Standing in the Evil Day

There will not be perfection in the Church of Christ or in any Christian upon earth, in this age.

Individually, we are a mixture of saint and sinner in our one person, dead old nature and living new nature in an ongoing spiritual war,¹ bearing fruit unto God even while groaning within ourselves for the redemption of our mortal bodies (Romans 6:22; 7:18-25; 8:13-14,18-23; Ephesians 2:21-24). In this spiritual warfare God is at work in us, by his Holy Spirit, enabling us “to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). For we would not do it of our own selves.

When our mortal bodies are destroyed in physical death (or transformed), our old fallen nature is finally put off. Paul variously calls this spiritually dead, sinful nature our “flesh”, “old man”, “carnal mind”, “body of death”, and simply “sin” within us (Romans 7:11, 13, 20, 24-25; 8:7-8; Ephesians 2:3; 4:22). When sin is finally gone from us, it will then be impossible for us to sin, and we will be with Christ in paradise among his saved peple in the imptemediate state—“the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23; see also Luke 23:43; Revelation 2:7). For those Christians who remain alive when the Lord Jesus Christ returns will not see death, but they will be “caught up” to meet him in the clouds and join his company, whereas those of us who died before will already be in his company, that he brings with him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

But until then, we “stand in the evil day” (Ephesians 6:13)—we stand against the flesh, the world, and the devil² (Matthew 13:19, 22; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:17; 1 John 2:15; Ephesians 2:2; James 4:7).

And while were main in this world, our prayer for all the Lord’s people in the world should be the same as what the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews prayed for his readers: “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

The visible Church,³ too, is a mixed multitude, and it will continue to be so, until the coming of our Lord. The enemy has sown tares among the wheat of God’s Church throughout the world, and these tares will remain a corruption in the church until the harvest at the end of the world (Matthew 13:24-30). There are branches that shall never bear fruit, which God himself will break off and cast into the fire (John 15:1-6).

Anti-Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ warns us that throughout the history of the Christian Church, some who seem to be Christians, at first, wither away, or they have their apparent life “choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (Matthew 8:14). He also warns us that, “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:12-13). Some church-goers will succumb in the “perilous times” of superficial godliness in churches that are, in reality, full of immorality (e.g. see 2 Timothy 3:1-8). And numerous times the apostle warns of professed Christians departing from the faith, falling away, not enduring sound doctrine (see 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3).

There are wolves in sheep’s clothing in many places, spiritually savage beasts who will not spare the flock (Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:29-30). The worst of all the “many antichrists” that have been with us throughout this “last time” (1 John 2:18) is that Antichrist, “that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). The Pope still claims to be the head of all the Church, over all true Christians. He claims the title of the only and ultimate source on earth through which salvation is dispensed, so that there is no salvation outside of the so-called “Catholic Church”. Instead of Christ as “Vicar of Christ”—whom the Bible calls the Anti-Christ, he aims at usurping the throne and position that belongs to the Son of God alone.

This “mystery of iniquity”, that the apostle exposed as already operating in a clandestine fashion in his day, has been working ever since throughout the centuries. Many will fall for this “strong delusion”—but the Lord’s people will be taught the truth: “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:7, 11-14).

The Gates of Hell

So, there will be much opposition from outside and inside the Christian Church, it has been prophesied. Sadly the Church of Christ has suffered these persecutions and heresies and setbacks for near two thousand years—nonetheless, Christ hs still building his church, and all the “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). That is, the schemes of Satan and his devils, concocted within the gates of hell and deployed in this world, will never win against the true Church of Christ, because Christ shall prevail against them all.

The true Church in some places will languish, perhaps for many generations, but it will become revived again and reformed by the gracious work of the Holy Spirit. Some local and denominational churches will become so compromised that all true Christians should “come out of her,” that they be not partakers with her evil deeds—or partakers of her judgment to come (Revelation 18:4ff). For particular local churches, there may come a time when their candlestick must be removed by the Lord (compare Revelation 2:5). And of the members of these churches where Christ is not known, he will say of them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23). Being devoid of all light and salty savour, they will be cast out to be trodden under foot by men (Matthew 5:13).

We must resist worldly enemies within the Church, as well as those outside. We must remain faithful to Christ even in the face of haters of Christ and Christianity, who would wipe out the Lord’s people entirely if they could (John 15:19; Revelation 20:9).

