Even in the Worst of Times: Praying for and Picturing a Time of Peace

We live in a world plagued with wars, natural disasters, famines and diseases. Has our world ever been this bad? Is it coming to an end?

The Bible reveals that thousands of years ago, people became so wicked that God decided to destroy them, except for Noah’s family (Genesis 6:5-7). Humanity had created such a cycle of sin and suffering that God mercifully put them out of their misery.

Over the centuries, humanity has again become worse and worse, and the prophets declared that we are once again bringing destruction on ourselves.

The disciples asked Jesus about when this age will come to an end (Matthew 24:3). Jesus Christ warned His followers about false religious teachers, wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes, persecutions, a lack of love, perilous times and heavenly signs that would occur before His second coming (verses 4-35).

Destruction is at the door

Jesus said: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away” (Matthew 24:37-39, New International Version).

Will God destroy us as He did the people in Noah’s time?

Humanity in general has not been faithful to God because they have not known the true God. Most people have made wrong choices that have led up to all the curses listed in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. In verse 45 God states: “Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.”

What can we do?

The Bible instructs God’s followers to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the whole world (Psalm 122:6). World peace will come only when the Messiah comes back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He will return to the Mount of Olives and begin His thousand-year reign from Jerusalem.

The prophet Isaiah has this to say: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

Praying for peace is praying that the Kingdom of God comes. Do we passionately pray and long for the return of the Prince of Peace—for the peace of Jerusalem? Psalm 122:6 pronounces a blessing for those who pray this way: “May they prosper who love you.” This peace will eventually grow to embrace the whole earth.

There is hope

Despite current and future perilous times, in a few weeks people will flock to different locations throughout the earth to celebrate one of God’s great feasts, the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast represents a time when Jesus Christ will be here in His Kingdom, a time to celebrate peace with great rejoicing.

Deuteronomy 16:13-15 says: “You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days. … And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow. … Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.”

The Feast of Tabernacles pictures a time of reconciliation between God and people. Isaiah 54 is most encouraging, as it describes a much-needed covenant of peace between God and His people:

“‘For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,’ says the LORD, your Redeemer.

“‘For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed’” (Isaiah 54:7-10).

What a day to pray for and to celebrate, when the Prince of Peace will be here and all will have a chance to learn the way to peace!

Hervé Irion is a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in Houston, Texas.

Related links:

• From Holidays to Holy Days: God’s Plan for You
• The Mystery of the Kingdom