We enjoy the present opportunity to serve the Lord without persecution. But we also keep ourselves mentally prepared to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ. In no way will we permit ourselves to be deluded by the teaching of the pre-tribulation rapture. The purpose of this lie is to keep God's people from preparing themselves for the evil day that even now is upon us. We are to put on the whole armor of God so we may be able to stand in the age of moral horrors just ahead.

Now is the time for the firstfruits of the Bride to serve God with a perfect heart. Now is the time for those who know their God to be strong and perform exploits.

After having described the worst condition to occur on earth, which is the seducing of Christians until they join with humanistic government in enabling earth's peoples to be their own god, the Holy Spirit points to the best of all conditions—the existence of a remnant of Christians who love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

These have waited patiently for the Lord until their own will has been brought perfectly into subjection. Instead of having "I am my own god" written in their forehead, they have God's name engraved in its place. The writing of God's name in their forehead means they behave and think according to God's will; not their own will, not the government's will, not Satan's will, but God's will.

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1)

Mount Zion is the place of war, the area from which the remainder of Jerusalem is defended.

While the lukewarm fall into the trap of Antichrist, and the mass of God-fearing believers are slain for their testimony, a remnant will walk before the Lord in power and glory. There shall be deliverance in Mount Zion, in the remnant whom the Lord will call.

Any Christian can choose to be part of the victorious remnant; but God requires total obedience. Some will pay the price and stand throughout the darkness. They will be translated into glory when the Lord returns.

During the period of danger the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached to every nation.

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, (Revelation 14:6)

Numerous souls will be washed in the blood of Jesus, and then be slain during the great tribulation.

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of [the] great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14)

Babylon, organized Christianity, will be destroyed by the nations.

Although the organized church will have done everything in its power to gain the support of the world, the world, finally realizing that the church has betrayed its God-given role of guiding the nations in morality and that the religious organization itself is being cursed of God because of its sin, will turn on the massive denomination and destroy it.

And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. (Revelation 17:16)

And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (Revelation 14:8)

To be continued.