The history of mankind has been characterized by a continual succession of wars and military battles. Even the United States has averaged a war about every 25 years. Man’s tendency toward war is illustrated in a study done by Dr. Harry Hager. He wrote:
In 3,358 years from 1496 B. C. to 1862 A. D. there were 227 years of peace and 3,130 years of war. Within the last three centuries there have been 286 major and minor wars in Europe. From the year 1500 B.C. to 1860 A.D. more than 8,000 treaties of peace, meant to remain in force forever, were negotiated. The average time they remained in force was two years. The statistics of the Society of International Law at London, corroborating those of Novikow, declare that during the last 4,000 years there have been but 286 years of peace despite more than 8,000 peace treaties.
Only 286 years of peace in 4,000 years! How tragic! Yet today in our modern world, are not men much more civilized and peace-loving? Will not men seek to establish lasting peace in the world? Will not the United Nations bring an end to all wars? No, this is wishful and unrealistic thinking. The 20th century, for example, was the occasion for the greatest battles and the most bloodshed that the world has ever known, including two World Wars.
According to the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:6, what should we expect to find on
this earth prior to the time when Christ returns at "the end" of the age?
_____________________________________________________ The daily news continually brings reports of wars
and threats of wars taking place somewhere on this planet, whether far or near. In Luke
21:9 Jesus predicted that there would be wars and ________________________ (disturbances, revolutions,
insurrections, people rising up to overthrow the existing government). Should the news of
such things frighten and terrify the believer (Matthew 24:6)? _______ Why
not? (Consider Matthew 24:25; John 16:4.) _________________________________________________________
[Note: When do we get upset and troubled by the weather? Is it when the weatherman predicts
a rainy day and it rains or is it when he predicts a sunny day and we are
unprepared when it turns out to be rainy?] The
Lord clearly said that these things, including wars (circle the correct answer):
| Matthew 24:6 | a) will never come to pass b) will not come to pass c) might come to pass d) must come to pass |
Someday true peace will come to this war-torn planet, but peace will never come until Someone else comes first (Isaiah 9:6–"the P_______________ of P_______________"). Only then will all military warfare be abolished.
Who will cause wars to cease (Psalm 46:8-9)? ______________________ What will be done to the weapons and various instruments of war (Psalm 46:9 and Hosea 2:18)? _________________________________________________
Before the Prince of Peace returns to earth, what will nations do to each other (Matthew 24:7)? ______________________________________________ When the Lord Jesus Christ is ruling as King over all the earth (Micah 4:2), what will the nations no longer do to each other (Micah 4:3)? _________________________________________
Is the King going to teach the people who are living in the Kingdom (Micah 4:2)? _________ What is one thing that they will not learn (Micah 4:3)? ________________________ In the Kingdom Age, will there be a need for military schools and training centers for the army, navy and air force? ________
How long will this peace last (Isaiah 9:6-7)? __________________________ True or False ___________: Even though men will stop fighting, the animals will continue to fight and kill during the Kingdom Age (Isaiah 11:6-9).
Is it possible to use weapons of war for helpful and peaceful purposes (Isaiah 2:4)? _______ How can the power of the atom be harnessed for destructive purposes? How can the power of the atom be used for constructive purposes? How can fuel be used for purposes of war? How can oil be used for peaceful purposes?
Before the great prophecies of Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3 can be fulfilled, what must
happen (Joel 3:9-11)? __________________________________________________________________ A great battle must precede
the great peace! There will be "peace on earth" but not yet!
Why is it absolutely necessary (see Matthew 24:6–"must") for wars to continue until the end of the age? James teaches us that wars find their source in man’s sinful lusts and desires (James 4:1). In a sinless world, there would be no wars! In James 4:2 we see that lustful men "D_________________ to H __________." What are some of the things that men "desire to have" which may result in a fight or in a full-scale war?
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
Suppose there were only three men on a small, tropical island, and only one banana tree. Do
you think they would lovingly share with each other or would there be war? Speaking of
sinful men, the Bible says, "the way of _________________ have they not known"
(Romans 3:17). In a sinful world, warfare is often inevitable.
There are people today who are pacifists. This means that they are opposed to war and they would refuse to bear arms or fight for their country if called to do so. Should a Christian be a pacifist? Is it sinful for a believer to fight in a war? Is it wrong in God’s sight to be a soldier?
Please answer the following questions:
The sixth commandment says, "THOU SHALT NOT __________ (Exodus 20:13). Does this mean that it is always wrong and sinful to kill? Actually, a better translation of this verse would be, "Thou shalt not MURDER." (See Matthew 19:18 where this same commandment is translated, "THOU SHALT DO NO ___________________.")
Is there a difference between murder and killing? Murder involves the unlawful and wicked killing of a human being which is planned beforehand (not done accidentally). Killing is a more general word which simply means "to put to death." All murder is killing but not all killing is murder.
The Ten Commandments are given in Exodus chapter 20. In the very next chapter, the Bible says (Exodus 21:12): "He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely ____________ _____ __________________." In this case, God says that a murderer must be put to death (killed). Today we would call this CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. The same punishment is found in Exodus 21:15-17 for other crimes. Those guilty of terrible crimes must be put to death. (See Luke 23:40-41 where the crucified criminal realized that he was getting just what he deserved!)
Suppose you were the person who had the responsibility of pulling the switch on the electric chair as a guilty criminal was being executed. Would you be guilty of committing an act of murder by doing this? According to Romans 13:4 you would be serving God and carrying out His will by performing such a duty. ("The sword" was commonly used as a method of capital punishment–see Acts 12:1-2.) Has God given man the right to put murderers to death (Genesis 9:6)? __________
According to Exodus 22:2, does a man have the right to protect his family and property? _______ Does this verse describe an act of killing or an act of murder? _______________________________________ If a policeman found it necessary to use his gun to shoot a criminal to protect himself and others, would this be murder? Would a father have the right to protect his family from a violent criminal who is seeking to harm his loved ones? If an individual has the right to defend himself, do you suppose that a nation also has the right of self-defense?
Killing is never pleasant or enjoyable, but in a sinful world, it is sometimes
necessary. The job of a policeman or soldier is often very difficult, and at times it may
cost his very life. Men have died so that we might live in freedom and in peace.
Life’s greatest battle takes place not on the outside, but on the inside. James speaks of the lusts and sinful pleasures that _________ in our members (James 4:1). All warfare can trace its beginning to this basic problem of the sinfulness and lustfulness of men. Peter commands believers to abstain from fleshly ___________ which _______ against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). It is far easier to get an army and conquer a city than it is to conquer and control the sinful desires and lusts of our own heart. (Proverbs 16:32: "He that ______________________ his _____________________ is better than he that ________________________ a __________________.") Only CHRIST can grant this kind of victory (Romans 7:24-25)!
Does God want Christians to fight (1 Timothy 6:12)? _______ Does God want Christians to go to war (1 Timothy 1:18)? ______ What kind of soldiers does Christ want us to be (2 Timothy 2:3-4)? _______________________________________ What kind of a soldier was the Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:7)? ____________________________________________________
Thought Questions:
Can you find verses from the Bible which help you in answering these questions?
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