World Peace: How It Will Come
Displayed at the UN Building, New York
Most World Leaders are of superior ability. Yet they are unable to abolish world evils or bring about world peace. Many scientists and leaders say that the only hope for world peace is the formation of a World Government, controlling the world’s sole military power. Yet in the same breath they admit the impossibility of this, claiming that such supreme world power in human hands would enslave us all!
Chapter 1: An Amazing Forecast
Few realize it today, but a few thousand years ago a famous person was forecasting this very solution. He was ahead of his time, and the world of his day rejected and suppressed the pronouncement. The world soon lost knowledge of his forecast. World leaders would do well to search out that amazing forecast, in the light of present world conditions.
Few know that Jesus Christ came not as a religious leader on a soul saving crusade, but a News Forecaster. No man of historic note has been so completely misrepresented, so misunderstood! He came as a messenger from God to mankind. His message was a vital and sensational news announcement for the future. It announced world peace. It was good news for the future – world peace in our time! That was Christ’s message! The word gospel means Good News.
And what was that news announcement for our times which was suppressed by first-century enemies? The one official record which the first-century conspirators were unable to suppress-the Holy Bible-gives the official answer! “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God …Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the Good News.” Mark 1:1,14-15.
Believewhat good news? The good news of the coming Kingdom of God. But what did He mean-the Kingdom of God? And how do we know it was suppressed? And if the original and true message of Jesus Christ was suppressed, what messages or gospels were proclaimed to the world to replace it?
The Written Record
To say that the truth proclaimed by Christ was not proclaimed to the world after A.D. 70 for nearly nineteen centuries is a shocking statement. This same written record the conspirators were not able to destroy confirms it. The Church of God was started the day of Pentecost, A.D.31, Acts 2. About twenty years later, the apostle Paul, under inspiration, wrote to the churches in Galatia, “I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the good news of Christ." Gal. 1:6-7.
To the Corinthian Church the apostle Paul wrote, “I fear, that by any means, … through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that comes -speaking of false preachers- preaches another Jesus… or another gospel, which you have not accepted…” II Cor . 11:3-4.
And further-verses 13-15: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers, also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness….”
To the early Christians at Rome…" for the anger of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold (back) the truth in unrighteousness.” Rom. 1:18. The Revised Standard Version has it: “who by their wickedness suppress the truth.” The message God sent by Jesus Christ was being held back-suppressed.
Then again, even Jesus Christ Himself made it very clear that His good news of the coming Kingdom of God on earth would be suppressed until our time. His disciples had asked what would be the sign we might know when we were at the end of this age of mans rule, just before Christ’s return to earth.
First He warned against being deceived. Many would come, in His name, claiming to be the ministers of Christ saying that He was the Christ and at the same time deceiving many. When " …. this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations… then shall the end- of man’s rule -come.” Matt. 24:14.
This proclaiming of the Kingdom of God, could not be the sign that we are at the end of the age, if it had been proclaimed all along, but the end time is now, after nineteen centuries! Just as Christ Himself directly prophesied would happen. Many have preached about the person, saying that Jesus was the Christ, preaching about the messenger, but suppressing His message!
Some have preached a “gospel of salvation” and some a “gospel of grace” turning grace into license to commit law breaking. Still others have turned to a “social gospel.” But Jesus brought from God the Father a vital message announcing the Kingdom of God! What did He mean the Kingdom of God? Isn’t it amazing that almost no one in today’s world knows? Return to Chapters
Chapter 2: A Message of Government
Few seem to know that Jesus’ message was about government! Few realize that this is not the time God is trying to spiritually save the world. Few knew He was concerned with government.
Jesus was born to be a King! Notice what was prophesied in Isaiah about Christ: “… the ‘government’ shall be upon his shoulder… 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.” Isa. 9:6-7. Notice what was said to his mother: “ He will be great… and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:26 -33.
When He was on trial for His life before Pilate, He was asked, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, "To this end was I born, and for this cause I came into the world.” But He also said, “My kingdom is not of this world – age.” John 18:37, 36. Why has the whole world been deceived, not knowing why humanity was created and why human life exists upon this earth! Where are we going? What is the way to peace and happiness? Why can’t science give us the answers? These questions are the most important in life.
