Michael and the angels fighting against the enemy    Painting by Peter Breugel the Elder, Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Brussels

Two Pictures of Cosmic Warfare

The Apostle John's Vision   

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” 

When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. Revelation 12:7-17 

It is a picture of the cosmic battle that went on when Jesus was born and has continued ever since.

Daniel's Vision of Cosmic Warfare

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia (537 BC), a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision. (Daniel 10:1)

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.

A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.”  And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. 

Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” (Daniel 10:4-14)

While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”
   
Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.”
 
When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.” 

So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.​ And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.) (Daniel 10:10-11:1)

Later the angel talks about the end times and says:
“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” (Daniel 12:1-4)

The Spiritual Reality Behind World Events

In these two passages we get a glimpse of the spiritual warfare underlying world events that Paul talks about in Ephesians 6:12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the Belt of Truth buckled around your waist, with the Breastplate of Righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from The Gospel of Peace (with God). In addition to all this, take up the Shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the Helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Sword of the Spirit, which is a rhema of God.

The War For World Domination

An Allegory of the Old & New Testaments      Painting by Hans Holbein the Younger 1530         Scottish National Gallery

Old & New Testaments: The Story of Man's Rebellion & God's Rescue

Hans Holbein's amazing allegorical painting sums up the story of man's rebellion against God's Law and God's grace and mercy in sending Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God (Agnus Dei) to be Our Victory (Victoria Nostra) over sin, Death (Mors) and Satan. In the centre of the picture are the prophet Isaiah (Esayas)[prophesying Behold a virgin will conceive and give birth to a son] and John the Baptist (Johannes Baptista) [saying Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world] warning man (Homo) to look to Jesus on the Cross. 

Psalm 107: A Psalm Summarising Israel's Rebellious History

The Second Temple in Jerusalem completed in 516 BC      Image may be copyright

The Joy of the Returning Exiles & Rebuilding the Temple

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations,  “The Lord has done great things for them.”  The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy (Psalm 126:1-2).

The Cyrus Cylinder containing Cyrus' decree allowing the Jews to return           The British Museum, London

In 538 BC King Cyrus of Babylon issued a decree permitting the exiled Jews to return to their homeland and to rebuild the Temple. The first group of some fifty thousand returned with Zerubbabel and Joshua, the High Priest. To begin with there was opposition from local officials which delayed the building work until 520 BC, when work restarted under the leadership of Haggai and Zechariah. The Temple was completed in 516 BC in the sixth year of King Darius.

Nehemiah Rebuilds The Walls of Jerusalem

In about 445 BC Nehemiah, who was serving as a cup-bearer for the Persian king Artaxerxes, obtained permission to visit Jerusalem to survey the city with a view to rebuilding the city walls the Babylonians had broken down (Nehemiah 2: 1-9). When he arrived in Jerusalem, he was filled with sorrow at the sorry state of things.

He also discovered the enemy was determined to try to prevent him rebuilding the walls and tried to prevent the work going ahead using various ploys. These included  -

•  Mocking the efforts to rebuild by ridiculing the height of the walls  (Nehemiah 4:3)
•  Threats to attack him personally  (v8)   (Nehemiah 4:8)
•  Trying to lure Nehemiah to go to the plain of Ono for a meeting as a distraction from the work (Nehemiah 6:1-2)  
•  Spreading rumours that Nehemiah was plotting against the Persian King (Nehemiah 6:5-9)

Nehemiah's Response to Enemy Attacks

Nehemiah's response was to 
•  Pray asking God to deal with the enemy, 
•  Refuse to be intimidated by threats,
•  Concentrate on the work and refuse to be distracted.

Ezra Reminds the People of God's Law

The people all gathered together at the Water Gate and told Ezra, the teacher of the Law, to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!”

Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Psalm 126: A Psalm Celebrating The Joyful Return To Jerusalem

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”  The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev.

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

Jehoshaphat of Judah

King Jehoshaphat of Judah praising God for the victory   Image may be subject to copyright

Judah Under Attack by A Vast Army

Around 848 BC a vast army of Moabites and Ammonites attacked King Jehoshaphat of Judah. He was joined by King Joram of Israel and the King of Edom. Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people from every town in Judah gathered to seek help from the Lord. Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and prayed:

“ Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
“But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2 Chronicles 20:5-12)

The Battle Is The LORD's

Then the Spirit of the LORD came on the prophet Jahaziel and he said:

" Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

The next morning as they were leaving for the battle, Jehoshaphat said:

" Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.”

After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendour of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:  “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”

As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah to this day.

Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets. The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side (2 Chronicles 20:22-30).

Even Godly Men Can Be Deceived

Jehoshaphat was a godly king who waged war against idolatry and trusted God for his victory over the enemies. But in his later years Jehoshaphat was deceived into making an alliance with evil king Ahab, through giving his permission for his son Jehoram to marry Ahab's wicked daughter Athaliah.

Even The Godly Can Be Deceived