There is apostasy in the Christian world today and it is becoming worse. This is because God's "stars," His leaders, have forsaken the Scripture and are teaching their own traditions. The God of Heaven is raising up a new ministry that will adhere strictly to God's Word, both written and in personal revelation. The new ministry will serve the Lord and bear witness of His Person, will, way, and eternal purpose in Christ.

Speaking of Antichrist, Daniel says:

And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. (Daniel 8:24)

The man of sin will be mighty by Satan's power. It has been given to him to destroy the holy people of the Lord by overcoming their spiritual power and their testimony.

The "mighty and the holy people" are not the physical Jews. The mighty and the holy people are the saints of the Lord whether Jewish or Gentile by race.

And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace [ease; security; prosperity] shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:25)

Antichrist will cast down many of the stars of the heaven by peace and prosperity, for history proves that the persecution of true saints often results in the purifying and strengthening of the churches rather than in their being cast down.

Success, prosperity, peace, ease, are very effective when used to pull down God's people from their position with Jesus at the right hand of God.

Throughout the wealthy nations of today the Christian churches often are silly, foolish, ineffective, self-centered, occupied primarily with large congregations and the building of structures. The great red dragon has been able to accomplish through friendliness that which he never could have accomplished by persecution, torture, and murder. Like Samson, the churches have been blinded and they are grinding at the mill of the world economic system. Their spiritual strength is gone.

The Christian people are so ignorant of spiritual realities they suppose large numbers of people in attendance at their gatherings are the evidence of God's blessing. They do not understand that large numbers of people, especially wealthy and influential people, ordinarily are a sign that the Word of God is not being preached. The wealthy and influential, for the most part, are in the spiritually dead churches.

The churches are to be the prophets of God on the earth, not social gatherings. The world hates Jesus, and when Jesus is being revealed in us the world will hate us, not love us.

We have not been called to build churches, we have been called to bear witness and to make disciples from the people of the nations.

Again, speaking of Antichrist, Daniel declares:

And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. (Daniel 11:31)

It is our understanding that the nation of Israel is on its way to becoming one of the great powers of the world. Antichrist will make his world headquarters in the city of Jerusalem, we believe, in the rebuilt Temple. The abomination that causes desolation, man sitting as God in the Temple of God, will be located in Jerusalem. At that time the inhabitants of Judea are to "flee into the mountains" (Matthew 24:16).

To be continued.