RE:"Question on Holy Spirit's Departure"

Blessings Celia,

You are absolutely correct when you state that the Holy Spirit is not removed from the earth. 

Though I truly respect the scholarly work of Dr. Finnis J. Dake, I find his work as you have quoted, incomplete and not "Gospel." Over 30 years ago, I recall discussing Scripture with a friend, only to have my friend declare that what I was quoting was not in the Bible. I was very positive that he was incorrect, and knew that I could even show him that it was on the left page in the upper right hand quadrant. I turned to the page in my Dake's Bible, and to my horror discovered that I was quoting footnotes. Yes, it was in My Bible, but it wasn't Scripture. I immediately bought a (much cheaper) Bible without the references, and only used the Dake's for research.

The Hinderer of Lawlessness:

There is not a single Scripture in the Bible that shows the Holy Spirit as prohibiting or blocking anything. This "Gentle Dove" may lead or teach, but it is never shown to block or inhibit anything, including lawlessness. Governments are supposed to hinder lawlessness, but lawless governments will remain on the earth until they are destroyed by the second coming of our Lord. And finally, the Church has never been a hinderer of lawlessness. Yes, the Church may bind an occasional demon here or there, but only during a few "revivals" has it been known to mildly inhibit lawlessness. When Jesus went before the lawless Sanhedrin and the Roman government, he didn't even "hinder lawlessness." The Church was of little or no effect hindering the lawlessness of Nero or Hitler. And it appears to me, far more impotent today.
 

There is an obvious hinderer of lawlessness that Dr. Dake failed to include on his list.

2 Thes. 2:7: "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." (NKJV)

The He who restrains lawlessness, is the Law! Now the restraint of the law has been gradually withered away, and in my opinion was completely "taken out of the way" by the time our so-called justice system ruled against the ten commandments. Judges and politicians have become "a law unto themselves." Presidents get to decide their own definition of the word "is." Judges can condemn an innocent, helpless lady to death by depriving food and water. If you belong to the "right group," you'll never be charged for your lawlessness, and those who are charged, will be judged according to their bank account. The foundation, " The Law," has been removed from the land, and every man has become a law unto himself. There is no longer any restraint in calling good -- evil, and evil -- good.

2nd Thes 2:7 is a prophecy presently being fulfilled in these times about the removal of the law, and not directly related to the doctrine of the "Rapture." In my personal opinion, it has recently been fulfilled and is not dependent upon the Church, Holy Spirit, or even the " Rapture."

Shalom, John