The Bible Storyline – Lesson 5 – May 17, 2026

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Biblical Warfare — Part 1

This is part of The Bible Storyline series. Teaching us to read the Bible the way God intended — knowing and following the main storyline, reading every book, chapter and verse asking: “How does this connect to the main storyline?”

We have already established that it is possible to read the Bible through the wrong lens — and a wrong lens leads to wrong conclusions. That is why many people walk away thinking the Bible is a collection of life lessons. Or they conclude that God exists to help them have a good life and then reward them with a comfortable eternity when it is all over.

Many people believe they were born as God’s children, headed for heaven, and as long as they do not do anything too terrible along the way they will be fine.

But the Bible teaches a very different reality. And once you understand this reality it will change:

How you read Scripture

How you live your life

What you know about God

 

Here is the reality the Bible teaches.

 

You were born into a war. You were born on the wrong side of that war. Your life will end in this war. The only question is — What kingdom will you be serving when the war comes to an end.

 

Goal 1: Establish the Reality of this War

Goal 2: Establish your Responsibility in this War

 

The Reality of this War

In sermon #2, we learned about an angel named Lucifer, who was the chief of the cherubim — the highest ranking angel. He was the standard of beauty and appears to have been in charge of leading worship of God, especially with the music that was built into him.

 

Lucifer became jealous of God and determined to exalt himself above, or at least equal to God. This is found in Isaiah 14:13-14 and the five “I Will” statements:

 

“I will ascend into heaven”		“I will exalt my throne above the stars of God”
“I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north”		“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds”
“I will be like the most High” — Isaiah 14:13-14

 

In simple terms, Satan convinced one-third of the angels to join with him in an attempt to take over God’s throne. This resulted in a battle that took place in Heaven. Lucifer and his followers were defeated and cast out of Heaven.

 

Revelation 12:7-9  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

 

Revelation 12:4  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.

 

Luke 10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

 

The Bible teaches that Satan lost the battle in heaven and was cast to the earth. But Satan NEVER abandoned his plan to exalt himself above God. He continues to wage war against God and God’s Kingdom. Satan is just as committed to his plan today as he was in Isaiah 14. He is no longer able to lead his attack inside of Heaven. Lucifer has been cast to the earth, and this is where he started building his own kingdom and gathering his own followers.

 

We are establishing the Reality of the War.

 

God’s Original Plan For Earth

In sermon #4 we discovered that God created earth to be the permanent home for mankind. It would showcase God’s glory, mankind would image God and rule over creation under God’s authority, and God would dwell with mankind on earth. God appointed Adam as the head of this earth, but his authority was delegated by God.

 

Adam and Eve were the first humans on earth, but they were also the first human prisoners and casualties of this war between God and His Kingdom and Satan and his kingdom.

 

What Was Adam & Eve’s Original Sin?

When hearing this question, most of us know the short answer — they ate the forbidden fruit. While this is correct, it is not the complete answer. Failure to understand this results in a shallow understanding of sin.

 

Their sin was two-fold — mistrust of God, which led to disobedience of God. In Satan’s attempt to build his own kingdom, he convinced Eve that God was lying when He said they would die if they ate the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He also caused them to doubt God’s intention by telling them if they ate the fruit they would be like God.

 

Genesis 3:4-5  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

 

Their sin was more than disobedience to God’s command. They distrusted God’s word, rejected God’s warning, and disobeyed God’s command. They also bought into Satan’s desire to be like God — suggesting dissatisfaction with being under God.

 

Warning!  Tragic Consequence: Adam and Eve shifted their allegiance from God’s kingdom to Satan’s and they lost dominion of earth in the process. They repented and God restored them, but significant damage was already done.

 

Re-Cap

Up to this point, we are establishing the Reality of the War between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.   The battle is being played out on earth — the place God created as our permanent home, where He would dwell with us, and mankind would have dominion over but under God’s authority.   Adam and Eve became the first casualties and prisoners of this war.   Do you recognize yourself as being born into a war?

 

Biblical Terms & Descriptions

The Bible does not shy away or soften its language when it comes to the cosmic war. God wants us to recognize the Reality of the War!

