(Mal 3:18 KJV) Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
The mystery of iniquity was already at work in the early church:
(2 Th 2:7 KJV) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
It has grown up in the church until it has come to power over the church. It is promised that the wicked will be revealed for who they are:
(2 Th 2:8 KJV) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Jesus knew there was a drought coming...where the flock would become hungry and thirsty under their oppressors....the unjust stewards of the flock. There is a famine of hearing the words of God. In fact, Jesus questioned what awful things were going to be done to his body during the drought. He asked this as he was being led away to be crucified:
(Luke 23:31 KJV) For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
Once again, Jesus knew things were going to get bad in the church:
(Luke 18:8 KJV) I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
And what was God going to avenge speedily?? Look at the parable in the preceding verses from Luke 18:
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
The widow is the church because of its present condition...we should be married to the Lord but we aren't. Those that understand pray for their deliverence from their adversary....from the enemies in the sanctuary. God will avenge his own elect.
The elect have become powerless...the strength is gone because of the situation...but God shall judge his people:
(Deu 32:36 KJV) For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.
Judgment will be given to the saints:
(Dan 7:22 KJV) Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
The kingdom has become possesed by others...strangers, aliens:
(Lam 5:2 KJV) Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.
(Psa 74:3 KJV) Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
(Psa 74:4 KJV) Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
The early church saw the beginning of the mysterry of iniquity in the church....even then there were many antichrists:
(1 John 2:18 KJV) 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.
And where did these antichrists come from?? They went out FROM US...from the people of God:
(1 John 2:19 KJV) 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.
That they may be REVEALED that they are not with us at all.....the man of sin within the church will be revealed....the tares are going to be gathered up....the wicked will be made manifest.
From John 4 we learn we are supposed to "try" the spirits to see if they are from God:
4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Every person who bears good fruit...who reflects the life of Christ within themselves....who are a light in the world is acknowledging that Christ has come into their flesh. It is not the simple acknowledging that Jesus came to the earth 2,000 years ago....it is living the "life" that is within us.....we confess that Jesus the Annointed IS come in the flesh. Present tense "IS COME". We have died to the old man and have put away the sins of the flesh.
The early church readily recognized the false apostles....they "TRIED" them and found them liars:.
(Rev 2:2 KJV) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
To the second church, Smyrna, Jesus acknowledge to his "called out" that he knew the blasphemy of those who called themselves Jews (Christians) but are not....they are really of the church of Satan.
(Rev 2:9 KJV) I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Jesus knows the tribulation that the church has been going through at the hands of the the church of Satan. It is no wonder that Satan's ministers are dressed as ministers or servants of righteousness...they come as thieves to break in and steal.
(2 Cor 11:14 KJV) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Jesus showed us the distinction between the good and bad shepherd or servant over the flock:
John 10:
10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.