Counsels on Future Life

Counsel #3 — Holy Spirit Withdrawn

Picture: Counsel #3 — Holy Spirit Withdrawn CFL 69.1

Jesus is in the most holy place in heaven’s sanctuary interceding on behalf of repentant sinners (Hebrews 7:25). When He finishes this ministry His restraining Spirit is withdrawn from the defiant rulers and sinful people of this world (Genesis 6:3). They are left to the control of evil angels. Desirous to turn their wicked hearts and give eternal life, God’s Spirit has warned, corrected, reproved, and revealed the only path of safety. But the unrepentant sinners have repeatedly insulted God and refused to turn away from misrepresenting and dishonoring the truth of God—particularly in the rejection of the fourth commandment. Now as the Spirit of God is withdrawn from the earth, Satan accelerates his cruel work upon all the wicked, both in land and sea. CFL 69.2

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7, 8 NKJV CFL 69.3

“The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation; the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine grace, they have no protection from the wicked one.” Ellen White in The Great Controversy, p. 614 CFL 69.4

Reflect:Though the Holy Spirit will be withdrawn from the wicked just before the time of trouble, He will never be withdrawn from the righteous. In what ways do you find that comforting? (Psalms 91:7, 8, 10 NKJV.)^[65] CFL 69.5