There are many well-meaning Christians
who say that we as believers are obligated to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
They use the Old Testament book of Psalms to justify this, where it says: “Pray
for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.” Psalm 122:6 NLT
But,
is this really so?
For decades, Christians have been praying
for the peace of Jerusalem, and yet, there is still no peace today in
Jerusalem. Far from it! Instead, great civil unrest exists in Jerusalem among
Jews, Christians, Muslims, Arabs, and Palestinians.
The Bible though speaks about a day that
is coming when there will be peace in Jerusalem. This will be orchestrated by
the Antichrist, the false Messiah. He will bring a false peace treaty to Israel
and the Middle East. You can read this in the book of Daniel and 1. Thessalonians
where it speaks about the Antichrist bringing peace.
And
in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of
royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.
Daniel 11:21 NKJV
Now
concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we
don’t really need to write you. For you know quite well that
the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,”
then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains
begin. And there will be no escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 NLT
Jesus Christ will return! He is not
coming to establish Israel’s earthly kingdom. Jesus is forming the Church, His Body,
to influence the heavenly places:
“God’s
purpose in all this was to use the church to display His wisdom in its rich
variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This
was His eternal plan, which He carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 3:10-11 NLT
Never
once did Jesus, nor the apostle Paul or the other disciples in the New
Testament, instruct us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Why? Because that is
not what God, through the Holy Spirit is doing today!
As a matter of fact, the apostle Paul
urge us to pray for all people and ask God to help them, to intercede on their
behalf, and give thanks for them! He also says to pray this way for kings and
all who are in authority, so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by
godliness and dignity, because this is good and pleases God our Savior, who
wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth! (See 1 Timothy 2:1-4)
To make it clear what the Bible says what
will happen in last days, is that the Antichrist, the false messiah, will come
first, followed by the true Messiah, Jesus Christ, who will reign over the holy
city, the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven, the city of peace where righteousness
lives for eternity with those who belong to Him! (See Revelation 21+22)
