Antichrist will not fight the churches, he will support them.

Antichrist will not seek to change fundamental doctrines or the traditional hymns. He will impress on the Christians those parts of the Scriptures that emphasize doing good to the peoples of the earth.

His message will be one of hope, of compassion, of attempting to bring the blessing of God on mankind.

He will invite prominent "Christian" ministers to fill posts of importance in his government.

The fundamental Christians will do just as they have done with the pre-tribulation rapture, with dispensationalism, with the faith-without-works gospel. They will embrace Antichrist because they have neglected prayer; because they have not guarded the word of Christ's patience; because they have not taken up the cross of death to self and followed the Master into crucifixion.

They have found a better way—the way of positive thinking, of using self-centered faith to better their condition on earth, of getting what they want now.

But there will be a few, a handful of saints whom God will warn. God will come to them in judgment, testing every aspect of their personality. They will become accustomed to the suffering and patience of the Kingdom of God.

They will seek to warn the remainder of the believers that God is not accepting the marriage of the church to the world.

Antichrist and the leaders of the church will scorn the saints as being gloomy heralds of doom and gloom—a deviation from what is normal, wholesome, healthy.

At first, the saints merely will be snubbed by the government and the main body of believers. As Antichrist gains power he will bring economic pressure, and physical terror in some instances, on the Lord's little flock. The babylonish church at first may object to the persecution of the fervent believers; but the government soon will help persuade the religious leaders to understand that the remnant of saints are a threat and are not to be tolerated.

The organized Christians will not have the moral strength to stand in the way of the government as it attempts to destroy the remnant. Some of the members of Babylon will repent and run to the true saints for spiritual deliverance. Others will join themselves to the remnant, but with flattery, having hypocrisy in their hearts.

The love of the majority will grow cold as every form of sin becomes commonplace and readily available.

And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. (Daniel 11:32-35)

We are not speaking of a period of time a hundred years from now. Those who are alert in the Christian community can see the rapid rise of Satanism in the Western nations. Satanism, the New Age, imaging, positive thinking, prosperity by faith, libertarian democracy, humanism, sorcery, feminism—all are related. They are man making himself God. They are Antichrist!

To be continued.