"all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him" (Rev. 13:8)
So, in order to get all to worship the beast, the enemy will get people to stop worshiping God, right? Let's see...I used to think the United States was the country most mercifully blessed by God with lighthouses of truth, and I still do. But there are fakes all over the place as well.
Hundreds of videos on YouTube show characters "saying grace" by joining hands and bowing their heads while a cute little child recites a poem. G'zillions think "Amen" and "Dear Lord" and "Love God" means you're a Christian. The characters make no mention of Christ's death for us, our need to repent of our sins AND NOT JUST BELIEVE GOD LOVE US!
People can believe that God exists and that He made man and He is in control. They can "have faith" in all of this and still go to hell when they die. After all, demons believe all this. (They won't tell you they believe that too.)
The enemy knows that there are nations that teach about God freely. So he will make sure there is much stuff spread abroad about God that doesn't hurt him!
And of course, he will capitalize on "religious hypocrites." If there is a moment of stumbling in a truly born-again soul, he will broadcast and magnify that instance to make it look like a lifestyle, accusing the penitent of being a hypocrite when he'd just lost his balance for a moment. Then he will whistle and call over hired, completely unsaved cronies to imitate the believer in his wavering so it can be said "they are all alike, those Christians." (They won't tell you they are specialists at falling.)
GOD'S LITMUS TEST
"whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb" (Rev. 13:8)
I can almost see it:
"Just ask, and I will answer all your prayers, He says." As soon as the Father finishes speaking in soft whispers of His protective, providing love to the children in His arms and sets them down on the floor, Street Urchins bang open the door and rush into the room, claiming God has to keep them comfortable too, and if He doesn't "answer prayer," they have every right NOT TO BELIEVE HE EXISTS!
This is one of the funniest things I have ever heard. Is it reasonable to demand God's promises made to somebody else -- His child -- be kept to the street urchin? But we hear this all the time. The person who decides he doesn't believe God anymore usually says, "God doesn't answer prayer!" He doesn't even know for sure he's going to Heaven, one basic sign of being God's child -- to which the promise was made, yet he speaks like this.
No; the genuine child of God would never say such; the child loves a trustworthy parent; and even when it looks like he's been betrayed can know the parent is doing something in wisdom and trusts Him. A street urchin does not know him yet and cannot dare to do so.
Perhaps it is unanswered prayer that shows the clear difference between the two; I am beginning to wonder if God doesn't send even unanswered prayer situations, as uncomfortable as they may feel to us, as litmus tests to show humans, who cannot see the heart.
Is it possible trusted friends of wonderful character -- but not really born again -- might've been made spiritual heads (which would've ended up leading weaker Christians astray)? God in Wisdom sends a litmus test of unanswered prayer, and on their own, they openly declare they don't believe in God, so of course they're not considered for places of leadership...just one possible scenario; I'm not saying Providence always happens like this!
