| Highlights of DAWN | September 1985 |
The Outlook for Peace
“The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.” —Psalm 72:3
REGARDLESS of every other consideration, selfishness is the basic cause of all the world’s national, international, political, and economic problems. Whether we think of the tension which exists between nations as due to ideological differences, or to economic inequalities, it is selfishness that fans the flames of mistrust and animosity, and selfishness influences both the rich and the poor, the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’. It is not the exclusive possession of any particular stratum of human society.
Viewing the world situation from one standpoint, we might say that a great deal of the unrest is caused by the fact that the backward nations of the earth are endeavoring to assert themselves to secure a more equitable share of earth’s bounties. Because of this, many are inclined to think of them as unreasonable and aggressive. Most of those who live in the more favored countries, where the standard of living is considerably above the world average, are not willing to share their bounties and advantages with other nations sufficiently to equalize living standards, so selfishness meets selfishness on a global scale, and the hearts of millions are filled with fear at what the outcome might be.
We can perhaps understand better the world situation by thinking of it in relation to conditions within a single nation. Even in these favored United States, we know there are millions who are barely existing, who experience nothing but the depth of poverty from the beginning of their lives to the end. If we could imagine these millions being well organized and armed, determined to seize by fair means or foul what they considered to be their share of the nation’s bounties, we would know that civil war was inevitable.
It is this situation that we now have on a global scale. Whole nations—indeed, half the world—are in the ‘have not’ class, and they are organized and armed, determined to wrest from the remainder of the world that which they consider their due. With a situation of this kind confronting the nations, it is plain to be seen that the temporary settlement of a local dispute here or there will not solve the major problem, for no longer will the underprivileged nations of earth be satisfied with their lot. The widespread and increasing knowledge of the “time of the end” (Dan. 12:4) has awakened them, and they are on the march—unreasonably so, some may think, but this makes the threat of world destruction even more ominous.
Russian communism enters into the picture simply because it purports to give relief for the underprivileged of the world. The nations which grasp this false hope do not realize that human selfishness dominates the communists as it does all the rest of the world, and that regardless of what may be promised, they will continue to suffer. Communism cannot root out human selfishness from the heart. Nor can this be done by the ideology of democracy, so there is little likelihood that there will be a great deal of progress toward peace as a result of human efforts; indeed, it is probable that the world will edge a little closer toward that general conflict which nearly everybody fears is coming.
The outlook for peace eventually, nevertheless, is bright, because the prophecies point out to us that when the nations reach their final extremity, nearing which we now see them, it will mean that the time is near for the kingdom of Christ to be established in the earth, and that “of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.” (Isa. 9:7) Today the nations are angry, but if we believe the promises of God this will not disturb us; for it is merely a token that the time is near when “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of God and of his Christ.”—Rev. 11:15,18
The “kingdoms of this world” (Rev. 11:15) are referred to symbolically in the prophecies as mountains, and Micah informs us that in “the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains.” (Mic. 4:1-4) Thus, in symbol, we are told that the kingdoms (governments) of this world are to become subject to the Lord’s kingdom, and this surrender of their sovereignty to the King of kings will be demonstrated by their desire to obey the laws of the new kingdom. They will say to one another concerning the Lord, “He will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.”
We are not to suppose that governments as presently constituted, or which may in the future be set up, will, as such, bow to the kingdom authority of Christ. Jesus will not rule the world through humanly constituted governments. He will have his own governmental arrangements and his own representatives. Nevertheless, the assertion that many nations shall say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,” indicates that in following his representatives there will be more than merely the turning of individuals to the Lord and declaring their allegiance to his kingdom, although only individual allegiance will result in everlasting life.
The increase of Christ’s kingdom from the standpoint of whole nations or nationalities coming under its sovereign rule is again indicated in the prophecy which reads, “It shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.” (Zech. 14:17) Verse eighteen of this chapter speaks of the “family of Egypt,” indicating that the word family as here used denotes a nation. Thus it will be that a whole nation may be deprived of God’s blessing through a failure to recognize the laws of the new kingdom.
