Throughout its history, the Church (Christian = Church) has waged an uninterrupted war against the devil and all god-opposing forces, against antichrists (servants of the devil), and against the harlots of Babylon (Romes-Babylons-Egypts-Sodoms-Gomorrahs). The nature of the Church is to be the prophetic voice (“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth,” see Rev. 11:3), witnesses (martyrs) of Jesus Christ in this world (a world of evil, wars, disasters) and to call everyone to repentance. The entire 2000-year history of the Church (3.5 days = 3.5 years = 1260 days = 42 months (a month = 30 days) = a time, times, and half a time (a time + times (= 2 times) + half a time = 3 and a half times) = the time from Pentecost to Parousia (the end of this world), the time of the Church in history, the time of the proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the “holy war” against all god-opposing forces) and this world testify to the truth of the prophecy-revelation given to us by Jesus Christ and recorded in the book (circular letter to the entire Church, all local churches, each Christian who is the Church) by the Apostle John the Theologian. For 2000 years, Christians have testified with their martyr blood (millions of martyrs by their martyrdom testify to the truth of Jesus Christ, are faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ!) to the coming of the Kingdom of God. Christians are continuously persecuted by “Christians” and pagans through whom the devil, Satan, operates: “And it was given to him (Satan and his servants) to make war with the saints (Christians) and to overcome them (to kill, torture, persecute, slander, etc.)” – see Rev. 13:7; 11:7, 11. And this world, from the fall of Adam to Parousia (the end of history), is full (by God’s Mercy) of all kinds of evil, disasters, and catastrophes; what was before the coming of Christ, before the Incarnation, the same will be in this world until the end of history (wars, catastrophes, pestilences, epidemics, earthquakes…). Hence, there are now two incompatible, warring, conflicting kingdoms: the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Caesar (this world), and each one has the power to freely choose which kingdom to be a citizen of! Thus, the Church in this world (Christians in this world, but they are not of this world!) is in an unceasing war (against the devil and all god-opposing forces of evil). “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (see Eph. 6:10-17).
The army of Christ, the host of Christ, the Christ-loving army – is an army of martyrs, faithful, true witnesses (by their cross-bearing life in the Holy Spirit and by their martyr blood) of Christ, of the Resurrection of Christ, of the Love of God, of Truth-Freedom. Christ’s soldiers (Christians = martyrs) overcome evil in this world with crucified Love – laying down their lives at all times for their friends (for every person!). By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians have the strength and wisdom to overcome the world (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life) – that is, the evil in which God’s creation is (which in its essence is “very good”). (God’s will, God’s commandments for the proclaimed – is a command! A military command(!) in the spiritual war!!! And not advice or requests! Slaves are not asked! Soldiers on the battlefield, who have voluntarily taken an oath (to follow the will of the commander) and went to the front voluntarily – are not asked, they are commanded, and they are always ready to carry out a non-criminal order! Do not forget – the proclaimed VOLUNTARILY, CONSCIOUSLY give themselves into slavery to Christ, VOLUNTARILY, CONSCIOUSLY take an oath of allegiance to the Commander-in-Chief, to Christ the King, who leads His army (Christians) into battle, who first entered the battle and won!!! Only VOLUNTARILY, CONSCIOUSLY do we become Christians!!!).
When “Christians” baptize (themselves), are they baptized into the army, or are they sent to war, to the front, to the forefront?! Mothers and fathers who carry their dear (idols-gods) sons and daughters for baptism – are they ready to send them to the front, or are they in a hurry to buy off their god from conscription to war?! Are they giving their children up for death, like St. Sophia gave her daughters Faith, Hope, and Love?! No thought of war, cross, and martyrdom occurs to either the priests or the buyers of religious services; on the contrary, they promise a peaceful, comfortable, healthy, and prosperous life, a life of hedonism, greed, and vanity… So, can He who loves send the unprepared to the front, give him weapons (the Power of the Holy Spirit)?! No! For he, understanding nothing in spiritual warfare (elementary techniques and methods, skills, and rules of combat), not only will not harm the enemy but, on the contrary, will shoot-blow himself up, kill himself with this weapon – fall into satanic pride, and betray, be tempted (by heresies, blasphemies, philosophies, fables, etc.), stand on the side of the enemy (“because of you – ‘Christians’ – the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles”; the greatest enemies are not the obvious, open enemies, but traitors, those who call themselves brothers (Christians), but by spirit and deeds are children of the devil – these are heretics of different kinds who pass off satanic spirit, teaching, deeds as Christianity, Orthodoxy)!.. Only the humble are able to hold the “weapon” (the Grace of the Holy Spirit) in their hands (hearts) and strike all kinds of evil, freeing people from hell (in which every pagan is), from the power of the devil! Therefore, the unprepared, untrained, unproclaimed the Commander-in-Chief does not baptize (does not tonsure into monks), does not accept into His army, but sends them back, home – into this world! So, proclamation, preparation-training – this is the most important thing in the work of salvation, in the synergy of God and man!