CHAPTER XI
Peace
JEHOVAH has his own due time for everything. By his prophet he says there is "a time of war, and a time of peace". (Eccl. 3:8) In the preceding chapters the proof is submitted concerning the greatest war the world will ever have known. It is the war of the great God Almighty and, when done, there will be no enemy to carry on warfare. Jehovah speaks by his prophets and tells of the end of war and the time of lasting peace: "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariots in the fire." (Ps. 46: 9, R. V.) "And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off; and he shall speak peace unto the nations: and his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth." (Zech. 9:10, R. V.) It is manifest that there could be no peace as long as the wicked organization of Satan exists. The very purpose of the great war of Jehovah is to cleanse the earth, by ridding it of the Devil's organization. Then peace and righteousness, like a river, shall flow unto the people, and they shall be glad.
Seeing the day of great crisis approaching, Satan comes to the fore with a makeshift to deceive the people and turn their minds away from Jehovah. This time it is a counterfeit peace arrangement. To be sure, Satan knows that all honest persons desire to have peace. The politicians always wish to appear to be making provision to carry out the will of the peo-
ple. Doubtless the major number of the political rulers, and even the profiteers, would prefer to have peace. Not knowing Jehovah and his purposes, they are easily deceived by Satan. He is the father of lies, and a murderer, and never will there be peace while he has power over the nations of the earth.
On August 27, 1928, fifteen of the representative nations of the earth, by their ambassadors, met at Paris and signed a treaty which is called "The general pact for the renunciation of war". Both Japan and the United States signed that peace pact at that time. Later forty-four other nations signified their approval of the treaty.
The clergymen of "organized Christianity" pushed themselves forward to have a part in the ratification of that peace treaty. They told the people that the peace pact was and is a real Christian treaty. Their purpose in so doing was, of course, to obtain the support of all the professed Christian people of earth for the treaty. The Federation of Churches of America sent out a letter, under date of November 11, 1928, advocating the ratification of the peace treaty by the United States Senate. Among other things, that letter said: "As Christmas draws near what better gift could it bring to America, and through her to the world, than the Senate's prompt, cordial and united ratification of this great instrument!"
Another letter, bearing date of December 3, 1928, issued by the National Council for the Prevention of War, and sent out from its headquarters in Washington, D. C., made this statement: "We are advising that letters be sent to the senators, urging them to make the pact our Christmas present to the world, and to pass it without reservation."
The clergymen throughout America preached from their pulpits many sermons to the same effect, and connected the peace pact with the name of Christ, as though it had the approval of Christ and of God. That was a nice sugar-coated bait with which many honest people were deceived and caught and led to believe that it was their solemn Christian duty to urge the representatives of the people in the United States Senate to approve the peace pact.
On January 15, 1929, the Senate got in line with the other "nobles" of "organized Christianity" and passed the resolution ratifying the peace treaty; and two days later the prancing secretary appeared before the national executive, and in the presence of senators, representatives, and others, the treaty was approved, while the cameras clicked to make a show for the people; and many went home with a sigh of relief, and saying: "There shall be no more war."
Many senators voting for the approval of the treaty, however, were not of that mind. They expressed themselves as having little faith in the treaty as a means of preventing war. They proved their lack of faith that this piece of paper will prevent war, by a bill, passed a few days later, in which provision was made for a greater navy than has heretofore existed in America, to be used in the event of war.
To be sure, Jehovah knew from the beginning the fraudulent schemes Satan would employ through his agencies, and particularly the religious element thereof, to mislead the people concerning permanent peace. By his prophet he foretold this outward demonstration to mislead the people: "For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them, every one is given to covetousness: and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have
healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." — Jer. 6:13,14.
Every person who thinks seriously well knows that the piece of paper signed by the nations and approved by the United States Senate will not prevent war. All the nations, from the least to the greatest of them, are moved by covetousness, because each nation wishes to get an advantage over the other. The prophet of God plainly states that the preachers and priests and the leaders of the religious part of the organization deal falsely. With high-sounding words and sanctimonious voices they cry out, 'Peace, peace! see what we have done to make peace!' and the Lord says, "There is no peace."
God has ordained the destruction of Satan's organization, and nothing can prevent it. That the peace pact movement is a part of Satan's seductive and deceptive scheme is further shown by the words of God's inspired apostle, who wrote concerning the day of the presence of the Lord, where we now are: "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." — 1 Thess. 5:2-4.
