Why is Christ Called The Prince of Peace?

 I'm sure that most of us have heard this scripture from Isaiah 9:6 quoted at least a hundred times. The Bible in Basic English (BBE) renders it this way: "For to us a child has come, to us a son is given; and the government has been placed in his hands; and he has been named Wise Guide, Strong God, Father for ever, Prince of Peace." But what exactly does "Prince of Peace" mean?

Christ is the one who makes peace between us rebels and Holy God. The Apostle Paul pointed that out in Colossians 1:19 and 20 (BBE). "For God in full measure was pleased to be in him; Through him uniting all things with himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, uniting all things which are on earth or in heaven."

Now some folks might quote Matthew 10:34 (BBE), claiming that Christ denied being the Prince of Peace. "Do not have the thought that I have come to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace but a sword." In the next two verses, Jesus speaks of the divisions in families caused by people following him. It has nothing to do with political peace.

We also note that the analogy of healing our relationship with God is used in the Bible to describe being made right with God. Charismatics figure that Isaiah 53:5 (BBE) means that we can claim healing in Christ's name. The BBE renders the verse like this: "But it was for our sins he was wounded, and for our evil doings he was crushed: he took the punishment by which we have peace, and by his wounds we are made well."

I keep telling my pastor that this verse doesn't mean physical healing but a spiritual one. The previous verse does predict Christ healing ailments but verse five hearkens back to the start of the chapter and how Christ bore our sins.

Neither are we to establish Christ's kingdom as the Dominion Theology folks claim. Acts 1:6 and 7 (BBE) makes that quite clear. "So, when they were together, they said to him, 'Lord, will you at this time give back the kingdom to Israel?' And he said to them, 'It is not for you to have knowledge of the time and the order of events which the Father has kept in his control."

Christ will come when he comes and not a millisecond sooner. Our job isn't to conquer nations but to preach the gospel. May Christ find us doing so when he does arrive.

But if our Lord delays his coming until after Saturday, I intend on posting about the end of the world and a powerful song by King Crimson.

Saturday Song: Depeché Mode, "People Are People"

We certainly do live in a violent world. What makes it worse is inconsequential divisions such as skin colour, religion, and place of birth. The English technopop band Depeché Mode recorded this song in 1982 and it's still relevant today.

Listen to this thought-provoking song here:

Ever since Cain killed Abel, humanity has been at war with God and itself. But we aren't the only creatures who fight one another. Revelation 12:7-9 (BBE) informs us, "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going out to the fight with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels made war, And they were overcome, and there was no more place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was forced down, the old snake, who is named the Evil One and Satan, by whom all the earth is turned from the right way; he was forced down to the earth, and his angels were forced down with him."

I know that there are different opinions on when this happened or will happen. The point is that war is a part of our fallen world. There will always be those who want to fight others as long as we humans are in charge. As Psalms 120:7 (KJV) says, "I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war."

A day will come when we will have peace but it won't come through any human agency such as the United Nations. Isaiah 9:6 (BBE)for tells of the one who will bring war to an end eternally. "For to us a child has come, to us a son is given; and the government has been placed in his hands; and he has been named Wise Guide, Strong God, Father for ever, Prince of Peace."

We read in Hebrews 2:8 and 9 (BBE) that Christ is the one who will rule humanity eternally. "You put all things under his feet.' For in making man the ruler over all things, God did not put anything outside his authority; though we do not see everything under him now. But we see him who was made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, crowned with glory and honour, because he let himself be put to death so that by the grace of God he might undergo death for all men."

What a wonderful day that will be for those who place their faith in Christ! But for those who refuse his magnanimous offer of salvation, it will be a terrifying day. May all who read this be those whom Christ will praise and then admit them to his eternal bliss.

On Monday, I'll be posting about the things we should ponder at this time of year.

Why Was Christ Called the Prince of Peace?

Isaiah 9:6 is one verse commonly quoted during this season. The Bible in Basic English renders it as, "For to us a child has come, to us a son is given; and the government has been placed in his hands; and he has been named Wise Guide, Strong God, Father for ever, Prince of Peace."

Cynical people might say that Christ was far from being a peace maker. To them, he was a teacher who got killed for telling people to be nice.

The truth is that Christ came the first time to save sinners from hell. Even the Samaritans who heard him teach understood this. John 4:42 (BBE) quotes the villagers as saying, "And they said to the woman, (whom Christ met at the well) 'Now we have faith, but not because of your story: we ourselves have given ear to his words, and we are certain that he is truly the Saviour of the world.'"

But this salvation was of the soul, not the temporal nation of Israel. Even after Christ's resurrection, his disciples still had the political kingdom notion stuck in their heads. Luke records in Acts 1:6 (BBE), "So, when they were together, they said to him, 'Lord, will you at this time give back the kingdom to Israel?'"

A day will come when Christ will return as conquering king and judge of humanity. As Isaiah 9:7 (BBE) prophesied, "Of the increase of his rule and of peace there will be no end, on the seat of David, and in his kingdom; to make it strong, supporting it with wise decision and righteousness, now and for ever." By the fixed purpose of the Lord of armies this will be done."

We also read in Isaiah 2:4 (BBE) how Christ will rule forever. "And he will be the judge between the nations, and the peoples will be ruled by his decisions: and their swords will be turned into plough-blades, and their spears into vine-knives: no longer will the nations be turning their swords against one another, and the knowledge of war will be gone for ever."

What a glorious time that will be! But for many folks, their future is eternal separation from all of God's goodness in hell. That's why I'm working on a book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? I hope it steers people away from that horrid place.

On Saturday, I hope to publish my take on a song from 1982 and why we can't live in harmony at this time.

The Prophecies of the Prince

New believers in Christ might not know this but the life of Jesus was predicted long before he was born. Even the location and circumstances of his birth were predicted centuries before Mary and Joseph became betrothed to each other.

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) is perhaps the most descriptive of these prophecies. "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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

This verse also shows Christ's deity as "mighty God." The next time Jehovah's Witnesses confront you, direct them to this verse which shows that Jesus IS God.

Isaiah also foretold how Christ would be born of a virgin, something biologically impossible by human means at that time. Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) reads, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

And here's another verse to show Jehovah's Witnesses. Matthew 1:23 (KJV) states plainly that Jesus was, is, and always will be divine. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

We also find Christ and his birth place mentioned in Micah 5:2 (KJV). "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

But not everybody realized who Christ was. His coming from Nazareth confused some Judeans. As John 7:42 (KJV) quoted them as saying, "Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?"

The fact that so many ancient prophecies were fulfilled with such exactness proves the Bible's accuracy. This is one point I'll stress in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Many nominal Christians and cults claim the Bible was tampered with but these prophecies and the Dead Sea Scrolls prove that it came down to us intact.

On Thursday, I'll post about the wonder of God becoming a human. Many religions and sects don't except this but it's true.