The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Purpose of the Great Tribulation, #11

And it shall come to pass, that whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. (Joel 2:32)

On the earth there will be a godly remnant. Christ will pour His strength and courage into the remnant, enabling the saints to serve as places of refuge for the meek of the earth. Many Jews will turn to Christ. Only in the remnant will there be true peace and safety.

The vision of the purified remnant is not for the far distant future. We can see today some of the factors we have noted, such as the cleavage between the people who are seeking God and their worldly fellows in the churches; man attempting to make himself God; and the spirit of judgment and burning coming upon those with whom the Lord is dealing. Many sincere believers are enduring much tribulation.

The world scene will grow steadily worse as lawlessness increases in the earth. Finally Satan and his angels will be cast down from the heavenlies. The wheat and the tares will come to maturity together. The harvest rains of the Holy Spirit will cause the seeds that have been planted to germinate and grow, and then the burning sun of tribulation will bring the crops to readiness for harvest.

The False Prophet will be standing face to face with the Holy Spirit. Antichrist will be standing face to face with Christ. Satan will be standing face to face with God. As happened when Dagon stood face to face with the Ark of God, the wicked will fall on their faces and their head and hands will be removed from them. Satan will be destroyed at the end (I Samuel 5:4).

No human flesh has enough power to withstand such colossal spiritual forces. The uncommitted will be tossed about, unable to control their thoughts and actions. Only those who are in restful union with the Head—Christ—will possess the strength to stand in God. Even they will be tested to the limit.

Ours is one of the most significant of all the eras of man's history. Multitudes will be deceived. In the earth will be a godly remnant who will perform the greater works of which the Lord Jesus prophesied (John 14:12). The conquerors will sit with Christ at the right hand of the Father.

Each of us must make his decision now—today! Tomorrow will be too late. Tomorrow will reap what is being sown today. There is no time to lose. Each decision we make is leading us toward the ability to stand in the day of trouble, or toward deception and weakness.

The Laodicean churches will abound in material wealth and spiritual poverty. Only the most consecrated Christians will be able to discern between the Spirit of God and the demon spirits masquerading as God in the churches. Fallen angels will "channel" through inexperienced believers who think they are hearing from the Holy Spirit.

Watch and pray, for all things are coming to total fulfillment. Serve the Lord patiently. Keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus, on Him alone. (from The Purpose of the Great Tribulation)