Are ‘WE’ among the ‘CALLED’, ‘CHOSEN’ and ‘FAITHFUL’?

December 30 Bible Reading: Revelation Chapters 16-18

Are ‘WE’ among the ‘CALLED’, ‘CHOSEN’ and ‘FAITHFUL’?

“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 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." (Rev 17:12-14)

The above passage speaks about an evil empire that fights against the Lord Jesus when He returns to earth at the end of the Tribulation with His followers. This empire consists of ten government leaders who unanimously surrender their military power, political authority and national sovereignty to the beast. The purpose of Satan through the beast and this ten-nation confederation is to establish an invincible kingdom that Christ cannot overcome when He returns.

However, this war will result in victory for the Lamb (Jesus Christ) and His redeemed children (not angels), and two reasons can be ascribed for this victory:

1. The character of the Lamb: Christ is “King of kings and Lord of lords". He has supreme dominion and power over all things both by His nature and by His office. All the powers of earth and hell will bow to His authority.
2. The character of Christ’s followers: These redeemed people are “called, chosen, and faithful". They are called out by commission to this warfare; they are chosen and fitted for it, and they will be faithful in their allegiance to Christ.

The question for us today is: are we among the “called, chosen, and faithful" that will be in the Lord’s army? Let us examine these terms in detail:

• We have been “called”: God calls only those He has predestined (Romans 8:30), and "not many mighty, not many noble, are called" (1 Cor 1:26). His calling is irrevocable (Romans 11:29). God has called us "into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor 1:9), "not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us" (2 Tim 1:9).
• We have been “chosen”: "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt 22:14). We did not choose God, but He chose us so that we should go and bear fruit and our fruit should remain (John 15:16). We "are a chosen generation" to "proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).
• We should remain “faithful”: We should be faithful in small things, and we will be then faithful in greater aspects of our lives (Luke 16:10). We should be faithful until our death and God will reward us with "the crown of life" (Rev 2:10).

Let Apostle Paul’s proclamation towards the end of his life become our guiding principle as well: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Tim 4:7-8)