Day 5: Peace on Earth

On the Fifth Day of Christmas we continue to look at the connections between Christmas and Liberty. We're focusing on the prophecy of Zecharias made at the birth of John the Baptist, who heralded the coming of the Messiah. That prophecy is found here. The name "Jesus" comes from the Hebrew word yasha, which means much more than "going to heaven when I die." We started exploring some of the depth of the concept on the Second Day of Christmas.

We’ve looked at the first several themes in Zechariah’s prophecy.

• The House of David
• His Holy Prophets
• Saved from our Enemies
• His Holy Covenant to Abraham

We’re trying to understand exactly how Jesus is the Messiah prophesied by the Old Testament prophets and by Zacharias. Jesus certainly did not meet the expectations of many Jews in his day. They expected a conquering emperor who would overthrow the occupation forces of the Roman Empire, and leave Israel standing safely as an independent nation. Instead, Jesus said the Jews themselves were the enemies of God’s Kingdom, and that the Roman army would destroy Israel in judgment. This was definitely not what Israel expected on that first Christmas morning!

So were the prophets wrong, or was Israel mistaken in their expectations? Zacharias and the Old Testament prophets were not wrong to say that Christmas would mean that God’s people would be

• Delivered from our enemies
• Serving in Holiness and Righteousness
• Liberated from sin
• Guided in the Way of Peace

Consider this claim: If Zacharias, Joseph, and Mary, were to join you right now, where you are, and if you were to describe the progress of Christianity throughout the world, and compare our world today with the world under the Roman Caesars, Zacharias and all believing Jews of the first century would say that all the promises of Christmas have come to pass. Nobody alive on the first Christmas could have imagined the addition of 6 billion people to the planet without causing widespread violence, war, chaos, and conflict as all these people attempted to survive on what was being produced in the world when B.C. became A.D.

The influence of Christianity and the way of peace now pervades the globe, with hundreds of millions of people claiming to be Christians. The loaf has been leavened, and is still rising.

A History of Force by James L. Payne shows how a greater percentage of human beings died a violent death before the birth of Christ than after. Other writers have noted the same thing.

When Mary gave birth to Jesus, every third baby died before reaching age five. Today less than one out of a hundred does not reach that age. Up until the century in which the Westminster Confession was written, the vast majority of all human beings lived on less than one dollar a day. Today, in countries where the governments acknowledge themselves to be “under God,” hundreds of millions of people live without fear of foreign invasion.

A typical concern of people living in Christian nations today –– who would passionately deny any claim that Christ will bring "peace on earth" in this age, before His second coming –– is something like, “Will I have enough money to make the mortgage payment on my 3 bedroom home with central climate control that heats my home without my having to chop wood and appliances that cook my food in just a few minutes and also make the payments on an automobile that can transport me and a week’s worth of food 50 miles in just one hour, instead of one whole day?” This kind of “financial precarity” is called a “crisis.” Earlier generations would love to face such a “crisis.”

The range of “problems” we have today would utterly astonish every human being alive at the first Christmas––even the most wealthy handful of individuals on the entire planet at that time would find the level of wealth enjoyed by average citizens today to be breathtaking.

Jesus’ command to “go with him a second mile” is almost meaningless in our day, as we are not under military occupation by ruthless thugs who serve a totalitarian Caesar. Before Christ most human beings were conquered.

America is the most powerful nation on earth. That means 300 million Americans are the most powerful people on earth. At least 200 million out of 300 million Americans claim to be Christian, and they have the power to end most wars that still exist today.

And yet most of us worry incessantly about our material standard of living, forgetting that Zacharias’ concern was that God would

grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
Luke 1:74-75

Serving in Holiness and Righteousness
We have a tremendous opportunity to serve the Lord without fear. Do we take effective advantage of these opportunities?

It is in fact the presence of those who are salt and light in a culture that raises the standard of living in that culture. They continually remind us all of the higher standard that God holds us to. Not everyone wants to actually live in Calcutta with the poor like Mother Teresa, but the presence of people who are more committed to serving God has a way of tempering the temptation to use fraud or violence against our neighbor to get what we want. When we come in contact with people who remind us of God’s standard of holiness and righteousness, we pause. “Oh yeah,” we say; “I better not do that.” This is how, historically and culturally, we are delivered from our enemies: they see the prosperity that exists in Christian nations and they pretend to be Christian. Notice these verses from Young’s Literal Translation, with King David reflecting on his influence over unbelievers:

2 Samuel 22:45
Sons of a stranger feign obedience to me,
At the hearing of the ear they hearken to me.

Psalm 18:44
At the hearing of the ear they hearken to me,
Sons of a stranger feign obedience to me,

Psalm 66:3
Say to God, `How fearful [are] Thy works,
By the abundance of Thy strength,
Thine enemies feign obedience to Thee.

