Isaiah 61:1-11 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Isaiah 61
The Year of the LORD's Favor

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.

5 Aliens will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6 And you will be called priests of the LORD,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their
land,and everlasting joy will be theirs.

8 "For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed."

10 I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and
praise spring up before all nations.

A ministry of the Word of God to build and to plant 'oaks' of righteousness of Christ in every child and adult who is called out from the world to eternal life in Christ.

The word of God corrects,rebukes the inner sinful-man,instructs, and trains all who are 'good-soil' for righteousness.

Jesus Christ is that Word,"Thy Word is light to my pathway..",The Word who is Christ, is also the Light of the world, to those who believe in Him,He is the eternal Word of God.

God, the Father makes the 'oak' grow in us through training us in the Word of righteousness in Christ and the Holy Spirit waters and cares, while Christ the High Priest at God ,The Father's right-hand, prays and intercedes for us to be more like Himself to please The Father eternally.

For,No one can please The Father like His Son.When Christ is formed in us, to the brim of our soul, we will be filled with obedience and His eternal life!We will be a pleasure unto The Father in heaven!

Some important messages for you form Trumpet Ministries:

SPIRITUAL FORCES OF THE LAST DAYS
Copyright © 2006 Trumpet Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Several spiritual forces are operating in the world and will continue to be significant until the Lord returns. There are at least three major forces of the last days that are of God: the return of the Jews to the land of Israel, the latter-rain revival, and the perfecting of the godly remnant. Some of the other forces are sophisticated expressions of Satan. They are so subtle, so satanic, that only the most dedicated Christians will be able to perceive them as wicked. There will be much deception in the last days and it already is present.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table of Contents

Introduction

The intent is to deceive
The main problem is not with other religions or Communism or the New Age movement
The error in goal and means
False doctrines proceeding from the error in goal and means

Godly Forces

The return of the Jew to the land of Israel
The latter-rain revival
The perfecting of the godly remnant

The Antichrist

Who the Antichrist is
The mark of the beast
Characteristics of the Antichrist spirit
The rise of Antichrist
Money takes the place of the Holy Spirit

The False Prophet

Who the False Prophet is
The False Prophet will support the Antichrist
The False Prophet will work spectacular miracles
Miracles, performed in the name of the Lord Jesus, will be used to support the Antichrist system
The image of the beast
The False Prophet will enforce the mark of the beast
The current stage of development of lawlessness

Babylon

What Babylon is
After the death of the Apostles of the Lamb
Knowing God’s will
Entering the rest of God
Spiritual ambition
The inability of Christian organizations to follow the Lord
The Christian religious systems are involved in the world
Babylon is a prostitute
Babylon is a murderer
Babylonish ecumenicism
The Babylon of the future
The exodus of the Bride
The destruction of Babylon

Laodicea

What Laodicea is
Jesus, the Lord and Christ
The Lord’s advice to the Christians in Laodicea

The Relationship of the Church to the State

Man is not able to govern himself
The policy of separation of church and state
The rise of Christian Reconstructionism

Thoughts Concerning the Future


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SPIRITUAL FORCES OF THE LAST DAYS

Introduction

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent [without self-control], fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (II Timothy 3:1-5)

Several spiritual forces are operating in the world and will continue to be significant until the Lord returns.

The first three we shall mention are of God and beneficial for the righteous. The remainder are sophisticated expressions of Satan. They are so ingenious, so subtle, that only the most dedicated Christians will be able to perceive them as wicked.

The world is filled with unclean spirits and forces that are attempting to conquer God's Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ. None of them shall succeed in their objective.

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (Revelation 17:14)

The intent is to deceive. Neither Satan nor any other spiritual personage or force has enough power to overcome one of the Lord's elect. Satan's authority over God's people was destroyed on the cross of Calvary.

Therefore Hell uses deception to seduce the minds and emotions of the saints. There shall be much deception in the last days and it already is present.

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24:24)

The main problem is not with other religions or Communism or the New Age movement. Many teachers are warning the Christian churches of the dangers of Communism or the New Age movement or the Muslim religion. None of these present a mortal threat to the true saints. The worst they can do is to kill the bodies of the Christians. The Lord Jesus advised us to not be concerned about those who can do no more than kill the body. Rather, we are to fear God—He who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)

The answer to the question of how both soul and body can be destroyed in the spiritual Hell is found in the convergence of the physical and spirit realms in the last days.

Communism, the Muslim religion, and the New Age movement pose no great threat to God's elect because it is obvious to the saints that such are not of God. The true danger lies in the ultrasophisticated wickedness of the last days.

The error in goal and means. It may be true that the common denominator of the deceptions of the last days is a misunderstanding of the grace of God under the new covenant. The current perversion of Paul's teaching of grace may prove to be the deadliest, the most destructive, of all the heresies that have afflicted the churches of Christ.

All the forces of the New Age, Communism, Socialism, and the Muslim religion combined probably have done little to harm the churches. God's elect are aware of the dangers in these and are watching for them. But the misunderstanding of the new covenant and the resulting doctrinal errors have destroyed the Christian testimony throughout the world.

