2 Timothy 2:13 has already been quoted as showing that though the words, 'if

we believe not' can alas at times apply to those who nevertheless 'shall

live', they cannot be said of those who both 'live and reign'.

'The abominable', bdelussomai.  This word is used with reference to

'the Abomination of Desolation' spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Matt. 24:15;

Mark. 13:14; Rev. 17:4,5; 21:27).  The fearful, the unbelieving, the

abominable, are all related to the state of mind that the terrible

persecution of the Beast at the time of the end will induce.

'The murderer', phoneus.  The reader may with some reluctance have

followed so far, but at the word 'murder' will probably draw back.  Yet Peter

did not feel it necessary to explain and excuse the introduction of so

dreadful a term, when he wrote:

'Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an

evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.  Yet if any man

suffer as a Christian ... ' (1 Pet. 4:15,16).

To us, it seems odd to link 'murder' with 'being a busybody' or of

using such an exhortation to 'Christians', but Peter did not feel that way

evidently.  Paul likewise, when writing to the Galatians puts together

'emulations, envyings, drunkenness and revellings' with 'murder' (Gal. 5:19 -

21), and adds to all such, not to murderers only, 'such ... shall not inherit

the kingdom of God'.  That self -righteous Pharisee, who became the beloved

apostle of the Gentiles, could say of his early life 'touching the

righteousness which is in the law' that he was 'Blameless' yet he had set out

on a mission breathing out threatenings and Murder (phonos) against the

disciples of the Lord (Acts 9:1).

When the Man of Sin is in the ascendant, when no one will be permitted

to either buy or sell that has not the mark of the Beast, then many shall

'betray one another' and deliver up the true believer to be 'killed' (Matt.

24:9,10).  To those thus betrayed will come the promise:

'Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer ... be thou faithful

unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life ... He that overcometh

shall not be hurt of the second death' (Rev. 2:10,11).

'The whoremongers', pornos.  This word and its variants refer to any

allegiance, in the day of the Lord, to that evil system associated with 'The

mother of Harlots' (Rev. 17:5).

'The sorcerers', pharmakeus.  These sorcerers are mentioned in

Revelation 9:21 and 18:23 and reveal the Satanic powers that will be at work

in the day of the Lord.  In the list already quoted from Galatians 5, Paul

includes 'witchcraft' (pharmakeia).  These awful powers are seen at work in

Revelation 16:13,14:

'And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of

the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of

the false prophet.  For they are the spirits of devils, working

miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole

world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty'.

'Idolaters and all liars' conclude this dreadful list.  The apostle did not

hesitate to say when writing to the church at Corinth, 'If any man that is