During the turbulent times of the Civil War and the years that followed, God used the United States to bring judgment against slavery, worldwide. Prior to that, no nation on the face of this earth had ever fought a war over human rights.
Today, there are those who would say—and have said—that the 9-11 terrorist attacks were the beginning of judgment against the United States.
But when airplanes started crashing into buildings on September 11, 2001, the United States was not the primary target. Those horrible and murderous acts were only an attempt to reach the real target.
The real target was you and me—and anyone else who has made Jesus Lord of his or her life.
Satan's attack against America was an attempt to pull Jesus down, to put Him under foot and—ultimately—account the Body of Christ as a weak, defeated, faithless, powerless people.
Exposing Undercover Terrorists
Without a doubt, 9-11 has forever drawn the line.
On the one side is Satan, the Terrorist.
On the other is Jesus, the Savior.
While terrorists are the express image and manifestation of Satan, we as believers are the express image and manifestation of Jesus—Who is the express image and manifestation of God.
Therefore, in order for the devil to attack Jesus successfully, he must come after us. He must attack the Body of Christ in this natural realm. That's why an attack in the physical world is only the visible part of the attack.
Any time the devil goes after someone or something, he must first make his attack in the spirit realm. And he always attacks those who are the greatest threat to him. He attacks those who are strong in faith, strong in prayer and who know the Word of God.
But thank God, those are the very ones who know what to do in a time of war.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Keith Moore and I were preparing to tape television broadcasts at the Kenneth Copeland Ministries studio in Fort Worth, but when we learned of the attacks, Gloria and I called our staff together and we launched our own attack with prayer, praise and prophecy.
As soon as we did, the Holy Spirit began ministering to us and talking to us about the war we are now in.
It's interesting that a few months prior to the terrorist attacks, the Lord had begun talking to me about changing from a "peacetime" mentality to a "wartime" mentality.
He explained that during times of peace in a nation, money is usually what's in the forefront of everyone's mind. During war, however, saving lives becomes more important, even more so than money.
In war you spare no expense to save lives. That's the way we should be thinking all the time whether there's war or not.
And that's where we are today.
This war on terrorism is the most serious war the United States has engaged in since the Civil War. It's not a television war. It's not a war for us to sit back and "watch" from the comfort of our living rooms.
No, we each have a very important part to play in it. Because, what the devil doesn't like to admit is that the "son of perdition"—the antichrist—cannot be revealed until that which is holding him back is gone (2 Thess. 2). And we're the ones holding him back.
You and I are the devil's greatest problem. We are the thorn in his side. And when he goes public as he did on 9-11, he knows he's going to have a fight on his hands.
War Declared in Washington
Barely a month after America and her allies had declared war on terrorism, God commissioned another war to be waged.
On October 18, 2001, the Spirit of God commissioned Gloria and me and this ministry to launch an all out campaign to bring fear down. He instructed us to eradicate it from the Body of Christ.
God has never wanted His people "coping" with fear or "managing" fear. He wants His people "rid" of fear. And our part in the war effort against terrorism is to help people get free from fear.
Well, when we received our marching orders, we were ready to go. Because it just so happens that one of the greatest revelations Gloria and I received when we first launched out into ministry in 1967, was that Jesus died on the cross to set us free from fear. He delivered us from fear the same as He delivered us from sin, sickness, poverty and every other curse under the law.
So, I thought I knew some things about fear. But then God started opening my eyes and I soon found out how little I did know.
To begin with, God showed me just how seriously He takes fear-and Revelation 21:7-8 says it about as plainly as it can be said:
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.First, notice that "fear" is at the very top of the list.
Then notice the company fear keeps-unbelief, abomination, murder, whoremongering, sorcery, idolatry, lying. That's a pretty ugly crowd. And the only thing that crowd has to look forward to is the lake of fire and brimstone.
That's getting very serious.
"Yes, but Brother Copeland, I just don't see how a little fear can hurt. After all, everybody is afraid of something. It's healthy to have a little fear."
Oh, really?
Then I suppose a little murder never hurt anyone, either. And I'm sure a little whoremongering is healthy now and then, too.
No. There's nothing in that Revelation 21 list that's healthy.
Luke 21:25-26 describes how fear can even kill you:
There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear....There's no question that fear is a serious matter-with God and with man.
Yes, we are at war. But our heart cry and shout of joy is Philippians 1:27-28,
that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.This war is a war to end all wars—because once you've hunted down all fear in your life and destroyed it, your enemy will never have a hold on you again.
Excerpt permission granted by
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka: Kenneth Copeland Ministries