Throughout recorded history man has consistently spoken about “peace, peace” when there was no peace (Jer. 6:14; 8:11,15). In the first postings of this series we will examine man’s quest for peace in terms of nations being at peace with each other, groups within the nations living peacefully with each, etc. In the latter postings we will learn about Christ’s warnings that His people would live in a world at war where nations would live at war with each other, group against group, etc. In other words, in a world without peace. Then we will study about the individual peace Jesus promises His true saints while living in a world filled with hated directed specifically toward them. Lastly, we will look forward to a world in which Christ will create upon His return, a world where peace will reign throughout the universe.

Even during the most ancient times, man wanted peace but was unable to affect it because he was evil. Everyone wanted peace, but on his own terms and to his own advantage. Nothing has changed. Man still wants peace–he wants everyone else to peacefully submit to his will. Many years ago an instrument of war was invented that was touted to be “The weapon to end all wars” because it was so deadly and accurate that its inventers believed that men would refuse to face it or to use it against other men. The weapon that was too horrific to use on human beings and would therefore bring to an end any thought of warfare was the CROSSBOW. I have owned one. They are deadly and accurate. But it will take much more than a deadly, accurate weapon to end warfare and bring peace to earth. But man has not reached this conclusion because man does not know how to bring peace to the earth.

Many years after the invention of the crossbow World War I took place. At its conclusion that deadly conflict was believed to have been the “war to end all wars.” Man, we were told, would make certain that there would be no more wars. To that end men created the League of Nations, an all-powerful congregation of nations that guaranteed that the world would never again declare war on itself. As history has recorded, that wonderful intention failed 21 years later as World War II made its predecessor pale in terms of death and destruction. At the end of that war the United Nations was established in order to, as its charter declared: “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind.” Neither of those worthy endeavors succeeded.

Since the establishment of the United Nations, almost 300 local and regional wars have been fought. In more modern times the Islamic Nations have declared war on the rest of mankind in an attempt to convert all people to their religion. According to Mohammad, those who do not convert to the Islamic religion must die upon orders from the Islamic god, Allah, as stated in the Muslim holy book called the Koran. In that the world in general rejects the Islamist religion, a lot of blood will be shed over the coming years as Islamist terrorists try to fulfil their god’s commands relative to world domination. The irony is that part of that religion is at war with the other part. Man, it seems, simply cannot handle peace.

Recently we have watched as the Muslim world’s hatred for all others materialized as its people attacked and killed over a thousand Israelites in their home country, even in their own homes. Elsewhere in that area Muslim terrorists have attacked American forces over 200 times within the past two months. Iran is on track to becoming a nuclear power in the near future, which will add another dimension to the continuous proxy war.

Elsewhere, Russia is trying destroy its neighbor Ukraine while China is gearing up to invade Tiawan. North Korea is threatening to attack the United States which is now at war with itself over the Middle Eastern war. The leader of France said publicly that going to war with America is a probability. In Africa, tribal conflicts continue to wreak havoc on the various populations. World peace is nowhere in sight. Is such a phenomenon even possible?

Willing to try anything to bring peace to this most peace-rejecting planet, world leaders continue to talk and write about a man-made peace that would remove warfare from the earth. Many heads of state, governmental leaders on all levels, diplomats, U.N. delegates along with leaders in the fields of science and education are all positive that world peace is possible, but ONLY through a one-world government in which men would have dictatorial power over everyone on earth. Globalists from the world’s advanced nations meet regularly to discuss exactly how this WILL TAKE PLACE. Notice that the question is not IF, but WHEN such a power will develop. Which it will, but only temporarily. Read The Sign, the Sabbath and the Serpent. Key word–Serpent. A one-world government, they believe, is the answer to the problem of world conflict. But even within this universal agreement there is no agreement as to who would rule, who would make the rules and how those rules would be enforced, etc.

