The Salvation War

[shran]

Anyone ever heard of the Salvation war? It is a work of fiction by Stuart Slade which explores what would have happened if it would have come to pass that somehow Judgement Day would be declared, and how humanity would react. Initially a significant percentage of humanity just lies down and dies, as they're told to, by a self-declared omnipotent voice from above. The part of humanity that refuses then declares war on heaven and hell.

Lots of military terms flying around, but this time they're not used as gun porn, but as means to an end, in this case, to show what would happen should you apply their force to heavenly, or hellish bodies. With the story come various repercussions, should some place like heaven or hell exist, and how it could possibly function. It sometimes veers a bit into sci-fi, but not much. I could divulge more details, but that would be spoiling, I guess. So just start reading here, I guess.

[url=shttp://www.tboverse.us/HPCAFORUM/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=29]The story and its aftermath.[/url]
The story on TvTropes

Edited to fix the broken TVTropes link

[Teaos]

I cannot think of how you can realistically fight a being that literally created the Earth.

[Vic]

Yep, read it a couple of years ago. I really would have liked to see him continue and touch upon some of the previous powers. You know, the ones the Devils refuse to speak of. After all such as Julius Ceasar was considered hands off to Satan, so those previous powers still hold some authority.

[shran]

I cannot think of how you can realistically fight a being that literally created the Earth.

Interesting thing you bring up. if you'll read the story, you'll notice that most of the time real world physics and our knowledge of the natural world still applies.

Rather, this heaven assumed dominion over Earth so long ago it was almost forgotten. They are humanoids, but they only claim to be omnipotent, they are not. Nor did they create the world.

The writer did try to make the forces of heaven and hell as powerful as they can get in terms of personal powers, but they tend to have difficulties with post-World War I technology.

[Captain Seafort]

Those difficulties, IIRC, are based on canon (the original version for once) - there's something in the Old Testament about the Israelites getting thumped in one of their perennial wars because the opposition had "iron chariots". The conclusion drawn was that iron is God's kryptonite.

[shran]

Those difficulties, IIRC, are based on canon (the original version for once) - there's something in the Old Testament about the Israelites getting thumped in one of their perennial wars because the opposition had "iron chariots". The conclusion drawn was that iron is God's kryptonite.

The hell side has similar problems with it. The All Myths Are True Trope also comes in play here.

[Mikey]

Those difficulties, IIRC, are based on canon (the original version for once) - there's something in the Old Testament about the Israelites getting thumped in one of their perennial wars because the opposition had "iron chariots". The conclusion drawn was that iron is God's kryptonite.

Which conclusion is obviously ridiculous, the preferable conclusion being that iron-age weaponry > stone- or bronze-age weaponry. However, this is an interesting point at which Scripture matches real life - the reference was very likely to the (second, Anatolian) Hittite Empire, which was the most succesful war machine of its age due in large part to its use of heretofore unseen two-wheeled chariots for waging war - as opposed to the simple use of carts and wagons by camp followers, baggage and supply trains, etc. The use of chariotry could as well, though less likely based on later historical suppression, refer to the iron-age blitzkrieg that the Hyksos rained upon Egypt.

[Captain Seafort]

I don't invent this stuff, I just report it, although I do like the approach of "analyse the Bible the same way you would Harry Potter".

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Oh, god. I remember hearing about this one. IIRC the creatures of heaven and hell are quite powerful and unstoppable... when compared to medieval armies or ancient civilizations. But modern technology trumps them hardcore.