THE CHURCH MILITANT


A. "AND I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN THEE AND THE WOMAN, AND BETWEEN THY SEED AND HER SEED; IT SHALL BRUISE THY HEAD AND THOU SHALT BRUISE HIS HEAL." - Gen. 3:15
  1. With these prophetic words:
    1. The Lord declares the continuation of the war begun by Lucifer in heaven - Rev. 12:7, 8
    2. Bible prophecy shows that this war between light and darkness, between Christ and Satan, will reach its climax shortly before the second coming of Jesus Christ - Compare Dan. 12:1 with Rev. 12:17
  2. The woman of our opening text symbolizes the church of God: 2 Cor. 11:1-3
  3. This woman, the church of God militant, is viewed in Rev. 12:
B. THE CHURCH OF GOD WILL BE MILITANT SO LONG AS SATAN AND HIS AGENTS SEEK TO DESTROY THE CHURCH
  1. The Bible pictures the church:
    1. As an army arrayed in armor with banners - Song of Solomon 6:4, 10
    2. Every member of the church is a soldier of Jesus Christ - 2 Tim. 2:3, 4
  2. Jesus Christ, the Head of the church, is the mighty, undefeated Captain of the host of God:
    1. It was He who appeared to Joshua - Josh. 5:13-15
    2. He, the Bible says, is mighty in battle - Ps. 24:8
    3. He defeated Lucifer in heaven - Rev. 12:7, 8; and He defeated him in the days of his flesh - Matt. 4:1-9; Luke 4:1-11
  3. The church of the living God is engaged in a life and death struggle with the forces of darkness:
    1. That has been true in all ages.
    2. It will be true in the closing days of earth's sorrowful history.
    3. Satan, knowing that he has lost the conflict, will declare war against God's remnant people - Rev. 12:17
    4. When that takes place, the scene seen by Daniel will be fulfilled - Dan. 12:1
C. NATURE AND OUTCOME OF THE CONFLICT OF THE CHURCH OF GOD
  1. Nature of the conflict:
    1. The battle of the church is directed against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places - Eph. 6:12
    2. It is directed against false systems of doctrines which fill the very atmosphere.
    3. Writes Paul: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) 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;" - 2 Cor. 10:3-5
  2. The weapons of the church are, as Paul says, not carnal, but spiritual:
  3. The armor of the saints consists of:
    1. Truth
    2. The gospel of peace
    3. The shield of faith
    4. The helmet of salvation
    5. The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God - Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:14-18
    6. That is the weapon the Lord used to defeat Satan - Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-9
  4. Let us take a closer look at the church militant:
    1. Are its members wide awake and ready to give battle to the enemy of our soul? Rom. 13:11-14
    2. Or are God's people, by and large, entangled in the cares of this life to a point of indifference to the great conflict that is near at hand - Rev. 3:14-17
    3. Will many of us fall victims to our own negligence and indifference?
    4. Or shall we heed the admonition in Isa. 6:1, 2, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people."


Design © John Bryant 2011