The greatest religion in the world in number of adherents, is Christianity, people suppose the Christian religion came out of and is based on the Bible. Then why don’t the various sects and denominations of traditional Christianity tell us the real theme of the Bible? Why do they not know the true message that Jesus proclaimed? It’s all in the Bible, it’s not suppressed there! It’s plain and clear. It’s time someone shouted to this lethargic, indifferent, sleeping humanity, Wake Up!
The truth is plain and clear in the Bible. Jesus’ good news was about the coming the Kingdom of God. Does that have anything to do with spiritual salvation? The gospel of the Kingdom of God has to do, basically, with two themes, government and spiritual development.
CHRIST’S Gospel
Jesus went everywhere preaching the ‘good news’ of the Kingdom of God. He taught in parables about the Kingdom of God. He sent out seventy men to announce it, and commanded them to speak about the Kingdom of God. Luke 10:9. He sent the apostles, on whom the Church of God was founded, to preach only The Kingdom of God. Luke 9:1-2.
Isn’t it amazing that the world has lost the knowledge of what it is? The good news Paul taught, the Kingdom of God. Acts 19:8; 20:25; 28:23,31. Haven’t you heard men speak of the Kingdom of God something like this: “By Christians everywhere working together to bring about world peace, tolerance and brotherly love, the Kingdom of God may at last be established in the hearts of men.”
Because they rejected Christ’s gospel 1900 years ago, the world had to supplant something else in its place. They had to invent a counterfeit! So we have heard the Kingdom of God spoken of as merely a platitude, a nice sentiment in human hearts, reducing it to an ethereal, unreal nothing! Others have misrepresented that the “Church” is the Kingdom. Others confuse it with a “millennium.” Still others have, earlier in our century, claimed the British Empire was the Kingdom of God.
Chapter 3: Daniel Knew!
The prophet Daniel, who lived 600 years before Christ, knew that the Kingdom of God was a real kingdom, a government ruling over literal people on the earth. Daniel was one of four young Jewish men who were stationed in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar of the Chaldean Empire, in training for special responsibilities in the Babylonian government. Daniel was a prophet who had been given special understanding. Dan. 1:17.
Nebuchadnezzar was the first real world ruler. He had conquered a vast empire, including the nation Judah. This king had a dream so impressive it troubled him, moved him to tremendous concern. He demanded that his magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers tell him both what he had dreamed and what it meant. They could not. They were baffled. Then Daniel was brought before the king.
Daniel disclaimed any more human ability to interpret dreams than the Chaldean magicians, “but,” he said, “ there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, and makes it known to the king what will be in the latter days.” Dan. 2:28.
First, God’s purpose was to reveal to this world ruling human king that there is a God in heaven, that God Is Supreme Ruler over all nations, governments, and kings that God rules the universe! This Chaldean king knew only about the many pagan gods. He knew nothing of the true living God. Like people and rulers, even today, he did not know that God is the living, real, active, Ruling and Governing Personage who actually and literally governs the entire universe!
The whole purpose of this dream was to reveal God’s government-the fact that God rules-the truth of the Kingdom of God, the very thing that is the one and only true message of Jesus Christ! And, secondly, to preserved in writing for us today what is to happen.
For US, Today!
This is no dry, dull, dead writing for a people of 2,500 years ago. This is living, tremendous, BIG NEWS for OUR DAY! It is advance news for us, now. News before it happens, of the most colossal event of all earth’s history! This is the true ‘gospel’! It is the ‘good news’ Christ brought! It is intended for you and me today! It is important that we understand!
Read, verses 28 through 35 of the second chapter of Daniel. In his dream, this king had seen a vast statue, larger than any image or statue ever built by man, so tremendous it was terrifying, even in a dream. Its head was of fine gold, its breast and arms of silver, the belly and thighs of brass, legs of solid iron, feet a mixture of iron and clay.
