Peace And Security?
by Lasaro Flores
ALL OF GRACE MINISTRIES
"The reason is that whenever they shall say, "Peace and security (safety-KJV)", at that unexpected time ruin (destruction-KJV) will be present on them, just as labor pains of a pregnant woman; and they shall not at all flee out of it" (1 Thess.5:3). (My Translation)
    As a Christian, I try to look at everything that takes place around us from a Biblical perspective; and this because I know that nothing is by chance or by accident. Although many cannot see that what has happened, and what is happening, and will happen, is in the control of our Sovereign God, yet I know that according to the Scriptures, even the re-election of our President, George W. Bush, was according to the Will of Him "who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will" (Eph.1:11). In fact, He Himself says in Isaiah 46:9-11: "For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:...yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it."

    Therefore, my dear reader, GOD IS CONTROL OF ALL THINGS; and this includes, not only the things of the spiritual realm and in the natural, but also in the "political area"! This means, then, that according to the Bible, every government in the world is placed there by God: "He removeth kings, and setteth up kings" (Dan.2:21;); "The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will" (4:32); "For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God" (Rom.13:1). This simply means that President Bush was re-elected because it was God's will for it to be so.

    Of course, there are those that believe otherwise, and claim that it was because of the Christian vote, or for other reasons. Some say that it was because of the increase of the Hispanic voters for Bush; or the Catholic vote. Although these factors were true, since it was their votes that were counted for President Bush, yet it was the Almighty Who was in control of the outcome, because He could have as easily had John Kerry to be elected, in spite of all the efforts man made to elect either one! Consider this: "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD" (Pro.16:1); "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps" (v.9); "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will" (21:1).

    Having said this, let us now consider the reason why I entitled this article, Peace And Security? If you remember what happen in  the 11th. of September of 2001, when the terrorists attacked our country in the WTC and Pentagon tragedy, President Bush has emphasized Peace and Security for our nation from terrorists, or from anyone that wants to destroy our nation. It's true there are many other important issues involved, but when it comes down to it, everything else will be of no value if we as a nation no longer enjoy Peace and Security. Therefore, in a word, President Bush has promised to do everything possible in order for that to become a reality, not only for us, but for the whole world; and he believes this can only be true if other nations are free and democratic.

    Now, is this possible? Can there truly be Peace and Security in this sinful and wicked world? Can man with all of his wisdom and ingenuity bring about some kind of Peace and Security so that all of us do not have to worry of another 9/11? Well, just think what is involved if this is to be true! There would have to be a One-World government; there would have to be a One-World religion; and of course, there would have to be a One-World ruler, in order for this to come about! Above all, there cannot be any true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ around for this to take place! So, the answer is a definite and resounding NO!

    Why am I so negative about this? On the contrary, I'm being very positive about the whole matter because I rather believe what God says in His inerrant Word with respect to Peace and Security, than man's word in promising those things. President Bush can be very sincere with what He intends to do as president, but as a professing Christian, it seems to me that he doesn't know what God says about it. As he endeavors to bring about Peace and Security, I believe that what he'll be doing is fulfilling what our text refers to, and that is, "when they shall say, Peace and safety (security)" (1 Thess.5:3).

    As I said previously, and probably some of you have noticed, that President Bush has emphasized this in many of his news conferences or at other times. How does that relate with what the Scriptures say about this "peace and security (safety)"? To begin with, both the president and the Scriptures mean the same thing with respect to this. The reason I say this is because the ones "that shall say, Peace and safety" in our text mean it as a political state, just as our president means it to be. In no way has it reference to a "peace and safety" that is spiritual; and moreso, from a Christian perspective, i.e. converting nations to Christianity.

    What "they" and the president mean is a "peace" between nations, or even religions, where there won't be any war between anyone in any sense of the word. Having this kind of "peace" in the world, then, would assure that we could live in "safety", or secured, that we wouldn't have another 9/11. Anybody could come to our country, or we could go anywhere in the world, and we wouldn't have to worry of terrorists. Yes, everybody would get along with each other.

    Yet, the infallible Word of God tells us that this "peace and safety" will be a terrible time for the world. Why? Because we are told that when this political state, or condition, is brought about; or at least, when there seems to be an appearance of it so that there will be those that "shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them". In other words, this is "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2 Thess.1:7-9).

