And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. (Revelation 19:14)

So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. (Ezekiel 37:10)

And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his cloak and buy one. (Luke 22:36)

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. (Matthew 26:52)

In this chapter, God tells us that we were once like dry bones without life. Dry bones do not have the ability to think or make decisions. Dry bones testify that they cannot learn or know about God by themselves. But God talked to the breath to come from the four winds and enter them to make them live. And they are made to live for a purpose, a great army.

Many Christians do not read the Bible or understand God’s words. They think they have the Holy Spirit and yet, do not like reading the Bible. They do not like the Bible because they do not understand what they read. Their interpretations are strictly morality-based. They are satisfied with church activities. They shed tears when their preachers say that they can achieve something with their efforts at the pulpit. They believe in men, not God. Christianity has become the same as the other religions. They worship men-made idols in their hearts. God always judges by what is in one’s heart.

In this passage, the life that the dry bones receive is physical life. But it also demonstrates that the spiritually dead people come to life as the Spirit enters them. We often separate the OT from the NT, the ceremonial baptism from the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the conditional covenant from the unconditional covenant, and the visible church from the invisible church. As the knowledge develops, we find that two things do not contradict to each other. We come to understand that there is, in fact, one covenant, one Bible, one faith, one baptism, etc.

I’ve heard of the term, ‘the militant church’. This word does not mean that we must take up weapons and kill unbelievers like the crusaders did in the past. God has given much power and authority to visible churches. But anyone who misuses the power will be condemned at the end. The militant church is strictly spiritual until the coming of Christ. I do not know what will exactly happen when Christ comes. But we will see the complete destruction of the devil and his followers at the end as shown in the Book of Revelation. The letters to the seven churches also testify that churches do spiritual fights against all the temptations from the devil. And it is the Holy Spirit who makes us understand God’s words, persevere under trial, and be one with the Father and the Son. The reprobate people will never learn the works of the Spirit, and eventually blaspheme the Spirit. Therefore, all reprobate people commit the unforgivable sin.

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)

I believe that God had built the two church systems and gave them the understanding of the Trinity, divine election, etc. for the sake of the elect people. They are the Roman Catholic and the Protestant church. However, many have abandoned the sound doctrines. Regardless of the evil shepherds within the two systems, God saves His elect people and makes them endure till the end. God will not save those in other religions who deny the sound doctrines and the authority of the Bible. Just because someone acknowledge that there is one God who created all things, he/she does not become a child of God. The Spirit makes us believe in God which the Bible testifies. Anyone who does not love God’s words (Christ) is not a reborn Christian. A reborn Christian cannot love idols. Although some with physical or mental disabilities may have the difficulty in understanding God, God judges justly and fairly, according to what is in their heart.

Saints must understand that true faith is not affected by circumstances. The earth is our training ground. The relationships on the earth are important for training. When the end comes, those relationships do not mean anything. At the end, you are not going to meet your dead parents or children as they were on the earth.  A new life starts when the end comes. A false religion keeps you strictly within the earthly life. All it focuses on is how to live a good life on the earth without pain or sufferings. For example, the Roman Catholic who turned away from truths, says that the dead can go to heaven if the living pays to the church. The Roman Catholic church (and some Protestant churches) sold indulgences in the past and also now to satisfy people on the earth. Their theories may sound convincing and comforting for those who live on the earth, but the Bible does not say what they say. If I had a child and the child died young before knowing God, I would be comforted by the words of God that He is just and faithful. My child may not have gone to heaven after death despite my prayers. In the end, all the knowledge becomes clear, and I come to know that the life on the earth has been only a training for the everlasting kingdom of God. My relationship with my child or anyone on the earth will become meaningless. And it will become meaningless because I will have a new family and see them face to face and live together forever. However, the life of the earth is meaningful because it is the shadow of the real one. If we cannot love anyone on the earth, then we are not a child of God because it is impossible not to love if the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Love is the foundation of the kingdom of God. However, love that comes from God is not what the world thinks.

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. (Isaiah 65:17)

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:26)

The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and the one who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (Matthew 10:37)