There was a time element. The King had viewed it until a supernatural ‘stone’ came from heaven, smashing the statue on its feet. Then the whole of the statue broke into fragments, and was actually blown away by the wind, it disappeared! Then this ‘stone’ expanded and quickly became a great ‘mountain,’ so great it filled the whole earth!
Unlike ordinary dreams, this one was caused by God to convey the message of God’s rule to this world ruling King and, because it is part of the written Word of God, to us today, to reveal important facts of the true gospel! “This is the dream,” verse 36, “and we will tell the interpretation before the king.”
“You are a king of kings, he was the first real world ruler over a world empire…. for the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, and strength…" God was revealing Himself to this human world dictator as the Most High Ruler over all.
People today, like this king, seem never to think of God as a ruler, as the One who governs, as the head of government. The Eternal God was revealing Himself through Daniel and through the Bible to you and to me today, as an all powerful, governing God. Daniel continued to this human emperor, “You are this head of gold. And after you shall arise another Kingdom inferior to you, and another third Kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.”verses 37-39.
What IS a Kingdom?
Notice! This is speaking of Kingdoms. It is referring to kingdoms that bear rule over the people on earth. It is speaking of governments! It is not speaking of ethereal sentiments “set up in the hearts of men.” It is not speaking of churches. It is speaking of the kind of governments that bear rule and authority over nations of people here on earth. It is literal. It is specific. There is no misunderstanding, here, as to what is meant by the word “Kingdom.”
There is no misunderstanding the interpretation. God gives His own interpretation through the prophet Daniel. The great metallic image represented national and international governments, real, literal Kingdoms. It represented a succession of world ruling governments. First was the head of gold. That represented Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom, the Chaldean Empire. After him in time sequence was to come a second, then a third Kingdom “which shall bear rule over all the earth”-world empire!
Then, verse 40, the legs of iron represent a fourth world empire. It was to be strong, even as iron is strong, stronger militarily than its predecessors. Yet, as silver is less valuable than gold, brass than silver, iron than brass, though each metal was progressively harder and stronger, the succession would deteriorate morally and spiritually. The two legs meant the fourth empire would be divided.
After the Chaldean Empire came the still larger Persian Empire, then the Greco-Macedonian, and fourth, the Roman Empire. It was divided, with capitals at Rome and Constantinople. Now verse 44. See it with your own eyes in the Bible. Here, in plain language, is God’s explanation of what the Kingdom of God is.
“And in the days of these kings…" it is here speaking of the ten toes, part of iron and part of brittle clay. This, by connecting the prophecy with Daniel 7, and Revelation 13 and 17, is referring to the new UNITED EUROPE which has formed out of the European Common Market, before your very eyes! Revelation 17:12 makes plain the detail that it shall finally evolve into a union of TEN militarized states-Kings or Kingdoms which- Rev.17:8- shall resurrect the medieval “holy” Roman Empire.
So, mark carefully the time element! “In the days of these kings”- in the days of these ten nations or groups of nations that shall IN OUR TIME resurrect briefly the Roman Empire, notice what will happen: "… shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed… but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever”!
Chapter 4: Yes, in OUR TIME!
Now here we have described ‘four’ Gentile universal empires, the only four that ever existed! Revelation 13 and 17 show that, after the fall of the original Roman Empire, there would be ten revivals-seven’ of which would be ruled over by a Gentile church, the “daughter” of ancient Babylon, a church claiming to be Christian, but actually named by God “Mystery Babylon the Great” or, more plainly, full of Babylonian Mysteries! Six of those have come and gone. The seventh is now forming, the last final brief resurrection of the Roman Empire by ten European groups or nations. These are the ten toes of iron and clay mixed.
In their days, they shall last only a very short space of time, shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom. This shall be the Kingdom of God! Compare this with Revelation 17. Here is pictured a church. Not a small church, a great church. She rules over “many waters” verse 1, which are described in verse 15 as different ‘nations’ speaking different languages. She posed as the Church of God which Scripture says Eh. 5:23 ; Rev. 19:7; Matt. 25:1-10, etc. is the affianced “bride” of Christ, to be spiritually married to Him at His return.
