The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Harvest Rain, #9

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. (Revelation 11:7)

One may wonder, how can Antichrist overcome and kill Christ and His Body?

They are "killed" in the sense that the testimony is driven from the major cities of the earth by various means.

First of all we must keep in mind that the Scripture prevents any power from separating the saint from the love of God.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ our Lord. (Romans 8:38,39)

However, both Daniel and Revelation teach that the testimony of the saints of the last days shall indeed be overcome. When the testimony of the saints is overcome, then, in that special sense, Christ Himself is overcome. When we are in prison He is in prison. When we are sick He is sick. Isn't that the truth?

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (Matthew 25:35,36)

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. (Daniel 7:25)

It reminds us of God turning over the righteous Job to Satan. God kept matters in total control. Also, the afflictions finally brought more good to Job than would have otherwise been possible. Nevertheless, Satan was in charge of Job's welfare for a season.

The Christian testimony will be silenced long enough for Antichrist to be revealed. The Spirit-empowered saints will be removed from his path so wickedness may come to a head as a giant boil. It is necessary wickedness come to maturity in order that everlasting righteousness finally may be brought in.

Sometimes God allows sin to come to a head in our personality so it may finally be destroyed out of us. Has that ever happened to you?

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 11:8)

"Their dead bodies shall lie in the street" means Antichrist will permit the Christian institutions to remain in operation, such as Christian churches and schools, but they will be void of the Presence of the Spirit of God.

To be overcome by Sodom is to be conquered by the lusts of the flesh.

To be overcome by Egypt is to be conquered by the love of the things of the world.

To be overcome by Jerusalem is to be conquered by religious pride, envy, and self-will.

In the last days the lusts of the flesh, the love of the things of the world, and religious pride, envy, and self-will shall destroy the Christian testimony in the cities of the earth. Then the godly remnant will be driven from the cities and forced to live in the wilderness areas of the earth until the Lord returns.

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. (Revelation 11:9)

The "Christians" will continue to attend church. They will sing their traditional hymns. They will work together with Antichrist to assist the needy of the world. Antichrist will invite distinguished Christian ministers to serve in his cabinet. Only the praying remnant will be able to see the hand of Satan in the cooperation between the government and the Christian churches. The deception will be extremely subtle.

To be continued.