Warriors for the Crisis Age*

     The Book of Hebrews, which I believe was written by Paul, gives us examples of the heroes of faith from scripture (see Heb. 11). Paul called them a great cloud of witnesses which surround us and gave a warning: "...we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses (the heroes of faith), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (Heb. 11:39, 12:1-4). Our generation also has seen great heroes of faith who make up the cloud of witnesses around us: Billy Graham, Katherine Kuhlman, Reinhard Bonnke, R.W. Schambach, and many more. Now is not the time to grow weary or discouraged, but it is the time to be enduring spiritual warriors of faith like these witnesses. These heroes of faith showed forth God's miracles in their ministries. So many today don't believe in miracles, but it must be our testimony and witness that they are real. 

     Jesus told the parable about the ten virgins, all of whom fell asleep waiting for the Bridegroom's return. Five were wise because they had prepared themselves and their lamps with oil to join the returning Bridegroom, referring to Christ, at any moment. Five of the virgins were foolish because they had not prepared their lamps with oil. When the cry went out at midnight that the Bridegroom was coming, the five wise virgins lit their lamps and joined Him for the wedding supper. The five foolish virgins without oil for their lamps had to go purchase oil. By the time they returned, the Bridegroom had already come and gone, and the five wise virgins had gone in with Him to the marriage: "and the door was shut (see also Gen. 7:15-17). Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know not neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (See Mt. 25:5-13).

  

     The church has been asleep. These verses say that we do not know the day or the hour of that return, but we do know the signs that were prophesied to us by Jesus and the prophets. Christ is set to return, and the judgment of God is coming to the earth. Are you ready? After warning the believers in Christ not to partake of the unfruitful works of darkness, Paul quoted scripture: "Wherefore, he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light," (Eph. 5:14), reminding us again of the parable of Christ's above of the sleeping virgins.

     Paul then told us of the warrior calling of the believers writing: "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers. against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day ("the crisis" as written in the Amplified Bible), and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girded with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (Eph. 6:10-18). Our armor is made up of the qualities of God and His Son, Jesus. The truth of His Word, His righteousness given to us through grace rather than our own righteousness, being always prepared to witness the saving Gospel to others, faith that protects from the enemy who shoots arrows at believers, the helmet of the knowledge of our salvation which protects our minds and casts down imaginations of fear and doubt. Not only did Paul instruct the believers that they were to be clothed in their warrior's armor as they prayed always for the saints, but asking for their prayers for himself that the Lord would open doors of opportunity for him to preach the Gospel.

     Both the prophet Malachi and the Gospel of Luke ask if we are prepared to face the Son of God when He comes. Malachi wrote of the cleansing and purification by God's coming Messenger, as gold and silver are purified, that God's priesthood could offer offerings of righteousness: "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' sope...And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts." (Mal. 3:1-5, excerpt).

    Jesus asked the same questions in Luke 21, and issued warnings for the day of His return: "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Lk. 21:34-36). The snare will come to the whole earth. The crisis is here in America now and in the nations across the world where our brothers and sisters in Christ are dying because of their faith. (See also Rev. 6:9-11). Don't get bogged down in the cares of life in this crisis age but be prayerful and watchful for the return of the Son of man.

     In His message to the Church of Philadelphia (located in what is now known as Turkey), Jesus revealed His promise to this church that kept His Word faithfully: "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go not more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Rev. 3:7-13, excerpt).

     Jesus promises this church that keeps His Word to keep them from the hour that comes to test all of those on earth, as Jesus previously said in Luke, above. The Spirit is speaking to the churches. Will the churches hear Him and follow what He says?

      As the Son of man returns, those who had ignored His Word and the promise of His appearing will flee in terror from the judgment that will accompany the Son of man: "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb (Jesus): For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Rev. 6:15-17).

     "Who shall be able to stand?" The question is asked again. We need to be refined like gold and silver and clothed in the armor of God. We are in the crisis age - the last days. The hour that will be a trial and temptation to all in the world is coming and is here. Be prepared, intercede in prayer, watch, worship, and carry out the Great Commission given by Christ - to spread the Gospel to all nations.

     There is a free tool available to spread the news of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. You can receive, and pass to others, a free e-book translated into several languages. Please see the details below.

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 7/13/25 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling is available on Amazon.