The pursuit of global peace remains elusive for world leaders due to underlying fundamental issues that go undetected. It comprises a challenge, compounded by economic inequalities, limited resources, environmental issues, and entrenched political and social conflicts, rendering the problems seemingly insurmountable. Despite their education, global influencers often act with the pettiness of children in kindergarten. The notion of Armageddon is predicted for Earth, and efforts to avert it are often seen as futile, only exacerbating an already intricate dilemma.
The tendency to blame is often seen as a futile approach to resolving issues. This suggests a populace struggling in obscurity, unable to free themselves from their predicament. It is believed that these difficulties will persist until the prophesied second coming of Jesus, whose approach to governance is a source of resolution. However, it is not implied that Christ will introduce unprecedented solutions to humanity. Rather, He is expected to reinstate governmental principles that He established through His disciples, in the first century.
The persistent resistance to Jesus’ teachings is unsurprising, reflecting the hard-heartedness of a culture steeped in self-centeredness. The axiom that every effect has a cause suggests that this principle could be utilized to address problems. Despite scientific evidence of its effectiveness, people often disregard it. Biblically, this is depicted as the resistance of darkness to light. Such strong resistance is attributed to the desire to conceal the apparent sins of those involved. Men vehemently reject transparency, under the guise of preserving civility through privacy.
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone practising evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:18-21 NKJV).
The unfortunate reality is that although the name of Jesus is frequently mentioned, there is a lack of application of His teachings. This indicates that the tendency to eschew transparency has permeated those who seek to convert the world to prevent an irreversible Armageddon. Instead of upholding the teachings of Jesus, the clergy is more intent on validating the Biblical prophecy of Armageddon. Yet, proclaiming the forthcoming arrival of the prophetically foretold should not overshadow the Church’s mission, which is to prioritize spiritual matters.
The fear of an impending Armageddon is currently seizing the world. However, this is not the case for those to whom Jesus promised his presence until the end. For them, the current events are a realization of prophecies, heralding the ultimate elimination of all evil from this world. Jesus is not concerned with the death of the flesh but with the spiritual curse. We must begin by acknowledging the real issue: a lack of understanding of the workings of demonic spirits in this world. These are not physically visible, yet those with discernment can perceive their existence through human behaviour.
The primary tactic Satan employs to wreak havoc among humans is the blame game. Responsibility is anathema to the devil; he is committed to shirking it, and his followers are similarly expected to evade accountability for any traumas caused. Anticipating any admission of responsibility from those within Satan’s influence is fundamentally misguided. Engaging in confronting such actions would mean entering Satan’s well-known domain of contention. It is more prudent to recognize bias than to engage in a fruitless debate with Satan over what is right and wrong. John also confirmed that Satan is referred to as the accuser of the brethren.
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” (Revelation 12:10-12 NKJV).
When Jesus rebuked Peter for strongly opposing those who sought to take Jesus’ life, he was entering the realm of Satan (Matthew 16:21-24). Peter failed to consider the consequences of his actions. What would his resistance to those killers ultimately lead to? Wouldn’t justifying their actions further encourage them? The disciples might also have faced elimination, barring potential divine intervention. Peter’s actions could have disrupted God’s plan via Jesus. In contemporary society, who would absolve Jesus of the allegations of inciting possible civil unrest? It is evident to rational minds that we inhabit a world of unpredictability.
The current global perspective suggests we are on the verge of World War 3. It is commonly believed that Russia initiated the conflict by invading Ukraine, but now opinions are shifting. The authorization by Joe Biden for Ukraine to employ long-range missiles has shifted the focus onto the USA as the instigator. The war has been devastating, even before this authorization. The potential outcomes of these developments are now being attributed to Joe Biden. Regrettably, those pointing fingers have not offered a viable alternative, other than to placate the aggressor, whose motives remain uncertain. The prevailing truth is that victory is unattainable within the realm of Satan.