It is taught commonly among Christians that the goal of redemption is to go to Heaven and dwell there forever in a beautiful mansion, and that the means of going to Heaven is to proclaim belief in the theological facts concerning the Nature of Christ, the atonement made by Him, and His bodily resurrection from the cave of Joseph of Arimathea.

Nowhere in the Scriptures is the goal of redemption presented as eternal residence in Heaven above. Rather, the goal of redemption is twofold: to be formed in the image of Christ, and to be perfected in union in Christ and He in us. These are the goals toward which every saint is to be pressing.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be changed into the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)

All of the inheritance promised to the sons of God is possible only as the believer is changed into the image of Christ and is perfected in oneness in the Father and the Son.

The current Christian doctrine concerning the role of grace in bringing us to the Divine goals is so incorrect as to be terribly destructive. This error may be the foundation of the perversions that have come forth in the last two hundred years.

The current teaching states that since we are complete in Christ our sin is not counted as sin. It says we ought to try to do good, but if we are not successful in our attempt there is no critical problem. It claims that God does not hold us guilty of sin because Christ's righteousness covers us.

Although Christian believers do not always draw this teaching to its logical conclusion, what they are stating is that if a Christian rapes and kills an individual he is not guilty before God of rape or murder because he is complete in Christ. To claim that a truly saved individual would not rape or kill someone is to dodge the issue. It is a fact that Christians sin. Either the Lord judges sin as sin or He does not.

If we claim that a true Christian would not sin we are removing almost all (if not all) believers from the Church!

Notice the following pertinent passage:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:7-9)

It is held today that this passage refers to the need for the unsaved to receive Christ. As soon as they do, they are in the light and their sins are gone. The concept is that salvation is a one-time experience resulting in an eternal, unconditional amnesty. The conclusion drawn from this misunderstanding is that there never is a need for a Christian to repent, because his sins no longer are an issue—regardless of his behavior.

Here is a frightful error in theology. It has destroyed the morality of the Christian churches (and as a result of the civil governments that look to the churches for moral guidelines), and has given rise to several distortions.

The truth is, the above passage does not apply to the unsaved but to the saved. A casual examination of First John will reveal that the entire letter is addressed to the saints.

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. (I John 2:14)

If the letter is written to the saints, then the "we" in "If we confess our sins," is speaking to Christians, not to those outside the churches.

The true saint walks in continual repentance. As the Spirit of God points out to him the sins of his personality he confesses them and repents of them. When he does his sins are forgiven and he is cleansed. Thus his fellowship with God is maintained.

There is no genuine Christian experience apart from a continuing confession of sin and repentance.

Because of the erroneous belief that "accepting Christ" results in an eternal, unconditional amnesty, the Christians of today do not know how to respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. If God should pour out a Spirit of revival, beginning with a conviction of sin, the churches would be unable to respond. They would perceive the convicting Presence of the Holy Spirit as being an accusation of Satan, since they are convinced that being in Christ means they have no sin.

False doctrines proceeding from the error in goal and means. The first false doctrine we will mention is the pre-tribulation "rapture" of the believer.

Because it is believed that sin is no longer an issue in the life of the Christian, the emphasis now has been placed on avoiding physical pain. The thought is, we have no need to fear God because we are without sin; therefore we shall fear pain and seek to avoid it.

The objective of the "rapture" is to prevent the saints from suffering physical pain. The doctrine of the pre-tribulation ascension of the saints to escape pain is based on the assumption that there is no need to fear the Judgment Seat of Christ now that God has provided an eternal, unconditional pardon. "Let us flee to Heaven and avoid physical suffering at the hands of Antichrist."

Given the passages of Scripture that teach the need for tribulation, plus the history of suffering of the Christian churches, it is amazing that the fanciful concept of a rapture to avoid suffering ever gained the ground it has. An alert high-school student could easily prove from the New Testament (as well as from Church history) that God's elect often experience many forms of suffering, and sometimes martyrdom.

It is the wicked spirit of loving pleasure more than God that has given birth to the doctrine of a rapture to avoid physical suffering. The rapture never is presented as a means of glorifying Christ or of bringing us into the image of Christ or into union with Him, which are the Scriptural goals, but as a means of avoiding the pain of the great tribulation. This fact alone should have warned the churches that it is a false doctrine. The doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture is man-centered. It is in complete harmony with the man-centeredness of the Antichrist spirit.

As we have said, the error of presenting eternal residence in Heaven as the goal of redemption, and a once-for-all profession of belief in Christ as the means of attaining the goal, has made it possible for such a distortion as the pre-tribulation rapture of the believers to gain credence.

We trust that the rapture will take us to Paradise; and there is no need to worry about facing Christ even though we have been worldly, lustful, and disobedient to the call of God on our life. We are without sin and are assured of eternal residence in Paradise because of our confession of belief in the theological facts concerning Christ. This false conclusion drawn from the writings of the Apostle Paul keeps the believers in perpetual babyhood.

One of the purposes of the great tribulation is to perfect the Bride of the Lamb, separating her from the babylonish (manmade, man-centered, man-directed) confusion of organized religion. Since the current doctrine of "grace" teaches that Christians already are perfect through their association with Christ, the idea of their being perfected by suffering is not logical. The conclusion is, there is no need for us to be perfected by suffering when we already are perfect in Christ.

