Matthew 26:52-54 (NKJV)

But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?"

Whenever I read this passage, I find myself wishing Jesus had just gone ahead and called down this twelve legions of angels. Certainly Jesus had no need for a pitiful band of disciples with swords as His defense. A Roman legion would have almost 7,000 soldiers in it. What a sight that would have been, what a story! I would be on the edge of my seat during that battle scene in which the enemy gets wiped out by 78,000 glorious angels. Consider the awesome power that was available to Jesus, yet this is not what happened. The plan had been in place since the foundation of the world. Jesus went on to die an excruciating and shameful death on the cross, receiving upon himself the punishment due us for our sins. In so doing the bigger enemy was defeated, once for all.

1 John 3:8 (NKJV)

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Revelation 19:11-16 (NKJV)

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19:19-21 (NKJV)

And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

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