This stance should not be interpreted as favouring the USA; rather, it is predicated on the assertion that Russia’s invasion of another country lacks justifiable grounds. Social clubs are embroiled in debates, with some members supporting Russia and others aligning with the West. Understanding the scope of the world we inhabit is of great importance. The complexities of these dynamics are beyond the comprehension of any person confined to the physical realm. We are confronted with uncertainties regarding human safety. For instance, Jesus’ teachings offer perspectives that may not conform to human logic, as exemplified by Peter’s resistance to Jesus’ mission.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:38-46 NKJV).
Peter had heard Jesus expound on the aforementioned principle, yet he struggled to internalize it. From a human perspective, such recommendations seem unfeasible, unless one is willing to risk being deemed insane. Nevertheless, Jesus is acknowledged as the epitome of peace and stability, attainable through everything He taught. Aware of the challenges these teachings presented to humanity, Jesus when reprimanding Peter, declared: “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matthew 16:23). At that time, only Jesus fully understood the workings of the human mind.
These dynamics are indeed observable in marital unions. There is no universally acceptable formula for resolving marital issues. Marital relationships are maintained not by reason, but by love and understanding. Although a marital relationship can be ended by mutual consent, it can also be saved by one person adopting the approach recommended by Jesus. This, however, does not apply to cases of adultery, as a marriage cannot survive frequent infidelity. Nonetheless, typical problems can be addressed with love and understanding.
The inclination to prove oneself right and another wrong is a destructive mindset and it manifests in the real world. The inherent dichotomies within humanity are the root of persistent conflicts. Peaceful coexistence among humans seems unattainable due to these dynamics. Should humans embrace an animalistic approach and accept the survival of the fittest formula, it could be presumed that peace might be attainable. In such a scenario, it has been observed that certain dictators have succeeded in preserving peace within their domains. Conflicts emerge as humans possess a spiritual nature that distinguishes them from animals. They cannot be treated similarly.
In the physical world, surviving requires conquering others, rather than being conquered. However, in the spiritual world, the reverse is true. This is what answers the existence of conflicts in the world. Even when left alone, a human being struggles internally, because of the two dichotomies, opposed to each other. This is why he expressed willingness to leave his body to be with Christ (Philippians 1:21). The conflict within the person who would have become God’s child is even more unbearable. This makes it the reason why Paul lamented this condition, after having become God’s apostle.
“For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:19-25 NKJV).
Humans experience conflict in their physical existence, without perceiving any solace. Jesus arrived to assist humanity in recognizing their spiritual state. Although the spiritual state of humanity is challenging to convey, Jesus sought to clarify this during His time on earth. Satan, deemed the source of all confusion, will be restrained from misleading humanity. This offers the sole hope for humanity. Despite its complexity for the physical mind, a select few have embraced it. These individuals are the ones who perceive hope, while the remainder of humanity perceives only gloom and despair, with no remedy in sight.
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things, he must be released for a little while. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.
“Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:1-6 NKJV).
Often misunderstood, all prophetic references are invariably fulfilled. The aforementioned will come to pass as documented. The beheaded individuals mentioned are the saints who held their physical bodies in low regard. The term “saints” denotes those akin to Jesus Christ. They were martyred in the same manner as Jesus. Some may not have been martyred by the time of Christ’s coming. Paul stated that their bodies would be transformed in an instant, allowing them to join those who perished for bearing witness to Jesus.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:51-54 NKJV).
The narrative of deliverance outlined should not be confused with the beliefs of those who assume they can change its course towards physical destruction. Without Jesus, such catastrophe would have been certain. At present, all is managed, and humanity’s salvation is progressing as intended. It is crucial to recognize that Jesus’ mission is centred on the spiritual redemption of humanity, not necessarily the physical. This is why Nicodemus was encouraged to reflect profoundly on the spiritual realm (John 3:5-8). Humanity’s physical existence should be surrendered to mortality, instead of being conserved as though it has inherent value.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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