The Daily Word of Righteousness

Ye Shall Receive Power, #23

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (II Timothy 3:1-5)

In the days to come, human beings will be given the desire of their hearts. It will be possible to live in lust-filled revelry on this planet. People will "eat quail" until they are retching with satiation. Every desire of demons and humans will be realized.

This is the reign of Antichrist. It is an abomination, and the destruction of all that is worthwhile will result.

Antichrist will make war against the believers who have borne the testimony and will overcome them. How will he do this? He will overcome the believers as he does today by tempting and deceiving them. In some instances he will torture and kill them, driving them out of the civilized areas by violence. In so doing he will create for them a better resurrection.

Christ cannot be overcome and nothing that is born of Him can be overcome. All that is born of Christ overcomes the world, overcomes Antichrist. In order for Antichrist to overcome a believer in Christ he must deceive him, leading him away from the Lord by some means, leading him away from the Presence and power of Christ.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (I John 5:4)

We know whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (I John 5:18)

Satan cannot harm us unless he can deceive us. If we abide in Christ we are safe.

During the second half of the "week" the Divine testimony will be driven out of the cities of the earth. The witness of the Kingdom of God in the centers of civilization will be "killed." Many of the saints will be overcome, some by deception, some by violence. There will be Christians who will serve as a source of deliverance and help for God's people until the Lord returns. These will never see death but will be changed from mortality to immortality, at the coming of the Lord, while they are still alive in the body.

And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. (Daniel 8:23,24)

. . . it shall be for a time, times, and an half [three and one-half years, the second half of the "week"]; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter [shatter, crush] the power of the holy people [the saints], all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)

Many times in the New Testament writings the Christians are referred to as saints (holy ones).

To be continued.