An Awesome Mystery Solved

 Peace and Security-A Vain Hope

In an effort to bolster the hopes of mankind, the United Nations proclaimed 1986  to be an "International Year of Peace," With the theme "To Safeguard Peace and the Future of Humanity."  Warring nations were called upon to lay down their weapons, at least for one yea.  What was their response?  According to a report by the International Peace Research Institute as many as five million people were killed as a result of wars during 1986 alone!    Though some   special coins, and commemorative  stamps were issued, most of the nations  did little about pursuing the ideal of peace in that year. (or ever in my opinion, just the idea of it was all they could do. As long as humankind is ruling, there will never be peace, they are not able nor smart enough. They're just full of empty promises, among other things,  I shall not mention.)   Nevertheless, the world's religions -always anxious for  fine rapport with the UN - set about publicizing the year in various ways.  On January 1, 1986,  Pope John Paull II praised the work of the UN and dedicated the new year to peace.  And on October 27,, he assembled the leaders of many of the world's religions at Assisi, Italy, to pray for peace.  

Does God answer such prayers for peace?  Well, to which God were those religious leaders praying?  If you ask them, each group would give a different answer. Is there a pantheon of millions of gods that can hear and grant petitions  made in different ways?  Many of the participants  worshipped Christendom's Trinity.  Buddhists, Hindus, and others chanted prayers to god without number. In all ,  "12 religious  families" assembled, being represented by such notables as the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Buddhism's Dalai Lama, a Russian Orthodox  metropolitan ,  the president of Tokyo's Shinto Shrine Association, African animists, and two American Indians decked out in plumed headdresses.  It was a colorful  group, to say the least, making for spectacular TV coverage.  One group prayed unceasingly for 12 hours at one time.  ( Compare Luke 20:45-47.)   But did any of those prayers reach beyon the rain clouds that hovered over the gathering? No, for following reasons:

In contrast with those who "walk in the name of Jehovah," not one of those religionists was praying to Jehovah, the living God, whose name appears 7,000 times in the original text of the Bible.  (Micah 4:5; Isaiah 42:8, 12) As a group,  they did not approach God in the name of Jesus, the majority of them  not even believing in Jesus Christ.  (John 14:13; 15:16)  None of them are doing God's will for our day, which is to proclaim worldwide God's incoming Kingdom-not the UN-as the real hope for mankind.  (Matthew 7:21-23; 24:14; Mark 13:10)  For  the most part, their religious  organizations have been involved with the bloody wars of history, including two world wars  if the 20th century. To such God says: "Even though you make many prayers, I am not listening; with bloodshed your very hands have become filled." - ISAIAH 1:15; 59:1-3.

Further, it is deeply significant that the world's religious leaders should join hands with the United Nations in calling for peace at this time.  They would like to influence the UN to their own advantage, especially in this modern age when so many of their people are abandoning  their religion. Like the unfaithful leaders  in ancient Israel, they call out,  "There is peace! There is Peace!' when there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6:14)  No doubt their cries for peace will continue, rising in support of the climax concerning which the apostle Paul prophesied : "Jehovah's day is coming exactly as a thief in the night.  Whenever is that they are are saying: 'Peace and security!  Then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them just as the pang of distress upon a pregnant woman; and they will by no means escape." - 1 THESSALONIANS 5:2, 3. 

In recent years, politicians have used the phrase "peace and security" to describe various human schemes. Do such efforts by world leader constitute the beginning of fulfillment of 1 Thessalonians  5:3?  Or was Paul referring only to a specific event of such dramatic proportions that it will claim world attention? Since Bible prophesies are often completely  understood only after they are fulfilled or in the course of fulfillment, we will have to wait and see.  Meanwhile, Christians know that whatever peace and security  the nations may appear to have achieved, basically nothing will have changed.  Selfishness, hatred,  crime, family breakdown, immorality, sickness, sorrow, and death will still be here. That is why no cry of  "peace and security " needs to mislead you, if you remain awake to the meaning of world events and heed the prophetic warnings in God's Word.  - MARK 13:32-37; LUKE 21:34-36. 

Next time: Executing Babylon The Great

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