Peace and Peace-Which? by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 26, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 46.

Peace and Peace—Which?

By Editor

IF there is a planet in the solar system which needs a reign of peace, that planet is the earth. From one end to the other it is wars and rumors of wars, preparations for war, colossal expenses for war in time of peace, while in Southeastern Europe nations are locked in a deadly struggle, with all the attendant circumstances and consequents, death and wounding, starvation and pestilence, hatred and malignancy, ravage and revenge untold; and it may involve all Europe and the world in the same conditions.

The demons of Apocalyptic vision are abroad among the kings of earth (Rev. 16: 14); the cry of the prophet meets fulfilment and demonstration, “Prepare war, wake up the mighty men” (Joel 3: 9-12); and the fearful Armageddon of divine prediction draws on apace.

Yet men long for peace. They talk for peace, write for peace, pray for peace, hold conferences and congresses for peace, effect local, national, and international associations in the interests of peace, and all are largely futile. All churches are ostensibly for peace.

A recent great international meeting has just closed in Switzerland. It is noted in another column, with the comments of a Catholic journalist thereupon. That journalist also presents a solution for the world’s peace, the Roman Catholic remedy. That remedy is that at the head of the world’s congress of peace shall be the pope as supreme arbiter.

It is, it seems to us, under present conditions, the only solution of the world problem.

Protestant churches or Protestant nations can not assure peace; they are not united in the first place; they have no definite peace plan; they are limited in scope and power and influence.

Nothing can be expected from the great historic Oriental religions.

The Roman Catholic Church is recognized as Christian—whether so or not—by practically all the great Protestant denominations, and by all so-called Protestant nations. They recognize her power, her greatness, her influence. In a work of this kind—effecting the world’s peace—recognition on the part of the great nations would bring about a world-wide recognition.

The nominal head of Christendom will be made the chief arbiter by the nominal Christian powers, with headquarters in the chief nominal Christian city in the historic nominal Christian land of the world.

That nominal head is the pope of Rome. The nominal Christian powers are the European nations, the last confederacy that unite to restore again the beast régime of church and state.

That land is the historic Holy Land, little Palestine. That city is Jerusalem, where the Christ preached and wrought miracles and suffered and died; historically and traditionally, with its surroundings, the holiest spot on earth.

For divine prophecy declares this.

The last confederacy of European kings will unite to give their power and authority to the beast régime—the union of church and state, essential to the full-fledged Papacy—till the words of God shall be fulfilled. See Rev. 17: 12, 13.

The nominal head of all this Babylonian world confederation, the Papacy, shall say, as her temporal power is restored, “I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.” Rev. 18: 7.

The seat of this confederation will be at Jerusalem; for “many peoples [“many nations,” Micah 4] shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. And He will judge between the nations [the pope claims to be God’s special representative on earth], and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Isa. 2: 3, 4.

Do not forget, in reading the above prophecy and the parallel one in Micah 4, that it is the “many peoples” and “many nations” that say this. Divine inspiration does not say it; the Holy Spirit declares that the “peoples” shall say it. And they are already organizing to rehearse the song, preparatory to the time when the troublesome papal-Italian question of temporal sovereignty and absolutely independent jurisdiction will be settled by bestowing upon the Papacy Jerusalem and its traditionality thrice-hallowed environs.

This is world peace by a world confederation—religious tho it be—based on compromise, expediency, selfish ambition, and departure from God. It can not, and therefore will not, last; for—it is inspiration again—“When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.” 1 Thess. 5: 3.

For when the great siren of the nations, satisfied and satiated with fulness of power and honor, “saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning,” “therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine.” Rev. 18: 7, 8.

It will be thought that the world’s peace will heal the wounds and ravages of sin; but earth’s ills are not cured, and her toll of death and grief continue unabated, for men’s hearts are still carnal, and the world in its patched-up peace is still in rebellion against the great Jehovah and His holy law.

For tho the ruler of that confederacy be chosen by universal world suffrage, and upheld nominally by the great powers of the world, yet, despite all human calculations, he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

“There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isa. 57: 21.

Yet, reader, there is peace, God’s peace, to the individual soul, to all individual souls, that will look beyond all of the earthly and accept of God’s Advocate in His way. Listen: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5: 1. Our arms of rebellion are laid down, our carnal mind surrendered. Rom. 8: 7.

This is that of which Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you:

not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” John 14: 27. In tranquillity or strife, in quietness at home or in the prison cell, God’s peace abides.

For God’s peace is not based on compromise of great truths, of essential Christianity—on rebellion or disobedience against God’s holy law. It is not based on policy or expediency; in Jesus Christ, “the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.” Isa. 32: 17. If you walk in God’s peace here, you shall in that better day delight yourselves in the “abundance of peace.”