Study War No More?

You may have heard old Negro spiritual the song, ‘Down by the Riverside’. I used to like the chorus:

I ain't gonna study war no more,

I ain't gonna study war no more,
 Study war no more.
I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more,
Study war no more.

As a lad, I understood this generally related to Biblical passages that give insights into the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ on earth.

He shall judge between the nations,
And rebuke many people;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore.

(Isaiah 2:4)

He shall judge between many peoples,
And rebuke strong nations afar off;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore.

(Micah 4:3)

Now, as an adult more intimately familiar with Scriptures, I ponder and wonder… where did the notion of ‘study war no more’ come from, when most versions of The Bible speak of ‘learn war no more’. Perhaps the songwriter was seeking a two-syllable substitute for the word, learn. While the difference may appear insignificant, it isn’t. Why?

The prophecy (expanded in Isaiah 2:2-4 and Micah 4:1-3) applies to the entire millennial reign of Christ, yet Ezekiel 38 and 39, along with Revelation 20:7-9 clearly predict a massive, attempted war (Gog and Magog) at the end of this millennium! This attempted war will be satan-inspired, using as a ‘draw’ the considerable wealth (what Ezekiel calls, ‘booty’) that will have accumulated in Israel and Jerusalem – the seat of the worldwide kingdom, during the thousand years.* The size of the army is cited as being ‘as the sand of the sea’. (Revelation 20:8) Pretty big, I’d say!

So after a thousand years of no wars, no military institutions in which to ‘learn’ war, and no capabilities to produce armaments, would it seem rather stupid to mount a massive, attempted war, especially against Jesus, who will have proven Himself for a thousand years to be God Almighty?! What gives? Moreover, consider the probable ages of these soldiers!

It is very important to distinguish and understand who will populate earth during this millennium, a point that the above-noted song seems to miss. It is safe to presume this massive army will only include mortals who will have survived the tribulation punishments, along with their (long living) offspring (hundreds of years according to Isaiah 65:20), and will not include The Church, redeemed and then immortal, serving as ‘kings and priests’ in Christ’s kingdom. After all, what would we (then) immortals need with such earthly ‘booty’?!

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* I once speculated this booty might be the recent, massive oil and gas deposits found off the coast of Israel. Now I understand this relates to wealth accumulated in Israel/Jerusalem during the millennial reign. (Isaiah 60)