SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT!

A Much Greater Change

Does this mean that Jehovah's Witnesses believe that they can bring peace to the whole world by means of some mass conversion to a belief in Christian neutrality?  No! For peace to be restored to the earth, a much greater changed is needed. What is that?  Divisive, oppressive, and violent human rule must give way to rule by God's  Kingdom. for which Jesus taught his disciples to pray.  (Matthew 6:9, 10) But how will that take place? In a divinely inspired dream, the prophet Daniel learned that in the last days, God's Kingdom, like a huge stone 'cut out not by human hands,' would smash a giant image representing mankind's political rulerships over the earth.  The he proclaimed:  "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself  will not be passed on  to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all those kingdoms, and it itself will stand to time indefinite." - Daniel 2:31-44. 

Why will this radical change in the world picture take place?  Because Jehovah has promised that he will cleanse the earth of all those who are polluting and ruining it.  (Revelation 11:18) This transformation will take place at Jehovah's righteous war against Satan and his wicked world.  We read at Revelation16:14, 16: "They [that is, unclean inspired expressions] are, in fact, expressions inspired by demons and perform signs, and they go forth to the kings [the political rulers] of the entire inhabited  earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty. And they gathered them together to the place that is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon."

Will will Armageddon be like?  It will not be a nuclear apocalypse or a disaster provoked by humans. No, it is God's war to end all human wars and annihilate all those who promote such wars. It is God's war to bring in true peace for those who love peace.  Yes, Armageddon is coming as Jehovah as purposed. It will not delay.  His prophet Habakkuk was inspired to write: "The vision is yet of the appointed time, and it keeps panting on to the end, and it will not tell a lie. Even if it should delay, keep in expectation of it; for it will without fail come true. It will not be late." (Habakkuk 2:3) Because of our human feelings, it might seem to be late, but Jehovah keeps his schedule. Armageddon will strike at the hour that Jehovah has predetermined.

This decisive action will clear the way for true peace!  But for true peace to be firmly established, something else must be done-the removal of the one who causes division, hatred, and strife. And that is just what the Bible prophesies will take place next-the abyssing of Satan, the fomenter of war and the father of lies.  The apostle John  saw this even in a prophetic vision, as recorded in Revelation 20:1-3:  "I saw an angel coming down  out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he hurled him into the abyss and shut  and sealed it over him, that he might not mislead the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended." 

This is no dream; it is God's promise-and the Bible says:  "It is impossible for God to lie." (Hebrews 6:18)  Thus Jehovah could say through his prophet Jeremiah: "I am Jehovah: the One exercising loving-kindness, justice and righteousness in the earth; for these things I do take delight, is the utterance of  Jehovah." (Jeremiah 9:24)  Jehovah acts in justice and righteousness, and he delights in the peace that he will bring the earth.  

Next time: SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT! -Rule by the Prince of Peace

From the Watchtower magazine, 1997