We understand, then, that the doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture is no mere error in eschatology; rather, it is a time bomb planted by the enemy, the purpose of which is to prevent the present-day Christians from preparing themselves for the tribulations that are just ahead.

Another distortion in Christian thinking is the so-called "faith message." The Lord appears to be inviting us to move mountains by supernatural processes. If God has been so kind as to pardon all of our sins unconditionally it must be His will to give us whatever we speak "in faith."

We are without sin, they claim. Let us, therefore, use our "faith" (which is not true faith at all but an attempt to "believe" something into existence) to make sure we are living a pleasant life surrounded by all pleasurable things and circumstances. What an abomination! How totally unscriptural! How well suited to an age in which people love pleasure more than they love God!

The "prosperity" message is an expected sequel to the "faith" message, just as "reconstructionism" is the expected sequel to the faith and prosperity messages. The emphasis is that Christians ought to be prosperous, commanding by faith the resources of the material realm.

In spite of the warning of the Scriptures from Balaam to Judas, from Gehazi to Ananias and Sapphira, the Christians (of the wealthy nations) have been seduced into believing they are to be rich in the present world system. The love of money is characteristic of the worship of Antichrist.

The deception concerning the desirability of material riches would not have been successful had the Christians not been convinced that sin no longer is an issue in their lives and that they now are to have the best of this world—and Heaven too.

The preliminary deceptions of the pre-tribulation rapture, of "speak it into existence," and of the righteousness and desirability of possessing material riches, have brought the Charismatic believers to Satan's goal. It is to convince Christians they are to rule the present world before the Lord returns.

If the followers of Christ no longer need be concerned with the worldliness, sin, and self-will of their own personalities they can afford to turn their attention to gaining control of the civil governments. Then they will have a godly world to present to Christ when He appears. This totally unscriptural concept has gained wide acceptance among Charismatic believers under the name of Reconstructionism.

The Reconstructionists already are revealing their guiding spirit by their harsh attitude toward society and by their anti-Semitism. They will succeed in bringing persecution on all Christians as they seek to force their standards of morality on non-Christians.

The outcome of the Church Age will not be the conversion of the nations to the will of God but a company of royal priests who will rule with the Lord Jesus over earth's peoples. Their rulership will begin when He and they appear—not before.

All of God's rulers are subjected to many years of suffering. The purpose of the suffering is that they may learn obedience to the Father and come to know Him. It is only after they have been called, chosen, and proven faithful that they are fit to rule with God.

Those who are planning to rule today are not living as part of the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord but according to their own soulish impulses—although they speak and act in Jesus' name.

The Kingdom of God shall be established on the earth by force, as the Lord Jesus descends with His army to crush all resistance. The nations of the earth will attempt to resist God's anointed, but they shall be destroyed. This is what the Scriptures teach, both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The concept of Christians setting up the Kingdom of God by means of their faith, prior to Christ's appearing, is an Antichrist idea. It is not proceeding from the Lord but from the False Prophet.

The true Christian of today is patiently bearing his cross after Christ. He is clothing himself with the armor of righteousness, preparing himself to stand in the day of evil. He is not seeking to be wealthy. He is seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, realizing that all material goods necessary for his survival and well being will be provided by the Lord.

The spirit that is teaching Christians they are to be wealthy, to be leaders of the world, to be without pain, to live in pleasure, is not of God. It is the False Prophet spoken of in the Book of Revelation.

The true saints are hearing the voice of the Bridegroom. As they laboriously place one foot after the other in the pressured way that leads to eternal life, the Spirit of God is warning them of the Antichrist spirit, of the False Prophet, of Babylon, and of Laodicea. The day will come when the preachers who are seducing God's people, inviting them to wealth and positions of power, who are of the synagogue of Satan, will come and worship God at the feet of His true saints.

He who has an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches, let him acknowledge that the love of money is the root of all evil and that God's true followers are always accounted as sheep for the slaughter. This world is not their home. Their kingdom is not of this world.

When we listen to the Lord today, does He invite us to go forth and set up His Kingdom now? He does not! He warns us to set our own house in order because the spirit of deception is in the land. Judgment and persecution are coming. There will be no rapture to deliver the believers from the seductions and persecutions of Antichrist or from the great tribulation.

The end of the age is upon us. Those who overcome Satan, the world, and their own lusts and self-seeking, will sit with Christ in His throne. Those who seek to live in pleasure, even though the pleasure is obtained in the name of the Lord Jesus, will be snared by Antichrist, by the False Prophet, and by Babylon (man-directed Christianity), and will finally be brought to unbearable remorse and torment.

Godly Forces

There are at least three major forces of the last days that are of God:

The return of the Jews to the land of Israel.

The latter-rain revival.

The perfecting of the godly remnant.

The return of the Jews to the land of Israel. No doctrine is taught more clearly in the Scriptures than that of the return of the Jews in the last days to the land of Israel. The return is mentioned many times in the Old Testament.

