The Daily Word of Righteousness

Spiritual Forces of the Last Days, #12

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (I John 2:18,19)

Until we are willing to take up our cross and follow the Lord Jesus we are in danger of taking part in the Antichrist system. It is the cross of delayed gratification that destroys our self-will and brings Christ to the throne of our personality. We have to deny ourselves. We have to choose between God and pleasure.

All systems of government by man are Antichrist when they do not submit to the lordship of Christ. However, the most subtle, the most deceiving, the most threatening, of all systems, as far as the Christian saints are concerned, is the philosophy and practice of democracy, of humanism, of libertarianism.

The rise of Antichrist.

Antichrist emerges from the "sea" of people.

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (Revelation 13:1)

And he shall speak great words against the most High,.... (Daniel 7:25)

"The name of blasphemy "!

America may be the principal example of democracy in the world. It may be noticed that it is from the art forms and media of America and other democratic nations that blasphemy is proceeding. Motion pictures and works of art that blaspheme Christ are lawful in America because of the tenets of democracy and libertarianism.

Superficially, democracy appears to be related to Christianity, in that it speaks of concern for people, equality, personal freedom, and other values that appeal to Christians—and to all decent people. However, democracy is a satanic imitation of the true freedom that can come only when the Lord Jesus Christ sets us free from sin.

The proponents of civil liberty in America do not always point out that it is impossible to assign rights to a person without depriving others of their rights. For instance, the federal and state governments are anxious to protect the rights of those with AIDS. By not treating AIDS as leprosy or any other deadly communicable disease is treated; by not using all the power of the civil government to remove the carriers of AIDS from positions where others can be infected; the rights of the healthy majority are violated.

It often is true in America that the rights of the majority are violated so that the rights of the minority may be protected. It often is true that the rights of the innocent are discarded while the rights of the guilty are supported.

Also, it often is true that much harm is caused by the insistence of the media that they be allowed to reveal what they will without regard for the consequences to people or institutions.

In no manner are these expressions of "freedom" and "concern for individual rights" a part of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are contrary to Kingdom morality (as well as common sense) and destructive of righteousness, peace, and joy.

To be continued.