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I recently missed a flight to visit family in Minnesota. I had arrived at the airport 40 minutes before my flight was scheduled to leave, but I wasn't allowed to board the plane. Due to heightened airport security, I learned that I had to be there 45 minutes prior to departure. So I was rerouted. At the end of the day, having taken multiple flights on a standby basis instead of
the nonstop flight I wanted to take, I reached my intended destination but only after much inconvenience and wasted time.
Missing my flight was a stark reminder that the world we live in isn't a peaceful place where everyone gets along. And the reason for increased security at so many airports around the world today is to prevent terrorists from blowing up airplanes or using them to destroy others.
Sept. 11, 2001—the date terrorists hijacked four airplanes and killed thousands of Americans—is burned into our memories. This incident and many others over past decades have made us all aware of Muslim extremists willing to give their lives to kill innocent men, women and children.
In our local communities many young people go to schools and live in neighborhoods where they have to contend with gangs and bullies who think nothing of beating others up and even killing them if they don't comply. Many gangs also have turf wars with competing gangs over who controls a particular neighborhood. Innocent people are often hit by random bullets exchanged in such battles.
School and college campuses are not safe either. In recent months there have been multiple reports of someone going insane and shooting students.
Between nations, we see multiple ongoing wars and skirmishes, including those in Afghanistan and Iraq—not to mention the recent conflicts between Hamas, Hezbollah and Israel. Regarding the latter conflicts, all sides acknowledge that any peace between the combatants will only be temporary. These enemies expect to continue the war at some point in the future.
Why all the killing?
Enough of all this conflict! Everyone knows about the wars, terrorism and fighting taking place today. So why don't people make peace? Why can't we all just get along? The answers to these questions are found in the biblical account of the first recorded human act of violence.
Cain and Abel were the first two sons born to Adam and Eve—the father and mother of today's human race. In time, Cain became very angry with his younger brother Abel because God had accepted Abel's offering but rejected his.
Rather than acknowledge that he was responsible for his relationship with God, Cain became very angry over the situation. I suspect he thought it was unfair that his offering was not accepted. He probably thought he was not being respected.
Similarly, thinking that things aren't fair and that they aren't being shown enough respect has led many nations to war. And deciding to solve their problems apart from God hasn't helped either.
As James 4:1-3 says: "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."
Now back to Cain. As Cain angrily stewed about his situation, God said to him: "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it" (Genesis 4:6-7).
God told Cain that he needed to rule over his misguided emotions. Doing this could have brought about peace between the two brothers. After all, one of God's names is "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6), so He certainly knows what produces peace and what doesn't.
Sadly, Cain didn't follow God's instruction. Instead, he gave in to his anger and killed his brother (Genesis 4:8). Sadly, most people and nations have followed Cain's example—and that of Cain's parents too—in rejecting God's instructions. They are therefore incapable of consistently making good decisions.
Speaking of those who reject His commands, God says, "The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace" (Isaiah 59:8).
History shows that most people have taken and continue to take the path that leads to conflict rather than peace. In fact, Bible prophecy reveals that before Jesus returns to earth, wars are going to increase.
In explaining to His disciples what conditions would be like just before His coming, Jesus said: "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Matthew 24:6-7).
Jesus further said that conditions on earth will get so bad at this time that "unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved [alive]; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened" (verse 22).
The end of all this bad stuff
So how will mankind be rescued from all the wars, terrorism and other bad things prophesied to afflict humanity at the end of "this present evil age" (Galatians 1:4)? We will be saved by the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. Notice some of the wonderful things that are going to happen when Jesus returns to establish the Kingdom of God.
In destroying a multinational army gathered in the Megiddo Valley of Israel that marches to Jerusalem to fight against Him (Revelation 16:13-16; Joel 3; Zechariah 14:2), Jesus will fulfill this much anticipated heavenly announcement: "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15).
One of Jesus' first acts of leadership will be to rid the earth of weapons of war. The ancient prophet Micah was inspired to explain the event this way:
"Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it... He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken" (Micah 4:1-4).
In conjunction with the destruction of weapons used to kill other human beings, Jesus will offer people the opportunity to transform their minds into ones filled with love and respect for others. This will occur as people repent of their sins and submit to God's laws—laws that teach us how to love God and our neighbors.
The earth will then undergo many other exciting changes in terms of health, wealth and prosperity. Yet the foundation for enjoying all these wonderful blessings will be universal peace ushered in by the Prince of Peace. To learn more about this exciting future, request, download or read online and . VT
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