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Jesus, The Prince of Peace
By Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow
(Preached at Life BPC, 8am Service, Feb 16 2003)
Text: Isaiah 9:6-7
The world has no peace. And less, as we live in
these last days before the Prince of Peace comes. We have never had
it so good. While there were 21 years of peace between WWI and WWII,
from 1945 end of WWII to this year 2003, we have had 58 years of
uneasy peace by the mercies of God. By the law of averages another
war should not be far away. Yes, indeed, with President Bush’s
pressing for an attack on Saddam Hussein war with Iraq will come in
a few weeks. Taking advantage of USA’s heavy involvement in the
Gulf, North Korea is sabre rattling and threatening a preemptive
attack should US increase its armour for South Korea.
Is President Bush attacking Saddam Hussein with
the altruistic motive to remove his weapons of mass destruction?
There are many other reasons of national self-interests to be sure.
Are Russia’s and China’s opposition to Bush purely out of
international justice? They also have their national interests to
consider.
With India and Pakistan making more longer range
intercontinental ballistic missiles the world is heading for a
nuclear war that will kill one third of the earth’s population (Rev
8).
Jesus’ Second Coming is even at the door, to
save His own. It will occur after the blowing of the 6th trumpet, at
the last trumpet, which is the 7th trumpet according to Rev 10:7. It
will be the Rapture of saints according to I Thess 4:13-18. Will you
have a place in this Our Blessed Hope?
Jesus must come not only to save His Church but
also His chosen people. In the Battle of Armageddon, two thirds of
Israel will be killed (Zech 13:8). By then He must personally come
down to earth to land on the Mount of Olives to put down all
rebellion.
Why must there be wars every now and then on
earth which will lead to the Last War? Because of sin and the wicked
hearts of men. They wage wars for self-ambition of imperialism and
vengeance. "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they
not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?" (Jas 4:1).
Even small wars are waged in the family, between husbands and wives
that lead to divorce, between father and son, mother and daughter,
mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Even in the Church, so that one
section will leave to form another Church.
Despite sin ruling over us, so that unhappy
things plague us, Jesus exhorts us to make peace. Of the beatitude
mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount there is the seventh one,
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children
of God."
But those who persist not to make peace are
plagued with the restlessness of war. Yet Jesus is patient to extend
the blessings of peace to them a second time, "Come unto me, all ye
that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my
burden is light" (Matt 11:28-30).
Peter adds, "Neither as being lords over God’s
heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief
Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth
not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.
Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with
humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the
humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time" (I Pet 5:3-6).
Realising that when self is in control we play
into the hands of Satan, Peter continues: "Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith,
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren
that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us
unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered
a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him
be glory and dominion for ever and ever" (I Peter 5:8-11).
As long as this world is ruled by Satan and
Christians are under sin there will be wars between even the saints.
There will be no peace until a mutual breaking down happens, by
confessing our faults one to another, and praying for one another
that we may be healed (Jas 5:16).
The whole world is at present threatened by
wars. Nobody wants it, least of all the rich and comfortable
Americans. But as long as people reject the Saviour’s love and
despise the words of peace; war that comes from our own lusts will
come. President Emeritus Dr Walvoord of Dallas Seminary thinks that
the last war in Revelation is the 3rd World War by which one third
of the world population will be killed, giving us a very timely
warning.
Let us be awakened to be raptured to the clouds
above on the one hand and on the other, occupy till He comes by
pressing on with the Gospel where He has sent us. "And this gospel
of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto
all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matt 24:14). Thus when
the Prince of Peace sits on the throne of His Father David in
Jerusalem, He will usher in the reign of a thousand years of peace
to a new mankind that brings homage to Him in love and repentance.
"But in the last days it shall come to pass,
that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in
the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills;
and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say,
Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house
of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will
walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word
of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people,
and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords
into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall
not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig
tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of
hosts hath spoken it" (Micah 4:1-4).
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