Psalm 81:15
Those hating Jehovah feign obedience to Him,
But their time is –– to the age.

Deuteronomy 33:29
O thy happiness, O Israel! who is like thee?
A people saved by Jehovah,
The shield of thy help,
And He who [is] the sword of thine excellency:
And thine enemies are subdued for thee,
And thou on their high places dost tread.’

Proverbs 14:19
The evil have bowed down before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

This was in the Old Testament, before the Advent of the Messiah.
Atheists cower, not Christians. Compared with those who are truly converted, however, these cowards will be a minority,[2] for genuine conversion is the Lord’s will[3] and His will shall be done.[4]
[2] Revelation 7:9; Matthew 8:11; Zephaniah 3:9; Acts 14:27; 15:9; Romans 11:12,25; 15:12; Ephesians 3:6; Matthew 13:32
[3] Psalm 17:1; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2:5
[4] Matthew 6:10; Isaiah 44:21-28; Malachi 1:11; Mark 10:42-45; Matthew 9:9-13.

This is why our goal is to serve God by observing His commandments, the standard of holiness and righteousness. It is by following in Christ’s footsteps that we fulfill the terms of the Covenant, and God brings peace.

Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Remission of Sins
Who are our “enemies?” How can we best be delivered from them?

“Enemies” are those who do not serve the Lord in holiness and righteousness. “Enemies” are those who are willing to use violence against us to get what they want. They are willing to steal and kill to advance their agenda. “Enemies” are socialists of every stripe.

On a deeper level, our enemies are our enemies because they are the enemies of God.

John 7:7
The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

John 15:18
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

1 John 3:13
Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.

If we reflect the Image of God, or are more and more achieving “the stature of Christ,” (Eph. 4:13), those who hate Christ will hate us.

But those who hate Christ hate everybody, not just Christians. Here’s why.

True peace in the deepest, spiritual sense, eternal peace, it should go without saying, is only a result of the justification which Christ secured on the Cross. Ultimately, horizontal peace between men can be built only on the vertical peace we must have with God.

Colossians 1:20-22
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. {21} And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled {22} In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Those who do not have peace with God attempt to create peace in two ways:

• masochism, or self-atonement, punishing oneself for one’s sins, or
• sadism, trying to punish others to bring about a sense of atonement.

If everyone makes his neighbor a scapegoat for his own sins or for sin in general, you do not have a cooperative society. See the studies in R.J. Rushdoony, Politics of Guilt and Pity. The opening paragraph sums up a volume with many profound insights:

The fact of guilt is one of the major realities of man’s existence. Both personally and socially, it is a vast drain on human energies and a mainspring of human action.
The human race, in apostasy from God, is deeply involved in a rebellious claim to autonomy and in the guilt which follows that claim. As a result of this omnipresent sense of guilt, there is an omnipresent demand for justification. A sense of guilt leaves a man feeling like a leaky, sinking ship: the energies must all be resolved to the repair of that breach.

Social and cultural peace, harmony, and cooperation are rooted in (1) justification by imputed righteousness (2) the influence of God’s Law. Very few historical or sociological studies have been done to show the connection between evangelism and capitalism, between justification and social harmony. A Christian should have no doubt that capitalism arose in societies that had already dealt with the sin question: countries influenced by the Protestant Reformation and the Protestant Work Ethic. This question is not studied because of the myth of the “separation of church and state.” Modern scholarship wants to obliterate from the collective memory the fact that Western Civilization is Christian Civilization, and America in particular was a distinctly Christian nation. Let’s remind ourselves of this again with a paragraph from the Journals of the Continental Congress ––Saturday, November 1, 1777, pulled out at random from the website of the Library of Congress by searching for “Jesus Christ.”

The committee appointed to prepare a recommendation to these states, to set apart a day of thanksgiving, brought in a report; which was agreed to as follows:

Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther blessings as they stand in need of; and it having pleased him in his abundant mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable bounties of his common providence, but also to smile upon us in the prosecution of a just and necessary war, for the defence and establishment of our unalienable rights and liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased in so great a measure to prosper the means used for the support of our troops and to crown our arms with most signal success: It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States, to set apart Thursday, the eighteenth day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise; that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor; and that together with their sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favour, and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance; that it may please him graciously to afford his blessing on the governments of these states respectively, and prosper the public council of the whole; to inspire our commanders both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all human blessings, independence and peace; that it may please him to prosper the trade and manufactures of the people and the labour of the husbandman, that our land may yet yield its increase; to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety, under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth “in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” [Romans 14:17]

And it is further recommended, that servile labour, and such recreation as, though at other times innocent, may be unbecoming the purpose of this appointment, be omitted on so solemn an occasion.