And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (Isaiah 11:12)

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. (Jeremiah 16:14,15)

Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. (Ezekiel 11:17)

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:26)

It is an error to believe that God will not fulfill His promises to the people who are Jewish by race. God indeed shall fulfill His promises and shall gather them and pour out His Spirit upon them as He has promised.

It is significant that some of the chief spokesmen of Reconstructionism (the movement of Christian people that seeks to gain control of the power and wealth of the world) maintain that God is finished with the Jews, that Judaism is evil. They are against the idea that God will turn again to the Jews and that Israel will become the leading Christian nation of the world, which is the promise of Isaiah. They cannot accept the fact that the Kingdom finally will come to Israel.

The Charismatic leaders who speak against Israel in this way reveal that Satan is in them. Satan greatly fears the Jews and their return to the land of Israel. He knows that his rulership of the world will be brought to an end only when Christ takes His place on the throne of David.

It is not true that the Christians are the new Jews, the new Israel. It indeed is true that the Gentile saints have been grafted on the one true olive tree, the one Seed of Abraham. But there are numerous passages of the Scriptures that have to do with the Jews as a race, and these passages shall be fulfilled to the letter.

In our day we are beholding the wonderful sight of the Jews returning to the land of Israel. Also, Christ is opening the eyes of many Jews to the truth concerning Himself. It indeed is a great day for the Jews and for all who love God's original chosen people.

As is to be expected, many Gentile nations, as well as those "Christians" who are part of Babylon or the False Prophet (the attempt of Christians to employ the power of the soul to work miracles), despise the Jews and do not pray for the peace of Jerusalem. It is to be hoped that the Jews of the land of Israel will cease trusting in their political alliances and turn to the God of their fathers. Only then will they be protected from the pressure exerted on them by the larger nations.

God has promised to be an enemy of the enemy of the Jews. The true, victorious Christians pray for the Jews and support them in every manner possible. The deceived Christians have been deluded into believing that God no longer regards the Jews as His chosen people.

The Gentile nations will continue to betray the Jews, as they always have. God will curse every nation that deals treacherously with the Jews and bless every nation that assists the Jews as they return and rebuild the nation of Israel. Woe to the people who do not help the Jews in this hour, for the Lord Jesus shall send them into everlasting fire at His appearing! (Matthew 25:41).

The most significant sociological event of the twentieth century is the return of the Jews to the land of Israel. It is the responsibility and privilege of every person who loves Jesus to assist His Jewish brothers and sisters as they return to the land.

The latter-rain revival. Another godly force that will be prominent in the last days is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the "latter rain." The land of Israel has two important periods of rainfall: the fall, planting (former) rain, and the spring, harvest (latter) rain. Joel, Hosea, and Zechariah speak of the downpour of the "latter rain" of the Spirit of God.

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. (Joel 2:23)

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. (Hosea 6:3)

Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. (Zechariah 10:1)

It is the writer's point of view that the two witnesses of Revelation, Chapter 11 portray symbolically the double portion of God's Spirit, the latter rain, empowering the members of Christ's Body to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God with unprecedented power and authority.

The witnesses will torment all those who dwell on the earth by bringing various plagues along with their message of repentance. If such plagues were not forthcoming, people would not repent. The Christian preachers and teachers would assure them no repentance is necessary since every believer is complete in Christ.

But the awesome disasters wrought by the hands of the end-time witnesses will sweep away the chaff of Christian teaching and cause the people to bow their hearts in repentance before the God the whole earth.

The former-rain outpouring of the Holy Spirit portrayed in the Book of Acts gave birth to the Christian Church. The outpouring of the latter rain, the harvest downpour, will bring the Church to maturity. It is our point of view that during the latter-rain dispensation of grace and glory the majority of the inhabitants of the earth will make at least a nominal profession of Christ.

The perfecting of the godly remnant. A third godly force that will operate in the last days is the perfecting of the godly remnant of the Church. The Scriptures speak several times of a remnant of Israel who will play an important role in the establishing of the Kingdom of God on the earth. The story of Gideon's triumph, which may be the strongest of the Old Testament types of the Day of the Lord, portrays a remnant gaining victory over the enemy.

A remnant shall be saved.

Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: (Romans 9:27)

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (Romans 11:5)

The Scripture teaches that the remnant (which may be portraying the firstfruits of the Bride of the Lamb, consisting of both Jews and Gentiles) will be purified by suffering before the Lord returns.

And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. (Isaiah 4:3,4)

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:9)

The doctrine of the remnant is important. There is an abundance of emphasis in both the Old Testament and the New Testament to support the view that only a remnant of the Church will be resurrected when the Lord appears the next time. It is the holy remnant who, as a fulfillment of the type of David's mighty men, will return with the Lord in order to establish His Kingdom on the earth.

And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. (Micah 5:8)

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (Jude 1:14)

Notice, in the following passage, that it is the members of the ruling priesthood who are given back their bodies in the first resurrection:

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power [authority], but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

Most of the Lord's elect are not ready for the Battle of Armageddon. But a warrior-remnant is being formed who will ride with Jesus in that day.

