“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war” – Revelation 19:11
Our nation in the last few years has chosen to side with the Ukrainian nation against an invasion by Russia. We have sent in excess of 350 BILLION dollars to support the Ukrainian defense of their nation. Since the Russian invasion that began February 24th, 2022, estimates of deaths and casualties have been hard to pin down accurately. Both sides shade their estimates to favor their cause. It’s difficult to gauge losses in the confusion of any conflict. But the loss of life for both sides appear to be significantly over a million, perhaps even close to two million. That’s a lot of pain and suffering.
The first mention of “war” in the Bible is found in Genesis. The word “war” in Hebrew is milhama and means war, battle, conflict, engaging in battle. The term “war” first appears in Genesis fourteen where two confederacies of nations go to war against each other and Lot gets caught up in the chaos. Abraham then musters and army to rescue Lot. It is in the aftermath of the rescue of Lot that Abraham encounters Melchizedek. Melchizedek is a type of Christ (Hebrews 5). God often shows up in times conflict and upheaval. He shows up in the furnaces of life. In those furnaces where we sometimes face insurmountable odds, we are joined by Jesus who helps us live out taking a stand against tyrants (e.g., Daniel 3).
In the New Testament the first mention of “war” is found in Luke 14:31 when Jesus uses it as an illustration about counting the cost to follow Him. “War” in the New Testament is translated from the Greek term polemos which means warfare, battle, fight, war. It can also refer to a dispute, strife, or a quarrel. Wars can occur between individuals and family members. They can occur between larger groups and between nations on an international level.
If you talk to Ukrainians or their sympathizers, they will tell you they are simply defending their motherland. If you talk to Russians and their sympathizers, they will tell you they invaded Ukraine because a promise was broken that Ukraine would not be allowed to join NATO. They would compare their situation to the Cuban Missle Crisis of the 60s and the United States justification in desuading Russia from placing missles on our doorstep. Both sides have justifying reasons for the war. Who is right? Who is wrong? The world is divided over those questions. That’s what wars do, they divide on the highest scale. There’s so much turmoil caused by war. We might ask, “Is war ever just?”
The Ukrainian/Russian war is as complex as it is tragic. The tragedy of it is, Vladimir Zalinsky of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin of Russia are not stepping into a ring to fight it out. No, millions of soldiers and innocent civilian victims are paying the price. The carnage is heart wrenching and stomach turning. It should also be said that, somewhere behind the scenes a military industrial complex and a lot of politicians are making an awful lot of money off of the conflict. War is obscene.
The Ukraine/Russian war is not the only conflict going on. There has been the Hamas terror attack of October 7th, 2022 on Israel and the ongoing war response of Israel. China has been saber-rattling and threatening Taiwan for years. South Africa is perpetrating genocide. The drug cartels ruthlessly ply their wares wherever they want and now our nation finally seems ready to make “war” against them. War should always be a last resort, but sometimes circumstances would seem to demand it.
On an individual scale, if we see a child, or elderly person, or some other defenseless person being bullied or attacked by a much bigger assailant, for us to stand by and do nothing would be a sin of omission (James 4:17). Intervention on behalf of one being victimized, at the risk of our own personal injury, is one of the clearest acts of loving your neighbor. In fact, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). If that is true for laying down your life for a friend, how much more is it true when lovingly sacrificing for a stranger? It’s downright Good-Samaritan-esk! ( Luke 10:25-37). A Pacifistic lack of response when someone is being victimized would seem criminal and heartless in such circumstances.
Last year a woman was burned to death on a New York City subway while passersby, including police, did nothing except take videos and post the horror on social media. In another incident an elderly woman peacefully walking her dog on the street was bashed to the cold hard cement sidewalk from behind by an assailant for no apparent reason. On an individual scale we can make a strong argument to intervene on behalf of the weak when they are being attacked (Psalm 82:3; Proverbs 31:8-9).
But is war on a national and international scale ever justified? I would argue the Bible does support the concept of a just war. World War II is an example of a billigerant dictator with an eye on world domination and subjugation that refused to negotiate in good faith until war was the only just and required response. The Axis powers of Germany, Japan, and Italy waged war on the world and could only be stopped by an alliance of nations that opposed them. Without the allied nations of the earth answering the call and need of a just war, the Final Solution to annihilate Jewry in the world might have succeeded. Otherwise, freedom and a host of other God given rights would have been infringed upon and in many cases lost. What does the Bible say about a just war?
