The

apostle John saw a vision of war in heaven, of the dragon defeated

and hurled down to earth, furious “because he knows that his time

is short.” This is a vivid image of reality. It is the spiritual

reality behind the wars that rage around us. As the devil whispers

temptations in our ears, he also sows discord among the nations and

goads them to war.

Human

history reveals an unending parade of war and struggle. The past

century has seen perhaps the worst destruction of all. Soon after

World War I came World War II, with the Allies defending democracy

and liberty against the threats of dictatorship in Germany, Italy,

and Japan. Then Italy was defeated, and then Germany, and then

finally Japan.

But

the sense of relief and joy after World War II didn’t last long.

More conflicts came along, from Korea to Vietnam amid the rise of

communism, the nuclear arms race, and bitter fighting in the Middle

East, to radicalist terrorism and years of war to try to stop it.

It’s just one confrontation after ­another.

Only

the return of Christ will put an end to all this trouble. And the

dragon, along with death itself, will be destroyed. Come, Lord Jesus,

come quickly!