Obviously, mankind is incapable of attaining and maintaining world, or even regional peace because man in general is evil by choice. Read Sin is a Choice. Key word–Choice. Having embraced the character of Satan as did Adam and Eve, the world’s people openly serve him. And having lured the world’s salvation seekers away from the Lord and into his counterfeit church system along with all of the earth’s other religious systems, 99% of the world’s inhabitants born since the Garden of Eden have joined his religious family. Satan’s church gives “inclusion” a whole new meaning.

Which brings us to another Truth that I occasionally bring up: AS GOES THE SPIRITUAL, SO GOES THE NATIONAL. Let us now turn to another aspect of peace that the world does not know about and church people do not believe. While reading this series, never forget that Satan can and does provide peace for His converts. Adam and Eve undoubtedly were at peace as they discussed how they were going to defy God, thereby sinning even before the act of sin. No doubt they were at peace as they walked to where the physical aspect of their sin would take place. As they approach the object of their desire their peace was undoubtedly joined with joy as they gazed upon it (Gen. 3:6). Joy mixed with peace must have filled their hearts as Eve took fruit from the tree, bit off a delicious morsel and gave some to her weak-willed husband. Could life get any better?

I have heard people testify to the peace that flows through them when they think about their relationship with God, their future home in heaven, etc. This in spite of the fact that they repeatedly rebel against Him by openly rejecting His Words and defying His commands. I know all about that because I did the same thing even though I was totally lost, separated from God and headed to hell. This was true even though I was involved in full-time preaching, healing, deliverance ministry. Through it all I had peace. The only problem was that it came from the wrong source.

Though totally unwarranted, the Lord graciously continued to speak to me in His “still, small voicd,” repeatedly telling me that something was not right. That something, of course, was me. Like billions before and after me, I was serving the wrong god. I praise Him for His patience toward me. If you are involved in the devil’s counterfeit Catholic/Protestant Religious System that calls itself “the church,” you probably have peace. However, if you will ask God to tell you the truth, having the will to believe what He tells you and embrace it and obey it no matter what it is, He will take away your peace as a sign that you are not serving Him. But before approaching Him in all-out, total surrender to His will, remember this: “Unto whom much is given, much is required” (Lk. 12:48). Take it from me, He means what He says.

This brings us to the second aspect of the man-peace subject: THE PEACE CHRIST PROMISES FOR HIS VERY ELECT REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATIONS IN WHICH THEY WIII FIND THEMSELVES. Relative to peace, Jesus made a seemingly contradictory statement in Matthew 10:34: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but rather a sword.” In First Peter 4:12 the Apostle warns us: “Don’t think it is strange when you find yourself in a fiery trial” because you will if you belong to Him. In John 16:3 Jesus promises those who obey Him that: “In this life you will have tribulation.” Again, “All who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). In Matthew chapter ten Jesus warns the apostles and all who will follow them that they will suffer a variety of persecutions. Some will be put on trial and found guilty, causing people to hate them. Children will betray their parents to the authorities for worshiping God. Read this chapter where He warns about this repeatedly, stating that those in one’s own family will be the true saint’s enemies. Today people in Canada and Finland are being arrested for speaking about God, Christ or the Bible. Two Finnish people are on trial for something they wrote in 2014. People in the United States are losing their jobs because their stand for Biblical principles. In the United Nations the only religions that its members can speak against are Christianity and Judaism–this is written in their legal documents. When the Muslims attacked the Jews in October, many in the U.N. cheered. One day, in the ONE NATION UNDER GOD it will be a federal offense to own a Bible, or to refer to the Godhead in any way.

But God’s people will have peace in the midst of such turmoil and danger. To this end Jesus came preaching peace (Lk. 1:79; 2:14/ Jn. 14:27; 16:33). In each of his letters to the churches and to individuals the Apostle Paul began by asking that the peace of God be upon them, for he knew that they were suffering persecution. In Matthew 10:22 Jesus said that those who endured bad treatment until the end (while maintaining their righteousness–1 Jn. 2:6) would be saved (upon His return). Read Hope and Salvation. Key word–Hope. L.J.