Peace On Earth?
By George Stroh, Senior Pastor
July 1, 2009
Christians are often criticized for being too pessimistic about the prospects for peace on earth and for not investing more of their time, money and energy into helping to bring peace about in our time. Actually, we really are not pessimistic, just realistic and even optimistic about the future, understanding that peace on earth is indeed coming. But not until the King of kings, Jesus Christ establishes His final earthly Kingdom (Daniel 7:14).
In 1969, Dr. Lehman Strauss wrote in his commentary on the book of Daniel;
"The Christian is often charged with being pessimistic about the future plans of man in the earth. But how can he be otherwise in light of such plain facts in the Bible? The Bible predicts no peace-loving world ruler for the last days. We can expect nothing more than greedy commercialism and political imperialism under the most beastly and barbaric type of warfare. Daniel saw the world governments as beasts under the thin veneer of a boasting civilization. It is important that we see this, because most people gullibly swallow the wishful thinking of progressive evolution and social refinement. We thank God for every semblance of success announced by organizations formed to improve humane relations; but it is all temporary."
In the last forty years, things certainly haven't gotten better and peace on earth doesn't seem any closer. Christians do have a responsibility to be good, patriotic citizens and continue to pray for peace. But our ultimate citizenship is in heaven," For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ;" (Philippians 3:20). Our primary responsibility here on earth today is the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Real and lasting peace on earth will only happen when Christ establishes His Kingdom on earth following the rapture of His Church and the seven years of tribulation on the earth that Daniel prophesied long ago. Maranatha!
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