In Micah’s prophecy, after relating the fact that the nations shall seek to be taught the Lord’s ways, and walk in his paths, we are further informed that the Lord will “rebuke strung nations afar off,” indicating that even then some of the nations will endeavor to continue governing themselves upon the basis of selfishness. Perhaps, as Zechariah’s prophecy tells us, one of the ways the Lord will rebuke these strong nations afar off will be by withholding such needed blessings as rain.
Just how the turning of whole nations to the Lord may be accomplished we cannot be sure. Evidently, though, it will be by means of representatives who will be empowered to speak for the nation. These representatives will of necessity themselves be righteous men whose influence among their people will be toward righteousness, men who will be respected and whose leadership into the kingdom of Christ will be quite generally followed. And when it is followed, peace will result. See Zechariah 8:20-23.
This is quite clearly the thought of the prophecy which reads, “The mountains [governments] shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills [smaller nations], by righteousness.” (Ps. 72:3) The translation of this prophecy is a little vague, but the thought is that by following a course of righteousness, the nations of earth, great and small, will secure peace. This righteous course will be made plain to them when they say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain [kingdom] of the Lord, … and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.”—Mic. 4:2
The Apostle Peter, referring to the promise of God concerning a new heavens and a new earth as recorded by the Prophet Isaiah, wrote that righteousness will be one of the characteristics of this new social order. According to God’s promise, declares Peter, we “look for a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (Isa. 65:17; II Pet. 3:13) Just as the rulership of unrighteousness has brought the human race to the very brink of complete ruin, when no one knows from one day to another when atom bombs may begin to drop, destroying half the cities of the world; so the rule of righteousness will correct this terrible situation, bringing peace and quietness and assurance to all people who learn the Lord’s ways, and walk in his paths.
David’s prophecy further states concerning Christ, the new king of earth, that “he shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.” (Ps. 72:6) How meaningful this is in the light of world conditions today. The human race is as the grass that withers and is cut down. But soon, through Christ’s kingdom on earth, the truth shall come down like rain, and as showers that water the earth. Then the dying hopes of the people will be revived, and they will rejoice in the God of their salvation.
“In his days,” continues the prophet, “shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.” (Ps. 72:7) The righteous shall flourish! What a tremendous change this will make in the outlook of the people. Then it will become literally true that “righteousness exalteth a nation.” (Prov. 14:34) Today, and throughout all the past, nations have endeavored to exalt themselves by almost any means they could, and seldom have any of them hesitated to depart from the course of righteousness in order to attain their ends. But this will be changed when Christ becomes the recognized king of earth.
And when the righteous flourish, it seems obvious that nearly all will want to follow the course of righteousness. For a time, and on the part of many, perhaps, righteousness will be looked upon merely as the best policy to follow under the circumstances. But as the kingdom rule continues, the vast majority will learn to love righteousness, and will delight to make it a governing principle of their lives. Thus they will bring lasting peace and joy into their own lives, and their example will help others to follow the same course.
Yes, the outlook for peace is bright, very bright indeed—as bright as the promises of God. It will not come through the United Nations, but through the kingdom of Christ. He is to be the true liberator, not of one nation, not of one group of nations, but of all nations. He will liberate them not merely from selfish oppression and from war, but from sin, sickness, and death.
He will bring deliverance to all people and to all nations, for he “shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” “Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.”—Ps. 72:8,11-14
What a glorious outlook for peace! Christ’s kingdom of righteousness will not be immediately set up, for there are other prophecies which must first be fulfilled. But we believe his kingdom is near, and that it will not be long before the sovereign rule of Christ will manifest itself in power and great glory throughout all the earth.
May this hope make glad our hearts as we face the uncertain experiences of the days ahead! And on every suitable occasion, let us proclaim the good news of the kingdom in order that other hearts may be refreshed and made glad.