Today the Bride of the Lamb can be found in the babylonish Christian religious system. The Lord Jesus is speaking to the heart of His Bride, calling her to come away with Him. She must be purged completely of worldliness, lust, and self-seeking. Then she must learn to lean on the Lord in every area of personality and behavior.

The Bride is being brought down to the Valley of Achor. She is passing through the fires of judgment. All that is covetous and grasping in her is being revealed by the Light of God, and then buried with Christ in crucifixion.

When the judgment has been finished she will sing there, in the place of judgment, as in the days of her youth. Her first love for Jesus—that which the religious system tends to destroy—will be restored to her. She no longer will refer to Jesus as Lord, but as "my Husband." She will come up out of this wilderness leaning on her Beloved.

And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi [my husband]; and shalt call me no more Baali [my master]. (Hosea 2:16)

When the Bride has been purified, as was Queen Esther, she will cry, "Come, Lord Jesus." It is that plea coming from a perfected Church that will bring back the Lord.

The Antichrist

We have just spoken of the three forces that are of God and beneficial for the righteous. Now we will turn to the forces of evil that seek continually to deceive the elect and reserve them for Satan's use.

Who the Antichrist is.

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation 13:18)

The Antichrist is 666, that is, a trinity of sixes. Three is the number of God; six is the number of man. Antichrist is man making himself God.

There is only one legitimate will in the creation. It is the will of God the Father. It is the Father's will that Christ be Lord over all spirits and people. Only Christ has the Divine right to govern.

Every will opposed to the will of Christ is Antichrist. We understand, therefore, that each of us Christians is an antichrist until we accept the absolute lordship of Jesus over our lives.

The nations of our day have rejected the lordship of Christ. The democratic nations, the communistic nations, and the monarchies and feudal societies have all rejected the lordship of Christ. All have the Antichrist spirit.

There will be a man in whom the aspirations of all who resist the rule of Christ is fulfilled. He will claim he is God and there is no other god. This is what New Age, humanistic, democratic, communistic, and socialistic thinking, as well as all false religions, are leading to.

Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. (Daniel 8:11)

Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any God: for he shall magnify himself above all. (Daniel 11:37)

The mark of the beast.

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (Revelation 13:16)

It may be true that the day soon will arrive when a debit system in which the hand and forehead are stamped becomes the prevailing system of commerce. We can imagine the consternation of those who have believed in the pre-tribulation rapture when their local stores turn from the credit card to the debit card, and then from the debit card to an identifying mark in the body.

We do not know how the mark will come into being. The important issue is whether the individual is obeying the will of Christ through the Holy Spirit, or whether he or she—Christian or not— is following his self-will. It is the self-will that is Antichrist (against the rule of Christ).

Characteristics of the Antichrist spirit. The current talk about the rights of people is a sign of the Antichrist spirit, the spirit of self-will, self-centeredness. The idea that all people are equal is another symptom.

It certainly is true that we should never disparage anyone or prefer anyone solely on the basis of his or her race, gender, wealth, social standing, or for any other reason. However, the Scriptures do teach that from mankind has been called an elect, and that from that elect will be gathered a smaller group of chosen vessels, and that from the chosen will emerge the faithful, the Lord's "mighty men," the firstfruits to God and the Lamb.

We do not choose Jesus, He chooses us. This fact alone does away completely with the concept that all people have an equal opportunity to approach God. God works in terms of a ruling priesthood, not in terms of a democracy. It is a kingdom that is coming, not a democracy.

Other indications of the Antichrist spirit are the doctrines of self-government, free-enterprise capitalism as a preferred economic system (the economic system of the saints is, seek first the Kingdom of God and all material needs shall be added to you), and every other form of government and economic system in which man gains power and takes control, whether it is totalitarian, socialistic, feudal, or democratic.

The saints have been chosen out of the world to bear witness of God and His Kingdom, not to gain control of the people or resources of the world. It is our point of view that the Antichrist himself (or herself) well may be, as was Judas, a deceived Christian.

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (I John 2:18,19)

Until we are willing to take up our cross and follow the Lord Jesus we are in danger of taking part in the Antichrist system. It is the cross of delayed gratification that destroys our self-will and brings Christ to the throne of our personality. We have to deny ourselves. We have to choose between God and pleasure.

All systems of government by man are Antichrist when they do not submit to the lordship of Christ. However, the most subtle, the most deceiving, the most threatening, of all systems, as far as the Christian saints are concerned, is the philosophy and practice of democracy, of humanism, of libertarianism.

The rise of Antichrist.

Antichrist emerges from the "sea" of people.

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (Revelation 13:1)

And he shall speak great words against the most High,.... (Daniel 7:25)

"The name of blasphemy "!

America may be the principal example of democracy in the world. It may be noticed that it is from the art forms and media of America and other democratic nations that blasphemy is proceeding. Motion pictures and works of art that blaspheme Christ are lawful in America because of the tenets of democracy and libertarianism.

Superficially, democracy appears to be related to Christianity, in that it speaks of concern for people, equality, personal freedom, and other values that appeal to Christians—and to all decent people. However, democracy is a satanic imitation of the true freedom that can come only when the Lord Jesus Christ sets us free from sin.

