the believer has received the earnest of the Spirit — but even the unbeliever deeply senses the result of the .radical transformation that has taken place in history. Far from being left without witness or devoured by the deserved curse, there is an intensified testimony to the unsaved of the rigors of God’s demands. A new era was instituted by Christ at His first advent, and the Holy Spirit testifies to this fact in the hearts of men. There are several important implications of this heightened conviction. First, Satan has been somewhat thwarted in his designs by this. He is the prince of the cosmos and aspires to organize the world according to his design. He was highly succesful at this during New Test ament times Ephesians 2:2), and has undoubtedly con tinued with a remarkable record. It is likely, however, that a certain resistance has been encountered in the hearts of men—perhaps requiring a modification of his plans. If this is so, many of the patterns of history which Satan has executed would have been more drastic if this testimony had not been a reality. Secondly, and directly related to the above contention, is the fact that much of what is called culture is the re sult of the presence of the Spirit’s convicting power. The Bible does not teach an infiltration of the kingdoms of this world by the kingdom of God. In fact, the Stone of God’s kingdom smashes the kingdoms of this world (Dan iel 2:44-45). Still, it is plausible that many of the finer aspects of culture are a result of this conviction in the hearts and lives of men. This is to recognize the power of God as present to some extent in the development of the Western world. Fine arts, political thought, economic theory, science in its beginnings and many other fields of human endeavor give some evidence of the righteous working of God within the human breast. While it must be recognized that the same cultural history has been strongly influenced from purely pagan sources, the mod erating and enobling element may be indirectly attrib uted to the work of the Holy Spirit in the world. When men are made acutely conscious of the right, there is likely to be social expression of it. Many essays and sev eral complete volumes have been dedicated to the evi dence of the uplifting power of the Gospel.6 It was the renewed and intensified power of the Holy Spirit which has been influential in the transformation of culture. While this was by no means God’s central purpose in redemption, it has proved to be a suitable accompani ment to His redemptive work. Thirdly, the impact upon the world through preach ing and missions has been a vivid reality. It is the thesis of a late and very stimulating book that the successful missionary impact of the early church was the direct product of the Holy Spirit and not a conscious fulfilling of the great commission.7 Now, although missionary work is primarily redemptive, it has also made its mark among unredeemed men. By it, the Holy Spirit has been in fluential in the world through educational, medical and general benevolent means. Cultural orientation has been indirectly modified many times because of this, and liv ing standards have been raised significantly. HI. THE END OF THE NATIONAL ERA The survey of the work of the Holy Spirit to the world (defined as this age) must necessarily end at the initiation of the kingdom age. The Bible alludes to and also refers specifically to a time of lawlessness at the end of this age (II Thessalonians 2:7, II Timothy 3:1-4). It would appear impossible that this period should take place while the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit is in full operation. It may be surmised, therefore, even 6 See Charles Brace, Gesta Christi: Or a History of Humane Progress Under Christianity. 7 Harry R. Boer, Pentecost and Missions, p. 98.
before an examination of the most pertinent passages is undertaken, that previous to the return of Christ, the ministry of the Spirit is to be obliterated by men or withdrawn by God, or both. If the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in convicting the world is continued, it is difficult to understand how such an era of unbridled unrighteousness can occur. It could be argued that the Holy Spirit will continue in full convicting power even throughout the era of great tribulation, and that human resistance merely increases to the point of stultifying His influence. The constant testimony of Scripture, how ever, may indicate that continued resistance to the Holy Spirit by the saved or unsaved results in a mitigating of His influence (cf. Genesis 6:3; Ephesians 4:30). The centuries of resistance to the suasions of the Spirit have resulted in a current period of terrible and increasing lawlessness in the world. This fact signals the approach ing end of the age when the spirit of Antichrist will be dominant. With increased lawlessness, the plausibility of complete lawlessness increases, together with the like lihood of the inactivity of the Holy Spirit in the world. More specifically, II Thessalonians 2:7 refers to the removing of the Holy Spirit before the era of lawlessness and reign of Antichrist is fully introduced. According to the American Standard Version, the passage reads, "For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.” Verse 6 refers to “ that which restraineth” in impersonal terms and verse 7 speaks of “ one that re straineth” as personal. Milligan held that there were only two serious possibilities for the interpretation of this restrainer.8 The first possibility was held by the second century theollogian Tertiillian and the majority of later scholars: namely, that it was Roman law and order as implemented by the Roman rulers. This explanation in corporates both the impersonal and personal aspects of the passages. The other explanation which reaches back to Theodore of Mopsuestia of the third century advocates that it was the Holy Spirit who was the restrainer. Milli gan objects that upon the latter interpretation no possible explanation can be given for the words “ until he be taken out of the way.” 9 It seems that the Roman emperor alone can account for the personal reference. A rather simple solution to this difficulty is to suggest that the Holy Spirit ceases to exercise one of His many offices, that of convic tion and restraint, while continuing His creative and re demptive relationships. In light of the cultural implications of the ministry o f the Spirit, it would also seem that there is some merit in the interpretation of Second Thessalonians which re lates the Spirit to moral order. The writer suggests that it is the same Holy Spirit who has influenced the estab lishment and perpetuation of the moral order who is to be taken out of the way in His ministry of restraint. Then Antichrist will be revealed for his short but devastating reign of terror. Present trends toward lawlessness indicate that the aspect of order or law for which the Holy Spirit has been partly responsible is even now passing and that the final era of lawlessness is approaching. In this crisis era, as in all time, the Holy Spirit has worked powerfully in the world, so that the firstborn Son of God might be continually honored and finally mani fested in glory. He works redemptively in Christian hearts that Christ may have the pre-eminence, but His work in the world is also designed to glorify Christ. From the immanent effecting of the word of the Son in creation to the weakening of the compulsion to righteous ness, He has indirectly but powerfully set the stage for the appearance of Christ Jesus. 8 George Milligan, St. PauVs Epistles To The Thessalonians, p; 101. 9 Ibid.
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OCTOBER, 1963
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