Called, Chosen and Faithful (Part 1)
by Jody L. Apple"These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." (Revelation 17:14).
Introduction and Overview
In this article, and the one to follow, we will be studying what is involved in (1) becoming a Christian and (2) remaining faithful as a Christian. We will do so by looking closely at the description of Christ's army in Revelation 17:14 as "called, chosen and faithful."
In order to have a thorough understanding of the subject, we will: (1) note several examples of easily understood themes in Revelation; (2) present a general overview of Revelation through chapter seventeen; and (3) discuss in detail what it means to say that Christians are (a) called, (b) chosen and (c) faithful.
Clear Teachings in Revelation
iveNhe book of Revelation, while often considered an obscure and difficult book to understand, is quite frequently anything but an enigma. Because of the bold and dramatic figures it often employs, many of which are quite straightforward and simple in their portrayal, there are numerous teachings of the apocalypse that are really quite easy to understand.
Consider the following themes and note the clarity with which they are presented throughout the book:
1. Good Versus Evil & Right Versus Wrong
Without a doubt, the book of Revelation is a book that chronicles a constant conflict of good against evil, and right against wrong. Nowhere is that seen more clearly than in the great battle/s depicted between Satan and the Christ. Throughout the book, Satan (also referred to as the Devil and the dragon - 12:9; 20:2) and his armies (the harlot, Babylon, the beasts - ch.17-18) are fighting against the Christ and His army. It is the ultimate duel between cosmic evil and Divine goodness.
There are also numerous subplots: the dragon versus the angels and the heavenly host (12:1ff); the dragon versus the woman and her children (12:1ff); the harlot versus the saints (19:2); the beasts versus the bride of Christ, the church (13:1ff) - but the theme remains constant. The Devil, sin, hatred, evil, wickedness, deception and all that is bad and wrong is constantly in opposition to the Christ, righteousness, love and all that is good and right.
2. Faithfulness Versus Faithlessness
How are Christians expected to react to the persecutions that are so frequently seen throughout the Apocalypse? Though from one perspective they are hardly to be blamed for wanting to - and, indeed, actually - quitting, the Revelation was written in large part to let them know that being faithful is what is expected of them.
Faithfulness leads to victory. Faithlessness leads to condemnation. In the end, whether or not we endured to the end rather than gave up on our faith ... that's one of the ultimate tests of our discipleship. Christians are constantly admonished to remain faithful, even in the face of death.
"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10).
3. Righteousness Versus Unrighteousness
In the midst of the battles that are constantly being waged between right and wrong, there is not only a Divine plea for Christians to remain faithful, there is an equally Divine corresponding plea - remain righteous. Faithfulness at the expense of righteousness is never considered a viable alternative in God's plan. In fact, there can be no faithfulness apart from righteousness.
God wants Christians to be holy. If we have lived a life of continued service to Christ, but that half-hearted commitment and all too frequent unholiness plagued our service to Christ... then we have capitulated to Satan. He always seeks to devour us (1 Peter 5:8), and in the book of Revelation, he and his cohorts are always after Christians with the constant plea to deny God, deny Christ, give up the life of faithfulness and give in to a life of godlessness.
This constant struggle against unrighteousness is seen in the frequent references to the doctrines of the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:6, 15), Jezebel (Rev 2:20), Balaam (Rev 2:14) and others. All of these doctrines were compromises of faith and righteousness. The faithful were admonished to avoid them at all costs; they risked missing heaven if they did not.
4. The Glory of Christ's Bride
It should go without saying that the bride of Christ is to be beautiful (Rom 7:1ff; Eph 5:22-33). Not beautiful in the sense of physical or aesthetic perfection, but beauty in the sense of inner perfection, that which is reflected in true holiness and godliness (e.g., 1 Tim 2:9-10; 1 Pet 3: 1-4; Eph 1:4).
The bride, or wife, of Christ is often addressed in the book of Revelation. Sometimes she is explicitly referred to as the bride, or wife, of Christ (19:7; 21:2, 9; 22:17). Sometimes she is referred to in other terms: saints (5:8; 8:3, 4; 19:7-8), the holy city, Jerusalem (3:12; 21:2ff), an army (17:14; 19:19), faithful (17:14), et. al.
One of the most amazing passages in the book is found in the nineteenth chapter, verses 5-9. In this scene a great wedding feast is about to take place. It reads:
Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."
