Trumpet Ministries, Revelation 12:13
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And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. (Revelation 12:13)
When we state that Antichrist cannot harm one of God’s saints we do not mean a saint cannot experience tribulation, cannot be martyred. That would be unscriptural teaching and contrary to what actually has taken place throughout church history. In many instances the people of the Lord have been "accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
We Christians always are to pray for the civil authorities that we may be allowed to follow a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty (I Timothy 2:2).
Antichrist’s end-time strategy will be to increase our peace and security, in some instances, and to attempt to deceive us by flatteries—as though the world has come to love Christ or that Satan has decided to accept Christ. Let us never forget that the world will murder Christ whenever and wherever it finds Him; so will the Christian churches that love the world because the love of God is not in them.
When the world loves a church it is because Christ is not in that church.
The godly remnant have been and will continue to be martyred, persecuted, harassed in every way. But such saints are to leap for joy because they will receive the greater reward, the better resurrection, in the Day of the Lord.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11,12)
What, then, do we mean when we state Antichrist cannot possibly harm one of God’s elect?
We mean Antichrist cannot separate him or her from the love of God in Christ.
All during the time the saints are serving God on the earth the Lord is with them continually and is comforting them, keeping them safe and supplying their every need. He is their Shepherd. If God should permit Antichrist to harm one of the disciples physically it is because the Lord is bringing that one to greater glory, authority, and power—a higher position in the Kingdom of God.
Antichrist cannot possibly harm one of God’s saints in a spiritual, lasting manner unless he can deceive the believer into following one of Satan’s lies.
God’s true saints will be persecuted bitterly throughout the three and one-half years in which Christ allows Antichrist to draw the poison in earth’s boil to a head.
And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he [Antichrist] corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (Daniel 11:32)
Some of the Lord’s greatest heroes of faith will be brought forth during the reign of Antichrist over the earth. Many who are born in the last days will be first in the Kingdom of God. Surely "the glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former" (Haggai 2:9).
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)
There will be saints who will teach many people and lead them into righteousness—even during the darkest hours of the tribulation. The terrors of the last days will bring some to the Lord who otherwise would not turn to God, just as the worldwide famine brought many to Joseph for food.
In Mount Zion there will continue to be deliverance through to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven. The remnant will be serving the Lord on the earth, and upon all the glory there will be a defense so the elect cannot be harmed (Isaiah 4:5,6).
There will be persecution against the saints, and some will be killed by wicked people—increasing enormously the glory of these righteous martyrs when the Lord returns to earth.
Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. (Daniel 11:34)
During the reign of Antichrist there will be people who will mingle with the saints who are not of the elect.
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)
And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; (II Peter 2:13)
We know from the Scripture that the wheat and the tares will grow side by side until the end of the present age (Matthew 13:30). The purpose of the return of the Lord from Heaven is to separate the righteous from the wicked.
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Matthew 24:40,41)
Daniel 11:34 states that the elect "shall be holpen with a little help." Blessed is the individual who treats God’s elect in a kindly manner during the hour of their affliction. That person will not lose his or her reward.
Whoever gives one of God’s saints, His witnesses, a cup of water, understanding that he or she is one of Jesus’ disciples, will be rewarded richly in the Day of the Lord. Everyone who assists the saints during the reign of Antichrist will be rewarded by the King of kings, Jesus Christ.
And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. (Daniel 11:35)
This will be a time of purifying the members of the Bride ("to make them white"). The elect who are on the earth when the Lord Jesus returns will participate in the stupendous joy of translation, of being changed from mortality into immortality at His appearing.
The Lord Jesus will receive a Bride who is without spot, or wrinkle, or blemish of any kind whatever. The atoning blood of the Lamb takes the spots out of our wedding garment. The hot iron of tribulation presses and removes the wrinkles. The sanctifying oils and perfumes will remove the blemishes.
Everything that comes upon the saint will bring him or her into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ and into union with Christ, if the disciple will maintain a steady trust in the Lord and endure patiently to the end of his suffering and testing.
Meanwhile, we should be praying that we shall be able to stand in the evil day soon to come to pass on the earth.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36)
The several translators of the Scriptures appear to disagree somewhat on the text of Luke 21:36. Some stress the concept of our attaining worthiness to escape the spiritual danger present in the sufferings and snares of the last days, while others emphasize the idea of our gaining sufficient strength to stand and not fail Christ in that hour.
When we take into consideration all that the Scriptures teach concerning the need for prayer and diligence during our sojourn in this world, we come to the conclusion that the wise disciple never relaxes his vigilance. He watches in prayer constantly. He "laps the water, putting his hand to his mouth" (Judges 7:6). He does not allow himself to be placed in a position where he can be overcome easily by the enemy (by putting his mouth down to the water—speaking of those in the last days who rejoice in spiritual gifts but are not careful to watch for the enemy).
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)
No doubt much suffering in our life could be averted if we would remain in prayer, seeking always that we may remain in "the secret place of the most High."
Many afflictions, snares, and doubts come upon us because we are not serving God with all of our heart, all of our mind, all of our soul, and all of our strength.
The huge, fiery-red dragon, in a rage because the overcomers have prayed through to victory until he has been forced from his place of spiritual rulership over the world, will do everything in his power to persecute the Lord’s people. But the Ninety-first Psalm will hold firm and true no matter what comes to pass on the earth.
Every person who takes refuge in the Lord in the day of Antichrist will be protected by the "mighty Fortress."
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