1 Reading Isaiah 2

2 From ancient times man has strived to meet with others to bring about collective world peace. Emeric Cruce wrote a document in 1623 about his desire to use free trade to bring about world peace, he got his idea from a man called Cyneas which dates back to 300BC

3 There were 7 peace congresses in the 19 th century with the ideal & intention of bringing about world peace.

4 The Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to 126 Nobel Laureates since 1901 Did You Know? 94 - Nobel Peace Prizes have been awarded Peace Prizes have been divided between three persons women have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize so far is the average age of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates the year they were awarded the prize. 1 - Peace Prize Laureate, Le Duc Tho, has declined the Nobel Peace Prize. 3 - Peace Prize Laureates have been under arrest at the time of the award: German pacifist and journalist Carl von Ossietzky, Burmese politician Aung San Suu Kyi and Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo. THIS YEARS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNERS ARE MALALA YOUSAFZAI & KAILASH SATYARTHI

5 Map of Europe before WW1

6 Lord Kitchener - Your Country Needs You - First World War Poster

7 Map of Europe after WW1

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9 United Nations Organization building in New York City

10 In 1938 Neville Chamberlain returned from Berlin with a piece of paper signed by Adolf Hitler claiming that he had reached a peace agreement with the German leader and declaring “Peace in our time.”

11 UN Peacekeeping missions across the world July 2010

12 Plaque outside the UN building in New York quoting Isaiah 2:4

13 ARE WE ANY NEARER TO ACHIEVING WORLD PEACE?

14 There were 31 conflicts and wars in the 20 th century causing the deaths of millions of people.

15 Data on fatalities is often unreliable, but at the last count there has been over 744,000 deaths across the world caused by on-going conflicts since the year 2000

16 Why does the world have to be like this? Why do the innocent suffer? If there is a God, and if He is a God of love, why does He allow it? If God is our Creator, surely He could have made man more peace-loving? Why does religion so often seem to be at the root of wars? And how can churches proclaim a Gospel of peace and at the same time bless those who go to war? SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WAR & PEACE

17 Hard questions but! The Bible teaches that God created men & women, not as robots, but as creatures with the freedom of choice to make the right decisions. e.g. As parents we try to teach our children to learn between right & wrong, rather than dictate what they should do & when they should do it. God as Father, wants us to respond in the same way.

18 The Bible teaches that in the eyes of God, fighting & taking the life of other humans is wrong – in the 10 commandments of Exodus 20, the 7 th commandment given to man reads: “Thou shalt not kill.” Earlier in the Bible in Genesis 4, the first murder is recorded when Cain kills his brother Abel in a fit of jealousy, which was strongly condemned by God & Cain was punished as a consequence. “Now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.”

19 These are God’s standards. He wants man to live in peace, so why do we have wars such as the Crusades in the name of religion? This is a misguided principle & is introduced by man, not by God – consider the following verses:

20 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9) “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18) “ The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22,23) “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14) “Be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11)

21 The Bible explains in the Old Testament how God supported his people Israel & at times actively supported the wars & conflicts they became involved in, but since the days of the Lord Jesus, he has to a certain extent, left mankind to it’s own devices. Luke 2: “the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord …….. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

22 That time of peace has not happened yet, so is the Bible wrong? Consider the following facts! 1.The people of Israel return to their land in 1948 Jerusalem populated by Jews once more The famines, wars & diseases across the world The great earthquakes across the world Fearful sights & signs in the heavens Distress of nations with no way out Man’s hearts failing them for fear

23 Israel return to their land – by the determination & power of God – “The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.”

24 Ezekiel 37:21-22 “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.”

25 One king over one united nation of Israel?? How can this be? Luke 1:30 “The angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

26 This is yet to happen then, when Jesus returns? Acts 1:11 “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

27 This return will not be welcomed by all! 2 Thess. 1:7-9 “To you who are troubled rest with us, 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; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe in that day.”

28 Others will welcome him and change their approach! Zech. 8:23 “In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”

29 The day of world peace is rapidly approaching. Psalm 122:6-7 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.”

30 The question is – “are you ready for a Time of Peace?” Hymn 405 “We know the end, we know the way, and some with life he will endow. Shall we be with him in that day? We make the answer now.”