The proponents of civil liberty in America do not always point out that it is impossible to assign rights to a person without depriving others of their rights. For instance, the federal and state governments are anxious to protect the rights of those with AIDS. By not treating AIDS as leprosy or any other deadly communicable disease is treated; by not using all the power of the civil government to remove the carriers of AIDS from positions where others can be infected; the rights of the healthy majority are violated.

It often is true in America that the rights of the majority are violated so that the rights of the minority may be protected. It often is true that the rights of the innocent are discarded while the rights of the guilty are supported.

Also, it often is true that much harm is caused by the insistence of the media that they be allowed to reveal what they will without regard for the consequences to people or institutions.

In no manner are these expressions of "freedom" and "concern for individual rights" a part of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are contrary to Kingdom morality (as well as common sense) and destructive of righteousness, peace, and joy.

We must keep in mind that in the last days the danger to the saints will be deception, not physical suffering. Other religions, or Communism, or the New Age movement (about which Christians are so concerned), are but a minor threat to the believers. They obviously are in error. It is democracy that is so deadly. The Christians cannot see the difference between the Statue of Liberty (the goddess of democracy) and the cross of Calvary. They cannot see any difference between the pursuit of happiness and the pursuit of righteousness.

The Christian schools of America are somewhat confused, it appears, concerning the nature of America. They do not realize there are two Americas: the religious America founded by the Puritans and the secular America of the humanists. The secular America is prevailing today and will not willingly adopt Christian values. Our job is to bear witness of the Kingdom of God, not to attempt to force secular society to conform to our way of thinking.

The right of freedom of speech is not a value of the Scriptures but of libertarian philosophy. The Scriptures teach us to gain control over our tongue, and over all other forms of self-expression, because our adamic personality is inherently lawless.

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. (James 1:26)

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (I Corinthians 9:27)

The Scriptures teach subjection and self-control, not abandonment to our senses. We do not have a right to do as we please, except as God wills.

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. (James 4:13-15)

The only truly free individual is he or she who is the slave of Christ. The Christian who has left the Law of Moses but who is not the slave of the Lord Jesus is a spiritual "single." He will make little progress in the Kingdom of God.

The Constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech has made possible every form of blasphemy in America. How, then, is freedom of speech a Christian value? We have been deceived.

The true Christian pilgrimage is one of patient, cross-carrying obedience, of delayed gratification, of repentance, and often of physical suffering and martyrdom. Where are these found in the tenets of libertarian democracy?

We appreciate that the government of America has not prevented us from following the Lord Jesus, according to its promise not to interfere with the exercise of religion. Our point is that libertarian democracy and the Kingdom of God are by no means the same form of government, and the Christian schools need to understand this and teach the children clearly and forcefully that the true saints always will be hated by the world—even by (and in the future perhaps especially by) the democratic governments of the world.

The Christians of America are to come out of the worldly society in which they live and become a holy remnant before the Lord. Our eternal government is a Kingdom governed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Our constitution is the Scriptures. Our economic system is that of seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. All other governments, constitutions, and economic systems are at enmity with our most important values.

When we attempt to mix Christianity with democracy, or trust in God with free-enterprise capitalism, we enter deception and confusion. God's anointing never will remain on people who become entangled with worldly governments or financial systems.

Money takes the place of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God is the Power of Christ's rule. Money is the power of the rule of Antichrist. The love and worship of money will be prominent in the worldwide Antichrist government that is on the horizon, according to our present understanding.

It is difficult for citizens of the wealthy nations of today to imagine a way of life apart from an emphasis on the acquisition of money as the objective of life on earth. However, the rule of Christ does not emphasize money at all. The emphasis is on seeking God's Kingdom and God's righteousness, with the understanding that all of our material needs will be supplied.

It has not always been true that lending money for the sake of obtaining interest has occupied such a prominent place in society. In fact, the Scripture speaks against the practice of loaning money with the intent of gaining interest. God prefers we share with one another. The practice of lending money on interest does not appear to be in the best interest of society.

Although we distinguish between interest and usury today, it does not appear that this is the case in the admonitions of Scripture. From the beginning, God spoke against lending wealth with the intent of obtaining increase.

Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. (Leviticus 25:36)

He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, (Ezekiel 18:8)

God regards the man who shares his wealth as being righteous.

He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. (Psalms 37:26)

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; (I Timothy 6:17,18)

In our day it has come to be accepted, in the major nations in particular, that the gaining of more money by the investment of money (as distinguished from producing wealth by working, by manufacturing, by creating) is a basis of economic life. Much stress is placed on the accumulation of money.

To accumulate money is to build a reserve of power. Accumulating money is a substitute for trusting God's wisdom, power, and care.

"No man can serve God and mammon," Jesus declared. "He will love one and hate the other." Every person must choose between trusting God and trusting money. One cannot serve both God and money. Each is a God and demands our worship.

One of the major efforts of Satan in the last days will be directed toward persuading Christians that they should seek, glory in, love, worship, and trust in material wealth. The true saint will flee from every attempt to involve him or her in the pursuit of money.

