Question:
I’ve been told that when the Rapture happens that the Holy Spirit will leave, people will still be getting saved. How can anyone be saved without the Holy Spirit?
Answer:
The Holy Spirit has always, and will always be everywhere present (omnipresent), because He is God. But His specific ministries, at times, change. The Holy Spirit is eternal. Hebrews 9:14 says, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through THE ETERNAL SPIRIT offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” The Holy Spirit is everywhere. Psalm 139:7-12 says, “WHITHER SHALL I GO FROM THY SPIRIT? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”
From the beginning of creation (Genesis 1:1,2, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And THE SPIRIT OF GOD moved upon the face of the waters.”) — to the end of the Bible (Revelation 22:17, “And THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY, COME. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”), the Holy Spirit has always, and will be always present.
The specific ministry of the Holy Spirit changes, at times, just like the specific ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. But that does NOT MEAN that EVERYTHING changes about them, or that they are totally absent at times — they are ALWAYS PRESENT, because God is always present everywhere.
Jesus created everything. Colossians 1:13-17 says, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: FOR BY HIM WERE ALL THINGS CREATED, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” But Jesus did not come down and live with a physical presence amongst His creation, until many years had elapsed. And even when He did come to live amongst His creation, He did not really start a public ministry until He was 30 years old. Luke 3:23 says, “And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age…”
During all of this time, the Holy Spirit was upon earth. We saw that He was there in Creation (Genesis 1:1,2). The Holy Spirit was there to empower believers throughout the Old Testament. Judges 3:9,10 says, “And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. And THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON HIM, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.” Judges 6:34 says, “But THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON GIDEON, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.” I Samuel 10:10,11 says, “And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAME UPON HIM, and he prophesied among them. And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” I Samuel 16:13 says, “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON DAVID FROM THAT DAY FORWARD. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.”
When Jesus was going to leave His earthly ministry and go back to heaven, He said that the Holy Spirit was going to come. John 16:7 says, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but IF I DEPART, I WILL SEND HIM UNTO YOU.” The Comforter is the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 says, “But THE COMFORTER, WHICH IS THE HOLY GHOST, WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Remember, the Holy Spirit was here all along, but He would be sent now in a specific ministry. Just as Jesus was the One who created all things (so He was there in the Old Testament), but in the fullness of time He was sent for a specific ministry, to take upon Himself human flesh (through the virgin birth), and live and minister upon earth, and then to die on the cross for our sins, and rise again from the dead. But because Jesus has ascended back to heaven now, does not mean that He is no longer present here. He said in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAY, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” He is in heaven, but He is also with us here. John 14:23 says, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and WE WILL COME UNTO HIM, AND MAKE OUR ABODE WITH HIM.”
Now back to your question, “I’ve been told that when the Rapture happens that the Holy Spirit will leave, people will still be getting saved. How can anyone be saved without the Holy Spirit?”
As you can see from the above verses, the Holy Spirit will still be here upon earth after the Rapture, but not as the Comforter of the church (that specific ministry will be over, because the church will be gone). The church will be in heaven at that point, but the Holy Spirit will still be here doing His work in hearts, even as He was in the Old Testament. Remember, the Holy Spirit is God, and God is everywhere at once. Psalm 139:7 says, “WHITHER SHALL I GO FROM THY SPIRIT? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?”