WARS AND TERRITORY
Throughout history, most wars have been fought over territory—taking it, defending it, or reclaiming it. When territory is won, a flag is planted, signalling a new political or ideological rule.
But beneath the battles over territory there are always deeper forces at work—political power, culture, religion, and economic interests. Often the land is destroyed rather than possessed, yet the struggle for control continues.
The growing tensions in the Middle East, particularly around Iran and involving many nations, could increasingly take on the appearance of a religious war with the banners of Islam and Judaism with Christianity somewhere in the middle. But in reality, the vast majority of people in these faiths do not want war. Religious wars are rarely about pure theology—they are usually about historical grievances, territorial identity, and political power. Jesus said he did not come to bring peace but a sword and his sword is exposing and testing every political power structure and religious identity.
Pray that Western powers operate with justice and integrity as well as force in the conflict and not end up facing a lose–lose situation. And as for religion the question becomes how will followers of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity live out their belief systems when those beliefs are tested
THE CHRISTIAN BATTLEFIELD
For Christians, the battle is not over geographical territory but many are becoming divisively contentious over this. Christianity does not seek to control land. It seeks to win the territory of the human heart.
My question is What is the real territorial battle of God’s people today?
Our struggle is not against people or nations. Our battle is against territorial spiritual principalities and powers of darkness that influence the hearts and minds of humanity in every culture and society. (Ephesians 6:12)
Paul said that we all once followed the prince of the power of the air…but now we have been made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2)
Our real conflict is a spiritual battle for the human heart.
IN OUR DISCUSSION GROUPS re THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS Paul saw something powerful happening in that church. He thanked God for two things: Their faith and love for one another in Christ. For Paul, these two signs meant that believers were participating in the life of Jesus.
When the gospel came to Ephesus something dramatic happened.
Acts 19:18 After Paul preached in Ephesus God performed extraordinary miracles through him and many who practiced sorcery confessed their sins, gathered their expensive magic books/scrolls, and burned them publicly and the value of these books was estimated at 50,000 pieces of silver. (twenty million dollars today)
The Spiritual territory had changed hands.
ISRAEL AND THE LAND OF PROMISE
The Bible makes it clear in 2 Thessalonians and in the Book of Revelation that Israel will be occupying Jerusalem in the final battle of Armageddon when the corrupt lawless world leaders oppose the victorious return of Jesus territorially in Jerusalem. But as to what happens between now and then and despite the myriads of prophetic Scriptures, we will have to wait and see.
And in the Old Testament God did promise actual land to Israel. The promise began with Abraham. God said: “To your offspring I will give this land.” (Genesis 12:7- 13:14).
Later the promise to Abraham expanded and the boundaries were defined.
‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.’ Genesis 15:18.
Then came ‘boots on the ground’ territorial warfare.
Under Moses God rold Israel not to worship the idols of the surrounding nations. Deuteronomy 9:4–5 It is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you.”
This was not Israel’s superiority, but God’s judgment on idolatry and injustice.
Eventually the promise was fulfilled. Scripture records:
Joshua 21:43–45: Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side… Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.”
The land became the place where Israel lived out Old Covenant life with God.
But the New Covenant life relationship with God is no longer tied to geographical territory but to territory of the human heart.
The Bible tells us that the old covenant has become obsolete.
Hebrews 8:13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete
A WORD ABOUT ISLAM
Islam does not appear to have the same strict covenant structure of land occupancy found in the Bible as in Judaism. And I do not understand Islamic covenant structure fully, even though I have studied it and corresponded with Muslims on my teaching. They have responded to my recent podcast on the Mystery of Christ and the religious Muslims I have had contact with are of the spiritually devotional sect of Sufism who practice and teach on finding inner peace. Thay have treated me with kindness and are eager to maintain dialogue. (Write to me if you want details). I pray that the Spirit of God touches their hearts and peoples’ hearts everywhere, because the truth that Jesus brings is for everyone.
THE MYSTERY OF ISRAEL
The New Testament describes Israel as a mystery.
Romans 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles (nations) has come in. And then all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins. Concerning the gospel, they are hostile with regard to you but concerning my calling upon them they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
Paul uses several images:
Religious Israel as an olive tree and national Israel as the fig tree
Spiritual Israel as Christ the true vine with Christian believers as the branches.
God’s covenant purposes all ultimately converge in Christ in the New or Eternal Covenant which transcends time or territory.
The promise to Abraham ultimately expanded far beyond the land of Canaan. Jesus revealed this in the Sermon on the Mount: (Mattthew 5)
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” He was talking about the Kingdom promise of our inheritance in Christ through faith - his Kingdom world to come, which was not of this world.
Paul says in Romans 4:13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.”
And more than that - What began as a promise about land becomes a promise about a whole Renewed Creation (Romans 8:21).
Peter writes of a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells.
(2 Peter 3:13) Revelation also speaks of the new heaven and a new earth.
ABRAHAM THE PILGRIM
Interestingly, Abraham himself never possessed the territorial land of Israel.
Stephen when he was being martyred in front of Paul said Abraham did not even own a foot of ground. (Acts 7:5)
He lived there as a sojourner. Why?
Because Abraham was looking beyond the land to something greater, and Paul then wrote about Abraham that he was looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. He desired a better country—a heavenly one.
Hebrews 11:9–10 By faith Abraham went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land…For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God…They desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one.”
The promise was always bigger than Canaan and the Middle East.
Abraham became a pattern of faith - living as a pilgrim, trusting in a spiritual but tangible inheritance - and looking beyond immediate possession.
THE REAL TERRITORY
When Paul thanked the Ephesian believers for their faith and love, he recognized that the flag of God’s New Creation Territory had already been planted in their hearts and they were conquering that territory in the hearts of the people in Ephesus, and they were winning.
This how we measure up as Christians in the world, no matter what the turmoil and confusion of the world’s values and power struggles impose upon us.
Our identity is not defined by political systems, national borders, or religious conflicts.
It is defined by participation in the life of Christ.
We may see religion fighting against religion in the days ahead, but religion alone doesn’t have Godly power without the centrality of Christ.
It may have political and commercial and territorial power, but it fails the need of the human heart to have love and faith and power in the Holy Spirit.
War is about territory and Jesus has won the decisive war against darkness to gain the territory of the human heart. Onward Christian soldiers.
Paul OSullivan pauloss@icloud.com
