We must humble ourselves, always seeking the Glory of God. If we are blessed, healed, and joyous, this is to be desired. But if we are in a place of suffering, this is just as desirable providing we are being afflicted under the hand of God so we might be a partaker of His holiness.

The Antichrist spirit (for the rest of the article we will regard the False Prophet as so closely related to Antichrist that we will mention only Antichrist) will never accept the idea that Christians are supposed to suffer. What does that tell us about those of today who will embrace a "laughing revival" because it seems to be helping people, but will quickly reject any idea that they must share in the sufferings of Christ? The concept that the believers must enter the Kingdom of God through much tribulation is clearly scriptural.

During the Day of Atonement the Israelites were commanded to afflict their souls, to humble themselves, to deny themselves. This is important to consider because the spiritual fulfillment of the Day of Atonement is taking place today as Christians are confessing and turning away from their sins.

Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. (Leviticus 23:27)

For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. (Leviticus 23:29)

Overcoming deception. Antichrist is a deceiver. How do we overcome the deceiver? By putting to death our old nature and being filled with Christ. By denying ourselves so Christ might live in us.

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (I John 4:3,4)

Our present-day American culture is one massive lie, the lie of self-will, of humanism—man-centeredness. How can we escape from this deception? How can we overcome the great lie with Divine truth? Only by being filled with the Lord Jesus.

We cannot escape deception by any amount of Bible reading, prayer, or seeking to do God's will, although all of these help us make a success of our discipleship. However, we can escape deception by taking up our personal cross and following the Lord. It is our cross that puts to death our old nature, the old adamic man. As the old man is put to death Christ lives in us. We must be crucified with Christ. It is only then that we can begin to perceive the truth. As long as we are alive in the old nature there is an entrance for the self-willed Satan into our personality and behavior.

To be continued.