Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5605 warfare  »  5606 warfare, nature of

Warfare is characteristic of a fallen world. Scripture describes how some wars are justified and others are not.

Warfare is characteristic of a fallen world

It is an aspect of life in a fallen world

Exodus 17:16; 2 Samuel 3:1; 1 Kings 14:30

It is caused by sin

James 4:1-2 See also Psalm 140:1-2; Proverbs 10:12; Proverbs 29:22; 1 Corinthians 3:3

It is horrific in nature

Nahum 3:3 See also 2 Chronicles 25:12; Zechariah 14:2

Warfare as a sign of the end times

Matthew 24:6-7 pp Mark 13:7-8 pp Luke 21:9-10

Sometimes God forbids war

Deuteronomy 1:41-42 See also 1 Kings 12:24; 1 Chronicles 22:8; Psalm 68:30; Psalm 120:7

Sometimes God commands war

Joshua 8:1 See also Numbers 31:7; Deuteronomy 20:1-4; Joshua 10:40; Judges 6:16; Psalm 144:1; Isaiah 13:3-4

Warfare is sometimes a means of judgment

1 Samuel 15:2 See also 2 Kings 21:10-15; Kings 24:2-4; Isaiah 10:12-19; Jeremiah 4:14-18

God's will that warfare will finally cease

Psalm 46:9; Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3

See also

5025  killing
5814  confrontation
5975  violence
6020  sin
6154  fall, the
8482  spiritual warfare
9105  last things
9210  judgment, God's