God’s Armour

Put on your spiritual armour, brothers and sisters in Christ, and fight this spiritual battle: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about 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” (Ephesians 6:13-18).

Many people think that the apostle Paul had a Roman soldier in mind when he illustrated these marks of grace as like armour for the Christian. Though such a sight may have set Paul thinking, his thoughts had risen up to spiritual things. He is here teaching us about “the whole armour of God,” not of a Roman soldier. Paul’s heart went Scriptures such as these: “Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help“ (Psalm 35:1-2). “For [the LORD] put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke“ (Isaiah 59:17; see also 61:10; 63:5).

Furthermore, each of these items of God’s own armour are provided to us by the Lord Jesus Christ alone. No, it was not a soldier that Paul ultimately had in mind, but Christ himself.

• Truth—“grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:14); “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6); “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).
• Righteousness—“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us…righteousness” (1 Corinthians 1:30); “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19); “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).
• The gospel of peace—“As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15); “Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love” (2 John 3); “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
• Faith—“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:47); “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17); “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” (Romans 10:9-11).
• Salvation—“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:8-11); “God hath…appointed us…to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9); “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

To put on this full armour of God is to “put…on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14).

Appendix

William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour. Volume I Part Second Direction I—The First General Part.

The Christian must be armed for the [spiritual] War,
“Put on the whole armour of God.”

…The question here will be, What is this armour?

First. By armour is meant Christ. We read of putting on the “Lord Jesus,” Romans 13:14, where Christ is set forth under the notion of armour. The apostle doth not exhort them for rioting and drunkenness to put on sobriety and temperance, for chambering and wantonness put on chastity, as the philosopher would have done, but bids, “put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ;” implying thus much [that] till Christ be put on, the creature is unarmed. It is not a man’s morality and philosophical virtues that will repel a temptation, sent with a full charge from Satan’s cannon, though possibly it may the pistol-shot of some less solicitation; so that he is the man in armour, that is in Christ. Again,

Second. The graces of Christ, these are armour, as “the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness,” and the rest. Hence we are bid also “put on the new man,” Ephesians 4:24, which is made up of all the several graces, as its parts and members. And he is the unarmed soul, that is the unregenerate soul, not excluding those duties and means which God hath appointed the Christian to use for his defence. The phrase thus opened, the point is, to show that to be without Christ is to be without armour.

The Christless and graceless soul is without armour,
and therein his misery.

John Calvin’s Commentaries, on Ephesians 6:18.

Praying always with all prayer. Having instructed the Ephesians to put on their armour, he now enjoins them to fight by prayer. This is the true method. To call upon God is the chief exercise of faith and hope; and it is in this way that we obtain from God every blessing. Prayer and supplication are not greatly different from each other, except that supplication is only one branch of prayer.

With all perseverance. We are exhorted to persevere in prayer. Every tendency to weariness must be counteracted by a cheerful performance of the duty. With unabated ardour we must continue our prayers, though we do not immediately obtain what we desire. If, instead of with all perseverance, some would render it, with all earnestness, I would have no objection to the change.

But what is the meaning of always? Having already spoken of continued application, does he twice repeat the same thing? I think not. When everything flows on prosperously,—when we are easy and cheerful, we seldom feel any strong excitement to prayer,—or rather, we never flee to God, but when we are driven by some kind of distress. Paul therefore desires us to allow no opportunity to pass,—on no occasion to neglect prayer; so that praying always is the same thing with praying both in prosperity and in adversity.

For all saints. There is not a moment of our life at which the duty of prayer may not be urged by our own wants. But unremitting prayer may likewise be enforced by the consideration, that the necessities of our brethren ought to move our sympathy. And when is it that some members of the church are not suffering distress, and needing our assistance? If, at any time, we are colder or more indifferent about prayer than we ought to be, because we do not feel the pressure of immediate necessity,—let us instantly reflect how many of our brethren are worn out by varied and heavy afflictions,—are weighed down by sore perplexity, or are reduced to the lowest distress. If reflections like these do not rouse us from our lethargy, we must have hearts of stone. But are we to pray for believers only? Though the apostle states the claims of the godly, he does not exclude others. And yet in prayer, as in all other kind offices, our first care unquestionably is due to the saints.