Societies that lack this Christian perspective tend toward socialism, because they do not believe that Christ is our Deliverer, who brings comprehensive salvation. All of the promises made in the opening chapters of the Gospels on that first Christmas are promises of peace and freedom from violence and theft and are rooted in justification through Christ.

The transition from military socialism under Caesar to “Liberty Under God” (capitalism) is summarized in a verse from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (Ephesians 4:28)

It is not the way of vengeance and “military supremacy” that brings salvation from our enemies. It is the “Way of Peace” that Zacharias spoke of.

The Way of Peace
“Peace” is not a popular word in some circles today. To say you’re for “peace” is to risk being branded as a “hippie” or an impractical “pacifist.”

One of the most important issues we face today is the conflict between the Prince of Peace and “prophets” of Jihad. Christian capitalist nations are peaceful, Jihadist nations are arming for war. (Atheistic nations are socialist, and are selling arms to Islamic nations to raise the money needed to keep up with Christian capitalist nations.)

We need to saturate our minds with the Biblical imperative of peace. We need to become Biblical “peaceniks.” We live in a world where billions of dollars’ worth of arms trade hands every single day. That’s “billion” with a “B.” That’s every single day. There are two reasons for this (beyond the obvious fact that people aren’t reconciled to God). First, we don’t fully appreciate capitalism as “the way of peace.” We think socialism is OK to some degree. Second, we poo-poo peace as “unrealistic,” “impractical,” or “idealistic.” Nothing could more clearly prove how “impractical” and “unworkable” peace is than the figure of Jesus Christ. Unwilling to allow His disciples to exercise their Second Amendment rights (Matthew 26:52), He died on the Cross at a very young age, just as He was beginning to have some impact on society. What a waste.

We need to get all traces of that kind of thinking out of our minds. The New Testament tells us we are to follow in Christ’s steps (1 Peter 2:21). We can’t do that confidently if we think the world is right, that arms trades are right, and that peace is just a fantasy.

We do well to read a few verses on PEACE. The angels announced the ideal of “Peace on Earth” as the message of Christmas (Luke 2:14). We need to get used to it. We need to be willing to walk on “the path of peace,” as Zecharias prophesied. The paths of “peace” are the paths of “justice.” These verses create an unbridgeable gap between Christianity and false religions, and between Christianity and the religion of Secular Humanism (socialism).

Psalm 85:10-13
10 Mercy and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth,
And righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good;
And our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before Him,
And shall make His footsteps our pathway.

Proverbs 3:17
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.

Proverbs 8:20
20 I traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,

Isaiah 48:17-18
17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
The Holy One of Israel:
“ I am the Lord your God,
Who teaches you to profit,
Who leads you by the way you should go.
18 Oh, that you had heeded My commandments!
Then your peace would have been like a river,
And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

Isaiah 48:22
22 “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

Isaiah 57:19-21
19 “I create the fruit of the lips:
Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,”
Says the Lord,
“And I will heal him.”
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea,
When it cannot rest,
Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 “There is no peace,”
Says my God, “for the wicked.”

Isaiah 59:8
8 The way of peace they have not known,
And there is no justice in their ways;
They have made themselves crooked paths;
Whoever takes that way shall not know peace. quoted Romans 3:17

Jeremiah 6:16
16 Thus says the Lord:
“Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Luke 6:27-28
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, {28} Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke 1:77-79
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, {78} Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, {79} To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called––that you might inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 2:21-23
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: {22} Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: {23} Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously:

Romans 12:17-20
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. {18} If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. {19} Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. {20} Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink:

Psalm 34:14
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 35:20
For they do not speak peace, but they conceive deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

Psalm 37:11
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalm 37:37
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Psalm 72:7
In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

Psalm 85:10
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Psalm 119:165
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Psalm 120:2-7
Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.{5} Woe is me, {6} My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. {7} I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.

Psalm 122:6-8
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. {7} peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. {8} For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, peace be within thee.

Proverbs 3:17
The ways of Wisdom are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

Proverbs 12:20
Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

Proverbs 16:7
When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of peace. {7} 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.

Isaiah 26:12
O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for indeed, all that we have done, you have done for us.

Isaiah 32:17-18
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. {18} And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

Isaiah 48:22
There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.

Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Isaiah 54:13
And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord;
and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Isaiah 55:12
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

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.

Isaiah 59:8
The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

Isaiah 60:17
For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.

Isaiah 66:12
For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.

Ezekiel 34:25
And I will make with them a covenant of peace

Ezekiel 37:26
Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.

Daniel 4:1
Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; peace be multiplied unto you.

Daniel 6:25
Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; peace be multiplied unto you.

Nahum 1:15
Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace!
O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

Haggai 2:9
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord
of hosts.