 

2 Timothy 2:3  Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.   2 Timothy 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.   1 Timothy 1:18  That thou by them mightest war a good warfare.   Romans 13:12  Let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Ephesians 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.   2 Corinthians 10:4  The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.   Ephesians 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.   1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

 

2 Timothy 2:17 — Captive Language:  They may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.   Luke 13:16 — Bound Language:  Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond.   Acts 26:18 — Power Language:  To turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins.   Hebrews 2:14-15 — Bondage Language:  That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

These are just a sample of the language God placed in the Bible to keep our minds focused on the Reality of the war.

 

God’s Army of Angels

Also consider how the Bible speaks of God’s army of angels:

 

Isaiah 13:4  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.

 

The term “Lord of Hosts” In Hebrew literally translates “Jehovah, God of the armies of heaven.” This title for God is used 285 times in the Old Testament. When David told Goliath “I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts” — David understood God as Commander and Chief. That is why he was not afraid to go to battle with Goliath.

 

God’s angels are warriors:

2 Kings 6:15-17  And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

 

2 Kings 19:35  And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

 

Matthew 26:52-53  Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

 

Revelation 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

 

When Jesus returns for the final battle, He is accompanied by the army of heaven. God is the Commander and Chief of an angelic army. Why? Because there is a war waging between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan. You and I were born into this war.

 

Many Christian Hymns Carry This Theme

Onward Christian Soldiers Hold the Fort

Victory in Jesus Stand Up Stand Up For Jesus

 

Application

Because God makes the warfare a prominent theme in the Bible, you should think of it every day. Follow His warning to be sober and vigilant because you were born into a war.

 

The Plan Behind the Plan

Warning!  Never think of Satan as just roaming about randomly looking for a chance to agitate people. He is methodically building his own kingdom and waging war against God’s kingdom.

 

Satan is a brilliant master planner. He has long-term goals and every move he makes is part of his master war plan. Satan determined to establish himself as the god of this world. Which means he had to take authority and dominion away from Adam. Satan convincing Adam to sin had serious consequences regarding the dominion of this world.

 

Genesis 1:28  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

 

At creation God gave Adam dominion over the earth. But when Adam followed Satan instead of God, he lost that dominion. Consider what the Bible says about Satan and this earth.

 

In Luke 4:6, Satan is tempting Jesus in the wilderness and offers Jesus the kingdoms of this world. Satan states the authority of this world has been delivered unto him. Notice Jesus never argues that Satan did not at that time possess the authority he claimed.

 

Luke 4:6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

 

The word “delivered” implies a transfer. It was not his originally but was transferred to him at some point. This dominion was given to Adam at creation, but in the NT it has been given up or turned over to Satan. This transfer was a direct consequence of the fall.

Titles Connected to Satan in Scripture

 

The god of this world  2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

The prince of this world  John 12:31; 14:30 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. … The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

 

The prince of the power of the air  Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

 

Each of these terms acknowledge that Satan has power and limited authority in this world. He is waging war against God and God’s Kingdom here on earth. A kingdom only exists where the King’s authority is ruling.

 

Re-Cap

Satan attempted to replace God as the Most High. He and his army were defeated by Michael and God’s army of angels. He was banished to earth but never surrendered. He stole the dominion of earth from Adam and is building his kingdom and expanding his rule over mankind.

 

Before We Close — Three Clarifications

 

First There is a literal war being waged right now between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan.

Second Satan is currently the prince and power of the air, the god of this world. He can take people captive at his will.

Third God will take back the earth and extend His Kingdom throughout the entire earth. He does this through Jesus Christ. Revelation 11:15  The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

 

Application

 

Be Sober

A call to be fully in charge of your passions, desires, and thoughts. The purpose is to be fully involved in serving God not sin.

 

Be Vigilant

A call to stay fully alert to the dangers around you. Live every day in the awareness that you were born into a war and that at any moment you can become a casualty or prisoner of that war.

 

Put On the Armor

Read and follow Ephesians 6:10-18. Put on the full armor of God.

 

In the next sermon we will establish our Responsibility in this War!