The Living Word: Will there be Peace on Earth? (Part 2)
BY LEORA SCHMIDT
thelivingword@mail.com
As King Nebuchadezzar’s dream recorded in chapter 2 concludes, a giant stone appears and smashes the preceding four empires to dust that dissipates, leaving nothing behind. The image completely disappears. Jesus Christ, the King of peace, represented throughout Scripture as the stone, descends from heaven, fills up the whole earth with His everlasting kingdom, independent of any influences of the former empires. This final kingdom is a kingdom of righteousness, not built on the whims of mankind.
At his first entry to earth, Jesus came as a helpless babe during the time of the Roman empire. At His second coming He descends from heaven as King of kings and Lord of lords. His coming brings to an end the reign of sin that has wrought so much violence, grief and pain throughout thousands of years.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea, in the first century AD, the fourth kingdom of Rome occupied Israel. The Israelites were longing for freedom from the tyranny of Roman rule. They were expecting a kingly monarch to appear and rescue them immediately, so the majority of them rejected a lowly servant like Jesus, the carpenter.
In His earthly ministry Jesus spoke many times of the kingdom of heaven (32 times in the book of Matthew). Many other prophets also predicted the events of our day. Time is ticking out for the duration of this world in heaven’s time clock.
During these uncertain, tumultuous times when the world seems to be collapsing around us, there is comfort, hope and assurance in Jesus’ promises that he gave 2,000 years ago: ”Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me....I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and pre- pare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” He also promised that we do not have to face all our problems alone, undefended and vulnerable: “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (John 14:1-3; Matthew 28:20)
It’s comforting to place our trust in the overcoming, protecting power of Jesus. He stated: “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Isaiah foretold centuries ago the response of those who await Jesus’ return, “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (John 16:33; Isaiah 25:9).
The outlook may be dark and foreboding, but the up-look toward heaven is always bright. When Jesus foretold the events we now see occurring, He encouraged, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).