Related to this is the Christian involvement in politics. Except for individuals whom God may direct into public office, the Christians are not to seek to govern the peoples of the earth. Our time to govern will come with the appearing of the Lord from Heaven. Meanwhile we must keep in mind that the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus is not of this world but will come with Him from Heaven.

If a Christian should come into authority as a public official, let him govern according to his integrity, competence, and experience. He is not to employ a Christian mystique such that he is governing as a prophet of God.

It is acceptable that a public official be a Christian. It is not acceptable that he attempt to set up the Kingdom of God at this time, that he seek to substitute the mysteries of his faith in place of integrity, competence, and courage, or that he attempt to use a high office to put his Christian friends in positions of power.

It is not unusual for popular Christian leaders to be lacking in integrity. They have permitted their Christian faith to destroy their character. They have no business being in public office. The destruction of their character is the result of their belief that accepting Jesus as our Savior relieves us of the necessity for maintaining integrity and faithfulness.

The current prophecies that Christians are to control the wealth of the world and gain political power are not of God. They are from the enemy. The true saint will shun all attempts to call him down from his cross of patient obedience to the Lord Jesus.

The Scriptures teach us, by illustration and commandment, that the saint is not to worship the God of money. We have the examples of Balaam, Gehazi, Judas, and Ananias and Sapphira, to help us understand God's attitude toward the love and worship of money.

In addition:

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition [destruction]. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (I Timothy 6:8-11)

Will we obey Paul or not?

The False Prophet

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. (Revelation 13:11)

Who the False Prophet is. The False Prophet comes up out of the earth, that is, out of the soul of man. This is not true of the beast, the Antichrist, who rises up out of the "sea" (the peoples of the earth),

The Antichrist dwells in man when man insists upon sitting on the throne of his own personality, the throne that was created in man to be the seat of God and His Christ.

The False Prophet dwells in spiritually gifted individuals who seek to employ spiritual wisdom and power but who do not enter the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

The Pentecostal outpouring that took place at the turn of the twentieth century was of God. The Charismatic movement, while it came into being as a sequel to Pentecost, has embraced the gifts of the Spirit but not the cross-carrying pilgrimage of the true saint. Therefore it has been deceived in many instances with the faith, prosperity, and reconstruction errors.

While it may be premature to claim that the Charismatic movement is the False Prophet of Revelation, Chapter 13, it is true that the spirit of the False Prophet is present among Charismatics. The False Prophet has "two horns like a lamb" but speaks as a dragon. Horns, as employed in the Scriptures, speak of power. The False Prophet attempts to use the power of the Lamb but speaks with the voice of Satan.

The False Prophet will support the Antichrist. If, as we think, the first beast, the Antichrist, will be represented in the last days by libertarian democracy and capitalism (self-government plus the love of money), and the second beast represents Christians who are not crucified with Jesus but who are seeking to manipulate the metaphysical realm according to their own soulish abilities, then we would expect to see the soulish believers supporting democracy as a form of government and capitalism as an economic system; for the Scripture teaches that the False Prophet will be the mainstay of the Antichrist.

And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. (Revelation 13:12)

Evidently democracy and capitalism are going to be dealt a terrible blow, perhaps by the Communists attacking the United States and then England. But after that takes place, the deluded Christians, moving according to their own soulish promptings, will assist in the restoring of democracy and capitalism to the nations of the earth.

Since the first edition of this booklet, the Soviet Union has apparently undergone radical changes. Whether this is a master ploy or an actual collapse of Communism remains to be seen. In any case, the democratic form of government finally will prevail. It is best suited to the desire of Satan to govern the world.

The False Prophet will work spectacular miracles.

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, (Revelation 13:13)

Since 1950 there has been a gradually increasing acceptance and expectation of miracles, especially on the part of Charismatic believers. Many outstanding healings and other miracles have come from the Holy Spirit of God.

However, in some instances the workers of miracles have not been following the Lord as they should; therefore, the miracles have been endorsing unscriptural beliefs and unrighteous practices. The believers seldom are careful to examine if the Lord's will is being done. It is enough that the name of Jesus seems to be honored and the miracle occurs. Thus the Charismatic believers are wide open to deception—and they have been deceived!

In the days ahead there will be unprecedented miracles, continually increasing in number and power. Some will be worked by true saints; others will be wrought at the hands of those who are being moved by their own soul and who are not part of the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord. They are not abiding in the Lord Jesus and are lawless as far as the Kingdom of God is concerned.

Miracles, performed in the name of the Lord Jesus, will be used to endorse the Antichrist system.

And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Revelation 13:14)

One can imagine how attractive libertarian democracy will appear to the peoples of the earth who have suffered so long under totalitarian systems. When democracy is then endorsed by tremendous signs and wonders, such as fire coming down from the sky, the appeal will be irresistible.

The teaching that faith is a method by which the believer can obtain what he wants is the forerunner of the use of faith to bring about democratic government. It is not a huge leap from using soulish faith to get the job we desire, or the money we want, to using soulish faith to support the kind of government and economic system we believe to be the most moral, enjoyable and productive. We use the term soulish faith to distinguish the current "positive thinking," imaging, and "creative speaking" from true scriptural faith in the Lord Jesus.

