An Army Approaches

The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast

11 "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

   KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”

 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh."    

 --Revelation 19:11-21

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So I've really been into listening to a hardcore Christian rock band called "For Today."  There is a song on an album titled "Ezekiel."  The heavy guitar driven song starts off with lyrics "An army approaches." I have been thinking a lot about the Kingdom of Heaven recently, and what that looks like here on earth. Now I'm not talking about the movie Kingdom of Heaven, but the literal Kingdom of Heaven where Jesus sits at the right hand of God.  

I don't know if you know this or not but we are at war.  Not against armies of this world but against the kingdom of Darkness where Satan is king.  As a child growing up, and still to this day, i have been fascinated by the military.  I must be the testosterone inside me but i love watching war movies, playing video games, and years ago collecting GI Joes.  After accepting Jesus into my life five years ago i now realize that there is a bigger picture outside of nations at war on earth.  As Christians, we don't fight at war in the flesh but as it says in Ephesians we fight against the powers of this dark world.  Where i am with this subject now is a state of alert.

For over a year I have been leading a ministry at school, where we go downtown Friday nights. Where most of the clubs are and share Jesus with people.  Through this i have seen the works and the powers of darkness first hand.  I have seen people get into fights right in front of me.  I have seen people bleeding with stab wounds.  I have seen numerous women be taken advantage of.  The list goes on from there.  While doing this ministry you step into the midst of a deep spiritual battle where the Kingdom of Heaven and Kingdom of Hell collide.  The reason I chose the passage of scripture in Revelation is because it is important as Christians to know our place in the midst of this battle.  The last few times we have gone downtown as a team I have noticed a lot people seemed to be scared.  Now it can get scary sometimes being around 100's of people under the influence of alcohol or drugs or a mixture of the two but know our place in this battle will help remove some fear.

So the end of the story and where we claim our identity is that Jesus has already won the war.  So since He has done that part it is our job as believers to fight the small battles.  Let me ask you this: What battles are you facing right now? Are you going to man/woman up as a child of the living God or are you going to fall away with fear.  I know life gets crazy.  I know life and the battles we wage in the spirit and on earth are tough but JESUS HAS WON.  Will you claim that and start walking in that?  No more fear when you talk to that co-worker about the hope you have in Jesus.  No more fear when sit down next to that homeless man sitting on the ground downtown.  No more fear when you see the friends you grew up with making stupid decisions.  Have you left your mark on this earth for the Kingdom of Heaven?  

Just remember that Jesus told us in the Great Commission that He will be with always, to the very end of the age.