www.TheBibleBrowser.com |"Peace" and "Security"

This is the first of a series of studies on the overwhelming surprise that is about to overtake the people of the world; what we can do about it, and how to get ready for it. Our text is 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord will come [as unexpectedly and suddenly] as a thief in the night. When people are saying, All is well and secure, and, There is peace and safety, then in a moment unforeseen destruction (ruin and death) will come upon them as suddenly as labor pains come upon a woman with child; and they shall by no means escape, for there will be no escape. But you are not in [given up to the power of] darkness, brethren, for that day to overtake you by surprise like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we do not belong either to the night or to darkness. Accordingly then, let us not sleep, as the rest do, but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious, and on our guard) and let us be sober (calm, collected, and circumspect).

Notice the words "sudden", and "as a thief in the night." The day of the Lord is coming as a great surprise to the people of this world. Notice the comment in 8T 37, "Soon an awful surprise is coming upon the inhabitants of the world," and again in 8T 28, "We who know the truth should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise."

Now, Paul says that the "brethren not in darkness". God's children walk in the light, so that which surprises the world is not to be a surprise to us. We're to know what's coming and get ready for it; but unless we get ready for it, we will be taken in the snare. The reason for knowing what's ahead is so we can get ready.

There's a very interesting point in this scripture we've just read, as to the timing of the overwhelming surprise. "When they shall say, Peace and safety, then suddenly destruction comes upon them." Several of the modern translations put it, "Peace and security." (In the public press these are the two great words, "Peace" and "Security.") Phillips translates it, "You are well aware that the day of the Lord will come as unrepentantly as a burglar to a householder. When men are saying, "Peace and security," catastrophe will sweep down upon them." And the New English Bible: "While they are talking of peace and security, all at once calamity is upon them." Isn't that what they're talking about right now, peace and security?

Let me call your attention to the two great powers that are leading out and will continue to lead out in this talk of peace and security. One is the Pope of Rome, and the other is the United States of America. When we turn to the Book of Revelation, we find that the entire 13th Chapter is devoted to presenting these two great powers. The first part deals with "the beast," and you and I know that beast represents the papacy. In verse 3 we read of one of his heads being wounded to death and the deadly wound being healed; and then what? "All the world wondered after the beast." Doubtless we all thought of that when the pope made that historic trip to the United Nations where he appeared as the ambassador of what? Peace. Peace - that's what the world is seeking.

The latter part of the 13th chapter of Revelation is devoted to the two-horned beast, and what does that represent? The United States of America. He is pictured in that chapter as joining hands with the papacy, the One-Horned Beast. And that is what is happening right before our eyes. But as the papacy - watch this point - as the papacy is taking the lead in the world quest for peace, the United States is in a special sense talking about that word "security." It's the great quest of this generation.

Notice how these two fit together and supplement each other. "Security." What are people thinking of? They're thinking about this present world. They're thinking about material possessions. They're thinking about how they are to be taken care of in sickness and old age. They're thinking about everything that will continue to enjoying this present life. And we have now a program that's supposed to bring to the people of the United States "The Great Society," another name for "Security." But the United States is saying that this mist be made available, not merely for this nation, but for all the people of the world. It's a great program.

The 13th chapter of Revelation shows the papacy and the United States joining hands in a great program that's to embrace the world: "All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him," that is, the papacy. And the two-horned beast is the inspiration to get all the world to do that. The 12th verse says, "He causes the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed." The reason that people are interested in these two great powers today is that they're hunting for peace and security. is leading to combinations in every phase of life. Look at the Common Market in Europe. What's the basis of it? They want peace and security.

What is the reason for these labor unions; these trade associations? What's the basis of the ecumenical movements? What are the churches trying to get together? Peace and security. And they will think that they have solved their problems by having these associations. With the papacy and the United States leading out, the whole world will think (for a very short time) that they either have this or almost have it.

Now, notice God's answer to all this in the 8th chapter of Isaiah. This is wonderful. The eye of the prophet looking down the ages saw our time. Isaiah 8:9, "Associate yourselves, O you people, and you shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all you of far countries [Here's the whole United Nations]: gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces. Take council together and it shall come to nothing; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us." That is, with the remnant, those that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Now, notice, they are not to be in these combinations. That's the thing I want you to see. I read:

"For the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying you not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say A confederacy, neither fear you their fear, nor be afraid." What's driving them? Fear! Fear of want, fear of war, fear of many things. So, with the pope and the United States leading out, there must be combinations. The churches, the trade unions, the nations, the whole world must get together. But God's people are told in advance, "Say you not, A confederacy." Don't fear their fear. Don't get into that. "Sanctify the Lord of Hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He shall be for a sanctuary," a place of security.

And so in the 16th and 17th verses He says, "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples." Here is the sealing message, the Sabbath put back in the law. "And I will wait upon the Lord, who hides His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for Him." While all the world is looking to confederacies, binding together in bundles in order to solve human problems and get peace and security, God says to His people, Don't get into that, look up. Look to the Lord. See how it is echoed in Isa. 45:22, "Look unto Me, and you will be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else." Right here we have the answer to the problem. This is the faith that will save God's people and take us through the overwhelming surprise, - looking to God. And it is he opposite course, looking to man, that makes it impossible for these world combinations to solve their problems. (The Great Society can not solve the problems of man.) They are beyond human help; as the Spirit of Prophecy says, "They are struggling in vain to place business operations on a more secure basis." 9T 13. It is impossible for the governors of this world, following the plans they are using, to solve the material problems of men. It's even more impossible (if we may use such a term), for the papacy to solve the spiritual problems, because the people are educated to look to man instead of directly to Christ.

