This was the headquarters of the US Forces in Australia in 1942-1944 during the second world war in the South Pacific. During World War 2 there were only 4 cities in the world from which the Allies made their plans: Honolulu, Washington, London, and Brisbane.
It was from this office in Brisbane that the 5-star General Douglas MacArthur directed the Allies in holding back the Japanese invasion of the entire Pacific region and planned his return to the Philippines. While sitting in this very leather chair and working from this desk, MacArthur directed the war effort and one of the largest wartime campaigns in history. It was from this room that the war was won.
War is conflict between countries or governments that usually involves death and destruction. War and conflict remind me of another war, the Universal War, the war behind all wars. It’s a cosmic conflict between right and wrong, between light and darkness, between God and a rebel angel, Lucifer. And what is most surprising is that this war started in heaven of all places. You can read all about it in the Bible. Notice what it says here in Revelation:
“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angles fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So, the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Rev.12:7-9)
Lucifer, the most beautiful leading angel, became Satan through pride and jealousy. He wanted to take the place of God. He wanted to take over control of Heaven and the universe. So, he started a rebellion, a war in heaven. But Satan lost the battle against God, and he and his army of rebel angels were cast to this world. And so, planet earth became the arena of the Universal War, the war between good and evil, God and Satan.
Now, God had created a perfect world for our first parents Adam and Eve. But Satan deceived them into joining his rebellion against God. And that’s how sin and conflict entered the world. And it seemed that Satan had won the battle for Planet Earth in the great Universal War. Now all humanity is involved in this great conflict, this Universal War between God and Satan, it’s the conflict between good and evil. Yes, we’re all involved, even you and me.
All the lawlessness, violence, pain, suffering and conflict we see around us come from Satan. He is the master of destruction. He wants to destroy people, their relationships and their families. He wants to destroy your hopes and dreams. He wants to destroy your future and most of all your relationship with Jesus. And one of the greatest deceptions is that he wants you to believe that God causes all the sin, suffering and death in the world.
Nothing makes Satan happier than broken relationships, broken homes, broken communities and broken lives. It seems that all our lives have been touched by the effects of this Universal War between good and evil. Satan wants us to break our relationship with Jesus. He wants us to be consumed by guilt, regrets, unhappiness and hopelessness because of sin.
But the good news is, Jesus has paid the penalty for your sins, whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you’ve done; your guilt can be healed and your sins forgiven. Yes, the war that began in Heaven is still going on in the universe and in our hearts. We’re all involved in this continuing Universal War. Bad things happen. We fall and get discouraged and depressed. But no matter how long your guilt and sin has haunted you, tortured you, crushed you, you can take it to Jesus, just now – and come away free and assured of forgiveness.
And here’s the Good News. The Universal War, the war between good and evil, between God and Satan, has just about come full circle. It’s just about over. The same Jesus who died on the cross, is soon to return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The great controversy between good and evil will be over forever. Sin and evil will be destroyed. And this earth will be restored to its original perfect condition.
Here’s what the Bible says in Revelation 21:1-4.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
