The burden of God's war against the kingdom of Satan, in many instances, is nearly absent from the Christian churches. Pleasant, entertaining music is sounding in the assemblies in place of the trumpet of God.

However, the trumpet is sounding in the spirit realm. The trumpet of God is sounding in the heart of Christ. He is God's Commander in Chief. The trumpet of God is sounding in the hearts of the members of the Body of Christ who are growing toward spiritual maturity.

The alarm is sounding. Violent trumpet blasts reverberate throughout the spirit realm as the Lord of Armies prepares His saints for the fierce conflict of Armageddon, for the Day of the Lord.

The Christian churches of the wealthy nations slumber on. A little slumber. A little folding of the hands. Be sure and maintain our customary way of living. Don't rock the boat or the membership will fall out. Will the membership fall out of the boat when the Day of the Lord dawns in fire? If so, the sleepers should fall out now in preparation for the Day of spiritual battle that even now is coming upon us.

Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. (Psalms 24:8)

The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. (Isaiah 13:4,5)

Sometimes such passages as the one above (Isaiah 13:4,5) refer to a historical invasion of Israel by a foreign country. Often there is a double reference, one natural and one spiritual.

In this instance, the immediate application of Isaiah may have been to the overthrow of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. However, the language of the context suggests that the Holy Spirit of God, as is true in many other Old Testament passages, is speaking here not only of an immediate physical conflict but also of the ultimate spiritual conflict that yet is ahead of us.

The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. (Isaiah 42:13)

And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? (Joel 2:11)

The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. (Habakkuk 3:11)

It is impossible to understand the purpose and working of the Christian salvation, to comprehend what God is doing and intends to do through the Body of Christ, without understanding the warrior dimension of God's Personality. God's attention is focused on the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord is the day of spiritual battle, as may be seen by the Scripture passages that deal with this subject.

To be continued.