No believer, even though called and chosen, will appear with Christ if he or she is lacking in integrity, in faithfulness. We have promised to follow Christ, to be married to Him, to be His slave. Now we never, never, never change. No matter what happens to us, no matter how we are inconvenienced or suffer, we stay true to Christ.

The Apostles stayed true to Christ, except for Judas. Judas was called and chosen but he did not remain faithful.

Most Evangelical Christians in America are hoping for an unscriptural "rapture" to take them to Heaven. It is not going to happen. They have been called but they have not demonstrated enough diligence in the things of Christ to be chosen. Neither are they faithful. They are not dressed for the marriage of the Lamb. They do not have the radiantly white clothes that reflect the righteous behavior that always is formed in those who are faithful to Christ.

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) (Revelation 19:7,8—NIV)

What we are saying is, if you are not a diligent Christian remaining faithful to Christ in every circumstance, you will not be raised from the dead and caught up to meet the Lord when He appears. Being saved by grace does not mean you do not have to exercise diligence in order to be chosen. Being saved by grace does not mean you do not have to be proven faithful, although this is what is preached today.

Does this mean if I ever am deceived and stumble I have lost my chance of being in the army of the Lord?

No, when we stumble we get back on our feet, receive our forgiveness, and press on in the Lord. We return to the fight stronger and wiser.

Rather I am referring to the average Evangelical churchgoer in America. He or she is not diligent in the things of God, living primarily in the ways of the American culture although making a profession of belief in Christ.

He or she is not faithful to Christ and will remove himself or herself from painful circumstances even though to do so is to break God's laws.

Such have no chance whatever of being raised when the trumpet sounds. We are sounding the alarm. Multitudes of American Evangelical Christians are not prepared to meet the Lord when He returns. They will not follow Him on the white war stallions. They would cause the Lord's army to be defeated when it faces the enemy, just as they themselves are defeated today whenever they face the enemy.

Those who ride with Christ in that day will be called, chosen, and faithful. This is the great and strong people described in the second chapter of the Book of Joel. This is the Gideon's army that will destroy the enemy in the Day of the Lord. They will sit on thrones and serve the Lord as the royal priesthood during the thousand-year Kingdom Age. The believers who are not chosen and faithful will not be among them. If they were the Scripture would be broken, and this can never be.

To be continued.