    Someone might ask: "Do you mean to say that if through political policy and his efforts, President Bush is able to obtain "peace and security", then that would be the "ruin" of the world?" Let me answer you this way: If the "peace and security" of our text is the same that our president wants to obtain for our nation, then, YES! Why? Because if you notice that there is one very serious element that is left out in all of this: The Lord Jesus Christ, Who is "The Prince of peace" (Isa.9:6), and His Gospel, which alone shows us the way of salvation, i.e. "safety and security". Man's hearts have to be changed in order for us to love one another and to lay down our weapons so we can have "peace and security". But this is not what the world wants! So, yes, since the kind of "peace and security" our president is looking for is the same of our text, then that is when the Lord Jesus returns, not only for His people, but also to judge the world.

    Notice that the context of our text has to do with "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together (the Rapture) unto him" (2 Thess.2:1). In 1 Thess.4:13-18, the apostle Paul makes this very clear that our text is connected with the return of the Lord. But then he tells us in chapter 5, verse 1, that there is no need to tell us of the date of His coming because believers know exactly that the Lord will come back as a thief in the night (v.2). But when "they", i.e. the ungodly and the wicked, which includes "apostate" Christians), 'shall sing a requiem, to themselves, promise themselves much ease and peace for years to come, and imagine their persons and property to be very secure from enemies and oppressors, and shall flatter themselves with much and long temporal happiness' (from John Gill's Commentary), then God's judgment will fall upon them when they least expect it.

    Yet we as believers should not be in "darkness" with respect to that day so that it should come upon us a thief (v.4), but because the believers are "all the children of light, and the children of the day" (v.5), they should be able to see, not only this, but many other things that will come to pass before the Return of the Lord (Matt.24:33). In fact, we are to "watch and be sober" (1 Thess.5:6), and not "sleep in the night", and be "drunken in the night" (v.7); or as Luke 21:34-36 tells us: "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

    Perhaps you might disagree with what I have said with respect to this "peace and safety", and that it has any connection with what President Bush means, but I ask you: When do you think this will  be fulfilled? We cannot ignore the seriousness of this, because whenever it occurs, and you hear "they" (whoever they might be, people in general, religious people, including many of our so-called Christian leaders, or politicians) say that we have finally arrived at this point, then "when these things begin to come to pass," you (if you are in Christ Jesus) and all of God's people need to "look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" (Lu.21:28). In fact, the child of God is not promised, or even guaranteed, "peace and safety" in this world, but as each day brings us closer to the coming of the Lord, we are told "that in the last days perilous times shall come" (2 Tim.3:1) for the people of God: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (v.12).

    Therefore, we have to keep in mind that in spite of the Department of Homeland Security, or the passing of the Patriot Act, or getting rid of Osama Bin Laden, or all of the terrorists, or anything else that President Bush or our political leaders do, will prevent what God has ordained. So, whenever you hear about "peace and safety", remember that God has already said in His Word that this would happen. Who knows, just as Pharaoh was raised up by God to bring about the deliverance of His  people and to bring judgment upon Egypt (Ex.9:13-16: Rom.9:17-24), so has God ordained the re-election of President Bush to bring about this supposedly "peace and safety", so that "sudden destruction cometh upon them" at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to judge the world and to gather together His elect for glory.

    In the meantime, the apostle Paul has given us a word of encouragement and comfort. First, he tells that "let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation" (1 Thess.5:8); and this because "God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (v.9). In other words, just as God made a difference between His people of old and the Egyptians (Ex.8:23; 11:7), so between His elect and the lost; and this because "He died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him" (v.10). Yes, though "a thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee" (Ps.91:7). "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do" (1 Thess.5:11). Amen.

    So, my friend, seriously consider what it would means to you, and what would happen to you, if you know not the Lord Jesus Christ as your "peace and safety" when "sudden destruction" comes "on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess.1:8). It is ONLY IN HIM that you can "have peace with God" (Rom.5:1) and "the peace of God" to "rule in your hearts" (Col.3:15); and whosoever puts their "trust in the LORD shall be safe" (Pro.29:25). It is ONLY Jesus, the Son of God, who can "deliver us from the wrath to come" (1 Thess.1:9,10). Because He is Who He is, "he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb.7:25). This is the PEACE AND SAFETY that you should be concerned for NOW, because His Death and Resurrection guarantees it for all ETERNITY!!!. Amen.