Before the Lord returns, the foulest, most hideous orgies of all time will take place in the nations of the world. Unbridled lust, murder, riotous living, covetousness, occult practices—all that a wicked person has ever desired—will be practiced without restraint on the earth.

It is this apostasy, this lawlessness, this wicked world spirit that will make it possible for a Satan-possessed human being finally to sit on the throne, on the Mercy Seat, in the Temple of God in Jerusalem. He will declare that he indeed is God and greater than all the other gods that have been worshiped by mankind.

If a person were to make such a statement today the Christian people, and the devout Jews as well, would rise up and pray and object until the pretender was overcome. The time is not here as yet but the drift toward lawlessness is preparing the way for the abomination that will bring unprecedented desolation to earth's cultures.

In those days (and perhaps they are near!) each believer in Christ must choose whether or not to follow the Lord. It will be easy and convenient to yield to Antichrist and worship in a lukewarm church. Antichrist at first will not appear as a monster but as a benefactor of all persons of good will.

But Antichrist insidiously will put pressure on the saints who are fervent and filled with God's Spirit. He will work until world opinion is against the saints. Economic stress will increase until God's people will find it increasingly difficult to provide for the needs of their families—just as is true in some countries today.

It will be much easier to agree and have fellowship with the lawless majority than to be a Spirit- filled saint of Christ and bear a true witness of Christ.

Woe! woe! woe to any believer who turns away from the love of Christ and permits his thinking and actions to be molded by the world spirit! He will lose his crown of life and suffer much torment.

Great glory and authority will be given to those who lead a life of victory in Christ during the rule of Antichrist.

He who endures to the end shall be saved. Many who live in the last days will be first in the Kingdom of God. The end-time will witness frightful scenes as the spirit of Satan expresses itself in the lives of men and women. But during that time the Glory of Christ will shine as never before in the hearts of those who are faithful to God.

Divine Virtue always shall triumph over wickedness, even in the dark days ahead. When spiritual darkness attains its fullness, covering earth's peoples, then the Light of God Almighty will suddenly shine through the saints and the end of sin and rebellion will be at hand. (from The Day of the Lord)