Christ's bride - which is the church he died for (Mt 16:18; Acts 20:28), comprised of the saints who have endured all types of persecutions for the sake of Christ and yet remained faithful and holy through it all - will ultimately be united with Christ in heaven. By engaging in the "righteous acts of the saints," the church "has made herself ready" to be at "the marriage of the Lamb." What a beautiful picture to behold! The book of Revelation affirms the glory of Christ's bride.
5. Judgment is coming.
Just as clearly pictured in Revelation as the first four themes is this one - the day of judgment is coming. Every person who ever lived, is living now, and who is yet to live prior to that day will be gathered together before the throne of God to be judged (Jude 15; Rev 20:11ff).
Judgement is sure. As sure as all men will die, all men will be judged. The Hebrew writer puts it plainly: "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment," (Heb 9:27; cf Ps 89:48; Rom 5:12).
The reason for death is also plainly taught elsewhere in the Scriptures. Man sinned, and as a consequence, man dies physically. Genesis 2:17 informs us of the prohibition God gave Adam and Eve as well as the consequence of failing to heed it: "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Though this passage only declares that Adam and Eve were to be separated from God because of sin (Note: death is separation, Is 59:1ff), the same principle applies to all humanity: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). And just as all sinned, all will die because of it: "For the wages of sin is death..." (Rom 6:23)
God intends for us to use this life as a time of preparation for judgment. He has repeatedly stated that what we do now, in this life, will determine our future destiny. When Paul wrote his second epistle to the Christians in Corinth he said: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10) Revelation also affirms this truth: "And they were judged, each one according to his works." (20:13)
The certainty of death, judgment and the standard by which all men will be judged are all clearly detailed in God's word.(2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:13; Jn 12:48ff)
6. The reward of the righteous.
Finally, we note this simple truth: the book of Revelation unmistakably teaches that the righteous will be rewarded. Though this, and the concomitant fact that the unrighteous will be punished, is part and parcel of the certainty of the judgment that we just studied, it is of special interest for two reasons:
(1) Revelation, if nothing else, is a book of hope. The reward of the righteous is repeated so many times in the book that it cannot be ignored. Why all of the references to the reward of the righteous? What better way to prompt souls to faithfulness than to let them know that their efforts will ultimately be rewarded. Surely, the design God had in mind by repeating this so frequently is to provide hope for those who were seeking to serve Christ, but who were presently facing what seemed to be insurmountable persecution in the process.
(2) We need to understand the basis of that hope as it applies to us today. There are so many "depressing" facts, doctrines and practices that overwhelm our current society. Nihilism, an extreme form of skeptical philosophy, doubts or denies the existence of anything and everything. It maintains that values are meaningless, that knowledge is non-existent and that communication is impossible. Relativism fares no better - it asserts complete subjectivism in ethics and morals. Deconstructionism, positivism, existentialism, and every other "ism" you can think of - they've all sown the seeds of doubt, discord and depression. There is no place for real hope anymore ... this existence is all there is, and it is pretty bleak.
Paul's thoughts about the certainty of the resurrection are appropriate here: "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable." (1 Cor 15:19) Christ came to give us life, not just in the hereafter, but also in the "here." He stated: "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (Jn 10:10) To have the life that Christ wants us to have, we must have a realistic hope, a hope built upon the surety of the promises of faith we derive from the word of God.
Consider these promises of hope found in the book of Revelation:
(1) To the church at Ephesus: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." (Rev 2:7) The promise of eating from the tree of life is a promise of eternal life (cf Gen 3:22, 24; Rev 22:2). There is hope in that promise!
(2) To the church in Smyrna: "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." (Rev 2:10-11) The promise of a crown of life is a promise of eternal life. To those who overcome, there is no second death ... only life without end in the presence of God. There is hope in that promise!
(3) To the church in Pergamos: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." The promise of manna is a promise of God's providence and sustenance - Christ was the true "bread of heaven" (John 6:31ff); all we need is Christ. The promise of the "white stone" was a promise of acceptance and identity with God and Christ. Scripture tells us "The Lord knows those who are His." (2 Tim 2:19) One of the themes throughout the word of God, and especially in Revelation is that God knows what is going on in the lives of his people.
In Exodus, God saw the trials and tribulation of Israel and remembered the promise he made with Abraham (Ex 2:24-25). A deliverer was even then being prepared.
