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Wars and Rumors of War

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Wars and Rumors of War

11 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

Already in the first month of 1991 many nations are involved in another war. America and Canada are also taking part in it. As of now we have not heard of a great many casualties on the side of the allied forces, but it is to be feared many on both sides will die in this war. Not only soldiers but also civilians will become victims of this war. For men, women, and children it will become eternity, which means the time of grace will have come to an end. How serious is life! How necessary to be prepared to meet God! We don’t have to be on the battlefield to die. For every one the time is set by the Lord: “There is a time to be born and a time to die.” Still, our special thoughts and prayers are with all our forces in the Middle-East and especially the young people out of our midst who are serving there.

Has such a war something to say to us, you will probably ask? Surely, because God’s Word speaks about war time and again. We all know that if we had not taken up the weapons against the Lord, then there would not have been wars on earth. Upon obedience, the Lord promised everlasting communion with Him. This is the reason we speak of our terrible fall. How terrible are the consequences of the fall! Above all, we have lost communion with God because of it, and the wars are also a consequence of it. Especially now the weapons have become so terrifying and horrible that whole cities can be destroyed by one bomb.

God’s Word must always be our guide, also when we speak about wars. In the Old Testament wars are mentioned three hundred thirteen times and in the New Testament eighteen times.

In the New Bible Dictionary we read the following about the strategie importance of Palestine:

Standing between the Euphrates and Tigris, on the one hand, and the Nile country, on the other, Palestine was in a position of great strategie importance and was the natural highway for trading caravans. Understandably, it was an area of constant conflict. Moreover, Israel, situated between the aggressive and often cruel nations of Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt, could not help being involved in foreign politics.

When we read this, we are inclined to say that not much has changed in the centuries, because Israel is still surrounded by hostile enemies who try to destroy them if it were possible. Many believe there are still promises for Israel, but this is not the topic of today whereof we will write. Now we are speaking of wars.

The Old Testament is full of information about the wars which Israel has fought throughout the ages. Often God’s people were the attacking party, upon divine command. Many times Israel was attacked by mighty enemies, like Assyria and Babylon. Sometimes they were instruments sent by the Lord to punish Israel for their sins when they had forgotten the Lord!

The manner in which the wars were waged was in general very cruel. This can especially be said of the Assyrians. Different war machines were used to attack a city or a wall. Israel we know has fought wars of extermination, mostly against the nations which were in Canaan. We may not forget this took place at the command of the Lord. The motive is known to us: It was because of the great wickedness of these nations (Gen. 15:16 and Lev. 18:28). In this way it can be said, as some do, that Israel fought a holy war.

This, of course, is something totally different from the “holy war” which is propagated by Saddam Hussein today. It is one of the religious duties of the Moslems to fight such a holy war to spread the Islam religion all over the world. Those Islams who will die in such a war or in an attack against the “pagan dogs,” thinking as they do, will receive a special reward after this life. Those poor people are not only deceived for time but also for eternity. May it become our prayer also for them, “Thy kingdom come.”

Today many people are protesting against this war which started in the Middle-East. They are the so-called “pacifists” who seek peace on earth. Of course, nobody is happy that a war has begun. We should pray for the needs of the world and also for our troops, that the Lord may spare them and that the war will not last long—if it pleases Him. I am quite sure that many congregations have had a prayer service for this crisis and that every Sunday the prayers are sent up to the Lord for this cause. Are you personally doing this also?

What do we say when we meet a pacifist who asks, “How could a good God, a God of peace, condone warfare?” Underlying this question are certain assumptions that require careful examination as to their soundness. Is it really a manifestation of goodness if we do not oppose evil? For example, can we say that a good surgeon should do nothing to cut away cancerous tissue from his patient when it is yet possible, and simply allow him to go on suffering until finally he will die? Another example: Do we praise a police officer who does nothing if he is witnessing an armed robbery? Or should we praise an officer who does nothing against an arsonist who is starting his evil work, or against any other criminal? Of course not. These officers will be disciplined if they do not do their duty.

The Lord commanded Israel to protect their wives and children, also their possessions. No policy should give free reign to wickedness and crime which would be a complete surrender of the right of self-defense on the part of the law-abiding members of society. Otherwise there would be anarchy. Not only is there a proper and responsible policy of self-defense taught by Scripture from beginning to end, but there were occasions when the Lord commissioned His people to carry out judgment on corrupt and degenerate nations.

