a series of devotions by Rev Mark Sutherd Carroll, AOC
The following description of our Lord as Christ Militant by Rev Mark Sutherd Carroll will be posted as our Devotion for the next three days.
Christ Militant in Scripture
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet
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LMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.
[Cranmer: 1549, BCP]
Christ Militant at Jericho
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ND it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. [Joshua v.13-15]
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Comment: Some may associate the "man" who stood with his sword drawn, the Captain of the Host, to have been Michael, the Archangel Militant. However, I believe it was Christ, for men do not worship angels, as it was not allowed anywhere in Scripture, and men do not remove their shoes in the presence of angels, but only before God. We must also consider that just prior to this appearance, two very special events: circumcision of all the males, and the Passover. Just as Christians are to be baptized before Communion, the Jew was to be circumcised as a sign of his membership in the called-out people. Only then does God send the Captain of the Host to Joshua. Seven days later to lead the Israelites. Seven days later, the invisible Army of the Lord brought down the wall of Jericho (perhaps on the Sabbath), and all was offered to the Lord, by the sword, or fire, or offering of the metals.
Comment: Some may associate the "man" who stood with his sword drawn, the Captain of the Host, to have been Michael, the Archangel Militant. However, I believe it was Christ, for men do not worship angels, as it was not allowed anywhere in Scripture, and men do not remove their shoes in the presence of angels, but only before God. We must also consider that just prior to this appearance, two very special events: circumcision of all the males, and the Passover. Just as Christians are to be baptized before Communion, the Jew was to be circumcised as a sign of his membership in the called-out people. Only then does God send the Captain of the Host to Joshua. Seven days later to lead the Israelites. Seven days later, the invisible Army of the Lord brought down the wall of Jericho (perhaps on the Sabbath), and all was offered to the Lord, by the sword, or fire, or offering of the metals.
Christ Militant in Revelation
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ND I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. [Rev xix]
Comment: The image of Christ coming with his army of warrior saints is the most graphic in scriptures of Christ Militant. He comes with wrath to slay the enemies of God with the sword that comes from his mouth.
Christ Militant – The Lion of Judah
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UDAH, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. [Gen xlix]
Comment: This prophetic utterance of Israel, as he blessed his sons in his final hours, gives the image of the coming Christ as a militant ruler. From the loins of Judah shall come the Kings of Israel.... concluding with the final King of the Jews, Jesus the Christ. He is the Lion of Judah.
Christ Militant – The King of Glory
Who is this King of glory? It is the LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. ...
[Psalm xci]
Comment: Psalm 24 is a messianic hymn. The Church has since its early days considered Jesus Christ to be the King of Glory here, as the Te Deum says, " Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ (iv century). It is he alone that is worthy to ascend into the hill of the LORD and stand in his holy place (v2), who has clean hands, a pure heart, and has not lifted up his soul to vanity nor sworn deceitfully (for he alone is without sin) (v3-4). Jesus Christ received, as the Son of God, his father's special blessing on the day he was baptized and came up out of the Jordan (v5). He who came in great humility, shall return in great power and might before a host who shall trample out evil and bring all things into subjection to his Lordship.
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