Does that sound “Pie in the Sky” to you? It would have to me, decades ago, but my theology has changed and my heart screams a resounding, “Yes, it is possible and inevitable!”. Am I pushing this belief on everyone? No, after fifty-six years of life and over three decades of Christian ministry in the United States and abroad, I’m past that. I truly believe that world peace is inevitable, and I’m not ashamed to share that. Do I hope that expressing my beliefs will change hearts and minds, and make the world a better place? Yes, but I also understand that my voice is but a drop in the waterfall of those who share the same hope. It is my belief that, together, by God’s Grace, a river of Peace will indeed flood the whole earth. I may not witness it in this mortal body, but I trust that I’ll eventually see it with the “great cloud of witnesses” who are unseen, yet ever-present. How have I come to such an insanely hopeful conclusion? Jesus! Yes, Jesus! It is my earnest belief that Peace isn’t simply a feeling of calmness or the absence of conflict. Peace is a Person. Peace is God Incarnate. Peace upholds all things by the Word of His Power. Peace is Jesus! Ephesians 2:14 tells us that “He (Jesus)is our Peace”! That Greek word used for “Peace” in that passage is “Eirene”, and it means “to set at one again”! Has He already made us all one with the triune Godhead and each other? Absolutely! Has the collective, human mindset received this Truth with a corresponding Love that changes the world? Obviously not, but He’s not through with us! Isaiah 9:6-7 tell us, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and Peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. When did this Peace take root on Earth? When Jesus (God-Incarnate) was born in Bethlehem! Has His government and Peace been fully established? Obviously not. Will there be an end to the INCREASE of His government and Peace? The prophet Isaiah obviously didn’t believe so, and I agree with him! There are so many passages of Scripture telling us that His Kingdom (of Love and Peace) has come, is coming, and shall come. Isn’t Jesus the one Who taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth (the visible realm) as it is in heaven (the invisible realm).”? I simply can’t buy into any theology where “The Earth is the Lords” but hatred, division, evil, and war win! If those things are greater than Him, the prince of darkness is greater than The Prince of Peace- but he’s not! You might say, “But, Joe, Jesus said in Matthew 24:6 that there would be “wars and rumors of wars”! That’s right! He did! However, those who don’t understand the importance of context and original audience relevance have a terrible habit of superimposing their fatalistic “War Beliefs” onto current events and future prognostications. Jesus was prophesying about wars and rumors of wars that would take place in the First Century, prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and "THE END" of the Old Covenant System with its temple, Levitical priesthood, sacrifices, etc.. His Words in Matthew 24 were directed to that generation, and He proclaimed that they would be fulfilled in THAT GENERATION. See Matthew 24:34- “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” History and sane hermeneutics bear this out. For in-depth teachings on “Matthew 24 Fulfilled”, you can access my YouTube channel and podcast on the homepage of internationalpeacenetwork.org. I also plan to write MUCH more on this topic, because much of the church has had far too much involvement in perpetuating war, genocide, apartheid, and innumerable atrocities through their erroneous belief that “prophecy is being fulfilled” and they’ll be “raptured” before The Prince of Peace destroys the earth. I can understand such logic from disciples of Ares, but I expect much more from followers of The Prince of Peace, Who is restoring Earth for the meek to inherit. Love & Peace! -Joe
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Yusuf SalamTheologian, Peacemaker, & Lover of All God's Children Archives
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