The Few And The Proud: Those Who Are Not Just Called But Chosen
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The Few, The Proud is a long standing motto of the US Marines, the toughest arm of the United States military, and I believe their standards run a strong parallel with those who will be chosen as soldiers in the end-time army of God. Not everyone will make it as has been prophesied. The question is, who will and who will not.
The apostle Peter will now point out how only a relative few were being saved in his time compared to the vast majority, because not many were able to endure the persecution that came along with preaching the gospel. He would therefore make the comparison to those who were saved during Noah's time, before God's judgment finally came upon the world.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
When Peter talked about Christ preaching to the spirits in prison, he was talking about what traditional Christianity refers to as the Harrowing Of Hell. After the crucifixion, Christ Jesus descended into the Paradise side of the Underworld and preached to them that He was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world for their sins, as foreshadowed in the Passover Lamb. After HIs preaching, they understood He was the promised Messiah, sent to lead them out of the Underworld and into Heaven, for the price had now been paid for them to enter into the very Presence of the Father. When He resurrected, scripture says that some of these saints who had died also resurrected with Him, and were seen walking the streets of Jerusalem after He rose from the dead:
The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (Matt. 27:52–53)
But Peter was not referring to
all of the Old Testament saints here. He was referring specifically to Noah and his family, and for a specific reason. He wanted to draw a parallel between how there were only a few in that day who trusted in God, and who were warning that a terrible judgment was coming, just like the New Testament saints were now doing. Peter would make this comparison again in his second letter:
1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets... 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget... the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 And the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.... 10 The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:1-7, 10)
Like Noah and his family, the New Testament saints were "heralds of righteousness." Like Noah, they warned of a terrible judgement that was coming, and suffering ridicule as a result. And like Noah and his family, they were
relatively few in number compared to the vast majority who did not believe.
A Culling Is Now Underway
Why, then,
were the New Testament saints relatively few in number compared to the masses? Scripture suggests it is because it is a difficult road. One will increasingly be brought under discipline by the Lord, much like elite soldiers whose discipline must be of a higher order. And it is a road that must be chosen of one's own freewill, which most do not wish to take it.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Lest anyone think our God is not searching for spiritual soldiers, it should not be overlooked that the first Gentile He choose to have the Spirit poured out upon was a Roman centurion and his family, and very likely not just because they were devout but because He knew they would fight for what they believe, and die for it if necessary.
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. (Acts 10:1-4)
The Romans might not have respected other Gentiles having had some strange religious experience, but they would have no choice but to respect a military commander in their army. The building of God's army amongst the Gentiles began with Him choosing a Roman centurion; a trained leader of 80 men.
44 And while Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (Acts 10:44-47)
So who is God choosing today? It appears the Lord is again in the selection process, in preparation for the great outpouring spoken of by the prophet Joel. This was prophesied very clearly beginning about four decades ago, when Harold Pittman - a former Baptist minister - was taken into 2nd Heaven, and had a number of things revealed to him by the Spirit of God.
God is now in the process of recruiting an army with which He will shake this world one more time. By working through His soldiers, God will produce great miracles that will shake the established hierarchy of so-called organized religion in the world today. These soldiers that God is now recruiting will demonstrate the power of God to a greater extent than did the disciples in the Pentecostal age. Some will be even greater demonstrations than that of Elijah... To the new recruit, I would say study the Bible diligently and seek the Lord's will in every aspect of your life. Time is short for your spiritual training, but you will be used in ways you never thought possible if you seek the Lord first in your life. You who are being chosen will be the soldiers of the latter rain as referred to in scripture. This recruitment is for the end of the great revival spoken of by the prophet Joel, which began on the day of Pentecost. The end-time of that great revival is the beginning of the latter rain, so you must prepare for the battle with the discipline of a professional soldier. Know this also: There shall be a time or process of "culling" those who are not qualified to be a member of this "Gideon's" army. Just as with Gideon's army in the Bible, only a select few will be fit for service in the army of Christian soldiers the Lord will use in the battle of the latter rain. (Pittman, Placebo, P.42-43)
As was also revealed, this army will also be characterized by holiness. Those whom He selects will lead holy lives, yet they will be people the world and even the church have overlooked.
"Behold, I am preparing a holy army. They will do mighty exploits for me and destroy your high places. They are an army of holy men and women, boys and girls. They have been anointed to preach the true gospel, to lay hands on the sick and to call the sinner to repentance. "This is an army of working men, housewives, single men, single women and schoolchildren. They are common people, for not many noble have responded to My call. In the past they have been misunderstood and mistreated, abused and rejected. But I have blessed them with boldness in holiness and in spirit. They will begin to fulfill My prophecy, and to do My will. I will walk in them, talk in them I and work in them...
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This is why the command in scripture was to think on what was positive, and of a good report, and not to let the things the enemy might be doing cause us to grieve or turn to bitterness. In the end, we win, LoL, and there's nothing the enemy can do about it : )