But she has committed fornication. By having direct political union with human governments of this world! She “sat on” Rev.17:3 all seven of these resurrections of the Roman Empire sometimes called the " Holy Roman Empire." She ruled over the human kingdoms as a common law and unmarried “wife” ruling her “husband” a totally unnatural and ungodly relationship.
She is to “sit on” this last “head of the beast” this final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire. It will be a union of church and state. It is to endure a very short time. It is to fight against Christ at His return. That will be its end!
We see it in the process of rising now. Therefore we are close to the coming of Christ! We are now very near the end of man’s rule on earth! When Christ comes He is coming as King, ruling the whole earth-Rev. 19:11-16, and His Kingdom, the Kingdom of God, said Daniel, is to consume all the worlds kingdoms. Revelation 11:15 states it in these words: “The kingdoms of the world has become the Kingdoms of our Lord… and He will reign for ever!”
This is the Kingdom of God. It is the end of present governments that rule Russia, China, Japan, Italy, Germany and even the United States and the British nations. They all will become the Kingdom of God, under the government of God, with Jesus Christ as King over the entire earth.
This makes completely plain the fact that the Kingdom of God is a literal Government. Even as the Chaldean Empire was a Kingdom, even as the Roman Empire was a Kingdom so the Kingdom of God is a government. It is to take over the governments of the nations of the world. Jesus Christ was born to be a King, a ruler! These scriptures tell you plainly that God is supreme Ruler. They tell you in plainest language that Jesus was born to be a King, that He is going to rule all nations of the earth, that His Kingdom shall rule forever.
But all this is only part of the amazing truth about the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God will rule over the peoples and nations of the earth. Yet these peoples and nations will NOT be the Kingdom, not even in the Kingdom of God, they shall be ruled over by it! We still have to learn of what or of who it is composed. Can you, as an individual, become a part of this Kingdom.
Chapter 5: World-Ruling Government
But someone may ask, “Didn’t Jesus Himself say that the Kingdom of God is ‘within you’? “In the seventeenth chapter of Luke, verse 21, King James translation, is a mistranslation which has led some to suppose the Kingdom of God is some thought or feeling or sentiment within man. This is the Moffatt translation of the same verse: “He answered them, ‘The Reign of God is not coming as you hope to see it; no one will say, “Here it is” or “There it is,” for the Reign of God is now in your midst.’’’
He explained that it would not be a local or limited kingdom for the Jews only. It would not be merely one of many human and visible kingdoms which men could point out or see, and say, “This is it, here”; or “that is the Kingdom, over there.” But He, Himself, was born to be the King of that Kingdom, as He plainly told Pilate. John 18:36 -37. The Bible uses the terms “king” and “kingdom” interchangeably. See Daniel 7:17 -18, 23.
The King of the future Kingdom was, then and there standing in the midst of them. And in the language in which He spoke to them, that is precisely what He said, as the marginal rendering and other translations state. Plainly, Jesus was not saying that the Kingdom of God was within you. Nor was He saying that the Church would be the Kingdom.
Has Not Yet Appeared
But did Jesus Christ not say the Kingdom of God was “at hand”? Yes, this was quoted earlier from Mark 1:15. This led some to mistake what He said, and what He meant, and assume the Kingdom of God was established and set up during Jesus’ ministry. Some supposed it was the Church.
But Jesus did not say the Kingdom of God had been established. It was now being preached. Luke 16:16. He did not say it was already here. Jesus, Himself, corrected this false notion. He “added and spoke a parable…. because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.” Luke 19:11. Some thought it would be the Church!
“He said, therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.” verse 12. Christ is that “nobleman.” He is speaking of His going to the throne of God His Father, in heaven. Notice, He went there to be given rulership of the Kingdom. Notice, too, He is to return, when He has received it! He has not yet returned! Other scriptures explain this, we will see these later.
Continuing the parable, spoken because some thought the Kingdom of God was immediately, then, in the first century, to appear: “And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.” verse 15.
Now notice in verse 17, the one who had gained ten pounds is given authority to ‘rule cities’- “have you authority over ten cities”! To the one who had gained five pounds, he said, “Be you also over five cities.” This is speaking of Christ and of His delegating authority to rule.