Those who are really devoted to God shall understand and do understand how lasting peace will come, and that it will come only after the great war of God Almighty, in which the organization of Satan shall be completely destroyed. All the palaver and noise and boasting conferences and conventions, preaching and passing of resolutions, will absolutely fail to
bring peace. When these agencies of the enemy all raise their voices in one accord and say, "Peace, and safety," then sudden destruction shall come upon them.
Again, by his prophet, Jehovah foretold how he would assemble the nations of the earth, and pour upon them his righteous indignation in the great devastating war that will come upon them "in the valley of decision". And then he added: "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent." (Zeph. 3:8,9) God will have peace, and have it in his own way; and when he brings peace, it shall come to stay.
It should be apparent, to all who think, that there could be no real peace on earth until wickedness is completely put down. While unrighteousness rules, some will be given advantage at the expense of others. The strong survive for a time, and fall when another stronger one arises. Disorder, strife, oppression and murder have ruled amongst men for centuries, because Satan the evil one has been in control. There must come One greater and stronger than Satan, and who acts in exact harmony and under the direction of the Almighty God, and who will joyfully obey the commandments of Jehovah God. Then in peace and righteousness he will draw the people to him. Jehovah long ago foretold by his prophet the coming of his mighty One. He who would be the peace-maker for the people, and be their peace, must also be the Redeemer of man.
Jehovah arranged that his beloved Son the Logos should leave the courts of heaven and be born a man child, grow to manhood's estate, suffer death to provide the price of redemption for man, and then be-
come the great Ruler of the world and establish peace for ever amongst men. Therefore, when Jesus was born at Bethlehem, where the prophet foretold he would be born (Mic. 5:2), God caused his mighty angel from heaven to announce this prophecy: "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall [in future days] be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Immediately following that great prophetic announcement a host of angels joined in the song of praise, which was heard by men; and the words of that song were prophetic, because they foretold the day when the people would be at peace, and when Jehovah God would bring them peace through the beloved One who was born that day in the city of David. The angels sang: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." — Luke 2:10-14.
That great prophecy must be fulfilled, and with the conclusion of the great battle of God Almighty it will be fulfilled. God will fight for peace (and then peace will be on earth for ever), and this he will do by and through his beloved Son. Like a mantle of light, peace will cover the earth and good-will toward men shall be permanently established. It can come in no other way. Men who attempt to run ahead of Jehovah and establish peace by their arrangements are an abomination in his sight.
Long before the birth of the man child Jesus, God caused his prophet to foretell of his birth and the work that he would later do. For centuries the people have walked on in darkness because 'the prince of darkness' has blinded them and led them in the wrong way. (Eph. 2:2; 6:12) Out of Bethlehem came the
mighty Savior of the world, the great Ruler, and in due time he shall light all men of the world. (John 1:9) God's prophet spoke concerning the future, foretelling what should come to pass, and now we see that prophecy partially fulfilled and the fulfilment thereof still in progress. God has placed his King upon his throne; he has committed to him all power and authority, and the great day of peace is near at hand. Through him, whom God anointed, shall come peace and light and blessings to the people, even as his prophet long ago foretold. "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." — Isa. 9: 2, 6,7.
Christ Jesus is earth's rightful and righteous Governor and will rule in righteousness. The people will learn to call him the "Wonderful Counsellor", because he will guide them in the right way. He is the Mighty One to whom Jehovah has committed all power in heaven and in earth, therefore "the mighty God". He is "the everlasting Father", because it is by and through him that Jehovah grants life to the people as a gracious gift. (Rom. 6:23) He is "the Prince of Peace", and the peace he brings to earth will continue for ever. — Nah. 1: 9.
The people have learned to war against each other because of the covetousness and evil projected into their minds and hearts by Satan the enemy. When the government of Christ is over all the world, the peoples of earth will learn the truth; they will cease for ever in the preparation for war, and will reduce their war machines and instruments of destruction to instruments that may be used to beautify the earth. — Isa. 2:2-4; Mic. 4:1-4.
Why, then, do the ruling powers of the nations continue to rage about preparations for war, and at the same time claim to have outlawed war? Why do the people meditate "a vain thing", putting their confidence and trust in men and their ability to establish lasting peace on earth? God's prophet propounded these questions, so appropriate at the present time, and which apply now, and then gave the answer to them. The prophetic answer is, Because the ruling factors of Satan's visible organization have taken counsel together against God and against his anointed King. (Ps. 2:1,2, R. V.) They have no desire to know and acknowledge Jehovah as the only true and almighty God. They are proud of what they claim to be able to do by peace pacts, conventions and leagues. "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." (Ps. 10:4) For that reason Jesus Christ, God's great executive officer, will destroy the organization of the enemy, and clean out the workers of iniquity, that righteousness and peace may be fully established in the earth. — Ps. 2: 9.
