AWAKENING THE CALL TO DUTY

The Bible describes "God's end-time warriors" not as a literal army, but as believers in the last days who are empowered by the Holy Ghost to preach the Gospel, perform miracles, and stand firm against spiritual forces of evil. These "warriors" will be a diverse group, comprising men and women of all ages and nationalities, who are equipped with the "armor of God" and a powerful faith to share the Kingdom of God's message before the end.

Characteristics of End-Time Warriors

Spirit-Filled and Diverse: The Holy Ghost will be poured out on all people, empowering sons and daughters, old and young, to prophesy and see visions.

Militant and Mighty: They will be bold and powerful in their spiritual warfare, running like mighty men and scaling walls to spread the Gospel.

Equipped with Spiritual Armor: Believers are instructed to put on the "whole armor of God"—the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God)—to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Perform Miracles: These warriors will heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons, with signs, wonders, and miracles following them.

Dedicated to Spreading the Gospel: A key mission for these individuals is to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom to the entire world as a testimony to all nations.

Righteous and Compassionate: They will demonstrate love for God and people, and will care for the poor and needy, showing God's love in tangible ways.

United in Purpose: These warriors will work together in unity, moving forward on their individual paths without swerving from their God-given course.

The Spiritual Battle

Spiritual vs. Physical: The primary conflict is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places.

Jesus as the Heavenly Warrior: The Book of Revelation describes Jesus as a heavenly warrior on a white horse, who defeats the armies of evil with a sharp sword coming out of His mouth.

The Final Conflict: The battle of Armageddon is a prophesied gathering of armies for a final conflict, but the victory belongs to God and His followers, leading to a new heavens and a new earth where there will be no more war

The Bible does not mention "end-time warriors" as a specific, named group. Instead, it describes God's army in both a literal and a spiritual sense, composed of heavenly beings and earthly believers who engage in spiritual warfare.

The army of heaven

Throughout the Old Testament, God is referred to as the "LORD of Armies" or "LORD of Hosts," a title signifying his sovereign command over both heavenly and earthly forces.

Angelic hosts: These are divine beings who serve God's will and protect his people. The prophet Elisha's servant was granted a vision of the "mountain full of horses and chariots of fire," revealing the unseen, mighty army of angels surrounding them (2 Kings 6:17).

Christ as commander: In the book of Joshua, a mysterious figure identified as the "commander of the army of the LORD" appears to Joshua, signifying that God himself leads his forces (Joshua 5:13-15). The New Testament connects this divine command to Jesus, who returns at the end of the age leading the heavenly armies (Revelation 19:11–14).

The army of believers

The concept of an army also applies to God's people on Earth, who are called to engage in spiritual warfare.

Spiritual armor: The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6:10–18, exhorts Christians to "put on the full armor of God" to stand against spiritual evil. This armor is not literal but comprises spiritual elements:

Belt of truth: To counter the devil's lies.

Breastplate of righteousness: To protect the heart from accusations.

Shoes of peace: To spread the gospel.

Shield of faith: To extinguish the "fiery darts of the evil one".

Helmet of salvation: To protect the mind from doubt.

Sword of the Spirit: The Word of God, used for offense and defense.

Piety

In the Bible, piety refers to a life of devotion, reverence, and faithfulness to God, expressed through outward actions and inner reverence. It is not just outward ritual but includes sincere dedication to God's will, leading to a holy life, and a loving obedience to His teachings. Piety also encompasses respect for parents and the natural order established by God, and it should be performed to glorify God rather than to be ostentatious.

Key Aspects of Biblical Piety

Reverence for God: Piety involves a deep respect and honor for God's character and will.

Godly Behavior and Deeds: It is demonstrated through actions that are a result of a transformed heart and a commitment to worship, love, and kindness.

Obedience and Faithfulness: Pious individuals are characterized by loyal and earnest devotion to God, even when it involves sacrifice.

Glorifying God: The ultimate purpose of true piety is to bring glory to God, showing His presence and love to others through good works.

Reverence for Authority: The concept extends to honoring God's representatives, such as parents, elders, and other authorities, as part of God's created order.

Weapons of righteousness: According to 2 Corinthians 10:4–5, the weapons of this spiritual warfare are not physical but have "divine power to demolish strongholds." The battle is described as being against "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" rather than "flesh and blood" (Ephesians 6:12).

In the Bible, piety is a deep, heartfelt reverence and devotion to God that manifests in both an individual's personal life and their ethical conduct toward others. It is a sincere, inward attitude of worship and respect, distinct from hypocritical displays of religiosity.

Key characteristics of biblical piety

Reverence for God: In the Old Testament, piety is closely associated with the "fear of the Lord," which signifies a profound and respectful awe of God's majesty and holiness. It is the foundation of wisdom and true devotion.

Obedience and moral uprightness: Genuine piety is not just an emotion but is demonstrated through ethical behavior and obedience to God's commandments. It results in a transformed life that aligns with God's will. James 1:27 describes "pure and undefiled religion" (a term for piety) as caring for orphans and widows and remaining unstained by the world.

Heartfelt worship: The New Testament Greek word for piety, eusebeia, refers to an inward state of reverence and devotion. It encompasses private prayer and worship that comes from the heart, not just empty rituals. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns against performing religious acts, like giving or praying, simply to be seen by others.

Active love and compassion: Piety translates into tangible expressions of love for others. Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, who showed compassion to a person in need, is an example of piety in action.

Distinction from hypocrisy: The Bible explicitly contrasts true piety with the superficial, outward religiosity practiced by the Pharisees. They adhered to many rules and traditions to project an image of piety, but their hearts were not genuinely turned toward God.

Examples of piety in the Bible

Job: Described as "blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil," Job demonstrated unwavering piety even in the face of immense suffering.

Anna: This prophetess is an example of a devoutly religious (pious) person who was dedicated to divine worship.

Cornelius: As a Roman centurion who feared God and performed charitable deeds, Cornelius was described as pious. God rewarded his sincere heart.

Ruth: The story of Ruth highlights her filial piety and devotion to her mother-in-law, Naomi.

The Joel's Army controversy: The Book of Joel describes a terrifying and unstoppable army in a prophecy about the "day of the LORD" (Joel 2:1–11). This army is either a literal army, a plague of locusts, or a metaphorical army for God's judgment. Certain modern movements have interpreted this passage to mean that God is raising a literal, end-time militant army of believers. However, many biblical scholars and Christian denominations consider this interpretation a distortion of the text, noting that the context is a call to repentance and that the prophecy of a Spirit outpouring on "all flesh" was fulfilled at Pentecost (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17).

The final battle

In the end, believers are assured of victory through Christ, not through their own physical might.

Christ's triumph: The New Testament states that Jesus has already disarmed and triumphed over the spiritual powers and authorities through his death and resurrection (Colossians 2:15).

Final judgment: The Book of Revelation depicts Christ returning with the armies of heaven to defeat evil, including the "beast," the "false prophet," and Satan, and usher in a new heaven and new earth where all conflict has ended (Revelation 19–21).