The Prince of Peace

Introduction:

When we consider the Story of the nativity, we often think about the babe in the manger, so serene. His humble entrance, with mother, father, shepherds and a small herd do animals.

Yet outside this stable, the world was violent place. The so-called "peace" was brought about by the violence of the Roman Empire had brought most people in Judea to the verge of rebellion. It's a strange place for the one called the Prince of peace to arrive.

Yet, with no fanfare, and muck bewilderment, the Christ child entered a world about to erupt with violence

Don't get me wrong, there were peace keepers around. They carried swords and shields and represented the full force of the Roman Authority

I. The Peacekeepers at Jesus' Birth

At the top of the Peace keepers at Jesus' birth was Caesar Augustus. Luke gospel reveals that he was the Ruler of Rome at the time of Jesus birth, for he issued a decree that the Kingdom should be taxed.

He secured his throne and peace of the kingdom by defeating Mark Anthony in the battle of Actium in 31 BC.

In 27 BC, Octavian, his birth name, was honoured by the Roman Senate with the title ‘Augustus’, meaning ‘revered’ or ‘more than human’.

The reign of Augustus initiated an era of relative peace known as the Pax Romana. The Roman world was largely free from large-scale conflict for more than two centuries, despite continuous wars of imperial expansion on the Empire's frontiers

Peace was in an awkward state contingent upon how well you yielded to the control of Rome and paid your taxes.

Herod the Great, was the client king of Judaea at the time of Jesus’ birth.

Remember Herod is an Edomite who secured favor with Rome and wis given the right to rule.

This roman "peace keeper" was responsible for ordering the slaughter of innocent babies in Matthew 2, when he heard that the a King was born in Bethlehem.

He did this to protect his own place of King of Judea

**It's hard to be a peacekeeper when you are more interested in control than peace.

I believe that most people desire Peace. But the peace that we often experience is temporary. Yet within each person there is a longing for Peace.

Every human heart longs for peace...

We long to peace in our world

We long for Peace in our places of Work

We long for Peace in our Families

We long for Peace in our homes

We long for Peace in our own minds.

Every human heart longs for peace...

And often times, we look to the wrong places/people to find this peace.

And many times, we are deceived by those who offer peace.

At least that's what the scripture reveal. They are often encouraging us to be careful, because there are many false leaders/False Peace keepers/Wolves in sheeps clothing.

As we were reading this past week in the NTC, we learned that one of major elements of the end time was the rise of a peace keeper. He is called the AntiChrist...He is a false peace keeper.

Let's look a little closer at this individual, for he is a major part of future events.

II. The False Peace Keeper of the Future

The teaching of scripture warns Christ Followers to be on the lookout for false teachers. The term it uses to describe these false teachers is anti-christs.

The term “antichrist” could mean either “against Christ” or “in place of Christ.” While the actual term “antichrist,” which originates in the New Testament, appears infrequently in Scripture, the concept of the antichrist appears numerous times in the New Testament. - Morrison, Daniel I. “Antichrist.” Ed. John D. Barry et al. The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016 : n. pag. Print.

But this term Anti-Christ, conveys two separate ideas in the scriptures

First, This term refers to anyone who would claim to be Jesus and/or teach false things about Jesus.

1 John 2:18 - 18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1 John 2:22 - Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:3 - And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Jesus even made mention of these individuals in his teachings. He said that the rise of false teachers is a sign of the end times.

Matthew 24:4 - Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

But in Mark, Jesus reveals a little more depth. He speaks of the deceiver, but he ties his teaching back to a specific figure mentioned back in the book of Daniel.

He says in Mark 13:

Mark 13:14 - 14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,)...

Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

This passage not only reminds us of the first meaning, but actually points further to particular individual who will come to power and perform a very particular action called the Abomination of Desolations.

This brings us to the second ideas conveyed by the term AntiChrist

The Anti-Christ refers to a specific person who will appear at some time in the future.

Daniel 11:21-23 - 21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. 24 He shall enter peaceably...

Daniel 11: 31-32 - And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

Daniel 11:36-37 - And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-5 - 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Revelation 13 describes this political rulers rise to power.

Here is what we know about this future person:

He rises to power as a political leader

He promises peace, but that peace is only temporary

He is full of flatteries

He is full of lies

He is a man of sin

He is lawless

Ultimately, he breaks the peace he crafted

And he set himself up to worshipped as God - AntiChrist

He ultimately leads an army against the people of God leading to the greatest clash of kingdoms this world has ever seen....Know as the battle of Armigedon.

Next week we will see the world he rules and the chaos he brings under the guise of Peace

Ultimately the peacemakers of this world provide only a temporary peace because what they really want it control.

Every human heart longs for peace that cannot be found in the rulers of this world.

But there is one.

III. The Prince of Peace

Listen to the Words of the Prophet...

Isaiah 9:6 - 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.

There is one who can satisfy our longing for peace. He is called the Prince of peace.

He offers a peace with God.

This was the purpose of his first coming. The Prince of peace first came as a lowly child in a manger.

He came as a simple man. But not just any man.

He came as a sinless man

He came as a shunned man

He came as a sacrificial man

He came to be our peacemaker.

Ephesians 2:14-17 - For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Then the scripture tells us that he ascended into heaven and commissioned his followers to take His message of peace to the entire world!

His Followers are to live peaceably and proclaim the message of peace to all who will listen

But here is his promise. I will return

Not as a simple Man, but as a King.

The Scripture reveal Revelation 20-22

The Prince of Peace will return

The Prince of Peace will vanquish all evil

The Prince of Peace will establish a Peaceful kingdom and rule with righteousness

Every human heart longs for peace that can only be satisfied by the Prince of Peace.

CONCLUSION:

Has your heart found the Prince of Peace?