12 Biblical Rules of Engagement in The Just War
There is such a thing as a just war. Sin in the world and the unwillingness of evil people to live peaceably with those around them oftentimes oppressing and victimizing vulnerable people makes a just war to stop them a necessity. War is a horrible thing (see Psalm 79:3; Jeremiah 7:33; 15:3; 16:4; 34:20). But if peace and justice cannot be established by peaceful means, a just war is the alternative. The Bible does give guidelines for a just war, and they are as follows.
- Pray for guidance in a just war. Prayer is a declaration of dependence upon God and in the tension between attempting to avoid war as much as possible and also not appeasing foolishly an aggressor to try and maintain peace, God’s wisdom and direction are indispensable. God’s wisdom is obtained through prayer (2 Samuel 5:17-19).
- Those fighting a just war should depend on God’s resources, not just their own earthly resources. The resources of God are far more important than any earthly resources. For instance, God’s angels are far mightier than any human soldier and He will send them to help when we fight in a just war (2 Chronicles 32:8; Psalm 3; 4:8; 35:1-7; Isaiah 37:36).
- Always keep in mind that earthly wars have spiritual elements. Paul was inspired to write that our primary battle is not against flesh and blood people but against Satan and his minions and we should fight it as such (Ephesians 6:10-18).
- As much as is possible, overcome evil with good. Even though military force is sometimes needed, mercy and goodness are to be shown to enemies as much as possible (2 Samuel 9:1-8; Psalm 35:11-16; Proverbs 25:21-22; Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-36; Romans 14:14,20).
- Don’t war vengefully but leave revenge in the hands of God. A heart of revenge can lead to atrocities in war. Those fighting a just war must release any thought of revenge to the Lord. Who better to dish out justice rightly than the Just One of the universe? (Romans 12:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7).
- Don’t take pleasure in the demise or pain of your enemy. Even though the elimination of a ruthless enemy is sought, we should never take pleasure in the pain of another no matter how evil. Taking pleasure in the pain experienced by an enemy displeases God (Proverbs 24:17-18).
- Understand there are those who will refuse peaceful means of reconciliation or problem resolution. Some refuse diplomacy (Palm 120:6-7).
- Understand there are ruthless and evil entities in the world. These need to be dealt with for they destroy the peace and victimize the helpless at every turn (Psalm 41:5; 54:3; Ezekiel 36:5-7).
- Those who persist in evil and refuse to live at peace are to be firmly dealt with in the Lord. We are not to sit back and do nothing or continually appease those who do evil (Psalm 109). We are not to be naive or pacifistic.
- Allow the enemy to undermine and defeat himself if possible. Dictators and tyrants are often destroyed from within. Wait for this and facilitate it if you can (Psalm 57:6).
- Forgive enemies once they are defeated. Jesus said, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” Stephen said, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” We should treat enemies as God has treated us for, we were enemies of God before coming to Christ and He forgave us (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60; Colossians 1:21-23).
- Fear God more than the enemy. This will motivate those fighting a just war to fight it according to God’s rules and not their own (Matthew 10:28).
A war will be just in proportion to adhering to scriptural just war criteria such as those listed here.
In the Old Testament Jesus presents Himself to Joshua as the Commander of the Lord’s armies (Joshua 5). God’s angels don’t play. One angel killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night (2 Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37:36).
We might point out also that one day Jesus is going to lead an army of believers from heaven to establish His Kingdom on earth. The Bible describes the scene as follows:
Revelation 19:11-16 (NKJV) – 11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Jesus at His Second Coming, is coming to make war. He is returning with “the armies of heaven.” He has a “sharp sword” in His mouth, “that with it He should strike the nations.” And “He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.” “He himself treads the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” This “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” is coming to end a war by way of warring. Yes, sometimes war is just, and necessary. He is coming as the King of Kings and Lord of lords. He will have a sword, and He is not going to lose. His kingdom will reign for a thousand years (Revelation 19-20).
Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). It would seem God is not opposed to including warring in His plans. His Kingdom is going to be ushered in by the supreme just war at the end of the Tribulation.
War should always be a last resort. But if war becomes necessary, we should stick as close as possible to the Biblical Rules of Engagement. That is true on both an individual and national scale. Let’s pray we never have to go to war on any level, but if we do, let’s pray for God’s strength to defeat evil His way and by His rules. In Jesus’ name. Amen.