20160810 Wednesday, August 10 2016
2 Corinthians 10: When Christians Go To War

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled"

When the Messiah returns, He will first liberate humanity from Satan's vile and perverted influence (see They Aren't Rights If The LORD Says They're Wrongs and Why Does Satan Love Liars?). In so doing, the LORD God (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) will then restore the Kingdom of God on Earth - that is never going to fall, or be challenged, ever again (see The Only Political Party That's Going To Survive and The Patriotism Prophecy).

"19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,

KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." (revelation 19:11-21 KJV)

The apostle Paul (see Paul, The Apostle To The World and The Intercontinental Church Of God) often used the analogy of warfare to describe the true Christian life, such as he did here in his epistle to the Corinthians (see 2 Corinthians: The Devil's Fight Along The Way). The famous "armor of God" was also written by Paul, in another letter, to the Ephesians (see Ephesians: Put On The Whole Armour Of God and the Fact Finder question below).

But notice that, while Christian "warfare" is unrelenting and uncompromising against the enemy, Satan, the avoidance of "collateral damage" to those who are being held captive by Satan's delusions and attitudes is a foremost rule of engagement - it's a righteous war of true liberation, not mere annihilation: "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled" (see also Satan's Sandals).

"10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: 10:2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. 10:8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 10:9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 10:11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 10:13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 10:14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 10:15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 10:16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. 10:17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 10:18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." (2 Corinthians 10:1-18 KJV)

Fact Finder: What "armor" do Christians wear? Why do they need it more after they put it on?
See Why Does The LORD's Armour Attract The Devil's Fire?