Peace On Earth

     What is peace? We think of peace as fellow human beings coexisting without war. A world without war would be tranquil. That leads to the true meaning of peace: concordance and tranquility. Those two terms seem to be ambiguous as well, so let me use Herrin's Lexicon: Peace is freedom from fear, harmony with others, and hope for a bright future. The brightest future is the "hope of salvation" (Lam 3:26; 1 Thes 5:8). 

     Now for my point today. Jesus said, "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:  For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. (Luke 12:51-2) and "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law" (Mat 10:34-35).

    Jesus denied that he came to bring peace to the world. On the other hand, look at what is written (also in Luke):

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. (Luke 2:13-15)

     The angel inferred with the birth of Jesus, that on earth peace, rather than peace on earth. Who is wrong, Jesus or the angel? Luke wasn't for he wrote them both. He and the angel knew something that we didn't. What Jesus said was true! Since God came into the world, there has been nothing but division. Everyone is at odds with each other.
     The world is the "building" which houses the universal Church. In my book, Killing God, I point out that the Church is the threshing floor which God uses to separate and winnow out the good seed from the chaff. Therefore, the world is the structure for housing the threshing floor.
     Before I proceed to the rest of the story, let's consider the Church and the world. The world is full of animosity and hatred. Spiritual forces are at war with each other through us. Demons fight for Satan using sinners as their army, and angels fight for God using Christians as His army. Demons have darkness for shelter, but God shines Light that Christians can see the demons. Those who walk in the light see demons clearly. They also have discernment, and realize that other humans are in Satan's army; not necessarily on purpose, for "they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
     That spiritual warfare is what Jesus meant when he said that he did not come to bring peace on earth. The battle in the heavens came to earth when God created mankind. God's presence on earth just aggravate the situation as demons would have to war even more vociferously with God present in the Flesh at the head of His armies. God came to fight for mankind's very souls. He desired that none should perish and would submit Himself to perish at the head of His army. God's Flesh died on the cross as any good king in those days would do since they themselves led the armies.
     The Jews were expecting a King on the order of David to win the war of independence with the Romans. Nearer even, they were looking for a Maccabee general to win the war of independence. Instead, their new King was a meek carpenter who fought the battle. He saved not only the Jews  but mankind from Satan and his demons. Rather than gratitude for their King, God's chosen people insisted that He be crucified, and a mockery was made with a sign - King of the Jews.
     Thus, Jesus, as he said, did not come to bring peace on earth. The dissension continues to this day. When there is discord, God remains silent. Jesus's "Ghost" is always present, but when divisiveness occurs He hangs around remorsefully until people love each other and are of one accord (Acts 2:1). The minute controversy occurs among his children, if they don't heed His authority, dissension results. Satan's demons gain ground when people fail to love each other.
     As the world is the structure of the universal Church, the red brick, stone, or clapboard building are the structures for the churches. Nowhere can dissension, at times, be greater than within the walls of the church. The demons attack churches hard because they should be Holy Ground where God is present. Demons take their war to the frontlines wherever Christians gather. Church is where the spiritual battles are the bloodiest and there is much collateral damage. We've seen that; when two Christians feud the entire church is in disarray. That is because demons don't waste a good catastrophe!
     As there is no peace on earth, there is little peace in the churches. Denominations are an outcome of spiritual warfare and Christian retreat. Denominations are at the same time good and bad: they both destroy church unity and present a fortification to worship with what is perceived as truth. Some church denominations are true to the Doctrine of Christ and others are not? Likewise, the people within churches war with others, God, and even themselves.
      Individuals continually fight little independent spiritual wars even when they are alone. That's what Paul meant when he wrote, "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" (Mat 26:41). In other words, the world is in chaos because God came into the world.
     People still battle about who Jesus is, his purpose, and his Law of Love. They still believe that they won't be saved, can save themselves, or there is nothing to be saved from in spite of Jesus dying for our salvation. He said, "you must be born again" (John 3:7) and most people say, "Not me! or as Alfred E. Neuman of Mad Magazine fame, "What, me worry?" Worrying about salvation rather than being born again, is not peace. People war with themselves when they fail to submit to truth. What is truth? You can't save yourself but God can. That very proposition causes dissension.
     There will be no peace on earth until two things happen: (1) the Devil is destroyed forever, and (2) God cleanses the earth with fire and creates a new heaven and a new earth. Therein, in the Kingdom of God, Jesus will reign in peace.
     Now let is examine what the angel meant when announcing Jesus's birth: "Peace on earth; good will toward men."
     Throughout patriarchal times, the chief priests brought peace offerings to God. Peace offerings were zevah (slaughter offerings). To obtain peace with God an animal had to lose its life. Offerings were to be the firstborn and pure of defect. The offering was one of well-being with God. Most often the peace offering was the slaughter of a lamb.
    What then did the angel mean? That Jesus would be the Lamb for the peace offering. The chief priest did it every year for the sins of the Jews but Christ came to be sacrificed once and for all. For what purpose? For the well-being of his "peculiar people" - those who sacrifice themselves to God (Rom 12:1).
    The Peace on Earth is the Purpose of Jesus. God came to earth and took on Flesh to be sacrificed for all mankind's sins. When salvation does come, what will be the outcome? Peace on earth. That refers to  the presence of Jesus both when he walked the earth, and later on when he will rule it. Finally, when the fiery flood comes to create a new heaven and a new earth, Peace will rule. Jesus, in his glorified Flesh will rule in perfect peace!  That's what they angel surely meant! Jesus is Peace!
     Until Jesus rules, and Satan's claim to the throne is dismissed, there will not be peace on earth. When Jesus's Kingship is established, there indeed will be Peace on earth! "On earth Peace" is the presence of God on the earth - Jesus is His Name.