Then I saw Heaven opened, and behold: A white horse!
He who sat upon it was called faithful and true, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
His eyes flamed like fire, and on his head were many diadems.
Written upon him was a name known to none but himself.
He is clad in a robe drenched in blood.
He was called The Word of God.
And the armies of Heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, clean and shining.
From his mouth there went a sharp sword with which to smite the nations; for he it is who shall rule them with an iron rod, and tread the winepress of the wrath and retribution of God the sovereign Lord. On his robe and on his thigh there was written the name: "King of Kings and Lord of Lords."
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"They saw a world that had turned against Got. In such a world, the return of Jesus in glory might well appear to be an act of divine vengeance fo the blood of the saints and martyrs.
"Yet it is a fundamental misunderstanding of the gospel to suppose that, though violence is prohibited in this age, it will be perfectly acceptable in the age to come... The true Christian perception is that the cross of Christ is God's last word on violence. The divine love will never turn into hatred. It will go as far as possible to bring people to divine life, and it will always seek the welfare of every sentient being." (Keith War, _Rethinking Christianity_)
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To "make war" in Heaven is to fight in the realm of thought and spirit, against spirits (Powers & Principalities, that is, the false ideas and loyalties that enslave earthly-minded people.)
The Word of God is not any verbal message, written or spoken (though such a message may be the word of God for an occasion): It is God speaking in our minds and hearts whenever we are willing to pay attention.
"A sharp sword from his mouth" is the power of wisdom against mistakes. And "the iron rod" is not a weapon for injuring people, but a shepherd's second staff, the one used to fend off wolves from his flock. Such wolves?--would be institutions that prey on human beings, and the vicious spirits that possess people desireous of earthly power.
But many of us have lost and many probably will lose their earthly lives in the earthly reflection of this struggle, between the spirits that oppress human beings and God's upholding of his own power and authority against their 'rebellion.'
And what is it that puts spirits "in rebellion"? The power of human thought to make "false gods" out of ideals and thoughts created by God for our good, but distorted by human fears & greed...
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