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Concise Bible Dictionary
:
War is the
natural
consequence of
sin
being in
the world
, and men and nations coveting the possessions of others ({vi 30339-30341}James 4:1-3). The principal wars recorded in
scripture
are, however, different: they are those of
Israel
in taking possession of
Canaan
for
Jehovah
as the
Lord
’s host, and in maintaining their position in His land, for which they had
divine
instruction. Their warfare is typical of the conflict of Christians against principalities, powers, and the rulers of the
darkness
of this world and against
spiritual
wickedness in the heavenlies (Eph. 6:12). There are also the wars
against
Israel, when
God
used other nations to punish them. But God always maintained His rights in His own people and in His own land.
When Jehovah destroyed the
army
of
Pharaoh
in the
Red
Sea
, He was called “a
man
of war,” and this and other victories were recorded in “the
book
of the wars of Jehovah” (Ex. 15:3; Num. 21:14).
David
could say of God, “He teacheth my hands to war” (2 Sam. 22:35; Psa. 18:34).
There are still wars on the
earth
, for sin is here, and nation rises against nation; and when Israel is again in the land they will be persecuted by their enemies. The kings of the habitable world will be gathered at
Armageddon
to the battle of that great
day
of God the
Almighty
({vi 30969;30971}Rev. 16:14, 16). The Lord must reign until He hath
put
all enemies under His feet. This will be followed by a
time
when they “shall learn war no more,” when warlike weapons will be beaten into agricultural instruments, and the
Prince
of
Peace
will reign over the whole earth.