In Habukkuk, God knew the evils of Israel and knew why Assyria was coming upon them (Hab 1:1ff). Habakkuk did not know, but God did. The Lord always knows what is going on in the life of his people.
In each of the seven churches, Christ reveals that he knows the intimate details of the church's strengths and weaknesses. He knows when they are succeeding in their struggles to be His people, and He knows when they are weak and giving in to Satan and the world.
The promise of the "white stone" with a new name is a promise that God sees and knows and has marked his people (Note: the marking of the forehead by Satan and by God in Revelation teaches the same message).
God knows if we are being faithful! And if we are faithful, and if God knows it, then there is hope and impetus for us to remain faithful. There is hope in that promise!
(4) To the church in Thyatira: "But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-- 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' -- as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev 2:25-29)
Rather than being vanquished by the nations, the church at Thyatira is told that she will be given power over them. She is promised the "morning star," a reign and rule far beyond that of any earthly nation, one that would only be obtained in heaven itself. Revelation 22:16 uses "Morning Star" as a designation of the Christ. The significance of Christians being promised the morning star and of Christ being identified as Morning Star is stirring.
John tells us: "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." (1 Jn 3:1-3) Of special interest is this thought: "we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."
To be given the "morning star" is a promise to be with Christ, to see Him as He is, and to be like Christ in such a way that cannot be fully perceived in this life. This is a promise of hope!
(5) To the church in Sardis: "You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev 3:4-6)
What marvelous promises - a promise to walk with Christ, a promise to be clothed in white [because our garments are washed in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 6:1; 7:9, 14)], a promise to have our names remain in the Book of Life (cf. 20:15; 21:27; 22:19), and a promise to have Christ confess us before His father (Mt 10:32-33) - all of these precious promises should instill hope in the hearts and minds of those seeking to serve the Lord. There is hope in abundance here!
(6) To the church in Philadelphia: "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev 3:10-13)
Again, look at the numerous promises given to these Christians: a promise that God will keep them, a promise that they would not lose their crown of life, a promise that they would be a permanent part of God's spiritual temple (an eternal home with God), a promise that they would be permanently identified with the very name of God upon them, and the promise of a new name - given exclusively to the righteous - yet more and more precious promises (2 Pet 1:4). There is hope beyond measure to these Christians because they "kept My command to persevere." (3:10)
(7) And finally, to the church in Laodicea: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev 3:19-22)
Because of His love for these Christians, Christ would rebuke and chasten them (Heb 12:15ff). The chastening from above is a blessing, because it is intended to prompt us to correct our mistakes, repent of our sins, and seek God's forgiveness (cf 1 Jn 1:7-9). God promised to come to them, enter their home, and dine with them. This promise of intimacy is designed to show the personal love, care and concern that Christ has for every Christian (see Lk 22:31-32). And then, Christ promises a place with Him sitting at His Father's throne. Is there any greater promise? Is there any greater hope?
These continually repeated messages of hope were intended to prompt first century Christians to be faithful regardless of the obstacles they faced and without regard to the costs they would have to pay. They are no less powerful as messages of hope for Christians today. Are they real in your life? The ultimate victory of those who are faithful, even willing to die for their faith is the reward of the righteous.
The Army of Christ
As we noted at the beginning of our study, there are many messages in the book of Revelation that are quite easily understood.
Within the framework of one of the major topics depicted in the book, namely the ongoing battle between the Christ and His enemies, there is a lesson that has great application for our present study from two closely related perspectives: (1) from the viewpoint of those who are outside the body of Christ it presents a brief overview of the principles and practices that must be implemented to become a faithful child of God; and (2) from the viewpoint of those who are in the body of Christ, and who have all but completely given up on their duty to be faithful to Christ - if not already given up their duty - it presents a valuable reminder of what they once pledged to do, and what they must recommit to doing in order to be part of Christ's victorious army.
The thought we will examine is found within the description of the battle that Christ is engaged in, more specifically, one portrayal of that battle, and even more specifically, the nature of the army that is described as being present with Him. Let us investigate a little more closely the verse that provides the basis for our present study:
"These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." (Revelation 17:14).
To understand the nature of the army that is with Christ more clearly, we will: (1) present a general overview of the book of Revelation from the first through the seventeenth chapters; (2) identify and explain the significance of the Lamb of Revelation 17:14; (3) analyze in brief fashion the specific setting of chapter 17; and (4) address in close detail the description given of the army that was with Christ in this context.
