The War On Terror

The newly elected Prime Minister of Canada,
Justin Trudeau, will pull Canadian jet fighters
out of the war on ISIS.  Canada will help in the training of the Iraqi army to fight this battle.  American Secretary of State John Kerry has aspirations of Syria becoming a democracy.  President Obama refuses to associate the present terrorism with Islamic fundamental extremism.  Do western world leaders understand the true nature of terrorism that is being exported from the Middle East ?

ISIS bases its acts of terror on their brand of Islamic apocalyptic eschatology.  Their view of end time theology mandates them to cleanse the world of all who do not embrace Islam as they understand Islam.  For them, ridding the world of infidels helps pave the way for their Muslim Messiah to arise and rule the nations.  This end time scenario is due in part to a literal interpretation of the Quran.  If the Quran says "fight those who do not believe in Allah or the Last Day …", which it does in chapter 9, verse 29, then ISIS will fight the infidel.       

I support the international bombing raids on ISIS strongholds in Syria and Iraq.  I do so in part because I believe the Bible shows us that God steps into the affairs of man from time to time and uses such conflicts to accomplish His will.  I believe the fall of the Babylonian Empire to the Medes and Persians in 539 BC was one such time.  That being said, bombs can't kill ISIS ideology that is infecting young people around the world. 

From my Biblical perspective  ISIS aggression is more than a matter of religion.  It's the outward expression of evil that is inherent in man (Jeremiah 17:9).  Such evil has been seen throughout history.  African slaves were tortured, raped, and murdered in America.  Thousands of people have been, and still are being, imprisoned and killed by communist regimes.  Jews, homosexuals, and others were exterminated by Hitler's forces.  Some Protestant reformers executed each other over doctrinal disputes.  Muslims were killed by Roman armies in the name of Christ.  Christians and Jews were massacred by Muhammad and his armies in the name of Allah.  Christians were beheaded, burned at the stake, and fed to wild animals at the command of Roman Emperors.  There's nothing new about ISIS style terror.    

Hidden beyond the evil nature of man is a demonic world that takes advantage of our evil nature.  The Apostle Paul rightly said that Christians don't fight against flesh and blood, ISIS included, but against the demonic rulers of this present age (Ephesians 6:12). 

Jesus spoke to the issue of war and terror in Matthew 24:6.  He told us not to be alarmed by the never ending onset of war.  "They must come to pass", He said.  I believe wars must come to pass because sin must reach its ultimate state of sinfulness before God deals with a sinful nation in judgment (Genesis 15:16). 

Humanity's sin will reach its ultimate state of sinfulness for this present era as seen in the war that ends this present age.  "I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice He judges and makes war … And I saw an angel … who cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, 'come gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men … and the flesh of all people' … Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the white horse and His army.  But the beast was captured, and together with him the false prophet … were thrown alive into the lake of burning sulfur.  The rest of them were killed by the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the white horse (Revelation 19:11 - 21)." 

At this point the history of war and terror ends.  It will reappear for a brief time a thousand years later (Revelation 20:7 - 10) but until then, this age ends with the last great war.  Like a fire exploding from His mouth, Jesus will merely speak the word and a satanic inspired humanity will fall in defeat.    

Like the Muslim Fundamentalist, I view our Christian holy book as literal as possible.  If it says Jesus will return to earth to put an end to war I believe He will do just that.  A sufficient number of Biblical prophecies have already been fulfilled to cause me to believe the rest will be fulfilled as well.  

Unlike Muslim Fundamentalist Extremist, I do not use force to prepare the way for my Messiah's return because Jesus told us not to do so (John 18:36).  Jesus alone will fight the last battle, while we stand by in the clouds and cheer Him on. 

When it comes to any world wide event, like ISIS terrorism, I follow Jesus' advice.  He told us to watch and pray about such things (Luke 21:36) because they might be signs that point to the end of this age and the last great war.  I also follow His advice when He told us not to fear those who can kill the body, ISIS included,  but rather fear the One who is capable of destroying both soul and body in the Lake of Fire (Matthew 10:28). 

If our western world leaders would have understood who the ultimate terrorist is, there might not be an ISIS to fight.