirit, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"
Do not these verses confirm, that if the body of believers are taken out then that also means that the Spirit of God is taken out also?
Hello dirtfarmer, calvin here,hello calvin, dirtfarmer here
When the body of believers, "the Church", is taken out (raptured) then the abode of the Spirit is removed.
1 Corinthians 6:15 & 19
v15," Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
v19," What? know ye not that your body is temple of the Holy Spirit, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"
Do not these verses confirm, that if the body of believers are taken out then that also means that the Spirit of God is taken out also?
Hello dirtfarmer, calvin here,
I might be wrong in my thinking here, but I see two distinct events.
I'm thinking that the influence of Christianity that has changed the world over the last 2k years will be diminished (and indeed we are seeing this now) 2Thes 2:3.
Then, as the effectivness of our witness lessens, the effectivness of evil will increase, thus allowing for the man of sin to be exposed and to hold significant sway over mankind.
So, the restraining influence of the Spirit will be taken 'out of the way', not 'taken away'.
Then after the man of sin has had time to act out his delusion of greatness, then the Church will be taken away and the Spirit will accompany the Church. Then the evil one will be destroyed by the coming of the lord.
So in sumary, the Spirit will be taken out of the way and later taken away. Two distinct movements.
But that is just my thinking at the moment.
Dear Brother Chopper, could or would any be saved without the influence of the Holy Spirit if He is removed?A third view would be the Holy Spirit.
Calvin here,
Hello Chopper, we greet again.
I have heard this idea of the Holy Spirit a few times before, but I'm uncertain about how this might be exactly.
The Holy Spirits role is to point to and to glorify Christ.
I don't see though how this ministry would necessarily restrain the man of sin/antiChrist, though it'd be true enough that the man of sin would find it hard going to gain much headway in the light of Jesus.
Nevertheless, my thinking favours the Holy Spirit.
But I note that He is taken out of the way (of lawlessness) but not removed from companionship with believers.
When this happens, evil will rival the evil of Noah's generation.
Your thoughts?
Calvin here,hello calvin, dirtfarmer here
While I will agree that the influence of the Church is decreasing, I don't see how the Holy Spirit, which is our "earnest", can be separated from the believer. The Holy Spirit came upon men in the old testament for the accomplishment of the will of God, but did not indwell them nor was the earnest of their salvation. The old testament saints were not part of the body of Christ, but were "friends of the bridegroom", the kingdom, and not part of the bride.
We do read of the apostasy, Jesus even ask "would there be faith found when he returns" Luke 18:8
I see that Paul is not talking about someone / something departing and going elsewhere, rather just standing aside to let the man of evil do his worst.
Brotherly greetings to you my friend. I believe that when Jesus gathers the Elect Bride of the Christ prior to the tribulation period, the restraining Holy Spirit will cease His presence in light of antichrist's entrance at the half way point in that tribulation. The remaining "Church" which has basically been sleeping instead of dedicated to living an active lifestyle for Jesus, will pass thru the first half of the tribulation to wake up and prove their devotion to God's Son. Unfortunately, they will face persecution to prove their loyalty as a believer in Christ Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 2:6 "And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.
2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way."
The Holy Spirit is holding back antichrist until God Himself allows him to enter the scene. Once that happens, the Holy Spirit will return to the New Jerusalem that's in heaven, with the Father and His Son Jesus.
Dear Brother Chopper, could or would any be saved without the influence of the Holy Spirit if He is removed?
I'll admit that the Holy Spirit being removed is the prominent doctrine taught concerning 2 Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (or hinders) will let, until he be taken out of the way.
I have to agree with Brother Mike that it is the saints in post #59 - http://christianforums.net/Fellowship/index.php?threads/after-the-rapture-–-all-the-pigs-vanish.66631/page-3#post-1265971
I further believe it will be the bride of Christ caught up pre-trib we see with Jesus in Rev 4:4 & Rev 4:6 (Rev 5:9 - every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation) because there will be other saints caught up also out of great tribulation according to Rev 7:13-14 and the 144,000 shown with Jesus in the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22) or mount Sion of Rev 14:1.
Blessings brother in Jesus' name.
I also infer in this Brother Chopper that it is the Holy Spirit still present in Revelation Chapter Seven that does the sealing of the 144,000 during the first half of the tribulation. Eph 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.I fully understand your concern of the Holy Spirit's absence during the first half of the tribulation. That time will be a test to determine the validity of a Believer's confession of Jesus Christ as their Savior during the first 3 1/2 years. At the half way point when antichrist makes his appearance, the Holy Spirit will leave. The 144,000 Jewish Evangelists will take over the Gospel preaching and folks will be saved.
What is the head as it were wounded to death?
Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Any guesses..