(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)
To my Christian sisters and brothers:
Anyone who has ever served in any branch of our military has likely had to have served a round of “Guard Duty” at some point during their basic training cycle.
It was emphasized that the consequences of falling asleep on guard duty in a real-life combat zone was death by firing squad if you were found guilty by your own officers.
If you were found sleeping by the enemy, a firing squad would likely be a pleasant experience compared to what they would do.
All this is to emphasize the importance of staying alert when you are assigned to do so and the life and death consequences that could be the result of you failing your mission.
Here in 2024, we are involved in a war that has gone on since the fall of man but is now, in my opinion, in its final stages. We have been charged with the same responsibility, but this time, it is not by some scary DI (Drill Instructor) wearing a smokey bear hat and adopting a terrifying visage as he gets in your face.
This warning comes from the Lord Himself, either directly or through His servants, but He is no less emphatic in His command, even though it is presented in His more kindly and compassionate way.
Here are a few examples:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
And, by the Lord Jesus Himself:
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:32).
“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37).
Within many of the evangelical churches at this point in time, there is an even greater danger as they are often perceived as “safe and sound,” but the Lord warns of exactly what so many churches in this present time have become: the church of Laodicea.
“I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!” (Revelation 3:15). Emphasis added by me.
This warning should instill terror in the hearts of those who propagate this kind of “worship,” but instead, the incidence of these so-called ministries is growing.
It should also inspire fear in those who are willing to accept this kind of worship.
“For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
If we are indeed awake and on guard, we are going to be aware of the many sources of lies and apostasy. The internet abounds with them by the thousands, and now AI (Artificial Intelligence) has been added to the mix.
These sources of lies and half-truths are not all on the outside of the churches.
“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). Emphasis added by me.
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
Sisters and brothers, we are each responsible for acquiring the discernment and Godly Wisdom that we need to possess, and in God’s Word, we are provided with all the instructions we need in order to possess them.
Proverbs 1, 2, 3, and 4 declare the value of God’s Wisdom, our need for it, and His willingness to impart it to individuals who are wise enough to seek it.
Where else can you concentrate your efforts?
- Follow the instructions provided in Ephesians 6:10-18.
- The Word of God: It is the final authority in every case. If anything you hear, watch, or read is in conflict with it, do not believe it. This means you must use the inerrant plumb-line of scripture, as the Bereans were diligent to do in order to discern Truth from lies or the even more dangerous half-truths that are deployed with great skill by an evil and crumbling world system.
“These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Emphasis added by me.
- Prophecy. Prophecy study and its importance is strongly emphasized in the Word of God, and it is included as God’s signature of His authenticity.
“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:9-10).
- Inquire of the Holy Spirit every morning for wisdom and discernment. He will not fail you.
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 16:13). Emphasis added by me.
What has prophecy to do with the full armor of God?
The fact that God the Holy Spirit inspired its inclusion in approximately one-third of the scriptures and then ensured that every single one that has already been fulfilled has been fulfilled in minute detail accomplishes two things for the true Christian believer:
- It confirms and cements God’s Sovereignty over all the past.
- It confirms and cements the believer’s confidence in the future promises He has made and that His purpose will indeed be accomplished.
Prophecy is part of the full armor that God has provided to all who will “don” it.
Possible consequences of “falling asleep” on your assigned watch.
“Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:11-13). Emphasis added by me.
The fruit of genuine salvation.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
Does this mean we never sin? How I wish that were so (and indeed it will be so when we are taken Home), but Christ paid for the sins of all who will receive Him as Savior and Lord, past, present and future, and so by His sacrifice we are able to confess when we fail. God is already aware of these failures, yet He forgives us if we confess them, as He states so clearly in 1 John 1:9.
I firmly believe in His merciful message that: once you are genuinely saved, you are forever saved. It is presented in the treasure chest of God’s Word to be found by those who search the scriptures, that if anyone truly repents (please see the special message at the end of this article), then God has made this guarantee:
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:3-6).
I also believe the warning contained below. We are very susceptible to self-deception. One of them is that to claim to believe “in” Jesus is the same as repentance and receiving Him as the One and Only Savior. This is a common condition today, but as long as a person is still in their living years, it is not too late to repent and live.
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
This very clear warning from James illustrates the terminal difference:
“You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 2:19). Emphasis added by me.
John provides the understanding of 2 Corinthians 13:5 above.
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us” (John 2:19).
Now to the Crux of this article.
All indications are that God is preparing to bring the prophecies in His inerrant Word to a conclusion.
The real-time experiencing of the run-up to these events is already causing a great deal of angst to those who lack understanding of the Scriptures.
It is not possible to be certain of how much the True Church will have to endure prior to the Rapture, but part of being on guard duty is to be aware that the True Church is indeed enduring horrible persecution in many other places on this earth, and we are to pray for them.
We are not yet experiencing much of that here in America, but the signs all point to that reality on the horizon. Satan and his assistants will attack in force when our hedge of protection finishes collapsing.
God’s pattern of judgment against nations is clear in the Old Testament, and if you are reading His Word, the warning signs are all there that He is lifting His hedge of protection and blessing on America due to rampant sin, debauchery and treachery intentionally directed against Israel.
America is not exempt from His wrath if it follows other so-called gods and fails to heed the promise to Abram (soon to be Abraham) in Genesis 12:3.
“Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality’” (Acts 10:34).
I write this in truth and love. If you examine yourself and find that you have become complacent in your walk with Christ, or perhaps are only paying verbal premiums on “fire insurance” that will fail you when Jesus calls His Church home, then I urge you:
“And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:11-12).
All the prophetic signs contained in God’s Word that our Lord told us to watch for are manifest in every quarter today.
“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).
The special message I promised you:
For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life.
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.
It requires that you come before God on His terms and that you do so in your living years.
And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross and rose from the grave three days later, conquering death, just as He promised.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
- No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
- No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
- Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).
There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.
The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com