Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.
At a time when nearly nine in 10 pastors say they see signs of the end times in current events, the church in America has been asleep for decades and is only now awakening to the array of dangers its facing – loss of religious freedoms, censorship on social media, “cancel culture,” and now the elite’s “Great Reset” plan.
For years, pastors have lamented that their congregations are lethargic and not really motivated by the gospel. Some are on fire, but not many. Why?
The Apostle Paul stated it clearly in 2 Timothy 3:1-5:
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Our society has crowded out the gospel with other more enticing pleasures. Before the coronavirus pandemic struck, people flocked to sporting events, movie theaters, malls, restaurants, and a host of other distractions.
Meanwhile, the church tried to offer similar kinds of things with high powered music, darkened facilities with light shows, hip pastors with feel good messages, and programs for every palate and taste.
Feel-Good Theology is Rampant
Let’s take a hard look at the problem. First, there is the feel-good theology that is rampant throughout most churches in America.
It is that doctrine that says this religious stuff is all about me, a pop psychology that does not address the real underlying spiritual conditions or issues that plague us.
Secondly, there is a trend away from formal church attendance, especially among young people. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, only 28 percent of those ages 18-29 attend church at least once a week, compared to higher percentages among older generations.
We believe the reason why youth find little attraction to the church is because the church often isn’t relevant to them. The reason is this: feel-good theology is not attractive to those who need deeper meaning.
As a result, the church, much of which has been shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic, is in trouble, with Lifeway Research predicting many churches will permanently close soon due to a loss of revenues and participation.
At the same time, there are growing concerns about President Joe Biden’s order directing officials to access the threat of “domestic violent extremism” following the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
During a Fox News Primetime interview, Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic representative from Hawaii, questioned whether the proposed measure could be used to create “a very dangerous undermining of our civil liberties, our freedoms in our Constitution, and a targeting of almost half of the country.”
“What are we talking about? Religious extremists, are we talking about Christians, evangelical Christians? What is a religious extremist? Is it somebody who is pro-life? Where do you take this?” she asked.
Dallas megachurch pastor Robert Jeffress warned his congregation during a sermon that there could be “increasing persecution” during the Biden administration.
End-Times ‘Birth Pains’
Ironically, this confluence of troubling events comes at a time when the world needs hope more than ever. A Lifeway poll found nearly nine in 10 pastors see at least some current events matching those Jesus said would occur shortly before he returns to Earth.
These signs include the rise of false teachings, love of many believers growing cold, traditional morals becoming less accepted, wars and national conflicts, earthquakes and other disasters, an increasing number of people abandoning their Christian faith, as well as plagues.
In Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples asked him about signs of his coming, and he replied by talking of “birth pains” that would precede his return. Several passages in the Bible – Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21 – describe these signs, including plagues.
As detailed in our new bestselling book – The Military Guide to Armageddon: Battle-Tested Strategies to Prepare Your Life and Soul for the End Times – we believe the pandemic is just the first in a series of “birth pains” that will ultimately lead to the Battle of Armageddon and return of Christ.
As these “birth pains” intensify, we should prepare for events of greater magnitude than the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wake-Up Call for the Church
How much worse can it get? Only time will tell, but we need to be ready. A wake-up call is desperately needed because the signs we’re tracking indicate that things on this planet are about to drastically change.
We believe we’re about to face the most difficult days in the history of mankind and if we’re not prepared, we could be swept away with all the propaganda and all the politics of the world that Satan is using against us.
Unless we’re prepared, unless we’re awakened from our sleep, unless we’re ready to encounter God, then we’re not going to be able to fully engage in the work and spiritual warfare that God has for us.
The church in America, in its current state, is not ready or prepared for the end times or the return of Christ. We have been paralyzed with fear of what man may do to us. If we’re not prepared, we’re going to falter, or even worse, reject our faith and succumb to the world system and the worship of the Antichrist.
Whether you know it or not, we’re at war right now. The forces of light and darkness are lined up in battle array. You’re either on one side or the other; there is no neutral ground.
In The Military Guide to Armageddon, we translate six decades of combined military, biblical and journalistic training, and experiences into an easy-to-understand guide to the last days, revealing the keys to not only walking in the power, protection, and provision of the Holy Spirit, but how to become an end-times warrior of God.
What the church needs more than anything today is an army of supernatural, Bible believing, hard hitting, powerful people of God who are willing to turn a generation upside down for Jesus Christ and do mighty exploits as templated in the Bible.
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Troy Anderson is a Pulitzer Prize–nominated investigative journalist, vice president of Battle Ready Ministries, and the bestselling coauthor of The Babylon Code, Trumpocalypse and The Military Guide to Armageddon. He writes for Reuters, Newsmax, Townhall, and other media outlets. Find out more at www.troyanderson.us and www.battle-ready.org.
- Woke to awake: Getting battle ready in the seeker-sensitive age - August 24, 2022
- Is the ‘Great Reset’ setting the stage for the Antichrist? - February 20, 2021
- Awakening Christ’s followers amid growing persecution, ‘Cancel Culture’ and the ‘Great Reset’ - February 11, 2021
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