In this vision, I was standing on a high mountain overlooking a great plain. Before me, an army was marching on a wide front. There were twelve divisions in the vanguard that stood out sharply from the great multitude of soldiers who followed behind them. These divisions were further divided into what I assumed to be regiments, battalions, companies, and squads. The divisions were distinguished by their banners, and the regiments were distinguished by their different-colored uniforms. Then I was close enough to see their faces—male and female, old and young, from every race. There was fierce resolution on their faces, yet they did not seem tense. War was in the air, but in the ranks I could sense a profound peace. I knew that not a single soldier feared the approaching battle. The spiritual atmosphere I felt when close to them was as awesome as their appearance. I looked at their uniforms. The colors were brilliant. Every soldier also wore rank insignias and medals. The generals and other officers marched in the ranks with the soldiers. Although it was obvious that those with higher rank were in charge, no one seemed overly sensitive to his rank. From the highest officer to the lowest, they all seemed to be close friends. It was an army of unprecedented discipline, yet it also seemed to be just one big family. As I studied them, they seemed selfless—not because they lacked identity, but because they were all so sure of who they were and what they were doing. They were not consumed with themselves or seeking recognition. I could not detect ambition or pride anywhere in the ranks. It was stunning to see so many who were so unique; yet, they were in such harmony and marched in perfect step. I was sure that an army like this had never existed on earth.
Then I was behind the front divisions, looking at a much larger group that was composed of hundreds of divisions. Each of these was a different size, with the smallest numbering about two thousand and the largest in the hundreds of thousands. Although this group was not as sharp and colorful as the first one, it was an awesome army simply because of its size. This group had banners, but they were not nearly as large and impressive as those of the first group. They all had uniforms and ranks, but I was surprised that many of these did not even have on a full set of armor, and many did not have weapons. The armor and weapons that they did have were not nearly as polished and bright as those of the first group.
As I looked more closely at these ranks, I could see that they were all determined and had purpose, but they lacked the focus of the first group. These soldiers seemed much more aware of their own rank and the rank of those around them, I felt that this was a distraction, hindering their focus, I could also sense ambition and jealousy in the ranks, which unquestionably was a further distraction. Even so, I felt that this second division still had a higher level of devotion and purpose than any army on earth did. This, too, was a very powerful force.
Behind this second army was a third one that marched so far behind the first two armies, I was not sure they could even see the other two groups ahead of them. This group was many times larger than the first and second armies combined, seemingly composed of millions and millions. As I watched from a distance, this army would move in different directions like a great flock of birds, sweeping first one way and then another, never moving in a straight direction for long. Because of this erratic movement, it drifted farther and farther from the first two groups. As I came closer, I saw that these soldiers had on tattered, dull gray uniforms that were neither pressed nor clean. Almost everyone was bloody and wounded. A few were attempting to march, but most just walked in the general direction in which the others were headed. Fights broke out constantly in the ranks, causing many of the wounds. Some of the soldiers were trying to stay close to the frayed banners scattered throughout their ranks. Even so, not even those near the banners had a clear identity because they were constantly drifting from one banner to another.
In this third army, I was surprised that there were only two ranks— generals and privates. Only a few had on a piece of armor, and I did not see any weapons except dummy weapons carried by the generals. The generals flaunted these weapons as if having them made the officers special, but even those in the ranks could tell that the weapons were not real. This was sad, because it was obvious that those in the ranks desperately wanted to find someone who was real to follow. There did not seem to be any ambition except among the generals. This was not because of selflessness as in the first army, but because there was so little caring. I thought that at least the ambition present in the second group would be much better than the confusion that prevailed in this group. The generals here seemed to be more intent on talking about themselves and fighting one another, which the little groups around the banners were constantly doing. I could then see that the battles within the ranks caused the great sweeping, erratic changes of directions this group made from time to time. As I looked at the millions in the last group, I felt that even with their great numbers, they did not actually add strength to the army but instead weakened it. In a real battle, they would be much more of a liability than an asset. Just sustaining them with food and protection would cost more in resources than any value they could add to the army's fighting ability. A private in the first or second group would be worth more than many generals from the third. I could not understand why the first groups even allowed this group to tag along behind them. They obviously were not true soldiers.
Later, I was standing in the Hall of Judgment before the judgment seat. The Lord appeared as Wisdom, but I had never seen Him more fierce nor His words come with more weight. "You have already seen this army in your heart many times. The leaders I am commissioning now will lead this army. I am sending you to many of these leaders. What will you say to them?"
"Lord, this is a great army, but I am still grieved about the condition of the third group. I do not understand why they are even allowed to pretend to be a part of Your army. I would like to say that before they go any farther, the first and second armies should turn and drive away this third group. They are really little more than a huge mob."
"What you saw today is still in the future. The ministries I am about to release will gather this army and equip them to be all that you saw. At this time, almost My entire army is in the condition of the third group. How can I let them be driven away?"
This stunned me, although I knew I had never seen any of the Lord's people who were in as good shape as even the second group of this army.
"Lord, I know I felt Your anger at this group. If almost Your entire army is now in that condition, I am just thankful that You have not destroyed all of us. When I was looking at this third group, I felt that their deplorable condition was due to a lack of training, equipping, and vision, as well as a failure to embrace the cross that circumcises the heart."
Sometime later, I was no longer before the judgment seat, but on the mountain overlooking the army again. Wisdom was standing beside me. He was resolute, but I no longer felt the pain and anger that I had felt before.
"I have allowed you to see a little into the future," Wisdom began.
"I am sending you to those who are called to prepare My army and lead it. These are the ones who have been fighting the battle on the mountain. These are the ones who have met the army of the accuser and remained faithful. These are the ones who have watched over My people and protected them at the risk of their own lives. They are called to be leaders in My army who will fight in the great battle at the end and will stand without fear against all the powers of darkness. "As you can see, this army is marching, but there will be times when it camps. The camping is as important as the marching. It is the time for planning, training, and sharpening skills and weapons. It is also time for those in the first group to walk among the second, and for the leaders of the second group to walk among the third group, finding those who can be called to the next level. Do this while you can, for the time is near when Revelation 11:1-2 will be fulfilled, and those who want to be called by My name but do not walk in My ways will be trodden underfoot. Before the last great battle, My army will be holy, even as I am holy, I will remove those who are not circumcised of heart and the leaders who do not uphold My righteousness. When the last battle is fought, there will be no third group as you see here."
"Until now when My army has camped, most of the time has been wasted. Just as I only lead My people forward with a clear objective, so it is that when I call My army to camp, there is a purpose. The strength of the army that marches will be determined by the quality of its camp. When it is time to stop and camp for a season, it is to teach My people My ways. An army is an army whether it is in battle or at peace. You must learn how to camp, how to march, and how to fight. You will not do any one of these well unless you do them all well.
"You will come to a time in the future when you see My army exactly as it is now. At that time, you will feel My burning anger. Know that I will no longer abide those who remain in the condition of the third group. Then I will stop the march of the entire army until those in this group have been disciplined either to become soldiers or be dispersed. I will discipline those in the second group to cast off their evil ambitions and live for Me and My truth. Then My army will march forth, not to destroy but to give life. I will be in the midst of them to tread My enemies under this army's feet. I am coming to be the Captain of the Host!"
