Reading Isaiah 2
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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
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There were 7 peace
congresses in the 19th
century with the ideal &
intention of bringing
about world peace.
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The Nobel Peace
Prize
Awarded to 126
Nobel Laureates
since 1901
Did You Know?
94 - Nobel Peace Prizes have been awarded 1901-2013.
2 - Peace Prizes have been divided between three persons.
15 - women have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize so
far.
62 - 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
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Map of Europe
before WW1
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Lord Kitchener - Your
Country Needs You First World War Poster
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Map of
Europe
after WW1
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United Nations
Organization
building in
New York City
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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.”
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UN Peacekeeping
missions across the
world
July 2010
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Plaque outside the UN building in New York quoting Isaiah 2:4
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ARE WE ANY NEARER TO ACHIEVING WORLD PEACE?
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There were 31 conflicts and
wars in the 20th century
causing the deaths of millions
of people.
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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
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SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WAR & PEACE
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?
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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.
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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
7th 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.”
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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:
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“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)
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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 2:10-14 - “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.”
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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 - 1967
•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
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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