Today we receive power in order that we may be witnesses. The saints must come to understand the difference among building the Body of Christ, bearing witness to the nations of the earth, and delivering the earth from the curse of God and the bondages of Satan.

The ministry of the two witnesses of Revelation, Chapter 11 will be destructive rather than liberating, in many instances. If we think of ourselves as being commissioned only to relieve the pain and bondages of people we will not be able to function in our God-given role as His witnesses to the earth of the coming of the Kingdom, a kingdom that will be installed on the earth with great violence and fierceness. We will be speaking peace to people to whom the Lord God is proclaiming war.

We have been called to bring sinners to repentance, not to solve their problems so they can continue in their sin and self-will.

The seventieth week will commence as God's witnesses go throughout all the earth in the power and authority of the latter-rain revival.

Then the testimony will be overcome by Antichrist, with Christ's permission and under His strict supervision.

There will follow a nightmare of spiritual oppression so severe we cannot imagine it. In the cities of the earth the spirit of delusion will be so strong that no one will be able to think clearly, especially in spiritual matters. The oppression will be so heavy not even the Christians will be able to pray. Only those who flee to the wilderness will be able to stay true to God. Most Christian people will remain in the cities because Antichrist will convince them they can continue to serve God in their churches.

When it comes to a choice between economic hardship and serving Christ fervently, multitudes of today's believers will go the way of comfort. They will convince themselves (with Antichrist's help) that they really can serve God and be a witness under the new one-world government.

The Lord's conquering saints will stand true in the wilderness and many will flee to them for spiritual protection and nourishment. It appears that the framework of the coming ministry of protection and nourishment is appearing even now. Some churches are becoming fortresses of spiritual strength while many others are succumbing to the current popular notions of grace, love, the rapture, success, prosperity, positive thinking, reconstructionism, replacement theology, overemphasis on psychological healing, and so forth.

It appears that much if not most of today's "Christian" psychological counseling is aimed at enabling the believers to live a successful adamic life. It is not exhorting them to take up their cross and follow the Lord Jesus.

The proponents of the "pre-tribulation rapture" and "Christians ought to be happy at all times" doctrines in no manner will be able to stand during the unprecedented violent, lustful, lawless spiritual darkness and deception of the second half of the seventieth week. Each of us immediately must put on the whole armor of God so we may be able to stand in the evil day.

Elijah was forced to hide from Ahab and from Jezebel. But both Elijah and Elisha were more than conquerors throughout the periods of apostasy and resulting tribulation.

To be continued.