The church is the restraining the power of Antichrist.  He cannot fully express his power, all the lying wonders that replicate Satan’s power.  Imagine that in this one man, Satan, in all of his diabolical malice will reside and work through him. The great whore will cause amazement to the world, and also this man of sin that comes is going to mesmerize the nations.  He is going to be of such great power, in the world’s wisdom, that he can’t be withstood.  I believe that we don’t give enough credibility to the satanic wiles that we face on a daily basis.  This position that Lucifer held as an archangel—those powers were not lost, they were just turned over to darkness.  A creature of such glory, so awesome that he would presume that he could ascend above the throne of God.  He’s not given up yet.  He’s not been bound, yet.  He is still walking to and fro on this earth seeking whom he may devour.  Let’s just remind ourselves, we haven’t finished this course yet; amen?  Do you know who he is seeking to devour?  You!  He wants your little ones to become prey.

The Scripture speaks of him in this light, as we see the cause of his coming to power.  In 2 Thessalonians 2:10 it says, “…And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”  And for this cause, because they’ve not received the love of the truth, for this cause, the more you reject the Word, the more you hear and don’t do, the more you become self-deceived.  “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion (in these in the last days), that they should believe a lie.  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  That same power is going to be unleashed upon the world the moment the church is taken away and raptured.  So, we are right on the precipice of this taking place.  The Scripture tells us that we are to purify ourselves even as He is pure; amen?  If we believe that day is approaching, we are to gather and assemble ourselves even more.  The purpose for which we gather, we come to worship God, we come to praise God, we come to be strengthened and edified; amen?  We come when we’re weary.  Thank God for brothers and sisters who’ve gone before us and come out of the fiery trials stronger and purer than they went in, who can comfort with the same comfort wherewith they were comforted, who can lift up hands that are hanging down, praise God.  That’s why the church comes together, so we can be strengthened and refreshed, so we can be reminded of the prize, the high calling of God that is in Christ Jesus.  So, He said, “I’m going to build the church and the gates of hell will not prevail.  I’m coming for a church that is without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.”  As we look today at the church, we look at ourselves, we look at this community and the question is, “Do we still have some wrinkles to be ironed out?”

How many of our garments are being defiled by what we watch, what we think, who we fellowship with, and where our trust is?  Oh, beloved, many of us say we trust God, but actually we are trusting our jobs, our paycheck and our own abilities.  That’s why God, in His love, lets us go through different trials and find ourselves helpless.  There is no better place to be than when you can finally say, “I can do nothing.  I am emptied out, there is no strength, and there is no ability in me.”  When we lie down and all we can do is lift up our eyes to the hills from which comes our help.  Do you live there?