The Prince of Peace

GOLDEN TEXT: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”—Luke 2:14

NO PASSAGE of the Bible is more familiar to the professed Christian world than our Golden Text. At least once each year it becomes the theme for countless thousands of church services. Its charm seems to cast a hallowed spell over the multitudes for a few brief days of the annual Christmas season. Opposing armies bent on the destruction of each other have been known to cease hostilities for a day, and callous hearts are softened. It is almost a magic spell, but it does not last. Probably the reason that the angelic message of peace does temporarily exercise such a potent influence in the world is that it expresses the ideal conditions which people would like to see. But human selfishness has prevented these conditions from being anything more than a passing fancy, a sort of temporary wishful thinking.

The expression, “good will toward men,” is a reference to the return of God’s favor toward the race, a wonderful manifestation of which was the birth of Jesus to be the Redeemer. While God’s justice condemned the human race to death because of sin, he did not cease to love the people and he manifested his love by the gift of his Son to die for them. This act of divine love, when fully realized by the people, will, indeed, redound to the glory of God. It also paves the way for peace between God and men; and when the peoples of the earth have found their way back to God and are at peace with him, they will also be at peace with one another.

ISAIAH 9:2-7—The statement, “For unto us a child is born,” is a prophecy of the birth of Jesus. The meaningful word “for” takes us back to the beginning of the prophecy, where we read that “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.” Since the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, the whole earth has been a “land of the shadow of death.” It has also been a land of darkness because the people have been in rebellion against God. But a great “light” began to shine with the birth of Jesus. In due time it will lighten every man who has come into the world; and those who accept God’s gift will be released from the condemnation of death.

“For thou host broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor,” the prophet continues. This, too, is shown to be accomplished as a result of the fact that “a child is born,” even Jesus, the Redeemer. The great “oppressor” here mentioned is evidently Satan, the devil, the one whom the apostle declares has the power of death. (Heb. 2:14) Jesus’ birth—his being made flesh—was in order that, through death, he might destroy this great oppressor, and ultimately destroy death itself.

The many titles ascribed to Jesus in this prophecy denote the wide scope of his accomplishments on behalf of the fallen race. He not only died for the race, but is the “King of kings” in a divine government which will cause God’s will to be done in earth as it is done in heaven. Of the increase of that government, and of the peace which will result from it, there will be no end, declares the prophet. In other words, the kingdom of God ultimately will become universal; not because man finally decides voluntarily to turn from selfishness to love, but because the “zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

REVELATION 11:15—Here is a prophecy of Christ’s kingdom which indicates clearly that it is more than merely a noble sentiment that is adopted in the hearts of a few of the people of earth. It tells of an actual transfer of authority and rulership from the governments of this world to the kingdom of Christ. It proves, therefore, that the kingdom of Christ is to be a real government, an authoritative organization, which will take control over the nations and peoples of the earth.

Revelation 11:18 explains that the transfer of power from the kingdoms of this world to the kingdom of Christ would result, first of all, in the nations becoming angry; also, that it would be the time of God’s wrath upon the nations. We are now living in this time. Governmental authority in many parts of the earth is breaking down; chaos is developing but we need not fear, for soon the kingdom of Christ will manifest itself to bring peace and security and everlasting life to all who will obey its laws.

REVELATION 15:2-4—The “seven last plagues” mentioned in this prophecy are means by which the false civil and ecclesiastical systems of this world are destroyed preparatory to the full establishment and manifestation of the kingdom of Christ. The “beast” and the “image” of the beast are symbolic of the counterfeit kingdoms of Christ which have been set up as church-state systems of government, or as other methods of controlling the people in the name of religion. Those who are truly loyal to Christ have stood out against these, hence have not had their mark. These stand on a “sea of glass.” The “sea” is symbolic of the restless masses of the people during the present time of trouble, but to the saints it is transparent—they see through it to the glorious new day of Christ’s kingdom.

QUESTIONS:

What is meant by the angels’ words, “Good will toward men”?

Who is referred to by the statement, “Unto us a child is born”?

When will the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of Christ?

In what sense are the true followers of Jesus now standing on a “sea of glass”?

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