A MILLENIAL DUTY

 

In his revelatory vision, John saw a woman clothed with the sun about to give birth to a child (Revelation 12:1,2). This woman represented the ecclesiastical Church of Jesus Christ as we know it today. The child represented the kingdom of Christ that will be established when He returns. This kingdom will have ecclesiastical and political power over all the people of the earth. This is called theocracy.

And this is what we should note most of all. John says the dragon ‘stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to DEVOUR her child as soon as it was born’ (12:4). This suggests only one thing. Satan is watching and waiting for Christ’s return as eagerly as we are but with a different motive.

He seeks to destroy the Kingdom of our Christ and therefore foil the Millenial plans. The days this chapter of Revelation speaks of are the last days prior to Christ’s coming and the vengeance that the devil will unleash on us, His followers, to destroy Christ’s power.

I once asked a scriptorian friend why Lucifer is called ‘a son of the morning’ (D&C 76:26; Isaiah 14:12; 2 Nephi 24:12). He answered that most likely Lucifer was one of the first spirit children of God, born in the morning, as in the very beginning.

 

He also said something highly interesting. He said that Lucifer might even have been second born, Christ being the first, and that He sought to usurp Jehovah’s throne and inheritance of the firstborn, much like we see throughout earthly history where the second born seeks to overthrow his brother for the crown. This theory could be supported by Satan’s last-minute push to dethrone ‘the Lamb who sits upon His throne’ at the end of the Millenium (D&C 88:111-115).  

 

We of the last hour before midnight, have a great duty to pave the way for the Millenial reign. Satan is persistent, constant and consistent. Here are the tools he uses to derail us:

 

HIS THREE DOCTRINES:

No punishment for sin

Nothing after death

He does not exist

 

HIS LIES THROUGH RATIONALISATION:

Just once won’t hurt

No one will know

Everybody is doing it

 

HIS VALUE SYSTEM:

Selfishness

Self-indulgence

Immediate gratification

 

HIS SALES TECHNIQUES:

Pacifying

Flattering

Lulling

 

HIS GOAL:

To steal our spiritual identity

To kill our faith in God

To destroy our commitment to Christ

 

In the words of Terri Savelle Foy: Satan might be marching with his armies to steal, kill and destroy but he does not have the power on his best day to take you out on your worst day....the only power he has is what you give him.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Parting the Veil by John McNaughton)