Don Stewart :: If There Will Be a Future Great Tribulation, Then Will the Holy Spirit Work during That Time?

If There Will Be a Future Great Tribulation, Then Will the Holy Spirit Work during That Time?

The Holy Spirit: How He Works – Question 19

There has been much discussion as to how the Holy Spirit will work during the seven-year period of tribulation that will occur in the future right before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Will He be absent? Will He work in the same way as today?

There Are Some Who Reject the Idea of a Future Seven-Year Tribulation Period

We must note that there are many good Bible-believers who do not believe that such a period will occur. They do not think the Bible teaches that there will be this specific period of time in the future when the earth goes through a time of terrible trouble. Consequently to them this is an irrelevant question.

The Holy Spirit Will Be Active during This Period

For those who see the Bible teaching such a future period of trouble, the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit will be active during this period, and as a result multitudes will be converted.

The Scripture mentions three specific groups: the 144,000, a great multitude, and Jews who have passed through God’s judgment.

He Will Work with the 144,000 Jews

At the beginning of this period, the 144,000 Jews will be converted and sealed, or protected, by the Holy Spirit.

John wrote about them as follows.

And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed... wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from humankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb (Revelation 7:4; 14:4 NKJV).

After they are saved, they become witnesses of Jesus Christ to the remainder of humanity. In order to become believers, the Holy Spirit must work with them.

There Is a Great Multitude Who Will Be Converted

The Bible also testifies that an innumerable multitude will be converted out of the Great Tribulation. We also read about this in the Book of Revelation.

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God on the throne and from the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9, 10 NLT).

There will be a great number of people converted in the future. Again, this must take place through the work of the Holy Spirit.

He Will Work with Jewish Believers

The Holy Spirit will be at work through a third group of people who are converted. These are Jewish believers who have survived the judgment of the Great Tribulation. The Lord said the following about them.

Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died (Zechariah 12:10 NLT).

The Holy Spirit will work with Jewish believers in the future. This is another one of the promises of Scripture.

Thus, the Holy Spirit will indeed be active during this period of Great Tribulation. Indeed, He will not be silent.

Summary – Question 19
If There Will Be a Future Great Tribulation, Then Will the Holy Spirit Work during That Time?

There is a question among believers whether such a period known as, “the Great Tribulation” will actually occur. There are many good Bible-believing Christians who do not think that such a literal period of great trouble will occur.

If there is such a literal seven-year period to occur in the future, then the work of the Holy Spirit will not cease during this period. On the contrary, many unbelievers will come to know Jesus Christ through the Spirit’s work. He will not be silent. Indeed, the Bible mentions three groups of people who will believe during this period.

First, there will be a special group of 144,000 Jewish people who come to faith in Jesus Christ during this period. They will be witnesses for Him throughout the entire world. For these conversions to take place, it would have to be through the work of the Holy Spirit.

There is also a great multitude of Gentiles who believe during this period. This too will be the work of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, other Jews, apart from the 144,000, will come to faith in Jesus Christ during this time leading up to the Second Coming of Christ.

Thus, if there is to be a literal “Great Tribulation” in the future we will indeed see the Holy Spirit at work.