“And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought with his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Rev. 12:79)
And so from the beginning of time, there was war. Michael was victorious over the proud and rebellious Beelzebub. However, the devil was cast to earth and from that moment the red horseman of war began his ride. From the first battle of Cain and Abel to that final battle of Armageddon there was, is, and always shall be war.
Why is there war? Why do nations rage? Worldly philosophers have given us many reasons: competition, acquisitiveness, pugnacity pride. Man’s greed, his desires, are always the major causes for war. If one digs through the immediate causes of war, the insults, the assassinations, a basic desire for food, land, materials and mastery is always present. There is always the desire to rule.
For appearances, the world has to say it doesn’t want war. “War is hell” said Sherman. The wars of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were gentlemen’s affairs — something to keep the armies occupied. However, the past two centuries have witnessed the rise of a new total war: a holocaust of unspeakable horrors to be avoided at all cost. Eliminations of these horrors was the peace of the League of Nations; this is the peace of the United Nations. But is this the peace of the Christian, the peace which passeth all understanding? No, I think not, for “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1), and “. . . he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Eph. 2:14). What does the world do but make the wall between itself and God only greater. They are enamored with their dreams and ideals. Their hopes are vain. “Let us try a new understanding, a new enlightenment. Let us put a restrain on our fears; let us reduce armaments, cease hostilities and subversion. We must join hands in a defiance of history. Let us be one. However, labor, which is not in the Lord is labor lost. If only the world would believe the inevitability of war. Some men do realize this, but again their beliefs are world based. “Look,” they say, “3,153 of the last 3,421 years have seen war. A prolonged peace weakens the country; some conflicts are too fundamental to negotiate.” They argue: “War is the final arbitrator of all things.” Finally they admit that to deny war is to deny man’s nature. This is the closest the world comes to admitting the natural depravity of man. It is because man is evil that there are wars.
Should we concern ourselves with war? with peace? As waiting, watching Christians it is our duty to look for the second coming of our Lord, for the coming of the last days. “And what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? . . . and when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be” (Mark 13:4-7). Rather we should concern ourselves with “the good fight.” “For though we walk in the flesh we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” And peace, what do we do about peace. We have our answer for “. . . Thy faith hath saved thee: go in peace” (Luke 7:30). Rut for the world’s peace —the cessation of hostilities — what do we do. Surely we must realize that when the world finds peace it will be the peace of antichrist. “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him . . . and it was given him to make war . . . and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues and nations. And all that [the wicked] dwell upon the earth shall worship him” (Rev. 13:4-7). Great suffering and tribulation will be the lot of those without the mark of the beast. Our human nature cringes at the terrible thought. But this awful peace must come before our Christ can, so it has been prophesied. In this light I think we should pray for earthly peace in the world.
Finally there is the last battle — the great war. “Satan . . . shall go out to deceive the nations …. Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle . . . and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, and shall be tormented day and night, forever and ever” (Rev. 20:7-9). Then Christ will come with the book of life and gather his people unto Him to take them to the eternal peace of the new Jerusalem. This weary night shall be passed and the swords shall be beat into plowshares: neither shall we learn war anymore. “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”