Let’s look at a couple of verses that speak of peace on earth.  Luke 2:13-14 says, “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.”  Now let’s look at the words of the Lord Jesus in Luke 12:51, “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division.”  These two verses certainly seem to be in opposition to each other, don’t they? 

They are actually in complete agreement.  The Lord’s purpose in coming was not to bring world peace, but to provide us with PEACE WITH GOD.  We read in Colossians 1:20-21, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.”  Ephesians 2:14 tells us that Christ is our peace! 

With Christ being in a state of rejection by the world, there will not be peace on earth.  As we just read in Luke 12:51, Christ brought division into the world.  Because so many reject the Lord as their savior, it often pits even family members against each other. In Matthew 10:21-22 the Lord warns those who believe on Him, “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”  Faith in Christ causes hatred and division when there are those around us who refuse to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

So…will there ever be peace on earth?  We read of an incident during the seven-year Tribulation Period (after the Church is raptured), that says, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).  We read of a time when so-called ‘wise men’ act to deceive the Lord’s people by falsely claiming there is peace.  We read in Jeremiah 8:11, “For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”  It seems from these verses that people do not know how to truly recognize peace.

Will there ever be peace on earth?  Yes, there will be!  We will have world peace when the Prince of Peace comes again to set up His earthly kingdom at the end of the seven-year Tribulation period. When He comes, He will set up His Kingdom of peace right here on earth.  World peace will come, but it will not be by the efforts of man.  The only true and lasting peace will come when the Lord Jesus is King over all the earth!  We read of the fulfillment on that day in Isaiah 9:6-7, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”  (CC)  (501.6)