Fervent Christian people who adhere to the Scriptures must constantly keep in mind that Satan is in the midst when the sons of God gather together. The place of greatest spiritual opportunity often is the place of greatest spiritual danger. Antichrist is the imitation of Christ, not the obvious enemy of Christ.

Satan is bitterly envious of Christ and of Christ's coheirs. He covets the Divine inheritance. Therefore while he spends some time and effort drowning people in their demon-driven appetites, and killing the spiritual life of others by glutting them with material possessions, his chief interest is in the area of spiritual ambition.

Saul of Tarsus was serving God (he thought) with all his strength, but he was in competition with Christ.

Satan is active in every Christian personality until that Christian has been "slain" by the Spirit of the Lord. The most vicious persecution of God's anointed witnesses comes from "Jerusalem," from those who are seeking to advance themselves in the Kingdom of God.

In the days just before the Lord returns, the Christian churches will cooperate with Antichrist in silencing the anointed Divine testimony in the cities of the world. The blood of the true saints will continue to be on the hands of organized Christianity (Revelation 17:6). This will be revealed in the Day of Christ.

The memory of the latter-rain revival will fade quickly as humanistic thinking fills the minds of people. The rights of people, not the rights of God, will be the emphasis. An unprecedented period of prosperity promoted by Satan working in Antichrist will come into being under the guidance of the world leader.

Soon this talented individual will be emboldened to declare that he is God. The pleasure-loving "Christians" will not possess the spiritual, moral, or physical strength to resist Antichrist's claims, just as they cannot resist the evil governments that rule over their nations today. Some of the believers will "vex their righteous souls" as did Lot; but they will not choose to leave Sodom, Egypt, and Jerusalem.

Meanwhile the elect, those who bore the double portion of the Spirit during the great revival, will be hidden away in a prepared place. These are the ones who have not been destroyed by deception or by persecution. They will be covered and protected by the Glory of God. There they will await the coming of Christ. Those who flee from the rule of Antichrist will be protected and delivered by the saints who are strong in the Lord.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalms 91:1)

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. (Isaiah 26:20)

And a man [God's King and His princes] shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. (Isaiah 32:2)

To be continued.