Some Christians believers who have progressed past Pentecost and approached the spiritual fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles will finally be deceived because they have been unwilling to accept the crucifixion of their will. They have sought to be like God and to have the power of God, but their inner personality has not been brought low in humility before Jesus.

They will persevere in their personal religious ambitions, being envious of the true saints, until the spirit of Antichrist is revealed in them. They can return to the favor of God but only by bowing themselves in humility before the Lord Jesus.

Of all possible sins, religious pride and envy are among the most deadly. The true saint will permit the Lord to bring him down to nothing and to keep him in weakness and helplessness until the Lord alone is exalted. He must be as dead as Aaron's rod before the true blossoms, buds, and fruit are brought forth.

"Throw yourself down from the roof of the Temple," the power of darkness tempted the Lord.

What was being sifted in Jesus' nature? The pride of life. The desire to be an exalted one. The ambition to do great things, to attain preeminence.

Each of the sons of God is brought to "Jerusalem" to be tempted in the area of self-exaltation.

Of all the deadly elements of man's personality, the worst may be the ambition to attain status. One look at the world today reveals that the self-driven individual, the person walking in pride, leaves a trail of destruction wherever he or she goes.

It was not the amassing of money that moved men to murder the Lord; it was not their immorality; it was envy. The priests and elders were afraid their status would be adversely affected because of the Lord's power.

For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. (Matthew 27:18)

Pilate murdered the innocent Man because he too, as well as the chief priests and elders, was afraid of losing his position.

The Christian ministry of today is built around outstanding ministries—people who are "head and shoulders" above the remainder of the Lord's flock. Pride, arrogance, haughtiness, self-importance, cruelty attend these self-seeking leaders.

The ecclesiastical leaders of today may not recognize it but many of them are craving worship. Satan is filled with lust, murder, and lying. He also craves worship. Many people of today, having in them the spirit of Satan, desire to be worshiped by other people. In addition, numerous believers are ready to worship their visible leader in place of the invisible Christ. All of this is idolatry and belongs only in the Lake of Fire.

The latter-rain revival will see the lowliest of the Lord's flock performing unprecedented miracles while they are clothed in the sackcloth of humility.

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3)

To be continued.