General Overview of Revelation
As we have already noted, there are many clear lessons advanced in the book of Revelation. Though we do not have time to explore all of them in great detail, it will prove beneficial to have at least a preliminary grasp of the developing story line of the book. What follows, then, is a brief overview and summary to chapter seventeen:
After the introductory chapter, in which John is given a commission to record the book (1:1-3) and witnesses a vision of the Christ himself (1:9-20), he records letters to the seven churches of Asia (1:4-8; chapters 2-3).
In each of the letters that John records for Christ he notes, where applicable, both positive and negative aspects of the local church. The Lord shows an awareness of the specific circumstances each church was facing, even referring to some individual Christians by name (2:13). Each letter concludes with an admonition to hear the message of the Spirit of God and to overcome the trials that were facing them (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 29; 3:5-6, 12-13).
Revelation's fourth and fifth chapters are reminiscent of Isaiah's depiction of God in Isaiah 6. The majesty and might of God is displayed as He sits upon His throne in heaven. All of creation is presented as worshiping the Creator (4:1-11).
The focal point shifts in the fifth chapter to a scroll the Lord had in His right hand (5:1). The significance of the scroll is seen in that it is sealed with seven seals and no one appears "worthy" enough to be able to "open" it and "reveal" its contents (5:4) - no one, that is, until the appearance of the Lamb (5:6). The Lamb - presently living, but appearing as if it had been slain (5:6) - is worshipped by all those who were earlier worshipping Him who sat upon the throne (5:8-14). It is clear that the worship of God and the worship of the "Lamb" are not directed to the same being. The Lamb is someone different.
The Identity of the Lamb
The identity of the Lamb, of course, is obvious; it is the Christ. Only Deity is to be worshipped (Acts 10:25; Rev 19:10), and in the setting of chapters four and five, God the Father has already been identified as the object of worship (4:2, 5, 8, 11). The usage of the term "Lamb" also demands the judgment that it is the Christ.
In 27 verses in the book of Revelation, the term "lamb" appears 29 times [5:6, 8, 12, 13; 6:1, 16; 7:9, 10, 14, 17; 12:11; 13:8, 11; 14:1, 4 (2 times), 10; 15:3; 17:14 (2 times); 19:7, 9; 21:9, 14, 22, 23, 27; 22:1, 3]. With the exception of 13:11, where the term applies to a deceiver (cf vss 12-15), all occurrences refer to the Christ. Christ is thus presented as the "Lamb" 28 times in the book.
He is the Lamb because:
(1) as lambs were customarily offered under the old testament system of sacrifices (Ex 29:38-41; Lev 3:7; 4:32; 5:6; 22:23; 23:12; Num 6:12; 7:15,21; 28:3-8), so Christ was offered as a lamb (see references under #'s 2 and 3 below);
(2) He served as a sacrificial lamb and so fulfilled the typical Paschal lamb offered in the Passover - "For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." (1 Cor 5:7). The Passover Lamb and the memorial feast associated with it bear many parallels to the death of Christ and the memorial He instituted to observe it (i.e., the Lord's supper or communion): (a) the Passover lamb was to be without blemish (Ex 12:5; Heb 4:15); (b) no bones of the lamb were to be broken (Ex 12:46; cf. Ps 34:20; Jn 19:36); (c) the Lord passed over Israel and did not punish them because of the blood of the Passover lamb (Ex 12:13; 1 Cor 5:7); and (d) the children of Israel were instructed to observe the memorial of the Passover and to teach their children its significance (Ex 12:14ff; Mt 26:26ff). In each of these aspects of the Passover there is a parallel to the sacrifice of Christ and the memorial he instituted.
(3) He fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering servant in his trials, crucifixion and death - "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth." (Isaiah 53:7; cf. Mt 26:63; 27:12-14; Mk 14:61; 15:5; Lk 23:9; Jn 19:9; 1 Pet 2:23; Acts 8:32,33);
and (4) Jesus is identified by John the baptizer as the Lamb of God - "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!' " (John 1:29)
General Overview of Revelation (continued)
Starting with the sixth chapter, we witness three successive series of sevens: (1) the seven seals of the scroll in the hand of God are opened (6:1-8:6); (2) seven trumpets are sounded by seven angels (8:7-11:19); and (3) seven bowls of the wrath of God are emptied on the earth (16:1-21).
