Antichrist has but one-half of a period of time in which to work, symbolized by the three and one-half years. He has a brief space in which to exalt himself—just long enough for the Father to demonstrate clearly and conclusively to the heavens and the earth the end result of sin and rebellion against the most high God.

As soon as the tares have come to hideous maturity, and the eternal wisdom of God has been revealed with utmost clarity, the Lord Jesus will appear with His saints and destroy Satan and all his works out of the earth.

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his majestic angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (II Thessalonians 1:7-9)

Saints, take heart. It is but a short time. There shall be delay no longer!

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. (Revelation 12:13)

When we state that Antichrist cannot harm one of God's saints we do not mean a saint cannot experience tribulation, cannot be martyred. That would be unscriptural teaching and contrary to what actually has taken place throughout church history. In many instances the people of the Lord have been "accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

We Christians always are to pray for the civil authorities that we may be allowed to follow a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty (I Timothy 2:2).

Antichrist's end-time strategy will be to increase our peace and security, in some instances, and to attempt to deceive us by flatteries—as though the world has come to love Christ or that Satan has decided to accept Christ. Let us never forget that the world will murder Christ whenever and wherever it finds Him; so will the Christian churches that love the world, because the love of God is not in them.

When the world loves a church it is because Christ is not in that church.

The godly remnant have been and will continue to be martyred, persecuted, harassed in every way. But such saints are to leap for joy because they will receive the greater reward, the better resurrection, in the Day of the Lord.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11,12)

What, then, do we mean when we state Antichrist cannot possibly harm one of God's elect?

We mean Antichrist cannot separate him or her from the love of God in Christ.

To be continued.