The belief that the Holy Spirit will be removed from the earth prior to the time of Antichrist is based on an interpretation of (II Thessalonians 2.1-12), and particularly of verses 7-8 in that text. It is argued that "He who now restrains" (verse 7) refers to the Holy Spirit, thereby restricting the the "lawless one" (Antichrist) (verse 8) to come only after the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth. 

However, this interpretation faces the following difficulty:

• Salvation must always come from God. The Holy Spirit was present on earth throughout the period of the Old Testament, moving individuals according to His will. Furthermore, it was the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost following the Lord's ascension back to Heaven, who instituted the Church by the coming of His in-dwelling presence.

• Therefore throughout history, the Holy Spirit has always played an essential role in salvation, indicating that if He were ever removed from the earth, no one could be saved subsequent to that time.

• However, we know from Scripture that Israel will remain on earth following the Rapture, and that they will be saved subsequent to that event. 

• Consequently, the Holy Spirit must remain on earth subsequent to the Rapture.

This conclusion is confirmed by a reading of (Joel 2.28-3.3), which indicates that the Lord will pour out His Spirit during the End Times, to ultimately fulfill His Plan of salvation for Israel.

According to (I John 2.18, 4.1-3), the coming of Antichrist will bring a spirit who will refuse to "confess", i.e. agree, that "Jesus Christ has come in the flesh". Certainly in its most general reading, it could be supposed that anyone, at anytime, with such an attitude of unbelief has the spirit of Antichrist, however a brief study of Biblical history will show that these verses make reference to a specific heresy. It is the philosophy of "Gnosticism", or a modern-day equivalent of it.

Gnosticism comes from the word "gnosis" meaning knowledge. It reached its original full bloom form in the 2nd century, though it existed in earlier forms during John's time. Its fundamental premise was (and is) that matter is intrinsically evil, so God who is Spirit, can have no association with it. This belief leads to the conclusion that Jesus Christ could not have been the God-man, and therefore could not have undergone crucifixion and resurrection in a material body. Of course, such a teaching denies the most basic premise upon which Christianity is built, that "Jesus Christ came in the flesh", died on the cross, and was resurrected on the third day.

The Apostle Paul makes it clear that a belief in Jesus Christ's physical resurrection is absolutely vital to the Christian faith (Romans 10.9-10), amplifying this statement in (I Corinthians 15.12-19), when he asserts that acceptance of this doctrine is required for the forgiveness of sin.

The Church of Philadelphia is the sixth of the seven Churches of Revelation. The meaning of those seven Churches has been interpreted in each of the following ways:

1. Ancient history records that these seven Churches actually existed in the region of Asia Minor during the first century.

2. It has been observed that the composite characteristics of these seven Churches seem to depict the composite nature of the worldwide Christian Church throughout the Age of Grace, individual Churches having qualities found in one or more of those ancient Churches.

3. Finally, it is possible to divide the Christian Church throughout the Age of Grace into seven distinct time periods, and to associate each of those seven time periods with the corresponding Revelation Church in the order in which it is discussed.

This multi-faceted approach of interpreting the Churches of Revelation, contributes to our understanding of Church (1) history, (2) spirituality, and (3) prophecy, throughout the entire Church Age. By this understanding, it is seen that the prophetic Church of Philadelphia is the next to last Church of the entire Church Age, thereby signifying that it will not have to go through the "hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world", but that the final Church of Laodicea will be required to go through that trial. 

A full discussion of the seven Churches of Revelation from the prophetic perspective is found in the Revelation section of The Prophets Speak. ("Begin your complete End Time study" to access this material.)

Bible scholars regard the term "Times of the Gentiles" in several different ways.

In the most general sense, the "Times of the Gentiles" can be regarded as the entire period from the destruction of ancient Israel by the Babylonians, until Israel's future restoration in the Land, under a new Millennial Kingdom Covenant. An argument for this definition is that Israel's Old Covenant of Law was annulled by God at the occasion of the Babylonian invasion and Exile, and that Israel will not again be under a new Covenant with God until their restoration is completed under King Messiah.

In a more restricted sense, the "Times of the Gentiles" can be regarded as beginning with the AD 70 destruction of Jerusalem, and ending with the completion of the Church Age. An argument for this definition is that Israel's opportunity for a new Covenant ended with the AD 70 destruction of the nation with their scattering among the Gentile nations, and cannot be renewed until God's economy of salvation toward the Gentiles is completed, and Apocalyptic Times begin. This time span appears to be the one in view in (Luke 21.24), and is the definition employed in The Prophets Speak.

The Church of Laodicea is the last of the seven Churches of Revelation. The meaning of those seven Churches has been interpreted in each of the following ways:

1. Ancient history records that these seven Churches actually existed in the region of Asia Minor during the first century.

2. It has been observed that the composite characteristics of these Seven Churches seem to depict the composite nature of the worldwide Christian Church throughout the Age of Grace, individual Churches having qualities found in one or more of those ancient Churches.

3. Finally, it is possible to divide the Christian Church throughout the Age of Grace into seven distinct time periods, and to associate each of those seven time periods with the corresponding Revelation Church in the order in which it is discussed.

This third interpretation of the Seven Churches leads to a prophetic view of the Christian Church over the Age of Grace, and causes the Church of Laodicea to be the final church period, so that Christians today would indeed be of Laodicea. Nonetheless, it is understood that the description of Laodicea is a corporate one, and does not necessarily apply to individual members, some of whom may be quite dedicated in their relationship with the Lord.

The approach taken in The Prophets Speak adheres to the third view above. A full discussion of the seven Churches of Revelation from this prophetic perspective is found in the Revelation section of The Prophets Speak. ("Begin your complete End Time study" to access this material.)

There are some who see no time difference between the Rapture and the Lord's Apocalypse. However, a review of the sequence of events described in the Revelation, compared with statements elsewhere in the New Testament, seem to require that the Rapture must occur prior to the Lord's Apocalypse.

God's "wrath" is first mentioned in the apocalyptic event described in Seal 6 (Revelation 6.17). Later, just before start of Woe 3 and the pouring of God's "bowls of wrath" on earth, the Revelation declares that "the hour of His "judgement" has come" (Revelation 14.7). Since that word for "judgement" is defined as God's indignation or vengeance, anyone living on the earth during such a time would certainly become subject to God's condemnation.

This chronology must be reconciled with other statements in the New Testament, which promise that those of the Church "who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" will not face God's condemnation (Romans 8.1). This same promise seems to be reiterated in (I Thessalonians 5.9), where the Apostle Paul writes to the Church of Thessalonica, indicating that "God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ".

Therefore, these sets of Scriptures can best be reconciled if it is assumed that the Rapture of these believers will occur prior to the fulfillment of those Revelation Scriptures dealing with God's wrath and condemnation. On this basis, the Rapture would have to occur prior to the Lord's Apocalypse.

A more thorough discussion of this appears in the last two sections of The Prophets Speak. ("Begin your complete End Time study" to access this material.)