This apostate religious system is going to have great power and influence, economically and politically, that’s beyond our imagination, to the point where John said that when he saw her, he wondered with great admiration.  And the angel said unto him, why did you marvel?  I will tell you the mystery of this woman and the beast that carries her.  So, John was taken aback by this.  John saw the glory, the virtually, almost irresistible drawing, the mesmerizing. 

This is the beginning of the Thessalonians strong delusion that will come on all of the earth when we, the restraining power, are removed.  It boggles my mind when I stop and think that the only thing between the Antichrist and all that the Scripture reveals he will inflict upon this planet, are people like you and me.  That’s it.  Your prayers, my prayers, your holy living, your obedience to the Word, your lack of jealousy and strife and vying for position within the church, your willingness to wrestle with our own hearts, our covetousness, our idolatries that we deal with, our flesh in which dwelleth no good thing, is the only thing holding Antichrist at bay.  Can you say “praise God” for His mercy and His grace? 

So, as this day is coming upon us.  What is the message that’s going to be being brought by this great system?  Be rich! God has a wonderful plan for your life.  Can you imagine that message that’s coming out of Joel Osteen in Texas backed with an unrestrained, supernatural power to deceive?  I mean, if he can do it with that hokey smile and sugar-wouldn’t-melt-in-your-mouth approach, what’s going to happen when this spirit that we’re talking about begins to bring that message?  What is this prosperity message and what is the central theme?  Listen to me, this will save your soul.  Listen to me!  It’s this in a nutshell: they worship the creature more than the Creator (Romans 1:25).  How many times have I said that in the last forty years?  It’s not hard to step back and listen to these preachers and listen to this doctrine and find out who is being emphasized, what and why God exists.  Let me remind you, the whole duty of God is not to prosper you.  The whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments; amen?  Preach that truth today versus the other message, and see which one draws a crowd.

What’s going to happen when you’re being offered riches versus all of your possessions being taken from you.  Whether it’s the government taking everything you own, or the fact that we have to flee, the reality is the church has experienced it from its inception, and the Scripture’s very clear, it’s what you and I, if we’re this last day remnant, will experience.  We will suffer persecution.  They will kill us and believe they are doing God a service, they will hate us because they hated Him, we will wander about in animal skins, we’ll live in caves.  All that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  You will be a byword in the mouths of your family and your supposed friends.  Which message is going to sell today?  One is the message of the true church, and the other, the whore.

If we would be honest with ourselves, some of us have some twinges when we talk about these things.  We’d better not have the spirit of Peter that stands up and says though everybody else forsakes you, I won’t.  The reality is, in our own strength, we won’t stand.  We don’t stand a chance if we’re not abiding in the vine, because without Him, we can do nothing; amen?