***This article was written BEFORE World War 1 and World War 2***
The wars of the Lord are prominent in the OT, Num. 21:14, when God helped His ancient people against their enemies, 1 Sam. 17:47; 1 Chr. 5:22. “The captain of the Lord’s host,” Josh. 5:15; 23:10, led the armies of Israel. Even the stars in their courses fought for them, Judg. 5:20. Some wars were fought to destroy nations of unspeakable wickedness, Deut. 7:1-10; Lev. 18:24, 25.
World war is predicted for the last days. After war in heaven, Satan is cast into the earth, Rev. 12:7-12, which becomes engulfed in warfare, Matt. 24:6; Rev. 6:4. The climax is reached at Armageddon, “the battle of that great day of God Almighty,” Rev. 16:14-16. It ends when the Lord descends from heaven, defeats the armies of earth, and binds Satan, Zech. 14:1-3; Rev. 19:11-14; 20:1-4. During the ensuing kingdom age, wars will cease unto the ends of the earth, Psa. 46:9; Isa. 2:4. One final conflict precedes eternity, Rev. 20:7-10.
Behind man’s wars, which rise from his wicked heart, Jas. 4:1 is a continuing invisible spiritual warfare. Believers are struggling against unseen hosts of wickedness, Eph. 6:12-17. The weapons of their warfare are mighty through God, 2 Cor. 10:4. They are called upon to war a good warfare, 1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 4:7, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, 2 Tim. 2:3, 4.
William Evans, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, (Chicago: Bible Institute Colportage Assoc., 1912), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 320-321.