Christ demands our wholehearted love, our single-minded attention, our totally obedient service—to physical death if necessary. The apostles of the first century, nearly all of whom were martyred, are our examples of what it means to be a follower of Christ.

Those today who are teaching the Lord's flock that they are to use Christ to accomplish their own ends will bear their judgment. They will be beaten with many lashes.

Every one of us is faced with the decision: will we give ourselves wholly to Christ, or will we hold back "part of the land"? Which will it be?

The nearness of Christ brings every person on earth to the only truly important question of his or her life: what shall I do with Christ?

Every believer who joins in the work of restoration will, sooner or later, be brought down into the valley of decision.

The "dragon well."

. . . even before the dragon well, . . . . (Nehemiah 2:13)

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (Revelation 12:3)

Many people today, including the people of the Lord, are drinking from the dragon's well. They are becoming drunken on the sin, rebellion, and death that gush from that well. The floods of lawlessness are filling the inhabitants of the earth with the wicked, vicious perversity for which the Lake of Fire has been reserved.

The saint who obeys the Lord and puts his or her hand to the work of restoration will be confronted by the "great red dragon" in the heavenlies.

The work of restoration will bring about the worship of God, and obedience to God, in the earth. The great red dragon is showing himself today to be a friendly dragon. In some of the countries of the world there is friendliness toward Christianity. The saints are prospering, working alongside non-Christian people. Christians are dwelling in fine homes, partaking of the comforts and luxuries of this life.

Such a friendly dragon. A pretty, cardboard, cartoon dragon. A suitable subject for children's stories.

But the ancient dragon considers this world and its inhabitants to be his kingdom. He requires the worship of the people as they practice the lust, the love of money, the violence, the sorcery, and the carousing and partying that all are part of the dragon's Christ-murdering, God-hating, people-despising, wretched, perverse, destructive, self-seeking nature.

As long as the saints occupy themselves with their flight to Heaven and do not concern themselves too much with their conduct in this world, the dragon may choose to show himself friendly.

But the moment the Christian people begin to establish the worship of God and obedience to God in this earth they will face an enraged and vengeful dragon. He will flay the skin from their bodies. He will tear them bone from bone, as church history reveals. The once-kindly world will reveal its demon face. The spirit that works in the children of disobedience will turn against the believers with viciousness and perversity that go far beyond human wickedness.

Do we think the dragon has changed from the dragon of past centuries who tortured and murdered the saints?

To be continued.