You come to a screeching halt in your mental tracks, right where you are, and slowly devour every facet of that literary jewel. You might call it a showstopper—better still, a life changer! Often the wisdom of the ages carries shades of the profound.

Such was the case when I read a book titled In the Name of Rome by Adrian Goldsworthy. The book goes into detail about 16 specific generals who made a difference in expanding Rome from a village on the Tiber to a world power.

Many of us who study history and are familiar with the iron will of the Roman army are acquainted with the tenacity of its soldiers to never surrender. They were always ready to fight by maintaining their legendary order. If they didn't win today, they would be ready to battle another day that would bring the ultimate victory.

When you understand the extraordinary heart of the ordinary Roman, you begin to understand why this empire lasted for 500 years. Consider and compare the fact that American dominance in the post—World War II era is already under assault after a mere 60 years.

Pinpointing essential qualities of leadership

This book points out that it was not simply the heart of the legionnaire that contributed to success, but the expected and inherent qualities of Roman leadership. Together, the heart of the soldier and the movements of the general created the whole equation that added up to victory.

This is best summed up by a quote from Onasander, a first-century Greek observer, who discerned and shared the essential elements that composed an effective Roman general.

He summed it up this way: "The duty of a general is to ride by the ranks on horseback, show himself to those in danger, praise the brave, threaten the cowardly, encourage the lazy, fill up gaps, transpose a unit if necessary, bring aid to the wearied, anticipate the crisis, the hour and the outcome."

For over 500 years such personal leadership enabled Rome to always be poised for victory and thus rule the known world.

The Captain of our salvation

I recognized how this phenomenal list of the qualities of a mere man at the helm of a Roman army pointed to an even more incredible example of leadership possessed by Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10). The story of the Scriptures and the fullness of all prophecy are about an incredibly breathtaking victory that establishes the Kingdom of God on this earth and is brought about by the armies of Jesus Christ—the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

Let's remember that the book of Revelation is a dynamic statement of the victory of the Kingdom of God over the vanquished forces of Satan. This prophetic book, describing battlefield accounts of the future, is specifically communicated and understood by those who follow this Captain of salvation.

It is the culmination of a biblical thread of confrontation that begins in Genesis 3:15 with the prophesied struggle of the seed of the serpent against the Seed of the woman (Christ). The book of Revelation fills in the blanks left by the declaration of Enoch: "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all" (Jude 14-15).

"He put all things under His feet"

Let's ask ourselves, why has God appointed Christ to be the Captain of our salvation and placed such confidence in Him that "He put all things under His feet" (Ephesians 1:22)? Let's consider Onasander's elements of leadership and elevate those same principles to the divine leadership chosen of God.

Onasander describes how a general "was to ride by horseback and show himself to those in danger." He was to be front and center in the midst of those asked to sacrifice for Caesar and the empire.

It is noteworthy that Revelation opens up with a loud voice, as of a trumpet, declaring, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last" (Revelation 1:11). The apostle John recognizes the voice that speaks to him as "One like the Son of Man" speaking from "the midst of the seven lampstands" (Revelation 1:11-13). It is here that we find Christ, the Captain of our salvation, establishing His position "front and center" before His followers.

"I know your works, your labor, your patience"

Onasander goes on to describe how a general "praises the brave, threatens the cowardly and encourages the lazy." Christ, the Captain of our salvation, has done so mightily.

Revelation 2 and 3 take on new meaning when we consider how Christ reviews, encourages and admonishes those in His spiritual ranks. What is more encouraging than Christ's words to the church in Ephesus? "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary" (Revelation 2:2-3).

Likewise, Christ's evaluation of the church of Thyatira is telling: "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants... I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds...I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works" (Revelation 2:20-23).

Christ doesn't miss a beat, miss a heart or miss one communication with His followers. He deals with the spiritually lazy as He reprimands the church at Laodicea: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot" (Revelation 3:15).

In other words, Wake up! Get with it! You have been called to battle against Satan, yourself and the spirit of this age.

Just as Onasander wrote, our spiritual Champion-in-chief, Jesus the Christ, "fills up the gaps, transposes units when necessary and brings aid to the weary"—to those who have been called and chosen to be in His ranks.

Battles of antiquity did not start or end with a sudden clash of arms. Often the soldiers would have to stand in place all day long as their leaders probed for the strengths or weaknesses of the enemy line. Just imagine the physical, emotional and psychological trauma placed on the frontline soldier!

As frontline soldiers waging spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:12), our spiritual Commander knows we can't stand alone. He promises to fully supply and put into play incredible spiritual resources that grant us ability to move beyond our fears by supplying a spirit "of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

Yes, He gives us power to stand, love to help others stand in the gap with us and wisdom "from above" (James 3:15-17) to wage battle another day. He proclaims to all who will hear, "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

"The hour of His judgment has come"

Lastly Onasander placed the following charge upon the would-be effective commander: He must "anticipate the crisis, the hour and the outcome."

What a blessing that you and I have such a spiritual Champion shaping the battlefield! He not only created time, but also is the master of timing. Jesus clearly stated in the Olivet Prophecy that timing is critical: "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened" (Matthew 24:22).

Yes, time is critical. Yes, He will know and act in the hour that has been determined by God the Father (Matthew 24:36).

It is fascinating to see the precision of God's ultimate plunge into the great confrontation between the forces of righteousness and the forces of evil mentioned in the book of Revelation. It all surrounds the mention of "the hour." Notice Revelation 14:7: "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come." Yes, He will strike precisely when needed!

Notice the victorious results in Revelation 18:17-19: "For in one hour such great riches came to nothing...Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate."

God knows the moment. We just need to be sure we know God.

Leaning forward!

I think you can see now why Onasander's commentary from 2,000 years ago stopped me in my tracks, opened my eyes and, more importantly, opened my heart. I realize that we join the frontlines of those in the book of Revelation who cry, "How long, O Lord...?" (Revelation 6:10).

I fully appreciate that some of the matters and conditions of this world that we have to discuss on the pages of this magazine can be challenging, overwhelming and seemingly unsolvable. Some of the prophecies and scriptures we ask you to wade through to prepare you for future times can simply seem like slogging through muddy waters.

Just remember at the end of the day and the end of the Book, there is only one horse left standing in John's writings. It is the steed of the fifth Horseman of Revelation—not those of the other four horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6). We see the fifth Horseman, personifying ageless qualities of leadership that allow us to be poised for victory and always, yes always, leaning forward. We see Christ riding by the ranks of heaven on horseback and leading us toward triumph!

Consider Revelation 19:11-14: "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...and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven...followed Him on white horses."

Perhaps there is no better match for the clarion call found in Isaiah 30:21 of "this is the way, walk in it" than the voice of the One sitting on the white horse, who embodies perfect leadership, exhorting us to "follow Me" (John 21:19).