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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Kept From Temptation
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, Without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, Treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (II Timothy 3:1-5—NIV)
There is coming to the earth an "hour of temptation." I often refer to this period as "the age of moral horrors."
There is much talk today in Evangelical circles about the "great tribulation." This is because God's people do not want to suffer, naturally. But the danger to the Christian is not that of suffering. We are made perfect through suffering. The danger is temptation.
Satan does not have enough power to separate a saint from God. Christ retains all power. Satan works through temptation, through deception. He brings about our downfall by seducing us away from God.
An abundance of temptation is the danger of the age we are entering.
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. (Revelation 3:10—NIV)
The Greek term translated "to test" has several shades of meaning, as it is employed in the New Testament. It can refer to any kind of testing or sifting, the idea being we are examined to see what we will do or can be provoked or seduced into doing.
I believe the meaning in Revelation 3:10 (above) emphasizes seduction, a drawing away from righteous behavior. I derive this from the following verses:
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, But he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:12,13—NIV)
When we consider this passage we see it is referring to Christians, because the people under consideration at one time had loved Christ.
We see also that the issue is not tribulation or suffering. The issue is "wickedness." This is why I refer to the coming period as "the age of moral horrors."
We may notice in the history of the world that persecution and suffering serve only to strengthen the true saints. The problem arises when there is much wickedness, the ready availability of moral sin.
Antichrist's tactic in the last days will include persecution and suffering, but these will only refine the true saints.
Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. (Daniel 12:10—NIV)
There will be, if I am correct, an unprecedented worldwide revival in the not too distant future. At this time it may happen that a majority of earth's people will make a profession of faith in Christ.
But, as always happens after a great revival, there will be a cooling off period. It will be during the cooling off that Antichrist will gain power by enlisting the support of people who believe in God. The new believers will be swept off their feet because of the seeming friendliness of Antichrist.
To be continued.