Each successive series provides more insight into God's will and revelation, warnings of impending judgment, and finally, with the last series of seven - the actual judgment of God upon His enemies.
This last series of seven, the outpouring of the wrath of God, is introduced in the fifteenth chapter, and actually begins to take place in the sixteenth chapter. Chapters seventeen and eighteen portray "the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters" (17:1ff) and the fall of Babylon the great (18:2ff) - two different allusions to the same judgment.
Without taking the time to specifically identify these characters (e.g. the woman, the beast, the seven and ten kings, et. al.) of the seventeenth chapter (see 17:15ff), there are a few key truths that help us understand the gist of the chapter:
1. the enemies of Christ were all of "one mind" - that is they were united in their opposition to Christ and to all that was right
2. they made war with Christ (17:14), identified in this, and other passages, as "the Lamb" (cf. Rev 5:6ff and comments above)
3. they were not victorious, as Christ is described as "overcoming" them
4. God's ultimate will (and his word) was fulfilled (vs 17)
In the midst of such graphic portrayals of a great war, it is important to remind ourselves of the basic themes we reviewed earlier. Revelation is about good versus evil, right versus wrong, the Devil versus the Christ. The seventeenth chapter of Revelation depicts a great war. The battle is pitched, Satan and all his companions - the kings and beasts and the harlot of Babylon - gather together to war against the Lamb of God. And, ultimately, the Lamb is victorious.
The Lamb is not alone.
But as we read the details of the battle, we observe something unique and of great interest for us. The Lamb is not alone; there are those "who are with him."
Those "with him" are not given names, but they are designated in such a way as to plainly indicate that they are the Lord's. They are said to be "called, chosen and faithful." The remainder of our study will focus on understanding the meaning of this description.
Christians are depicted in Revelation in many ways. Among others, they are identified as (1) the church (2:1; et. al.); (2) saints (5:8: 8:3, 4; 19:8; et. al); (3) an army (17:14; 19:19); (4) a bride (21:2, 9; 22:17); (5) the wife of Christ (19:7; 21:9); (6) those who suffered for the cause of Christ (1:9; 6:9; et. al.); and (7) Jerusalem, the heavenly city (3:12; 21:2, 10).
There are also numerous terms and phrases that identify the character of these saints. They are clothed in "fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." (19:8) They are said to "walk with Me (i.e., Christ) in white, for they are worthy." (Rev 3:4) Their ultimate reward for such holiness is indicated in that their names are written in the Lamb's book of life (13:8; cf. 3:5; 17:8).
The three word description of Christ's army in Revelation 17:14, those who were "with him," seems rather anticlimactic. They are not described as bold, gallant and fearless. They are not described in terms of military brilliance or due to their own excellence in any way. The terms describing those with Christ portray their character and commitment more than anything else does. They are "called, chosen, and faithful."
The description of Christ's army in chapter 19 sounds more noble. Christ is powerfully portrayed as sitting astride a white horse. He is called "Faithful and True" (19:11), the "Word of God" (19:13), and "He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (19:16). The armies with Christ are said to be "the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses." (19:14, cf. vs 19)
Surely, sitting on a white horse and following the Christ who also sits on a white horse ... surely this is a description of all that is involved in being part of the army of Christ. But in reality it is not.
The stirring image of Christians joining Christ on white horses in a final climactic battle and victory celebration over the enemies of the Christ is the result of having lived faithful to Christ. It does not accurately depict what is involved in getting to that point. In the nineteenth chapter the army has won the battle; in the seventeenth chapter the battle is yet to be won.
The three words "called, chosen and faithful," however, more accurately depict what is required in getting to be with Christ in a victory celebration. They include all that is necessary (1) to become a child of God and (2) to remain faithful as a Child of God. More than the glorious visions of Christians astride white horses in a celebration of victory, these terms tell us how to get there ... not just what it will be like to be there.
What do these words mean? What do they say about the nature of Christ's army? What do they say about what God and Christ want of us? Our present concern is to address the three fundamental concepts found in this brief description of Christ's army.See also:
TheBible.net: Called, Chosen and Faithful (Part 1)
TheBible.net: Called, Chosen and Faithful (Part 2)
TheBible.net: Called, Chosen and Faithful (Part 3)
TheBible.net: Called, Chosen and Faithful (Part 4)