The great desire of the peoples of the nations of earth is for peace and harmony, that they might dwell together without fear. Jehovah, by his chief executive officer, will bring the peoples their heart's desire.
"The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."(Ps. 37:11) "In his days shall the righteous nourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth." — Ps. 72:7; Isa. 32:17,18.
EGYPTIANS AND ASSYRIANS
Jehovah specifically mentions the Egyptians and the Assyrians and the blessings that will be extended to them during the administration of his righteous government under Christ, The Prince of Peace. He makes no such promise with reference to Babylon. There must be a reason for this difference. Men who have acquired material wealth and builded great military machines and organizations have not done so with the primary purpose of defaming God's holy name. They have been hard-hearted and cruel in their course of action, and have been moved by selfishness. They have had ambitious desires for power and honor. They have been overreached by the religious part of the Devil's organization and have been turned blind concerning the great Jehovah God. But the Scriptures show that when that blindness has been removed and they see the true God, their hearts will be made tender. Learning that he is not the God that has been misrepresented to them by the clergy, many of those men will turn to the Lord God.
The political rulers or politicians of the world, prophetically foretold by the organization and course of Assyria, have been moved by selfishness in the course of action taken by them. Their selfish desire has been for power and honor amongst men, and such has been the inducing cause for their course of action. They have been overreached by the Devil religion, and have practised that and become members of the
religious organization because it seemed to be to their selfish advantage. They joined the church for the same reason that they join a lodge. They expect some votes from that quarter. They have been blinded to the truth by the Devil religion and those who practise it. When the political rulers see and understand the hypocrisy of the Devil religion now practised by "organized Christianity" so called, and learn something about the true God, and have their blindness removed, doubtless many of them will serve the Lord God with gladness of heart.
But the Devil religion, represented particularly by the Devil's organization named Babylon, has at all times brought reproach upon the good name of Jehovah God. It has been organized and carried on for the very purpose of defaming Jehovah's name and turning the people away from him. In the great war shortly to follow, the Devil religion, together with all those who hold on to and willingly practise it, shall go down never to rise again. The workers of iniquity shall cease.
The spirit of Egypt, the Devil's earthly organization in which the commercial and military power predominates, has been that of military conquest and the harsh exercise of power. Men instinctively worship something. The only true worship is that of Jehovah God. The Devil religion has turned men to the worship of idols and induced them to consult evil spirits, because they have been blinded to the truth. When God delivered the Israelites from Egypt he said: "Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment." (Ex. 12:12) Speaking by his prophet concerning the great war of God Almighty, he says: "And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof: and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and
they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards." — Isa. 19:3.
When the spirit of military power and conquest has been broken, then will men who have put their trust in such powers seek the counsel and advice of wizards and evil spirits, and these will fail them. Having reached their wits' end they will cry unto the Lord, as it is written: "Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still." — Ps. 107:28,29.
The prophet of Jehovah foretells the great witness that must be given in the earth "in that day", that the people may know of Jehovah, and foretells that the cries of the oppressed will be heard by Jehovah. "He shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them." Then the prophet adds: "And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it; and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them." (Isa. 19:20-22) This proves that the people will turn to Jehovah for their own good and, having so done, will receive his blessings.
What is said concerning Egypt applies likewise to Assyria, that is, to the people forming the earthly organization of Satan in which the political rulers are in the saddle and leading. The government of peace established by Jehovah and ruled by his beloved Son, the Prince of Peace, will open the way for the people to return unto God. Jehovah foretold the establishment of that highway and way when he
caused his prophet to write: "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein." (Isa. 35:8) These words of the prophet beautifully describe how God opens the highway and shows the people that the way to return to him is by wholly devoting themselves to him, and that while so doing there will be none to hinder, because "no lion [fierce political ruler] shall be there, nor any ravenous beast [cruel, harsh military government] shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there". — Isa. 35: 9.
Christ, the great Redeemer, has provided the ransom price for all, and all shall have an opportunity to return to Jehovah by and through him. "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." — Isa. 35:10.
Having in mind now that Egypt represented earth's organized power with the commercial and military elements predominating, and that Assyria represented earth's organized power with the political rulers predominating, and that these and the people have been deceived by Satan and turned away from God by the Devil religion, consider now the words of God's prophet: "In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve [God] with the Assyrians." — Isa. 19:23.
Then the Assyrian will march into Egypt, not to rule nor to dominate, and the Egyptian will march into Assyria, not in military conquest, but there will
be complete harmony between all those who will come together and worship God in spirit and in truth, and they shall serve God and help one another.