The image of the beast. It is not clear to us what the image is that the False Prophet will make in honor of the Antichrist system of government and economics. We do know that the concept of image is important in the business world of today. We know also that much is said in Christian and secular circles about the power of dwelling on images in the mind in order to attain one's desires.

No doubt the soulish believers, operating in the Satan-inspired supernatural realm they have accepted as being of the Lord Jesus, will be able to conceive of something that will portray the ideal of democracy and capitalism. One is reminded of the image set up by King Nebuchadnezzar—an image of gold that Nebuchadnezzar felt would consolidate his power and deify his person.

The Statue of Liberty, coming from France, a land of revolution, represents the values of the American Constitution. A few years ago the Statue of Liberty was honored in a ceremony that was idolatrous.

Chinese students, when attempting to gain some aspects of personal freedom, made a replica of the Statue of Liberty that they referred to as the "goddess of liberty."

The concept of "liberty" refers to political freedom. Political freedom is desirable, but the Christian redemption often flourishes more readily under oppression than it does under political freedom.

The slavery that is to be feared is spiritual slavery. Men are slaves to the lusts of demons until they are set free by the Lord Jesus. The freedom of spirit that Jesus brings can be enjoyed under a democratic government or a totalitarian regime. The citizens of the Western governments have much political freedom but they are in the chains of slavery to Satan and his demons.

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Revelation 13:15)

It remains to be seen whether the image will be a physical statue or some other representation of democracy and capitalism. In any event, Christians working miracles will make this form of government and economics "live." Furthermore, the Christians may murder those who refuse to go along with their scheme for world peace.

It may be difficult for us to believe that some Christians would murder others, but such has occurred on numerous occasions in Church history.

One must remember that under the reign of Antichrist, soulish Christians will be working together with libertarian government to provide a peaceful world in which every person will have sufficient food, clothing, shelter, and health care. "Renegade" Christians and Jews who refuse to participate in the new world order will be tolerated at first, then scorned, then perceived as enemies of mankind.

There is a movement today among Christians to organize civil government according to Mosaic Law. This would include the institution of capital punishment for a number of crimes that today would not warrant the death penalty.

When the Pharisees had the Lord murdered, and when Saul of Tarsus was imprisoning Christians, they were doing so according to the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses commands very harsh punishments for anyone found worshiping a false God.

Satan’s original declaration was that he would be like the Most High, that he would be above the stars of God, that is, seated on a throne above the other sons of God. Satan is always present in a fervent Christian assembly. He looks about to see if any believer has a desire for preeminence. If he can find such an individual he enters him and begins to seduce him.

The fervent Christian who thus becomes invaded by Satan’s desire for preeminence becomes a destroyer of the work of God. He will split his assembly or do whatever else is necessary attain preeminence among the brothers and sisters. He or she will gossip, slander, lie, persuade and exploit young people, and do anything and everything else to gain preeminence and control.

After having seen such believers at work it is not too difficult to picture them arranging circumstances resulting in the death of those who truly were obeying the Lord, sincerely believing by doing this they were serving God.

And he [the False Prophet] had power to give life unto the image of the beast [of Antichrist], that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Revelation 13:15)

As Antichrist gains control he will be emboldened to put uncooperative Christians to death. Let us call to mind that Pontius Pilate was the one who sentenced the Lord to death, but he did not do so until forced by the leaders of Israel.

As the Pharisees gave satanic life and utterance to the Roman government through Pilate, so the supernaturally driven Christians will give satanic life and utterance to the world system of democracy and capitalism and cause to be put to death all who refuse to participate in their plans.

And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. (Daniel 11:33)

The False Prophet will enforce the mark of the beast. It is the False Prophet who enforces the mark as a sign of compliance with the preferred economic system.

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (Revelation 13:16)

Notice that there still are people who are not socially equal ("small and great, rich and poor, free and bond") at this time. Even though liberty and equality are revered, there still will be people who are the servants of others. People who worship at the altar of humanism are never able to perceive what is true. They live in a dreamland of their own conjectures. In the midst of desolation they perceive themselves as possessing abundance. Truly, they prefer to rule in the cardboard shacks of Hell than to serve God in His Kingdom.

Such wishful thinking and blindness can be observed today in America. The center of economics in America is in New York City. The squalor and vice of New York City are beyond description. The center of government in America is in Washington D.C., a city filled with drugs, drunkenness, moral filth, and crime.

Yet, America condemns every government that does not embrace the precepts of democracy. The blind are attempting to lead the blind.

Notice also that the rich will not be able evade the requirements of the system, as they so often are able to do today. The rich no longer will be able to control the nations, the power will be in the hands of those who are forcing democracy and capitalism on the nations of the earth.

And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:17)

Not being able to buy or sell will force the true Christians into the place in the wilderness that God has prepared for them.

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14)

The current stage of development of lawlessness. At the present time there has been a preliminary establishment of the use of supernatural power among Charismatics, as seen in the faith and prosperity teachings. Also, outstanding Charismatic leaders are examining the possibility of Charismatics and other Christian people taking a leading role in civil government.