Why "A Time For War"?

Despite their peaceful stand, Jehovah's Witnesses nevertheless consider the present to be predominately "a time for war." Not literal warfare, of course, since forcing the Bible's message upon others by armed might would contradict God's invitation to "let anyone that wishes take life's water free." (Revelation 22:17) No forced conversions here! The warfare Jehovah's Witnesses wage is strictly spiritual. Paul wrote: "The weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things." -2 Corinthians 10:14; 1 Timothy 1:189.

Chief among "the weapons of our warfare" is "the sword of the spirit,that is, God's Word." (Ephesians 6:17) This sword is powerful. "The word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and their marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) By using this sword, Christians are able to overturn "reasonings and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God." ( 2 Corinthians 10:5) It enables them to expose false doctrines, harmful practices, and philosophies that reflect human rather than divine wisdom. -1 Corinthians 2:6-8; Ephesians 6:11-13.

Another type of spiritual warfare is the one waged against the sinful flesh. Christians follow the example of Paul,who admitted: "I pummel my body and lead it as a slave, that, after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow." (1 Corinthians 9:27 The Christians in Colossae were admonished to deaden their "body members that are upon the earth as respects fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5) And Bible writer Jude exhorted Christians "to put up a hard fight for the faith that was once for all time delivered to the holy ones." (Jude 3) Why must we do so? Paul answers: "if you live in accord with the flesh you are sure to die; but if you put the practices of the body to death by the spirit, you will live." (Romans 8:13) In view of this clear statement, there can be no letup in our war against bad tendencies.

Yet another reason why the present c an be viewed as a time for war is that "the day of vengeance on the part of our God" is imminent. (Isaiah 61:1, 2) In 1914, Jehovah's appointed time has arrived to establish the Messianic Kingdom and to authorize it to wage active war against Satan's system. The allotted time period for humans to experiment with man-made rule without divine interference expired at that time. Instead of accepting God's Messianic Ruler, most people continue to reject him, even as most did in the first century. (Acts 28:27) Consequently, in the face of Kingdom opposition, Christ has been forced to "go subduing in the midst of [his]enemies." (Psalm 110:2) Happily, Revelation 6:2 promises that he will "complete his conquest." This he will do during "the war of the great day of God the Almighty. . . , called in Hebrew HarMagedon." -Revelation 16:14, 16.

Next time: "A Time To Speak" Is Here

Watchtower, 1999