Our death and resurrection with Christ must be grasped by faith every moment of our Christian life. It is entirely possible to be brought down from our high position, if we do not follow the Holy Spirit and cooperate with Him in order to overcome the love of the world, the lusts of our flesh, and especially our self-will and self-seeking.

We must realize these issues are being pressed on us now because the conflict of the ages is upon us. God is preparing to shake the earth and the heavens. I have no doubt Christianity as we have known it will change dramatically over the next few years.

We were given our crown of rulership from the foundation of the world, it appears. Now our task is to keep people from taking it.

Can our crown be taken? Absolutely. Otherwise the Lord would be speaking foolishness to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.

In the closing days of the Church Age, Antichrist will be given great authority and power both in the spirit realm and over the nations of the earth. He even will be able to attack the host, the stars of God, and cast them down to the earth.

Satan does not have the power to force down those who are at the right hand of God, and so he works in terms of deception.

Some he tempts with money, with the comforts and luxuries of civilization. There actually are believers who have been at God's right hand but have been lured away with the promise of riches. There is no quicker way to lose one's spiritual life than to become occupied with the things of the world. This is what happened to the rich young ruler, to Judas, to Ananias and Sapphira.

Those who succumb to the world of Antichrist, the world whose image is money, will be tormented in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.

Some Satan tempts with the lusts and passions of the flesh. In our own day we have seen prominent ministers torn down and cast to the earth by the tail of the dragon. At one time they had been among the stars of God. But they were deceived and their lusts overcame them.

Some Satan tempts with self-will and rebellion. This by far is the most deadly of the weaknesses of the human personality. God will shake, shake, shake all those destined to appear with Jesus Christ until He is certain there is no self-will, self-love, self-centeredness remaining in them; that their heart is solid in the Lord; that their utter obedience to God has been established beyond question.

God wants to be sure of everyone who is at His right hand, for such are destined to rule with Christ throughout the endless ages of eternity. Only those who have been thoroughly cleansed from self-will shall be allowed to appear with Christ. Such soldiers can fall on the sword and not be wounded. This means the Word of God has tested them until it can no longer slay them. When Satan comes he can find no door in their personality. Christ has accomplished stern obedience in them.

To be continued.