A highway from Egypt to Assyria would necessarily pass over the land of Canaan, and this prophetically foretells that the peoples of the nations must receive their blessings in the same way that the Israelites will receive theirs, to wit, through Christ the Prince of Peace: "In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land; whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance." — Isa. 19: 24, 25.
Jehovah God announces that, for those who forsake the Devil religion and turn to the Lord God and serve him, he will open a way to receive them and grant them the blessings of life everlasting. The people of the world, and particularly the political rulers and the commercial giants and builders of military powers, have been and are wicked because of their wrongful course. Their wickedness has been induced chiefly by giving their allegiance to the Devil religion that has reproached Jehovah God. When the Prince of Peace, by the grace of God, has opened the understanding of the people, even though many of these have been great transgressors, they shall have an opportunity to receive the blessings of everlasting life. Concerning these, God, through his prophet, says: "Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die." (Ezek. 18: 27, 28) Thus God shows
his mercy and loving-kindness to every one who will manifest a right condition of heart devotion.
Had the politicians and commercial giants been taught the truth and been induced to use their power and influence to honor Jehovah and turn the people to him, they might have accomplished much good. But the preachers and the priests of every organized religion have led them in the wrong way, because they practise Satan's organized religion. Be sure Jehovah knows full well how men have been misled by the hypocritical teachers of organized religion, and in mercy he opens the. way for men to know the truth and return to him. Therefore it becomes of the greatest importance at this time to tell the people the truth concerning God.
The leaders of organized religion oppose the truth; and they do so because they are under the influence of Satan. By the use of fraud and misrepresentation they induce the political and commercial powers to believe that those who tell the truth are enemies of good government, and therefore seek to destroy the work of those who do teach the truth. But their opposition can not succeed. God has begun to give the truth to the people, and no power can stop it.
There is no desire or attempt on the part of those who teach the truth of God's Word to induce any one to join some organization or body. Their only purpose is to inform the people concerning Jehovah God and his provision for their blessing. Jehovah commands these who love him to now be his witnesses in the earth. He causes them to publish the truth now, that the hypocritical mask may be removed from "organized Christianity" so called, and from other organized Devil religions, in order that the people may learn the truth and get in line for the blessings
that God will bestow upon all who love and obey him. These blessings he will bestow, during the reign of the Prince of Peace, upon as many as obey him and honor his name.
King David drove the enemies of Israel out of Palestine. He thereby prophetically foretold of Christ driving the enemy organization out of the world. The reign of Solomon followed that of David, and is famous for the majesty, wisdom and peace that marked his reign. He thereby prophetically foretold of the peaceful and blessed reign of Christ, the "greater than Solomon". Christ Jesus, the great Prophet, spoke of himself and of his glorious reign as greater than that of Solomon. He also foretold that the peoples of Egypt and Assyria would rise up in the time of his reign, but that the hypocritical religious leaders would be condemned. — Luke 11: 31, 32.
Concerning Solomon it is written: "And the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel." (1 Chron. 29: 25) The name Solomon means "peaceful one". As peace, wisdom, riches and glory marked the reign of Solomon, so even far greater peace, wisdom, riches and glory shall mark the reign of Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Jehovah caused his prophet to write concerning his organization, of which Christ Jesus is the Head: "For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and ye shall suck thereof: ye shall be borne upon the side." — Isa. 66:12, R. V.
When the peoples and nations come to know of God and his righteousness and peace, they will seek his organization called Zion. "They shall ask the way
to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten." (Jer. 50:5) The obedient ones will become the children of Christ, because they shall receive the blessings of life through Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Let the people cease their vain imaginations that "organized Christianity", so called, can bring them relief, peace and prosperity. Let them break away from Satan's organization, take their stand on the side of Jehovah God, and give their allegiance and devotion to him. The prophet foretells what shall then come to pass: "I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land." With the reign of the Prince of Peace in full sway, God's prophet foretells that those who love righteousness will say: "Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps." — Ps. 85: 8-13.
Jehovah's due time is now come for the people to hear the truth. The truth is being told by a few, who are devoted to Jehovah God, and in obedience to his commandments, because it is his due time. "Organized Christianity", so called, opposes the truth because that organization is under the domination of Satan. That the people may know that Jehovah is the only true God, and that Christ is the Prince of Peace and the Redeemer of man and earth's rightful Ruler, the truth must now be told, and is being told.
God is uncovering and revealing his prophecies for man's good, and his light is shining thereupon daily with increased brilliancy.
Christ, earth's rightful King, has taken his power. With the end of the great war of God Almighty, he shall enlighten and judge the people. "Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." —Isa. 32:16-18.
