EMBRACING TRIUMPHALISM IN ITS TRUE BIBLICAL SENSE.

The word ‘Triumphalism’, when viewed from an historical perspective, leaves a bad connotation and one that (as viewed by some) cannot be associated with Christianity. However, after spending months of studying the book of Revelation I discovered that one of the main themes of the book is ‘The Triumph of the Church’. The biblical perspective of ‘Triumphalism’ is therefore something to be embraced and even celebrated. The journey that Christ took, resulting in the glorious triumph is a journey of ultimate humility which resulted in death on the cross. (Phil. 2:6-11).

It is interesting that in the book of Revelation, Christ is depicted as the glorious Son of Man, risen Lord, (1:12-18) and the mighty warrior riding the white horse (19:11-21), yet the rest of the book however, presents him as the Lamb that has been slain. The triumph of the believers however is a result of the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony and loving not their lives even unto death (Revelation 12:11).

The point that is clear here is, just as Christ triumphed through humility and death, so too, the church will triumph through death and humility.

The apostle Paul exhorted his readers: “have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus....” (Phil. 2:5), as if to say, “equip yourselves with this kind of thinking!”

In short, Triumphalism, in its true and biblical sense is something to be embraced and celebrated by all believers.