In the previous lesson we found the Lord Jesus said the Holy Spirit could not come to earth until He had departed (John 16:7). It appears that the “restrainer” prophesied in II Thessalonians 2:7-8 will be the Holy Spirit, who will return to Heaven when the Church is gathered up by the Lord Jesus.
Now, let’s look at something else. The ministry of the Lord Jesus here on earth was about 3˝ years. If seven is the number of completion, 3˝ indicates something incomplete. Scripture tells us that Jesus has another ministry, and that is totally unlike that of 2,000 years ago. It will be a ministry of vengeance (Isaiah 61:2). It appears that this 3˝ years of ministry will be here on earth. This must be during the final 3˝ years of the Tribulation, after the “man of sin” declares that he himself is god.
If Jesus, who currently sits in Heaven at the right hand of God, has a remaining ministry here on earth, how will He manifest Himself? Will He manifest Himself? If the Holy Spirit and the Church are removed, then the Lord Jesus will prosecute His remaining ministry in this world in some manner, perhaps from Heaven, perhaps in His wonderful resurrected, spiritual/physical, body that could move between Heaven to earth, from the spiritual to the physical, as He willed. This occurred several times here on earth during the forty days after His resurrection.
In the Revelation chapters five and six, the Lord Jesus is in Heaven and orchestrating the events of the Seven Seals. Again, in chapter seven a great multitude of people are standing in Heaven before the Throne of God and the Lamb, the Lord Jesus (Revelation 7:9).
In the Revelation chapter fourteen Jesus is shown to be standing on Mount Zion, which is here on earth, and voice came from Heaven (Revelation 14:1-2). In the same chapter Jesus will be given a mission here on earth. He is described as “the Son of Man” sitting on a cloud with a golden crown of victory (stephanos – Strong’s G4735) upon His head. An angel (messenger) came from the presence of God in the heavenly Temple, and gave Jesus the message to harvest the earth with His sickle, “for the earth is ripe for harvest” (Revelation 14:14-16).
As a further indication of His ministry here on earth, in the Revelation 16:15 Jesus states, “Behold, I come (to earth) as a thief.” Then we are given the final action of the Lord Jesus here on earth in what I consider the pinnacle of the Bible, the Revelation chapter nineteen. In this chapter, Jesus will return as King of kings and Lord of lords. His enemies will be destroyed by the sword of His mouth, Satan will be thrown in the pit for 1,000 years, and the Millennial Kingdom then follows.
If it is correct that Jesus cannot come here on earth until the Holy Spirit returns to Heaven (with the Church), then all this seems to confirm that the Church will be in Heaven during this time. This is known as the pre-Tribulation view of Scripture.
Praise the Lord for that hope! Praise Him always and forever!