Revelation 16:12-16:The demonic nature of war.

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.15 ‘Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.’16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.NIV

Viewed from one angle, the history of the human race is a history of warfare. Not long after the fall of man, in the Garden of Eden, Cain slew his brother, Abel, and rivers of blood have been flowing ever since. Whenever I read, or hear about war, I think, ‘This is madness.’ Perhaps today’s reading provides some insight into the insanity? The last Great War is going to be demonically inspired. That point seems clear. But hasn’t every other war got started the same way? Lying spirits have duped people into engaging in mass slaughter. I think this is showing us the ‘spirit’ behind wars. It’s not just human badness and failure on display. There is something intensely evil behind it all.

The ‘’kings of the whole earth’’ may imagine that they are so great and strong and powerful, but note how they are acted upon by demonic spirits. They are marionettes if truth be told – puppets on strings.

If there is no devil and there are no demons, do we really have an adequate explanation for war?