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likens this attitude to the character of those who, though redeemed from Egypt,
nevertheless "fell in the wilderness" (Heb. 3: 17) and in contrast with the two
"overcomers" Caleb and Joshua (Heb. 3: 16). II Tim. 2: 13 has already been quoted as
showing that though the words "if we believe not" can alas apply at times 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 . . . . . . ."
(I 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 murder 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: 1).
"The Sorcerers" pharmakeus. These sorcerers are mentioned in Rev. 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 Gal. 5:, Paul includes "witchcraft" (pharmakia). These awful
powers are seen at work in Rev. 16: 13, 14: