Announcements

1. Announcements • Lunch today in conjunction with Mission Prayer Lunch. Come spend some time fellowshipping over Pizza and then spend some time praying together for CGS missionaries. • Prospective Members Class Next Saturday October 13 from 9:00 to 12:00 in room 202.

2. Jerry Falwell and Pap Robertson’s statement: the terrorists’ attacks may have been God’s punishment for the sins committed by liberals, gays, feminists, and secular America. Ron Dreher (NRO) in response: As an observant Catholic and social conservative, I can accept that God allowed this horror to happen as a form of chastisement upon our sinful nation but if they had been in NYC they would have gotten an education about the groups they scorn. Liberals, Gays, immigrants—all these distinctions became meaningless as NYers dug in the rubble, gave blood, and consoled victim's families. Discuss in groups of 3 - 4

3. Issue of War • Addressed throughout Christian history: Tertullian, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, et al • Central issue: ethical conflict between a Christian serving his government and Christ’s command to love our enemies. • Not an OT vs. NT issue: Pr 25.21f

4. Christian Positions on War • Activist • Pacifist • Mediativist or Selectivist (Just war)

5. Christian Positions on War • Activist • Government is ordained by God; “it follows that to disobey government is to disobey God”. • Jesus paid his taxes (Mt 17.24-27); recognized Pilate’s authority AND that it was delegated (Jn 19.10,11) • Christians are called to obey the government (Rom 13.1-7; 1 Pet 2.13,14) including the sword (Rom 13.4) • Exceptions to this but this is the norm (Acts 5.29) • Nonresistance is to be a personal ethic (Mt 5.38f) (retaliation is a last resort) but the responsibility for war lies with the government because the believer cannot usually know if the specific war is right or wrong.

6. Christian Positions on War • Pacifist • Church is a separate and minority society separate from the state (Jn 13.36; 17.16; Col 1.13) • Christians highest allegiance is to God the the Church universal. Therefore Key Q: Can the government be obeyed when a Christian taking up arms may/would harm a fellow Christian simply because he is wearing the uniform of another country? • Work of Evangelism takes precedence over military objectives (Mt 28.18-20) • * More consistent with Jesus words and deeds: Lk 9.54-56; Acts 10.38; 1 Pet 2.23-24

7. Christian Positions on War • Selectivist • Christian is obligated to obedience to government authority until and unless it compromises God as his chief authority. • Just War

8. Just War Theory Requirements • The proper authority has determined that a war is just and justified. • reasons for undertaking a destructive war must be weighty and significant. War should be the last resort after all possible measures having reasonable expectation of success have been undertaken • A formal declaration of war announcing the intention of and the reasons for waging war is necessary. The use of military force is the prerogative of governments and not individuals. • A reasonable hope of success which is defined as being broader than simple victory is also necessary. Success thus defined would limit the objectives of any war and rule out total destruction of another nation’s economic and political institutions. • The principle of proportionality requires that the means employed take into account the limited objectives with total, unlimited war excluded. • The principle of just intention stresses that the war is initiated with the goal to secure a genuine peace for all the parties involved.

9. Other Hot Passages • Jesus/John/Peter’s relationship to soldiers • High words of praise: Mt 8.10 • Requirement only not to abuse their power: Lk 3.14 • Soldier described as righteous God-fearer: Acts 10.22 • Jesus command to buy swords: Lk 22.35f

10. What does it come down to? • 2 Statements • Individuals are responsible for ethical actions (against pure Activist position) • Christians should support and obey their government

11. What does it come down to? • 3 Questions • What is my ultimate defense? Who will accomplish ultimate justice? • Is the government calling me to place my submission to it above my submission to God? (How far • Governments are entrusted with and exercise force not individuals, but should I as a Christian be involved in that exercise even just as agents?

12. Soldiers • The soldier just like the businessperson, teacher, doctor, clerk is to obey their boss and do their work unto the Lord, but has the responsibility to exercise their conscience to not disobey God.

13. God is a Warrior: Revelation

14. So What is Happening? God is at work to accomplish his purposes in history through special grace: undeserved salvation through the life, death and resurrection of his son (Lk 9.22-27) which results in power, security, comfort now (Rom 8) and incomprehendable wholeness, joy, love and celebration (Is 25.6-10; Rev 21.1-7), and terrible justice (Rev 21.8). God Battles Spiritual Powers (not People) through The upside down Nature of The cross God battles Israel because of her unfaithfulness and/but proclaims a future day of ultimate judgment God battles people with intrusions of the final consummation God battles People and Powers in the Consummation Common grace: God blessing all humanity with relative provision of rain and sun (Mt 5.43-48) order, justice, peace, governments, leaders (Rom 13.1-7). “Just War” lies here.

15. So What is Happening? God is at work to accomplish his purposes in history through special grace: undeserved salvation through the life, death and resurrection of his son (Lk 9.22-27) which results in power, security, comfort now (Rom 8) and incomprehendable wholeness, joy, love and celebration (Is 25.6-10; Rev 21.1-7), and terrible justice (Rev 21.8). 20.1-10: Satan 20.11-15: Unbelievers 21.1-8: Overcomers 21.9-2.5: Church in Perfect Glory God battles People and Powers in the Consummation Common grace: God blessing all humanity with relative provision of rain and sun (Mt 5.43-48) order, justice, peace, governments, leaders (Rom 13.1-7). “Just War” lies here.

16. A letter • Letter opening: 1.4-8 • Possible letter closing: 22.21 • Three specific letters to churches: 1.9-3.22

17. Warrior Language in Revelation Rev 19.11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped inh blood, and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rulei them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”

18. Opening 7 Letters to Churches: Churches imperfect in the world Throne scenes: Ch 4, 5 I: Seals: Ch 6.1-8.1 II: Trumpets: 8.2-11.19 III: 7 Images of Conflict with God: 12.1-14.20 IV: Bowls: 15.1-16.21 V: Final Judgment of all Enemies: 17.1-21.8 Church Perfect in Glory: 21.9-2.5 Conclusion: 22.6-21

19. Satan the Spiritual force of Evil is destroyed 20:7 And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

20. Humans are Judged 11 And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

21. Restoration 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, 4 and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 “He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” 9 And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I shall show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

22. National Healing 22:1 And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him; 4 and they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever.