The Daily Word of Righteousness

Sodom; Egypt; Jerusalem

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:7,8)

During the reign of Antichrist, some Christians will be defeated morally and their witness ruined. The godly remnant will be driven from the centers of civilization. Although such a plan is difficult for us to understand, God will allow Antichrist to overcome the worldwide witness as part of the Divine wisdom in bringing forth a Church without spot or wrinkle. Deception rather than power will be the tool used to seek to lure the saints from the path of eternal life. Only the strongest will be able to overcome the deceiver, and they themselves will be purified by the battle.

The greatest danger for the saints in the last days is the hour of temptation, not the great tribulation. Sodom, Egypt, and Jerusalem portray the three temptations that face the sons of God: Sodom speaks of the lust of the flesh. Egypt represents the lust of the eyes. Jerusalem symbolizes the pride of life. Jesus met and overcame each of the three temptations while He was being tested in the wilderness.

The spirit of Antichrist, of lawlessness, always is engaged in tempting each of the saints in these three manners. Many have been defeated in our day.

It appears that during the first half of Daniel's seventieth week (Daniel 9:27) there will take place the most powerful revival in the history of the world the latter-rain revival, spoken of by Joel, Hosea, Zechariah, and James.

During the second half of Daniel's seventieth week there will occur the darkest, most oppressive hour of world history the reign of Antichrist and the resulting great tribulation.

Revelation, Chapter 11 reveals that a double portion of the Spirit of God (the two olive trees) will abide on Christ-filled saints (the two golden lampstands, symbolizing Christ Head and Body) during the first half of the week (three and one-half years).

Then Antichrist will overcome the saints and take his seat in the Temple of God in Jerusalem, there to reign over "all kindreds, and tongues, and nations" (Revelation 13:7).

How will Antichrist be able to overcome the saints who bore witness of the Kingdom of God during the mightiest revival of world history? He cannot overcome them until "they shall have finished their testimony" (Revelation 11:7). As soon as God is satisfied that the Gospel of the Kingdom has been preached for a witness to all nations, He will permit Antichrist to make war against the saints, to overcome them and to kill them (Revelation 11:7; Daniel 12:7).

How will Antichrist overcome the saints? He will overcome them by Sodom, by Egypt, and by Jerusalem. Sodom, Egypt, and Jerusalem portray the spirit of the world the spirit which is of Satan, of Antichrist, of the False Prophet. God will permit His saints to be overcome by the spirit of the world, as symbolized by "the street of the great city."

To be continued.