Many Scriptures show how important our words are. We must give an account (the word “account” is the Greek word, “logos”) and we do it with words. Jesus said, "By your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned." In Revelation 1:3 we read, "Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."

The words of Scripture are so important that we read this admonition at the close of the Bible: "And if any man shall take away from the words of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Rev. 22:19).

The war of words has been going on for thousands of years. But it is prophesied to be worse in the last times. "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect (chosen ones)" (Matt. 24:24 NASV).

Of the end time "beast" the Bible says, "And there was given him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him" (Rev. 13:5 NASV).

In this age the war of words appears to culminate at what most people call "Armageddon" and what the Bible calls the "war of the great day of God, the Almighty." Notice Revelation 16:13-14 (NASV): "And I say coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.

There is one more war of words indicated in Scripture. Following the 1000-year reign of the saints we read: "And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive (WITH WORDS!) the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore" (Rev. 20:7-8).

If we are in a war of words, dare we be without ammunition (vocabulary and communication skills)? The more illiterate the more easily one could be deceived it would seem. We read that we are to be diligent in the study of the Scriptures so that we may show ourselves approved of God. Knowing His Word will help in our war against deceptive words. Nobody is as clever with words as Satan. He tried to deceive even Jesus by quoting Scripture.

People are often awestruck when someone quotes Scripture. But we learn from Matthew 4 of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, that Scripture can be accurately quoted but completely misapplied. It’s how the Scripture is applied that determines whether we can be misled or not.

Satan misapplied passages of Scripture. Had Jesus just listened and said, “Oh, you’ve quoted the words of the Bible, therefore, I must do what you said and jump off the top of this temple.” But He knew better. He knew that anyone could quote Scripture. But not everyone can accurately apply it in the context of the overall teachings of the Bible.

In the war of words, Jesus won. “Get thee hence!” And Satan left. But he is still a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. We have to be on guard as “guardians” of the truth and stalwarts in the war of words.