Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward Men

The English word "peace" originated from a Latin word, pax, which means free of conflict. A number of other English words also developed from that same Latin word, such as pacific. The largest ocean on earth was given the name Pacific, despite the fact that it produces highly-destructive storms that are hardly "peaceful" - the "Pacific" is only peaceful under its own terms.

The "Pacific" Ocean itself is a very good analogy for how the Latin word pax was used in its most famous way - Pax Romana, which meant Roman peace (Jesus Christ was executed by Pax Romana; see Pax Romana: The Birth Of The Roman Empire). Like the "Pacific" Ocean, the Roman Empire (and later, the Roman religious empire; see Constantine's Crusades In History And Prophecy) covered a large area and was only "peaceful" when those who came into contact with it conformed to whatever it was doing. Otherwise, "peace" was maintained by destruction.

"Might makes right" did not originate with the Romans however. It began the first time that a human coveted something - when Cain went to war against his brother. When "diplomacy" didn't work (most attacks are preceded by threats; "Cain talked with Abel his brother" - did Cain threaten Abel not to make offerings to the LORD any more, to which Abel refused to obey?), Cain's "peace" was restored by means of his brother's blood ("Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him").

"^4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

^4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother?

And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

^4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground [see The Sins Of The World's Oldest Profession]." (Genesis 4:8-10 KJV)

Sinful human nature has not changed since the time of Cain. The apostle James described the very same lust, for something that others have, which is coveting ("... I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet" Romans 7:7 KJV).

"^4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? ^4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. ^4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

^4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:1-4 KJV)

The Messiah was betrayed to death by the "religious authorities" of that time (see Annas And Caiaphas) because, like Cain, they lusted after what rightfully belonged to Him.

"^11:48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation." (11:48 KJV)

For the very same reason, the world's last war will not be fought between opposing nations, but will be fought between the nations of the earth and Jesus Christ at His Return.

"^13:4 And they worshipped the dragon [see Who's Hiding On Your Wall?] which gave power unto the beast [see From What Sea Has The Beast Risen?]: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? ^13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. ^13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. ^13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. ^13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:4-8 KJV)

"^17:13 These have one mind [see What And Where Is Babylon Today?], and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. ^17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. ^17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." (Revelation 17:13-15 KJV)

"Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men"

Jesus Christ is going to win the last war that humans will declare. The analogy of the "Pacific" Ocean described above may be extended to the incident of the Messiah's calming of the storm at sea.

"^4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." (Mark 4:39 KJV)

The LORD will end war by means of the force that will be required to end it (see The Coming World Dictator).

"^19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ^19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ^19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. ^19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ^19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ^19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

^19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; ^19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

^19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. ^19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. ^19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." (Revelation 19:11-21 KJV)

Christ's return will bring about a restoration of the attitude of "good will toward men" that humans were originally given. The famous "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," best-known from the birth of the Messiah, was not fulfilled at that time - it was a prophecy. As we have read, He was in fact killed by the "peace" (i.e. Pax Romana) of men at that time - that had no good will toward any man.

"^2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ^2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

^2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

^2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:11-14 KJV)

It's when humans render "Glory to God in the highest" that there will be "on earth peace, good will toward men." Then, "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."

"^4:1 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 [see Moriah: Separating The Wheat From The Chaff].

^4:2 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. ^4:3 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.

^4:4 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 4:1-3 KJV)

Fact Finder: How will humanity come to have "peace on earth, good will toward men"? What Law will eliminate the coveting that causes war?
The Way To Salvation: Step 1
The Way To Salvation: Step 2
The Way To Salvation: Step 3
The Way To Salvation: Step 4
The Way To Salvation: Step 5
The Way To Salvation: Step 6
The Way To Salvation: Step 7
The Way To Salvation: Step 8
The Way To Salvation: Step 9
The Way To Salvation: Step 10

This Day In History, November 11

1417: Unity of the Church of Rome's papacy was recovered with the election of Martin V. The Great Western Schism, beginning in 1378, resulted in a pope in Rome, another in Avignon, France and a third established by the Council of Pisa (see The Struggle For The Papacy).

1500: Louis XII of France and Ferdinand of Aragon signed the secret Treaty of Granada for the conquest and partition of Naples.

1572: Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe observed a bright "new star" in Cassiopeia, shining as brightly as Venus. He continued to observe the super nova (a star which has exploded after all of its fuel has been used up) for 18 months as it slowly faded.

1606: A peace treaty was signed at Zeita-Torok between the Turks and Austrians.

1620: The Mayflower Compact was signed by the Pilgrims.

1813: During the War of 1812 (1812-1814), 800 British troops, Canadian militia and natives repelled 4,000 U.S. invaders at The Battle of Chrysler's Farm near Cornwall, Ontario.

1918: The armistice was signed to end The First World War in which over 10 million people were killed (listen to our Sermon The European World Wars).

1953: The polio virus was identified and photographed for the first time.

1971: The U.S. ratified a treaty to return the island of Okinawa to Japan (although the U.S. maintains a large military base there to this day).

1972: The U.S. turned over its large base at Long Binh to the South Vietnamese, symbolizing the end of direct U.S. participation in the Vietnam Civil War.

1973: A cease-fire agreement was signed between Israel and Egypt.

1982: Polish "Solidarity" union leader Lech Walesa was released from 11 months of detention in a state-owned hunting lodge.