The Final Battle

As the end of another year arrives, it is a good time to think about how the end of time will ultimately play out. It seems to me, at least at times, that the sensationalism of premillennialism holds sway in much of what is written about Last Things. The storyline usually goes something like this: the “Final Battle” is summarized in Revelation 19, with God coming to rescue us much as the cavalry rescued those in trouble in the old Western movies.

What does the Bible say? Where is hope? What does it mean to anticipate the return of Jesus?
The Bible does not mention a great final battle in the future in which Jesus and innumerable “returned armies” invade the earthly kingdom of His enemies. (Such is a misunderstanding of Revelation and a faulty reading of the text.) The Bible does not speak of a great heavenly invasion of the earth in the future. The hope which sustains the Christian is much better than the premillennial speculations that saturate the beliefs of many today.

As a new year begins, I am thinking about those who left our earthly ranks during 2013. The battle against Satan is life-long. All of life moves toward death and judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Paul summarizes the ‘final battle’ in this way: “I have run the race, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (read 2 Timothy 4:6-8). The promise of a heavenly crown for those declared righteous by the blood of Jesus illuminates each day in the life of a Christian. We eagerly await his coming (Hebrews 9:28). We live victoriously never quite knowing which day will mark our final battle. Those who finish the course are blessed because their labors provide testimony of the battle they have fought and won (Rev.14:13).

The Psalmist shares words of comfort: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. O Lord, truly I am your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have freed me from my chains” (Psalm 116:15-16). May we live as God’s servants, freed from the chains of sin, victoriously running and finishing the course, so that we may declare with Paul, “I have kept the faith.”

A worthy goal for 2014!