War Scroll

The roster of the war — the sons of light against the sons of darkness, the Kittim, and all the host of Belial; the seven engagements of the eschatological battle.

1For the Master, the rule of the war: the first attack of the sons of light shall be undertaken against the lot of the sons of darkness — even against the army of Belial; against the band of Edom and Moab and the children of Ammon; against the troops of the Philistines, and the bands of the Kittim of Asshur.

2And in support of these shall come the offenders against the covenant — that is, the violators of Israel that walk according to the dominion of the rulers of darkness.

3On the day of their battle against the Kittim, they shall go forth unto great carnage. The Prince of the congregation shall pursue them unto the great sea. On that day shall the King of the Kittim be cut off.

4And there shall be a time of salvation for the people of God, and a season of dominion for all the men of His lot, and an everlasting destruction for all the lot of Belial. There shall be great panic among the sons of Japheth; Asshur shall fall, and there shall be no one to come unto his help.

5And the dominion of the Kittim shall pass away — that wickedness be utterly cast down without remainder; and there shall be no escape for any of the sons of darkness.

6And the sons of righteousness shall shine to all the ends of the earth. They shall continue to shine unto all the seasons of darkness. Until the end of all the appointed times of darkness, and at the season ordained of God, His lofty greatness shall shine for all the times of eternity — for peace and blessing, glory and joy, and length of days, for all the sons of light.

7On the day of the fall of the Kittim there shall be battle and great carnage before the God of Israel. For that is the day appointed by Him from of old for the final battle of the sons of darkness; on it shall the congregation of the gods and the company of men join in great combat.

8The sons of light and the lot of darkness shall battle together — for the manifestation of the strength of God, with the noise of a great multitude, and a battle-cry of gods and men, on the day of disaster. It shall be a season of distress for all the people who are redeemed by God; in all their sufferings none shall exist that is like it, hastening unto its completion as an eternal redemption.

9And on the day of their battle against the Kittim, they shall go forth unto carnage. In three lots shall the sons of light prevail to strike down wickedness; and in three shall the army of Belial gird themselves to recover the lot of darkness. The companies of the foot soldiers shall melt the heart, but the strength of God shall strengthen the heart of the sons of light.

10And in the seventh lot, the great hand of God shall subdue Belial, and all the angels of his dominion, and all the men of his lot. Behold, this is the day appointed of old for the wars of consummation against the sons of darkness, on which shall stand to combat the great hand of God against all the lot of Belial. The holy ones, the host of the angels, shall stand fast.

The trumpets of the assembly, the standards, and the battle order — the seven priests, the seven Levites, the twelve chiefs of the tribes.

1And they shall write upon the trumpets of the alarms of the battle: The mighty deeds of God, that He may scatter the enemy, and put to flight all that hate righteousness, and a blessing of his favor against all the holy ones.

2And they shall write upon the trumpets of the slain: The hand of the strength of God in the battle that He may bring down all the slain of unfaithfulness.

3And they shall write upon the trumpets of return from battle: God hath gathered together. And they shall write upon the trumpets of the way: The mysteries of God to undo wickedness.

4And the priests shall blow the trumpets of slaughter; and the Levites and all the people of the trumpet-blast shall sound a great battle alarm to melt the heart of the enemy. And with the sound of the alarm shall the war-darts go out to bring down the slain.

5And the seven priests, the sons of Aaron, shall be clothed with garments of white linen — a tunic of linen, and breeches of linen; and they shall gird themselves with a sash of linen, twisted, of blue, and purple, and crimson, and a many-coloured design — even the work of a craftsman; and a turban shall be upon their heads. They shall not bring them into the sanctuary, for they are battle-garments. According to all this rule shall they go out and return.

6And the chiefs of the priests shall set themselves in order, behind the High Priest and behind his second — twelve chiefs serving in the perpetual office before God. And the heads of the courses, even six and twenty, shall serve in their courses; and after them the chiefs of the Levites shall serve continually — twelve, one for each tribe; and the heads of their courses shall serve, each man in his office.

7And the chiefs of the tribes, with the heads of the families of the congregation, shall stand in line every day at the gates of the sanctuary; their courses with their daily numbers continually, at all their appointed feasts, with their head men and their fathers.

The hymn after victory — the sons of light praise the God of Israel for the overthrow of Belial and the establishment of the everlasting kingdom.

1And after they have gone up from among the slain to return unto the camp, they shall sing the hymn of return: Blessed be the God of Israel, who hath kept faith unto His covenant, and the testimonies of salvation unto the people that He hath redeemed.

2He hath called them that have stumbled unto wonderful triumphs, and the gathered congregations of the nations He hath gathered unto destruction without remnant, that He might lift up by judgment the heart of them that melt; and that He might open the mouth of the dumb to chant the mighty deeds of God; and that He might teach the feeble warfare.

3He giveth them which knee tremble strength to stand. By them which were bowed down in spirit hath He confirmed the proud in heart. By the deeds of them that have a stiff neck shall the wicked of all the nations be made low. By the hand of the poor of His redemption He shall blot out the enemies of every land.

4By the hand of them that are bowed down in dust shall He bring low the mighty of the peoples — to render unto the wicked their reward; and to justify the judgment of His truth among all the sons of men; and to make for Himself an everlasting name among the people, blotting out wars; and that He might be exalted among the nations of the lands; and the appointed witnesses of His justice — even the sons of His truth — He shall awake to sing for joy.

5And there shall be no more wickedness, and all violence shall be ended, when the dominion of the Kittim shall pass — that wickedness be brought low without a remnant. And there shall be no escape for any of the sons of darkness. The sons of righteousness shall shine to all the ends of the earth, continuing to shine until all the seasons of darkness are completed.

6And in the season ordained by God, His lofty greatness shall shine for all the eternal seasons — for peace, and blessing, and glory, and joy, and length of days, for all the sons of light. And on the day on which the Kittim fall, there shall be battle and great carnage before the God of Israel; for it is the day appointed by Him from of old for the war of consummation against the sons of darkness.

7And then shall the holy ones, the gods, the angels of dominion, and all the host of the heavens, sing together with the sons of His covenant — that the everlasting kingdom of God may be established. The kingdom of His people shall be set up, and dominion to the saints of His holy ones, and a covenant of peace to all the sons of light.

8Praise be unto the God of Israel — who hath delivered His people from the hand of the lion that roareth; from the hand of the wicked king that thirsteth for blood; from the dragon that lieth in wait. Praise be unto the God of justice — who hath established the kingdom that shall never be moved.

9Glory and majesty unto the God of all flesh, who hath wrought a wonder in the midst of the earth — even before the sons of men. He hath put on righteousness as a coat of mail, and the helmet of salvation upon His head; and He hath taken vengeance upon the seed of Belial, that they should be no more for ever and ever. Hallelujah.