Generally speaking, one can compare and contrast what the Old and New Testaments said about war in two distinct comparisons: War vs. Peace and the War against Satan.
First, the God of the Old Testament has often been criticized for being too violent, while Jesus is considered a peacenik. Although both descriptions have some truth, war-related verses are complex and nuanced. You can find verses that support and conflict with both viewpoints.
I interpret God as a God of Love and War in the Hebrew Bible. He assisted the Israelites when it was His Will for them to be victorious. Or for them to experience His wrath and judgment when defeated. God, who knows the past, present, and future, had his hand on every nation that flourished or fell.
Second, Jesus is often associated with peace, but famously said,
“‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword’” (Matthew 10:34).
While researching this study, I found a quote about Jesus and war in a commentary on Christianity.com (also owned by Townhall’s publisher Salem Media). It was authored by Candice Lucey and titled “What Does the Bible Say about Wars?”:
[For Jesus] “The most important enemy was the one which prevented an individual from experiencing eternal life with Christ rather than eternal death in hell with Satan. So, while Christians are taught to love their enemies instead of fighting them, they still wear the Armor of God (Ephesians 6) against sin and Satan, their most ruthless enemies.”
Now let’s examine some gospels passages related to today’s topic. In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
Note that in pop culture, the first part of that verse is often quoted, but sometimes the second part is dropped.
Next is a passage that is usually associated with Jesus speaking about the end times:
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew: 24:6-8). “Birth pains” refers to the suffering that precedes the coming of the Messiah.
If you are interested in reading whether the war in Israel signals the End Times, here is a commentary from Pastor Greg Laurie.
Jesus knowingly said that war and violence only breed more war and violence:
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword’” (Matthew 26:52).
Turning to St. Paul’s writing, Ephesians Chapter 6 was previously mentioned in Candice Lucey’s quote. However, in Oct. 2021 – Vol. 81, we discussed the “Armor of God” titled “God’s Own Armor For You,” and I wrote that it is:
“A playbook about how to personally triumph in earthly and spiritual battles against evil by fortifying oneself with God’s power, strength, truth, and the Word of God.”
And one could say that Paul summarizes war in the New Testament when writing:
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11).
Again, Paul explains why the war he and all followers of Christ are waging is beyond the battlefield:
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10: 3-5).
Finally, at the end of the New Testament, we arrive at the war of wars, the great triumph—a vision from God as recorded by John in exile on the island of Patmos:
“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’” (Revelation 12: 7-11).
Interestingly, Michael is the Archangel who is the protector of Israel, recorded in the Hebrew Bible book of Daniel subheaded “The End Times:
“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” (Daniel 12:1).
In this time of war, pray for peace. Amen!
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, “Bible Study For Those Who Don’t Read The Bible,” reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. “Part 2,” with the same title, reprints Vols. 57-113. Order it here.
Myra is also Executive Director of SignFromGod.org and the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit. Both are educational donor–supported ministries dedicated to building a permanent Shroud of Turin exhibit in Washington, D.C. Visit the life-sized Shroud replica in D.C. Contact: MyraAdams01@gmail.com.
