In the biblical context, the concept of armies is often associated with military forces and warfare. However, within the New Testament, the Church is metaphorically depicted as an army, engaged in spiritual warfare against the forces of evil. This imagery underscores the Church's role in advancing God's kingdom and standing firm against spiritual adversaries.

Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God

The Apostle Paul provides a vivid depiction of the Church as an army in his letter to the Ephesians. He exhorts believers to "put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes" (Ephesians 6:11). This passage highlights the spiritual nature of the Church's battle, emphasizing that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

Paul describes the various components of the armor of God, which include the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace as footwear, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:14-17). These elements equip believers to stand firm in their faith and resist the attacks of the enemy.

The Church as a Victorious Army

The Church is portrayed as a victorious army, not through physical might, but through the power of God. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, Paul writes, "For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds" . This passage emphasizes the spiritual nature of the Church's mission and the divine empowerment that believers receive to overcome spiritual strongholds.

The Role of Prayer and Unity

Prayer is a crucial aspect of the Church's spiritual warfare. Paul urges believers to "pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition" (Ephesians 6:18). This call to prayer underscores the dependence of the Church on God's strength and guidance in its spiritual battles.

Unity among believers is also essential for the Church's effectiveness as an army. Jesus prayed for the unity of His followers, saying, "I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one" (John 17:22). This unity reflects the harmonious functioning of an army, where each member plays a vital role in achieving victory.

The Church's Mission and the Great Commission

The Church, as an army, is tasked with the mission of spreading the gospel and making disciples of all nations. This mission is encapsulated in the Great Commission, where Jesus commands His followers, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). The Church's mission is not only to defend against spiritual attacks but also to advance the kingdom of God by proclaiming the good news of salvation.

The Church's Assurance of Victory

The Church's ultimate victory is assured through Christ, who has already triumphed over sin and death. In Romans 8:37, Paul declares, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" . This assurance of victory empowers the Church to persevere in its mission, confident in the promise that "the gates of Hades will not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).

In summary, the Church is depicted as a spiritual army, equipped with divine armor, united in purpose, and assured of victory through Christ. This imagery serves as a powerful reminder of the Church's role in spiritual warfare and its mission to advance God's kingdom on earth.Daniel 8:10-13
And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped on them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Songs 6:4,10
You are beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The King and his Armies.
... The white horse of the King, and those of his armies, are symbols of the pomp ... and
True Witness" who commanded John to write "to the angel of the church of the ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the king and his armies.htm

The Church and the Heathen
... with Swein of Denmark, and thus kept the Danish Church dependent. ... these converted
Prussians into political dependents, and Christian welcomed their armies as a ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter xiv the church and.htm

The Church as She Should Be
... Just now two armies have encamped against the host of God, opposed to each
other, but confederates against the church of God. Ritualism ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the church as she should.htm

Independence of Christianity
... Whilst the progress and advance of the church are neither to be accomplished by
the collected might of armies, corporations, nor churches, nor by the separate ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/independence of christianity.htm

Of the Union of Man's Will with God's in those Inspirations which ...
... [395] Her armies are choirs, that is, harmonies of singers; and her choirs are armies,
because the weapons of the Church and of the devout soul, are only ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xii of the union.htm

The Christian Army
... Christian is a soldier, then the Church ought to be called "the Christian Army."
And this makes plainer to us what it means to join the Church. Armies, as you ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/the christian army.htm

History of the Mt. Byrd Church. When Established. Where. Charter ...
... Though soldiers of both armies were frequently in the neighborhood, the church
continued the service of God and the discharge of Christian duty as if the peace ...
/.../chapter xiii history of the.htm

Nature of Church History.
... sense of the word, considered as theological science and art, church history is ... were
made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of aliens ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 1 nature of church.htm

Marvellous Increase of the Church
... but, wonder all dies away, when you recollect that God who doeth as he wills in
the armies of heaven doeth as he pleases in this lower world. O, Church of God! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/marvellous increase of the church.htm

The Hussites (Ad 1418-1431)
... On the side of the Church a holy war was planned, and vast armies, made up from
all nations of Europe, were gathered for the invasion of Bohemia. ...
/.../chapter xxv the hussites ad.htm

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