Satan's original declaration was that he would be like the Most High, that he would be above the stars of God, that is, seated on a throne above the other sons of God. Satan is always present in a fervent Christian assembly. He looks about to see if any believer has a desire for preeminence. If he can find such an individual, he enters him and begins to seduce him.

The fervent Christian who thus becomes invaded by Satan's desire for preeminence becomes a destroyer of the work of God. He will split his assembly or do whatever else is necessary to attain preeminence among the brothers and sisters. He or she will gossip, slander, lie, persuade and exploit young people, and do anything and everything else to gain preeminence and control.

After having seen such believers at work it is not too difficult to picture them arranging circumstances resulting in the death of those who truly were obeying the Lord, sincerely believing by doing this they were serving God.

And he [the False Prophet] had power to give life unto the image of the beast [of Antichrist], that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Revelation 13:15)

As Antichrist gains control he will be emboldened to put uncooperative Christians to death. Let us call to mind that Pontius Pilate was the one who sentenced the Lord to death, but he did not do so until forced by the leaders of Israel.

As the Pharisees gave satanic life and utterance to the Roman government through Pilate, so the supernaturally driven Christians will give satanic life and utterance to the world system of democracy and capitalism and cause to be put to death all who refuse to participate in their plans.

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. (Daniel 11:33)

The False Prophet will enforce the mark of the beast. It is the False Prophet who enforces the mark as a sign of compliance with the preferred economic system.

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (Revelation 13:16)

Notice that there still are people who are not socially equal ("small and great, rich and poor, free and bond") at this time. Even though liberty and equality are revered, there still will be people who are the servants of others. People who worship at the altar of humanism are never able to perceive what is true. They live in a dreamland of their own conjectures. In the midst of desolation they perceive themselves as possessing abundance. Truly, they prefer to rule in the cardboard shacks of Hell than to serve God in His Kingdom.

Such wishful thinking and blindness can be observed today in America. The center of economics in America is in New York City. The squalor and vice of New York City are beyond description. The center of government in America is in Washington D.C., a city filled with drugs, drunkenness, moral filth, and crime.

Yet, America condemns every government that does not embrace the precepts of democracy. The blind are attempting to lead the blind.

To be continued.