[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during November 2024]
Peace, perfect peace in this dark world of sin?
Even as our thoughts turn to the Armistice of November 1918 and we honour the sacrifice and ordeals of those who have suffered in the service of their country since then, we are reminded that ‘the war to end all wars’ did not achieve that result.
This somewhat sardonic phrase comes from the title of a book that HG Wells published in 1914 shortly after the start of what became known as the First World War. Even as that war progressed the phrase met with some degree of scepticism and then cynicism, and history has shown such opinions to be true.
A well-known passage in Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for war and a time for peace.[1] As we look at current world affairs it is clear that we are still in the former period. When we consider the list of places where war is taking place or is imminent it becomes increasingly difficult to anticipate acceptable resolutions to these conflicts. The reminders of past horrors and the impact of daily news reports have failed to deter hostilities.
One of the earliest Biblical references to war comes in Genesis 14 when an alliance led by the king of Shinar (aka Babylon) attacked the region around Sodom and Gomorrah. They found themselves in a lot of trouble when it transpired that they had captured the nephew of Abram the Hebrew who then led a counter-alliance which recovered the captives.
Moving from the first book of the Bible to its final one we see that war has not been abolished. These accounts from history-future do not make for comfortable reading.
Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Revelation 12 v17 [ESVUK]
This is a prelude to the last battle; the war that will end all wars will take place in the spiritual realms. We do not know its timing but we can be sure of its outcome.[2]
So, is peace on earth an illusion? Is it futile to strive for peace? How can we be at peace amidst the turmoil which threatens us? The gospel-writer John recorded some words of Jesus that can provide an answer:
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16 v33 [NIVUK]
Here are some more lines from the hymn that we quoted at the beginning of these thoughts:
Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
– The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
– Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.
Edward Henry Bickersteth (1875)
References:
[1] Ecclesiastes 3 v8
[2] Revelation 20 v7-10
Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.
Bible dates:
Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.
Horley Baptist Church onlineHBC main site
Confidential prayer link
Link to Recent Reflections
Link to Index of Bible Passages
Last week’s reflection: Remember, Remember
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys
Hi Steve,
Are you sure that the “war to end all wars will only happen in the spiritual realm? I was under the impression from scripture that Jesus would return to save the Israelites from warfare from all the surrounding countries as in Armageddon.
In researching these reflections I see a wide variety of interpretations, not least in reference to end-times prophecy. Some I think are plausible, some I do not, but we can learn from them all.
In this reflection, I was referring to the war described in Revelation 12, which begins in heaven but then continues on earth (v7, v17), and then to the last battle (Revelation 20 v8) which is also centred on earth. In retrospect it might have been better to rephrase that line as ‘the war that will end all wars will involve the spiritual realms’.
Wars and rumours of wars! The end times?
Throughout most of human history there have been wars and rumours of wars. This of itself is not an indicator of the end times – Mark 13 v7-8. There need to be other signs as well such as (some would argue) the re-establishment of the Temple in Jerusalem.