Three Groups Emerge During Warfare
Over the last fifty years in America, every war we have fought has produced three groups of people within this nation.
The first group comprises those who willingly, proudly, and bravely step up to answer the call of their country with honor.
The second group is comprised of pacifists - those people who will not fight but neither will they protest.
The third group comprises the anti-war demonstrators, who rebel against the call of their country and ridicule those who answer the call. Their motto: “Make love, not war!”
Now, there is an interesting parallel between these three groups and three groups found within the American church of today. For example:
The first group comprises the Army of God. They are very passionate for their Lord and are prepared to lay down their lives if called upon to do so. These are the true warriors who will journey through the wilderness in order to align with their brothers and sisters in those churches resembling their forerunners in Smyrna and Philadelphia.
The second group regularly attends church and Bible studies, but they have little personal vision for ministry. They are content to elect leadership that will be responsible for the church’s direction, but don’t feel much of a need to be personally involved. They support their pastor’s vision and rely upon the words from the pulpit to guarantee their eternal destiny. They just want to sit and wait to go to heaven someday. Some belong to the Ephesian-style churches and others to the Laodicean.
The third group actively opposes any talk of warfare. “Make love, not war” is also the motto within their hearts. However, their concept of the love of God is not a true, life-changing love but is a false love that leads people away from the fertile soil that produces true disciples of God. Their primary concern is to not offend people and hurt their feelings, and they repeatedly emphasize that Christ has already accomplished the victory for us; so, we just need to be faithful in our tithing and church attendance, and He will provide for all of our needs. They love to religiously attend those churches styled after Sardis and Laodicea. They proudly profess a belief in Jesus, but in actuality, how can one believe in someone they don’t really know?
THINK ABOUT THIS!
How will each of these three groups respond when suddenly, like a thief in the night, catastrophic events occur that destroy this nation’s economy and cause the loss of a great number of lives, and robs us of the freedom that we once enjoyed? Will tremendous confusion abound with people crying, “Why have we not been raptured?” Which groups will be disillusioned with church leadership and begin to align with the world in blaming God for allowing such catastrophes to take place?
How will they respond when, like Nazi Germany, Russia, and China, the Bible will be outlawed and those who refuse to deny the Lord Jesus will be persecuted? What will persecution look like? Historically, there has been a confiscation of assets, a separation of families into concentration camps, and execution for those who refuse to deny Christ? How are those who embraced the pre-tribulation rapture theory going to respond - with deep humility or more like the world because of their anger toward their rapturist-teaching pastors and their disappointment in being a part of a tribulation era? Certainly such events will cause a great apostasy, as many forsake their former beliefs and betray their former friends and family members.
Christians – a time of decision lies shortly before us: During a period of intense end-times tribulation, will we be among those who “fall away and betray one another?”
And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
Or, will our hearts respond with Isaiah’s words?
My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
And, will we see persecution as an opportunity to honor Christ?
"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
We are approaching some difficult times ahead as the second coming of Jesus Christ appears to be rapidly approaching. There is a wake-up call from the Lord which is becoming louder and louder, and many are hearing it. Our Lord is searching for warriors who can hear this call and lead His people though the approaching era of end-time events. An old message is being refreshed: The church is being called onto to the battlefield.