March 8, 2000
LIFE & WORK SERIES:
Christians must share good news while they can
___Revelation 13: 1-14:13
___By Debra Hochgraber
___Women's Evangelism Consultant, BGCT, Dallas
___The church was under great persecution as John wrote Revelation. Satan must certainly be aware of his final defeat. But the Lord knows he will merely continue to escalate his assault on mankind until the very end. Throughout the revelation, the church is encouraged to persevere through every time of trial.
___It is comforting to know that nothing is a surprise to the Lord. God is in control, and his side wins!
___It would be a dark day indeed if for a moment we could ever think that Satan had "caught the Lord off guard."
___Satan realizes he is close to his demise by chapter 13. It seems to me that he is attempting the ultimate scam. This master deceiver creates an imitation of Jesus Christ--the Antichrist. John refers to him as "the beast" (v. 2).
___If we accept the view that the church has been raptured out of the world in chapter 4, then our friends and neighbors remaining have only what they can remember we shared about Jesus Christ for comparison. Satan can play on the bits and pieces remembered and create his own savior for the world.
___Satan gives great authority to the Antichrist. He stages a death and resurrection, which draws the astonishment of the whole world (vs. 2b-4). Any similarities between Christ and Antichrist end here.
___Studying this passage, it seems the world will be so ready for a savior-leader they will follow the Antichrist immediately. They will be attracted by his personal appeal, have confidence in his economic and military power, and be caught up in his persuasive speech (vs. 4-5). International leadership will bow to his authority (vs. 7-8).
___The Antichrist will win battles in Satan's war for the souls of men (v. 3). He will insult and blaspheme Almighty God (v. 5). He will control the world (v. 7). He will even get away with killing the true believers who have called out to God in these terrible days (v. 7).
___Where is the encouragement in these words? Where can we find comfort? "He was given a mouth ... to exercise his authority for 42 months" (v. 5). God is in control. He has put a time limit on Satan, as well as the Antichrist. God's timetable is in motion, and it will happen. Saints can overcome the evil one through faithfulness (v. 10), just as we read in the letters to the churches in the early chapters.
___This is not the first time the world has been in a position to accept an imitation. We must be wary of those who present any way to heaven but through the cross, or any Savior for mankind but Jesus Christ.
___It will grow more difficult for people to see the truth during the days of the Antichrist. Christians must share with everyone they can before it is too late.
___Lord, let my words to those around me be enough truth for them to call out to you if today is my last chance to tell them.
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