The worldwide latter-rain revival, which is the testimony of the two witnesses, will cause a multitude—perhaps a majority—of earth's peoples to believe and make a profession of Christ as Savior. But when the burning sun of persecution arises and lawlessness abounds, the love of the majority of those converts will grow cold. Then the true saints of God will flee to the wilderness. They will constitute the holy remnant of whom the Scriptures speak.

And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: (Isaiah 4:3)

The saints who have fled from the deceptions of Antichrist will need supernatural protection if they are to survive spiritually and physically. Antichrist will be given such power that it nearly will be impossible for the believers to think clearly. The dark oppression will make prayer so difficult that only the strongest saints will be able to seek the Lord. Antichrist will be able to exert power in the heavenlies to an extent the Christian churches never before have experienced.

And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. (Daniel 8:10)

Some of us have experienced spiritual darkness and oppression, and also deception. But none of us have come in contact with any deception or oppression equaling that which soon is to come upon mankind.

The teachers of the "rapture" and their followers, who are hoping to avoid tribulation, will be swept off their spiritual feet like so many bowling pins—which precisely is what Satan has planned.

Because of the exceedingly great darkness that even now is hovering above the nations of the world, the Lord will provide a covering for those who serve Him faithfully, keeping the word of His patience. This is the night "when no man can work" (John 9:4).

And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. (Isaiah 4:5)

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. (Isaiah 26:20)

It is our point of view that during those darkest of days, the latter part of the seventieth week, there will be victorious saints who know their God and who can assist their weaker brothers and sisters—saints who are not laboring in their own strength but in the power of the Father and the Son who will be dwelling in them in anticipation of that horrible era.

Elijah and Elisha, the two strongest scriptural types of the two witnesses of Revelation, Chapter 11, were able to deliver those in need (including Gentiles) no matter how great the conditions of apostasy and tribulation became.

It appears that when the power to bear witness is lifted from the victorious saints and they are forced to flee for their lives into the wilderness, God will then establish them as princes with Himself and deliverers of the weaker saints.

To be continued.