1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Zechariah 3:1-2 (NASB)
Is there a war going on between God and His forces on one side and Satan and his forces on the other? If you listen to certain preachers such as Joel Osteen you won’t hear anything about that. However, as we saw in this post several months ago, persecution is the natural result of teaching or preaching God’s Word without compromise. Of course the implication of that is to avoid persecution and stay out of “The Holy War” then all Christians need to do is compromise and be friends with the world. Before we take a look at this Holy War, please carefully read the following passage. It is one of the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. It is to the church at Smyrna, which is the only one of the seven that was not rebuked by our Lord. Read it carefully.
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: 9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’ Revelation 2:8-11 (NASB)