We see the affairs of the world from a human point of view. St. John here sees what is going on from a heavenly perspective. He describes what is happening in the world as God sees it.

Jesus Christ is described as what he is, not what he is going to do. He is now conquering King, righteous Judge, Captain of the armies of heaven. He is described in present terms as leading out his heavenly army today (not at some future day), to fight with evil. Even now people and nations are being brought to the judgment of decision. This is a picture of a world at war. Jesus and the armies of heaven are waging war today against the armies of the beast and false prophet who delude those who followed them. It is a spiritual war.

We may prefer a picture of life as bucolic contentment, and peaceful progress through the triumph of reason, appeasement, accommodation and diplomacy but the Bible is sternly realistic about our troubles in the world around us and in the world within us. Salvation is a battle in which we must take sides and engage with the enemy every day. Salvation is not "a diploma that qualifies us for eternity, a diploma that we can frame and hang on our bedroom wall" (Eugene Peterson). The Savior invaded our world to wage war against all that oppresses us and deprives us of our freedom and our inheritance. His mission was to fulfill the words of Isaiah:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18,19).

In order to accomplish his mission he had to wage a revolutionary war with the armies of heaven. He entered the "strong man's house" (Mark 3:27) and plundered his goods -- the souls of the world-weary, the success-enslaved, the bodies of the sickness-oppressed. He enlisted the seventy disciples and sent them out to proclaim the Gospel and they returned exhilarated, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" Jesus replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the evil spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:17-20).

Salvation is war. The Old Testament is full of descriptions of battles. Jesus did not take up the sword, for his weapon is the sharp sword which came out of his mouth -- his Word. He wages war every day through his followers and against every malign force that diminishes our lives and damns our souls: unbelief, disobedience, idolatry, egotism, anxiety. Every day of our lives we face the lies of the forces of evil in the world, the flesh and the devil. The war of salvation is a battle to win back the human territory lost to the invasion of evil, and to restore the country to the believing, enduring, and worshipping people of God.

What is your vision of salvation? It is not just to fulfil the American Dream, to ensure jobs for all, and to guarantee a decent standard of living for everyone. We do not reduce salvation to good behavior and to make us docile and enthusiastic consumers. That is a tame view of salvation. The Gospel envisages our mission in terms of a military campaign to defend oneself against the onslaughts of the enemy who wishes to demoralize, degrade and to destroy us.

St. Paul wrote that we battle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, "For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and to take every thought captive to obey Christ"(2 Cor.10:3-5).

This is a war of ideas, a war of beliefs, a war between the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Faithful and True, against those who claim power and authority and who delude their followers. It is a war between the Gospel of truth and false teaching. It is a war between love and hate, kindness and cruelty. It is a war between selfish indulgence and self-denial. It is a war between addiction and freedom. It is a war between light and darkness. It is not a war between factions, nations and international politics. Jesus told us quite clearly that the people who make breathless and sensationalist predictions about the future are themselves the false Christs and false prophets that they are pretending to warn us against (Matt.24:23-26). (Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John & the Praying Imagination, Eugene Peterson, pp.161-165)

This is not a war about geography, about national boundaries, about the Middle East. That is for politicians and governments to decide. Such wars may be necessary for national security and our civil freedoms. But this is a war within each one of us and between each one of us. It is a war for our personal identities and for personal relationships. We are led in this war by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. We are part of the armies of heaven. It requires resolve and commitment. We are assured that we are on the winning side. We need never feel demoralized or discouraged no matter what happens in history. We may lose some battles but Christ will win the war. It is a war of worship and witness. Christ calls on us to join his campaign. Will you sign up today?

The Son of God rides out to war
The ancient foe to slay;
His blood-red banner streams afar --
Who follows him today?
Who bears his cross? Who shares his grief?
Who walks his narrow way?
Who faces rampant unbelief?
Who follows him today?

A noble army -- young and old --
From every nation came;
Some weak and frail, some strong and bold,
To win the martyr's fame.
Eternal joy to all is given
Who trust you and obey:
O give us strength, great God of heaven,
To follow them today!
R. Heber (1783-1826), © in this version Michael Saward

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