This parable, was spoken to make clear to us that the Kingdom of God is a literal government, to be set up at Christ’s return and not before! The church, then, cannot be the Kingdom of God. But the true Church of God is to be changed, by a resurrection and instantaneous change from human to spirit, into the Kingdom of God. The Church, when all its members have been changed, shall become the Kingdom of God. But it is not, now, the Kingdom!
Chapter 6: Important Word “UNTIL”
Acts 3:21 is speaking of restoring God’s laws, God’s government, of restoring universal peace. In the seventh chapter of Daniel, the prophet had experienced a dream, and visions. He had seen four wild animals. Notice verse 16: the interpretation begin’s verse17. This is God’s ’inspired interpretation “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High-those changed to spirit,- shall take the Kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever… Dan. 7:17 -18.
Not only is Christ to rule but those sons of God are to take and possess the Kingdom! They are to rule under and with Christ! In the New Testament it is recorded as co-heirs with Christ! In this same seventh chapter, Daniel explained another power.
The fourth beast of his dream, the fourth empire (the Roman Empire) was pictured as an animal having ten horns, explained here and in Revelation 13 and Revelation 17 as ten revivals or resurrections of the Roman Empire, after its original fall in A.D. 476. Among them, after A.D. 476 arose another little horn, a religious kingdom, actually ruling over the last seven of the other “horns” or revived Roman Kingdoms -verse 20.
Read about this “little horn” the religious kingdom, verse 21: “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, the true church, and prevailed against them, until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.” The saints, then no longer human flesh and blood, but made spirit, are to possess the Kingdom, at Christ’s return!
It is Christ who is speaking in Revelation 3:21, and 2:26 -27: “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.” The Father’s throne is in heaven, where Jesus Christ is now; but Christ’s throne, in which those who qualify shall sit with Him, is the throne of David, in Jerusalem. Luke 1:32. Further: “And he that overcomes and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.”
Can’t Know the TIME
The commission He had given the true Church was to preach His gospel to all the world. They were to receive Gods Spirit, putting them into His church. This would give them the power to carry out the work of the Church. But it was not the setting up of the Kingdom of God. Of that they were not to know the time.
Just what did Jesus mean, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons”? He explained it another time. It is recorded in Matthew 24:36: There He was speaking of the end of this age, and His Coming: “But of that day and hour knows no man… but my Father only.” He was speaking of His return and the setting up of the Kingdom, the time of which no man knows, but only the Father.
However, though we do not, even now, know the day or the hour, we do know, from God’s prophecies, that it is today very near ! Notice this, in Luke 21:25-32: He had been foretelling the world events, right now beginning, leading to “distress of nations” in world troubles and world wars, “… men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.”
World troubles such as never before experienced. “When you see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand… this generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.”
Chapter 7: The Two Fateful Alternatives
This world trouble began in 1914, with World War 1. There was a recess from 1918 until 1939. We are in a second recess now. But now we have nuclear energy. We have hydrogen bombs stockpiled in such power and volume that they could blast all human life off this planet several times over. There are other destructive weapons today in existence, any of which could erase humanity from the earth.
Today world-famous scientists say only a super world government can prevent world cosmocide. Yet man cannot and will not get together to form such a world-ruling government. It’s time we face the hard, cold, realistic fact, humanity has two alternatives, either there is a God, who is about to step in and set up the Kingdom of God, the World Ruling Government of God to rule all nations, to bring us peace, or else all human life will be obliterated. Matt. 24:22.
The present recess between wars will soon erupt into nuclear World War III, called in bible prophecy the “Great Tribulation.” Matt. 24:21-22. But God will cut short that final supreme world trouble, to restore God’s government by the world ruling ‘Kingdom of God’ and bring World Peace at last!
Summary, Herbert Armstrong, Free Library Copy
In accordance with Sec 107 of Chapter 1 of Title 17 of US Copyright Law, this material is distributed without charge or other commercial interest for the purposes of comment, teaching, scholarship and review.
U.S. British Future, P.O. Box 4877, Oceanside, Ca. 92052. U.S.A.
AmericaAndBritainFuture.com also US-BritishFuture.com