As we have said, there are two massive forces coming to maturity in the world, forces of which the seeds were planted from the beginning of time. The one force is self-centeredness in the governmental-social realm. The other major force is self-centeredness in the spiritual realm.

In addition to these forces there is another force that will finally prevail. The third force is God in Christ in the believers who have turned away from self-rule and are utterly dependent on Jesus Christ for their every move, their every decision. Though the self-centered forces will seem to prevail in the world, and the despised remnant will be driven into hiding, in the end all that is self-centered will be shaken and removed and God will roar out of Zion, His true Church.

The Book of Revelation points out that the False Prophet, man-centered Christianity, will assist Antichrist, the man-centered social order. The first beast of Revelation will be assisted by the second.

He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:12-17—NIV)

You can see from the above that the False Prophet, the second beast, will make it possible for Antichrist, the first beast, to succeed. It is the False Prophet who will make the people of the earth worship the first beast. It is the False Prophet who will perform great signs. It is the False Prophet who will deceive the nations into setting up an image in honor of the beast. It is the False Prophet who will force people to receive the mark of the beast.

Now you can see the reason for the following passage.

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." (Revelation 14:12,13—NIV)

To be continued.