It has been over 100 years since the “war to end all wars” (as it was coined) ended in victory for those who had “fought to make the world safe for democracy.” (President Woodrow Wilson). The Bible tells us what the ultimate expression of love, as personified by Jesus Christ, is,
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn 15:13).
History is replete with examples of great and heroic men giving their lives for others, but I was reminded of Canada's taking of Vimy Ridge (video link) a decisive blow against the enemy, which turned the course of the war, but many thousands of Canadian soldiers died at this battle, so that we can live freely.
As the war ended, a celebration of thanksgiving followed, and a holiday was established to commemorate that great Day of Remembrance, held on the 11th day of the 11th month of every year. However, heartfelt desires and good intentions not based upon the truth of God's Word will most often lead to and produce false hope. As it turned out, it was not the “war to end all wars.” Not even remotely close. An even greater war soon followed, only to be followed by innumerable national wars and revolutions around the world.
The Bible describes a number of wars that have not been fulfilled yet, of which at least two would be considered "world wars."
Instead of a world of liberty and democracy, many of the world’s nations are now under the brutal heel of totalitarian dictatorships. With the threat of potential nuclear obliteration hanging over the world, the prophecy of Christ is being literally fulfilled:
“Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (Lk 21:26).
And we haven’t seen nothing yet. The greatest wars that this world will ever know are yet to come, such as the Great Tribulation wars (Rev 4–19) and the war of Psalm 83 and the war of Gog and Magog at the end of the 1,000 reign of the Lord Jesus Christ as King on the earth.
There is a “book of the wars of the LORD,” (Num 21:14), which are just wars because the LORD facilitated them, but the wars concocted by man through their tongues which is “setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell” (Jam 3:2-9), are typically not just. War is a most awful thing and I look forward to the day when the Lord Jesus Christ returns and establishes peace upon the earth with judgment and a “rod of iron” (Rev 2:27; 12:5; 19:15).
Isaiah 2:4 declares:
“And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
In the 26 centuries or so since Isa 2:4 was first uttered, there has been a war going on somewhere in the world at least 11 out of every 12 years, and that coupled with how the world at present goes, major wars occurring in the Ukraine and in Israel, and likely in other places, it seems that such a promise could never be fulfilled.
Yet it is God who has promised, and only He can accomplish it.
“He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people.” (Is 2:4a).
“Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end. . . . The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Is 9:7)
When the Lord Jesus Christ comes again,
“he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth” (Ze 9:10)
Finally, world peace will come, and then:
“The kingdoms of this world [will] become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Rev 11:15)
All kingdoms of the world will come under dominion of God the Son and His kingdom. This kingdom is foretold in the OT and NT and is the re-establishment of Israel’s fallen throne. The following are some of the passages that describe the Millennial reign of Christ the King and His earthly kingdom on the throne of His glory, in the OT: Ps. 69:35-36; 72:1-20; 86:9; Is. 11:4-5, 25-27; 32:1; 35; 60-66; Jer. 23:5-6; 30–33; Ezk. 40–48; Dan. 7; Ho. 2:14-23; 3:4-5; 14:4-8; Jon. 2:18–3:21; Am. 9:11-15; Oba. 15-21; Mic. 2:12-13; 4:1-13; 5:4-15; 7:7-20; Zeph. 3:9-20; Hag. 2:6-9; Ze. 1:16-17; 2:1-13; 3:8-10; 8:1–10:12; 12:1-14:21; Mal. 3:1-6; 4:1-3. In the NT: Matt 25:31-46; 1 Cor. 15:25; Rev. 20:14, 20:6.
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Jer 23:5-6)
The Lords coming reign and kingdom and glory in Zion is prophesied, and all nations will worship Him there: Ps. 99:1-5; 102:16.
The unconditional covenants made by the LORD to Israel through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be fulfilled in their entirety when Israel believes in Jesus Christ as the Messiah at His return (1 Ki 8:56; Lk 13:34-35). Israel will then be restored to her land and fulfill her initial design of becoming the ruling nation and a light to the world during the millennial reign of Christ (De. 30:1–6; Ezk. 11:17; 20:33–38; 34:13–16; Is. 42:6–7; Jer. 33:6–9; Mic. 4:6–13; Ze. 8:3–8; 10:6; Rom. 9:27; 11:26).
Only those—whether Jew or Gentile—who are born again through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will enter into that great millennial kingdom of peace, where there will be no lawlessness and the Lord will rule the world with a rod of iron. The saints will rule as Christ's servants and kings and be judges of the world (1 Cor 6:1-3).
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (Jn 3:3)
If you're only born once, you'll die twice. But if you're born twice, you'll only die once.
Will YOU be part of the first resurrection and enter into the millennial kingdom of God and then onwards to the eternal city of God? Click here on this link to find out.
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