The rules of war are laid down in Deuteronomy 20 which represent a control of justice, fairness, and kindness in the use of weapons, reflecting the goodness of the Lord. We read also that in some special situations a soldier could be excused from military duty until his problems had been resolved. Some who were afraid to go to war were allowed to return home (Deut. 20:8). Unlike the heathen armies who might attack a city without giving it an opportunity to surrender on terms, the armies of Israel were required to grant a city an opportunity to give up without bloodshed, before they would begin a full-scale siege. Even then, the women and children should be spared.

In the New Testament the calling of a soldier was considered an honorable one, if carried on in a lawful fashion. Paul uses the analogy of faithful service in the army as a model for Christian commitment (2 Tim. 2:4), without the slightest suggestion of reproach for military service. There does not appear any ground in the Old Testament, or the New, for the concept that God enjoins pacifism.

Alas today again we are confronted with bloodshed. Some estimate the number of wars from the beginning of the world until now at between five and ten thousand. The Lord Jesus has also spoken about wars as a sign of the times. “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars” (Matt. 24:6a). In the same breath the Lord mentions wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. From the days of old these plagues were known among Israel as a scourge of God with which He chastised the nations.

Wars and rumors of wars are not a direct sign the world will come to an end. Through all ages there have been wars on earth and this will continue. When the Lord speaks in the plural, then we should remember that there will be an unrest spreading over the whole world, because then the nations will be personally involved. This is understandable. In former times kings hired their armies, but in our days the armies are formed with its own citizens. “For nation shall arise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matt. 24:7a).

In the gospel of Luke there is made mention of commotions, as we see it happening today—not only because of environmental damage and destructive weaponry, but also by agents and terrorists who infiltrate into many countries to bring unrest and do damage to the cause of the opponent. What is taking place today has never happened before, so actually we see in this a sign of the times which tells us that Christ is coming to judge the quick and the dead.

What is the real horror of a war? Mostly the answer points to the streams of blood which are shed on the battlefield, when thousands of young people die for their respective countries; also the sorrow which this brings into innumerable homes and families. There is also the great destruction a war brings, the impoverishing of the nations, and the loss of national power. All this cannot be denied, but all these things cannot begin to measure the extent of damage which war brings.

All past and future wars are preparations for the last war at the end of the world, which will end in a complete disruption of the whole society. Such disruption of the human race is worse than a battlefield where streams of blood are shed; it is worse than all the sorrow, however painful that may be; it is also worse that all the losses we suffer in the economy. The disruption of the society will lead to a rejecting of God’s laws and institutions, and also of the Lord Himself. After every war we see a further departing of God and this is a continual process until the end will come.

Therefore, it is the duty of the governments to try to prevent war whenever it is possible, but not at any price! Of course, the pacifists place their goal too high when they want in this dispensation already an eternal peace. This is not possible. To establish this peace is not the work of man. Christ will do this in a future dispensation, where there will be no more sin. His Name is Prince of Peace.

A time without war contradicts Christ’s prophecy, because wars and rumors of wars will continue to the end. Do you feel we are all involved? Probably you will say, “No, I am not involved in this war because I am not in the army, the navy or the air force.” We must not forget that by nature we are at war with God. In Paradise we have taken up weapons against the Lord and therefore we have wars on earth. It is indispensable that we surrender unconditionally before the Lord.

Then we will have a change of kings. The Lord will be our King and we will do His will as it is described in His Word. It is a good King who cares very well for His soldiers. He gives them what they need in their warfare. He refreshes them time and again with food and drink by His Word and Spirit. He gives them the best weapons with which to defeat their enemies. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16b). Really the enemies are already defeated because the King Himself has defeated them.

If we stay in the camp of the enemy, we will be rejected. The Lord will say, “I never knew you.” We will be eternally sorry to have served Satan and the world. It will leave us empty and poor. As a merciful God He still gives time for the gate of our heart to be opened, time for Him to come in. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock” (Rev. 3:20). By His Word we are instructed what is necessary for eternity. May His Spirit be bound to it that the gate of the city, man’s soul, may go open for the King. Then we will surrender unconditionally to the Lord and experience that His service is the most blessed service. “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.”


Rev. AM. den Boer is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed congregation of Sunnyside, Washington.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van vrijdag 1 februari 1991

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's

Wars and Rumors of War

Bekijk de hele uitgave van vrijdag 1 februari 1991

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's