`The Unbelieving' apistos. That it is possible for a believer to have `an evil heart of unbelief in departing from

the living God', Hebrews 3:12 makes clear, and the context 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). 2 Timothy 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 ...' (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 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

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 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' (pharmakia). 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

`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 called a BROTHER be ... an idolater' (1 Cor. 5:11), neither did he feel it unnecessary to

say `neither be ye idolaters as were some of them' (who did not overcome like Caleb and Joshua) (1 Cor. 10:7). See

1 Corinthians 9:24 where this passage is introduced, not with salvation, but with prize and crown, and with the

possibility of being a `castaway' or `disapproved'.

The worship of the image of the Beast (Rev. 13:15) when resisted led to the martyrdom and the crown of those

who reign during the thousand years (Rev. 20:4). Finally `all liars' is extended in Revelation 21:27 as `whatsoever

worketh abomination, or maketh a lie' and in Revelation 22:15 is further expanded to `whosoever loveth and maketh

a lie'. `The lie' is of the Devil, it is `his own' (John 8:44). `The lie' is associated with the Man of Sin and the

working of Satan, together with those who received not the love of the TRUTH and have pleasure in unrighteousness

(2 Thess. 2:9-12). In the church, those who posed as apostles were found `liars' (Rev. 2:2), and the liar is definitely

associated with Antichristian denial (1 John 2:22). This list of dreadful sins is all related to the time of stress which