FromNowUntilForeverBook8.5x5.5 REV.indd

had not yet gotten underway, the bloodied garment pictures what’s about to take place.The massive blood flow that will take place at that final battle supports this claim (Revelation 14:20). He will be joined by an army of angels (vs. 14) - This should come as no surprise, since Jesus spoke of it on more than one occasion (Mark 8:38, Luke 9:26). Paul says as well that “The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels . . . (2 Thessalonians 1:7). “However, nothing is said abouttheir engagement in conflict; this belongs to Messiah alone. They wear no armor and carry no weapons.” 432 He will rule them with an iron rod (vs. 15) – Not onlydo shepherds use their rods for guiding sheep, but to defend them from dangerous beasts as well.We’ll see the latter take place when Jesus returns, with punishment ruling the day over protection. As was prophesied about Jesus centuries before His first coming, “You shall break them with a rod of iron,You shall shatter them like earthenware” (Psalm 2:9). This image of Jesus bothers some people.They would rather view Him as the gentle, pacifistic, peace lover who remained silent and turned the other cheek before his accusers. Others ask, “How could a loving God put His stamp of ap- proval on any form of war?” Obviously, He doesn’t relish it.Yet times arise when no other choice exists. The Old Testament tells of many battles between God’s chosen and their enemies, ones in which He intervened and numerous lives were lost. Abraham, Joshua, Gideon, Saul, and David are just a few of the many who commanded soldiers in conquests over their enemies.Yet nothing to date can compare to Jesus spearheading the ultimate victory. In 1914, English explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton led an

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