SITTING ON A VOLCANO "„Peace, peace!' When there is no peace. „Peace, peace!‟ When there is no peace.” (Jer. 6:14; 8:11). “They have seduced My people, saying, "Peace!' when there is no peace. “The prophets... prophesy... and see visions of peace when there is no peace; therefore you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'' (Ezek 13:10, 16, 23). Peace in Bosnia; Peace in Chechnya; Peace in Sri Lanka; Peace in Northern Ireland; Peace in Cambodia; Peace in Rwanda; Peace everywhere. Almost all of a sudden, the world is awash with peace. Even in the Middle East, an area that has not known peace for nearly 50 years, since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, peace has broken out with the signing of the peace accord between the Palestinians and the Israelis. What if people continue to die in most of these places long after they have been declared ―peaceful‖, if politicians tell us that they are at peace now what are we supposed to do but to believe it? The families that keep loosing their sons in this ―peace‖ might wish that they were at war. After the accord, the Palestinian authorities received arms to enforce peace in their areas. And what happened this year when Israel opened a tunnel near the Al-Aqsa Mosque? Those guns were turned on the Israeli soldiers themselves. When asked to comment about it, Shimon Perez, the architect of that peace, said: ―Peace is not poetry! Peace is not a song!‖ (Lateline, ABC TV, Oct. 10, 1996). And we who thought that peace were poetry and a song! Politicians - a wonderful breed of people - have given us a new meaning for the word ―peace‖. They made sure that we know exactly what they mean when they talk of peace. Yet, strangely enough, the Bible does not condemn them for giving the world a false vision of peace, but the ―prophets‖. Why? Because traditionally national leaders have not been responsible for people‘s spiritual education, for giving them a vision of the future and telling them what life is all about. This has been the role of the prophets, a role which they have conveniently abandoned exactly when their voice needs to be heard the loudest. The Bible ascribes the title of ―prophet‖ to anyone who holds a spiritual position and is involved in preaching or teaching spiritual matters. In Old Testament times, God made a clear distinction between Israel‘s national leaders and its prophets. The prophets were God‘s messengers, and the leaders His executive bodies. This was to become a model for all nations, but the system has failed not only in Israel, but also in the entire world. This is why God says that the time will come when the present politico- religious systems will be replaced by a new, universal system, in which the leaders will play the roles of both priests and kings. Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, Rev 1:2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Rev 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. Rev 1:4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, Rev 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, Rev 1:6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Rev 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Rev 5:7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. The Christian Herald No 6 Page 1 Rev 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, Rev 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." It is a well-known fact that messianic religions expect major prophetic developments around the turn of this Millennium. Cynics however say that there is no difference between this and the end of the first Millennium. Many people expected major developments then, yet nothing happened. But how right are they, is there no difference between then and now? In the first case, people‘s expectations were based on the fact that religious deception had already covered the world, and the Church of God had suffered major persecutions and been forced underground. The true believers saw that as an omen and an opportune time for the return of Jesus Christ. They hoped that the much waited for Millennial Kingdom would be established then and there, and they would be saved from their troubles. Yet their expectation proved to be in vain. Why? The reason is quite simple: their understanding of biblical prophecies about the end of this age proved to be very limited. All major biblical prophecies have been written in such a way that they could be understood only in the context of their own time. The difficulty with this prophecy came from the fact that some of the signs connected with the end of this age have been manifest in the world ever since the time of Jesus Christ. This is why, throughout the history of Christianity, there have been people who have fallen victim to premature expectations. When we look at the most comprehensive prophecy about the end of this age, we find that the theme of religious deception runs through it from the beginning to the end. This could easily have led people to believe that the return of Jesus Christ was possible at any time. As long as they did not become disheartened and lost their zeal, or abandoned their struggle, this was not necessarily a bad thing, for it kept them on their guard. This time however is different. There is ample evidence that virtually all the signs leading to the conclusion of this age have been fulfilled except the one about the ―abomination of desolation‖, and this is now in the final stages or its preparation. Let us have a look at that prophecy: Mat 24:1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. Mat 24:2 And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Mat 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. Mat 24:5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. Mat 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Mat 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. Mat 24:9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. Mat 24:10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Mat 24:11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Mat 24:12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Mat 24:13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Mat 24:15 "Therefore when you see the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), Mat 24:16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.