War: War In Iraq – Where is it Heading?

Since March 19th the attention of the world has been riveted on the skies over Iraq and the ground below, where Coalition missiles and fighters are striking numerous targets in the stated hope of ending an oppressive and dangerous regime. Patriotic feelings run high on both sides of the conflict, and the rhetoric of recrimination crackles on the airwaves.

War cannot be treated simplistically, if one is to be true to Scripture. God holds the authority to “remove kings and set up kings” (Daniel 2:20), and He has, at times, used warfare as the means of effecting regime changes or radical alterations of national power and territorial control. See Isaiah 44:28; 45:1. But that does not automatically justify the policies and conduct of the nations God has used as instruments of correction. See Jeremiah 25:7-33; Habakkuk 1:5-11 which show how He used Babylon to humble many nations through military conquest and then warned Babylon that He would punish it for its national pride and overstepping of their divinely ordained role. Beyond the ever-shifting terrain of political disputes, “The Lord has a controversy with the nations; He will plead with all flesh; He will give them that are wicked to the sword, say the Lord” (Jeremiah 32:31). Meanwhile, the mere winning of a war does not necessarily signify God's unqualified approval of the victorious nation any more than the losing of a war signifies His unmitigated displeasure with conquered peoples.

Aside from all political partisanship, what is the meaning of this strife that presently clutches the world in its grip – not just in Iraq, but in the dozens of nations presently ablaze with internal conflicts and border disputes? Jesus foretold that, among other signs, “wars and rumors of wars,” and “distress of nations, with perplexity,” betoken the world's approaching end (see Matthew 24:6; Luke 21:25). War and war-mongering are repugnant to God. Death and destruction bring no joy to Him, for God is Love, and all that He does and stands for is consistent with His nature of love (1 John 4:8). He “scatters the people that delight in war” and declares that “by strength shall no man prevail” Psalm 68:30; 1 Samuel 2:9.

God is entirely apolitical. His government operates on a plane of impartial justice. This truth is embodied in the fundamental precepts of political science voiced by Solomon: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people;” “the throne is established by righteousness,” and “upheld by mercy,” not by nationalism, militancy or commercial enterprise (Proverbs 14:34; 16:12; 20:28). Governments worthy of their existence will specialize, as Christ did, in caring for the poor and needy, the widows and orphans, the downtrodden and destitute. See Psalm 72:1-14; Daniel 4:27; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:16-22; James 1:27.

But these concepts are not welcome to those who are exalted in their own eyes and driven by greed and lust for power. God declares: “I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.” Psalm 120:6. So it proved for Jesus, the Prince of Peace. He was crucified at the instigation of those who regarded themselves as paragons of piety and virtue — defenders of the faith, standard-bearers of orthodoxy, eliminators of subversive heretics and deceivers. Jesus promised that His true-hearted followers would ultimately receive no better treatment from those who think they are doing God a service. See John 15:13-25; 16:1-4. Bible prophecy reveals that, under the miracle-working instigation of Satan, the final world conflict will have a strong religious component. See Revelation 12:17; 13:11-17; 16:12-14; 17:12-14.

In the end, Satan's animosity toward God and all who are loyal to Him comes to a searing climax. Those who love God and truth are people of peace who will not act in self-defense against their enemies, much as Christ stood before His foes as a Lamb who made no resistance (see Isaiah 53:7; 1 Peter 2:17-25). When Peter rashly sought to defend Christ and the gospel with his sword, Jesus healed the damage that disciple inflicted, and admonished in words that echo to the close of time and beyond, through the rimless reaches of eternity: “Put away your sword, for all who take the sword will perish with the sword.” Matthew 26:52. “If any man has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity. He who kills with the sword, must be killed with the sword.” Revelation 13:9,10. Because of Peter's hasty rage, Malchus almost lost his ear. Because of mankind's mounting collective rage, multitudes have lost their spiritual hearing on the subject of true peace. Voices of strife drown out the voice of peace — but not forever. See Psalm 2:1-12; 74:18-23.

Foreseeing the irreconcilable conflict between good and evil, Scripture depicts a time of trouble such as never was, a time of unprecedented anguish for the world, arising from humanity's collective spiritual confusion and corruption. See Daniel 12:1 and Matthew 24:7-9. Jesus spoke of this time too. But He does not wish for His children to despair. Christ said that when calamities of every sort converge upon this planet, then it is time for the faithful and consecrated to, “Look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:28. His coming will be ushered in not by some stupendous clash of arms between warring factions, but by the clear proclamation of the gospel that will lead all who cherish truth and peace to take refuge in the loving arms of Jesus. See Matthew 24:14.

It is crystal clear from God's word that while police and military action are sometimes necessary for protection from madmen, tyrants and terrorists (see Romans 13:1-4), God's Kingdom is not advanced by the use of physical weapons. Jesus declared, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight” (John 18:36, se also Luke 9:49-56).

The ultimate war is not between political powers, ethnic groups, social classes or even conflicting ideologies. Earth's final battle is against truth and error, hatred and love, loyalty to God versus self-interest which often appears in a variety of disguises that assume the benignant face of altruism, honor, and godliness.

Military conflicts distract people from a far more serious warfare whose outcome determines each participant's ultimate destiny. That warfare is against the internal corruption of our own hearts, a warfare from which none can escape. Paul speaks of this warfare in the following terms: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood.” “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down imaginings [logismos, in Greek, meaning reasonings, thoughts, imaginary notions] and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into the captivity of obedience to Christ.” Eph. 6:12; 2 Cor. 10:3-5. See also Romans 7:18-25; Gal. 5:24. Self-conquest is the greatest victory we can achieve and that is possible only through the blood and grace of Jesus applied to the inmost depths of our being. “For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4. See Revelation 12:10-17; 14:12.

When Jesus comes, He will make “wars to cease unto the end of the earth” (Psalm 46:10). For a vivid, accurate depiction of the final war followed by everlasting peace, read Revelation chapters 13-22. This portion of Scripture is infinitely more compelling than any science fiction or fantasy novel ever devised, and it has the incomparable advantage of being entirely true.

When the final conflict is over and all who are in the Lamb's book of life securely dwell together as brothers and sisters from every nation, kindred, tongue and people, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away” Revelation 21:4.

John the Revelator further describes what God opened to his prophetic gaze, “And He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bore twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads” Revelation 22:1-4.