Do many people associate world peace as a negative thing?

Question

I have posted a couple of other questions that lead me up to this final one, and I've got to say-I'm SO surprised that many religious centered individuals regard world peace, or some common ground, to be a catastrophe that will bring upon the Anti Christ.

So....what exactly does world peace mean to you?

Oh, I just blogged about this, check it out if you like:

http://jeanlow.wordpress.com/2007/09/05/world-peace-a-bad-thing/

Answer 1

No, no no! I (a "religious" person, evangelical Christian) believe very strongly and am totally committed to world peace. What I believe, however, is that it cannot be achieved using any system devised by man. Only God can bring about world peace, and He will, once His plan for man's salvation is complete. That plan (first revealed in the Garden of Eden) is to establish a new Kingdom of God, first on earth, then after the literal destruction of the earth, in a new earth (the old heaven and earth pass away, and God makes all things new.)

You, too, must be "made new," but as the only creature created in God's own image, you can't be "recreated," because God is not created. You were "formed" in your mother's womb, much like God formed Adam from the clay. Instead, for you to be made new, you must be "born again." Because I don't see your question as a completely open door to evangelize, I'll stop laying that foundation and return to your question, but just FYI, the "new birth" is the essence of the 3rd chapter of the gospel of John.

So, what we Christians also believe is that man, in his desperate (and bound to become MORE desperate - see CNN, Fox, etc.) pursuit of a man-made (i.e., God-rejecting) world peace, will eventually become so desperate, he will accept anything that promises relief from the seemingly inevitable destruction (Nuclear? Biological? All of the above?) of the world, all centered solely on the conflict between Israel and her enemies.

Along comes the antichrist who, according to prophecy, promises to deliver such a man-made peace. (Key point: the antichrist is NOT Satan, but is Satan's human manifestation on earth in a false analog to the true Christ who is God's manifestation on earth.)

Again, I skip over the part of God's plan known popularly as the "rapture," but understand that it preceeds the revealing of antichrist. That's why a true Christian never expects to see anything that even resembles a world peace: only the antichrist is given the power to create that peace covenant for Israel, but he creates it with the full intention of breaking it in order that me might seek to destroy the one thing remaining on earth that God loves most, His chosen people, Israel. (Actually it's also that he seeks to be worshipped as god, but again, that's deeper than we need to go for now!) Thus begins the last half of the great tribulation described in Revelation and in Daniel.

So, here's the key: Christians know that there can never be peace on earth until Christ returns to rule and reign here for 1,000 years (i.e., "the millennial kingdom.") This Kingdom of God's peace on earth under the rule of His Son, Jesus Christ, begins with the banishment of antichrist forever, the binding away of Satan, and so is a kind of "enforced" peace, but because God (i.e., Jesus) is sovereign, its enforcement is sure, true and just. The bible states that all believers who died in Christ have the privilege to serve Him during His earthly Kingdom as willing and grateful subordinates helping to rule the earth by carrying out His will. It will certainly be 1,000 years of peace on earth. Yet unsaved people, even without Satan's provocations, will continue to have rebellion in their hearts.

Unsaved people? It's more theologicaly in depth than I can explain here, but just understand that a great number of people are born during this 1,000 year Christly reign. There are even a few who survive the Great Tribulation. God requires those to also exercise their free will and choose His truth or death, that is, to rebel and seek their own way to the Father, or to surrender to Jesus and by faith accept Him as Lord. So Satan (who was bound away for the 1,000 years) is released to tempt people in order that the true desires of their hearts might become manifest.

After that, the end of the existing world comes: Armegeddon. Satan, his demons, and all who followed him instead of following the Good Shepherd are cast into hell, the "lake of fire which burns forever." Then God creates a new heaven and earth, and a "new Jerusalem" on that earth from which He will reign, we in a sinless relationship to Him. Then, and only then, will there ever be true "peace on earth."

Since Jesus is the ONLY way to be a part of that sinless future, we must put off our old sinful selves and put on His sinless nature, again, see John 3 for the explanation.

Wow. I really overianswered your question, but it was both thought-provoking and critically important; a matter of eternal life or death! God's true peace on earth is not a negative thing!

Answer 2

I can very easily see why certain faiths would believe this. While I'm not opposed to world peace, I think that a one world government may not be the best idea yet.

But is world peace a bad thing in of it self? Probably not.

Oh, I'd say that world peace is probably associated with a one world government which is why it's also associated with the end times.

Answer 3

Most powerful people, and religious people, do seem to be threatened by the prospect of world peace. The powerful people, since they tend to accrue their wealth through some manner of destabilization, which would lessen considerably under a unified globe. The religious people, because it will wreak havoc with the importance of their doctrines, since we're imperfect beings that need a giant, bearded guy to bail us out; I mean, it's inconceivable we'd rise out of the muck by ourselves, right?

World peace, to me, means that every government can work together, so that hostile actions are never resorted to. There will still be violence, but on a smaller scale that doesn't drag entire countries into war. It is possible, but definitely not in our lifetime, unless god comes down and laughs at all of the religious extremists who justify murdering others in his name. So don't hold your breath.