And so the message for today as He has given it to us in His Book is, "Behold your God." Notice how Jesus puts it in Luke 21. Pointing past the destruction of Jerusalem and the dark ages, He comes to the time of the end. In the 25th verse He sys, "There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars." Have we seen those? Yes. They are past. "And upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." There's the fear again. That's what's driving them to these confederacies. There are thousands of people who a few short years ago wouldn't have considered listening to the pope, that are ready to follow him now. Why? They are afraid of something that they think is far worse than the papacy.

Jesus says that men's hearts in these last moments of time will be "failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." If we look where they look, we'll fear their fear and we'll be drawn into these combinations. We'll get into situations where we'll think that the only way out of trouble is to link up one way or another with some of these confederacies. And so what does Jesus say? "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemptions draws near.

Soon, very soon, all the people in this world will be divided into just *two camps, - those who are looking to man, and to those who are looking to God; those that are looking around them, and those that are looking up. Right there the line is drawn. Now, the question is this. If God who knows the future, sees that all this is coming, what kind of training will He be giving to His people? Will it not be a training to get them to look up, to look to God instead of to man? And how will He do this? Let us study this point.

One camp will be learning how to trust God and have God solve problems for us. This group will receive the Seal of God (accept Saturday as the true day of worship) and will receive supernatural protection from the plagues which are to strike the earth. This group has learned how to trust in God. Their behavior is described in Galatians 5:22-26

22But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness),

peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,

23Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [^[a]that can bring a charge].

24And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.

25If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

26Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.

The other camp of people trusts in themselves to work out their problems with themselves and with worldly "experts" and will accept the Mark of the Beast - meaning Sunday worship. This camp will not be protected when the last 7 plagues start and will die and not receive eternal life as a gift from God. They have characteristics of the flesh as described in Galatians 5:19-21

If we get into difficulty and we find a certain way to solve a problem, and then that problem comes up again and again we find the same way to solve our problems, do we not develop a habit as it goes on day to day? And would it not be difficult to change? Suppose I am thirsty. I think, where'll I get some water? Somebody says, "There's a faucet in the kitchen. Just help yourself." Tomorrow I get thirsty again and I think, "Where'll I get a drink? Oh, yes, I got a drink in the kitchen." So I go again. And after I have done that a number of days, it's almost automatic, isn't it?

Now, if we get in the habit if having men solve our problems (whatever our problems are), what will be built into our characters? Dependence on whom? On man. And the devil has set every agency in operation to get us unto that place, my dear friends, where whatever our problem is, whether it's financial problem, health problem, an emotional problem, a happiness problem, a religious problem, whatever it is, that there's some man or combination of men that can solve it all for us - especially if we will spend some money. The bill-boards, the newspaper ads, the radio, the TV are pouring these ideas into the eyes and ears of the multitudes. That's the brainwashing that is going on. But God is conducting a different kind of school, and if we listen, He will teach us something entirely different. "Look unto Me and you will be saved, all the ends of the earth." And that's in the little things as well as in the big things.

Now let me touch on a very practical point. MH 486, "We are prone to look to our fellow men for sympathy and uplifting instead of looking to Jesus." Yes, our natural tendency is to look to people. A little child does that, and of course the little child should. Did you ever stub your toe and run crying, "Mama, mama'? Is that all right for a little child to do? But how many "grown-up" people there are, my dear friends, that whatever trouble they get into, all they can think of is to run where? To some human being. And all the "father confessors" are not in the church of Rome. Ah, no! Nearly all the members of the human family, if they know anywhere to look for help, it is to some other human being. But if you and I are going through this overwhelming surprise and are not destroyed, we will have to learn the lesson of looking to God instead of men.

And so, watch how Good brings us to this lesson. "In His mercy and faithfulness, God often permits those in whom we place confidence to fail us, in order that we may learn the folly of trusting in man, and making flesh our arm." MH 486. How is the only way that God can get us to learn that lesson? Ah, by allowing human beings to fail us. Did you ever get disappointed in some human being? What's the lesson of it all? "Cursed be the man that trusts in man and makes flesh his arm.... Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord is." Jeremiah17:5, 7.

Soon, as this overwhelming surprise breaks upon the world, as they see that they've been led to perdition by the dragon and the beast and the false prophet, in the very act of talking peace and safety - oh, what a terrible awakening! And there will be a great terror that will spread from east to west, from pole to pole. The whole world will be in utter confusion. Earthquakes, hailstones, terrible storms - all the elements of destruction will be turned loose. But hark! In the midst of all those warring elements hear that song from the remnant, "God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed." Psalms 46. Whatever happens, if men fail us, we'll not building on them. If governments go down, our security is not in them. If the great religious leaders that have led the people to violate the law of God are overthrown and the whole world breaks up like the French Revolution, our hope is in that Man in the sanctuary, Jesus Christ, who has said, "Look unto Me and you will be saved, all the ends of the earth."

Now, as I have said, He is training us for that very day. So today if someone disappoints us, let's remember what it's for. If it is a big disappointment, then we have a big lesson; if it's a little disappointment, we can have at lest a little lesson. We are learning step by step not to build on man, but to build on Jesus Christ. And this we are preparing to stand when great Babylon goes down like a great millstone cast into the depths of the sea. God's children will stand secure because their anchor holds within the veil.

Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.