Zechariah 6:13
Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

Zechariah 8:16
These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:

Zechariah 8:19
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

Zechariah 9:10
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

Malachi 2:5-6
My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. {6} The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

Malachi 2:6
The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

Romans 1:7
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 2:10
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

Romans 3:10-18
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: {11} There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. {12} They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. {13} Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: {14} Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: {15} Their feet are swift to shed blood: {16} Destruction and misery are in their ways: {17} And the way of peace have they not known: {18} There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 10:15
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Romans 14:17-19
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. {18} For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. {19} Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Romans 15:33
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Romans 16:20
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

1 Corinthians 1:3
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

2 Corinthians 1:2
Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: {4} (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) {5} Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind,live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Galatians 1:3
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Galatians 6:16
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Ephesians 1:2
Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:3
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 6:15
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Ephesians 6:23
peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:2
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:9
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Colossians 1:2
To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:20
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.

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:2
Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

1 Timothy 1:2
Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Timothy 2:2
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

2 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Timothy 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Titus 1:4
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Philemon 1:3
Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

James 3:17-18
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. {18} And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Hebrews 13:20
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

1 Peter 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

1 Peter 3:11
Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

1 Peter 5:14
Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

2 Peter 1:2
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

2 Peter 3:14
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

2 John 1:3
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

3 John 1:14
But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

Jude 1:2
Mercy unto you, and peace and love, be multiplied.

Revelation 1:4
John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

What would the world think of us if we were more like the Bible in our thirst for peace?

The way of peace is the way of God’s Commandments. If we are unwilling to steal, even by majority vote, and unwilling to kill, even if ordered to by “the government,” we will be closer to the way of peace than most of the world.

It is the way of peace, not the way of vengeance or military occupation that has created the unimaginably high standard of living we enjoy today.

Capitalism is the way of peace.

That statement strikes most people as rather odd. Such people are not able to defend the peace and prosperity which has marked the shift from B.C. to A.D. People who don’t understand that Capitalism is the way of peace tend to often to be recruited by the forces of war, violence, vengeance and military coercion. They become the “enemies” from which Christ came to save us, according to Zacharias’ prophecy.

But horizontal peace, social peace, is not magically brought to us on a silver platter, poof!, there it is. This was the expectation of the religious leaders of Jesus' day, and the "rapture"-oriented televangelists of our day. The Bible says peace comes about after generations of evangelism and education in the “way of peace.” It comes about only when there are people who are continually raising the bar, bringing light into the darkness.

Tomorrow we will find out why capitalism is the way of peace.

Day 6: Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Capitalists

We're halfway through "The 12 Days of Liberty." We could have called it "The 12 Days of Capitalism." Today we'll explain why capitalism is the path of peace, and why the angel announced to the shepherds, “Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Capitalists.”

When people think of a “capitalist” they think of an unethical, rich exploiter of others. But if the opposite of a “capitalist” is a “socialist,” then a Christian must be a “capitalist,” because a Christian cannot be a socialist. (See 1 Corinthians 6:10 – “thieves,” and “extortioners” “cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.”)

Let’s run through Zacharias’ prophecy in Luke 1 one more time (I don’t see how anyone can read this prophecy too many times!). After John the Baptist was born,

⁶⁷ his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
⁶⁸ “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
⁶⁹ And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David,

We saw that the New Testament repeatedly claims that Jesus is this "horn of salvation," resurrected into the throne of David (Acts 2:29-36)

⁷⁰ As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been since the world began,
⁷¹ That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us,

We saw that the reference here (“enemies”) was not only to the occupation forces of the Roman Empire (which was historically supplanted by Christendom), but––to the surprise of the Jews who put Jesus to death––those Jews themselves, who became the enemies of those with the faith of Abraham.

⁷² To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
⁷³ The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

Even before apostate Israel was destroyed in A.D. 70, the New Testament writers made clear that it was the Body of Christ, the “new man” created out of believing Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2) who were the rightful heirs of the promises made “to Abraham and his seed.”

⁷⁴ To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,

Again, it turns out that the final reference here is to Christ’s enemies, those who murdered Him and persecuted His Church. The two references to “enemies” should not be interpreted the way the religious leaders of Jesus' day smugly interpreted them (destruction/suppression of non-Jews).

There is a much bigger picture here and throughout Scripture, and we’ll look at it today.

⁷⁵ In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
⁷⁶ “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
⁷⁷ To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
⁷⁸ Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
⁷⁹ To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

We’ve been looking at the meaning of “salvation” in the Christmas narratives. Jesus’ name comes from the Hebrew word for “salvation,” yasha. We looked at a scholarly definition of the Hebrew word for salvation and compared it with the more popular definition of "I go to heaven when I die":

Yasha and its derivatives are used 353 times. The root meaning . . . is “make wide” or make sufficient: this root is in contrast to sarar, “narrow,” which means “be restricted” or “cause distress.” To move from distress to safety requires deliverance. [T]he majority of references to salvation speak of Yahweh granting deliverance from real enemies and outof real catastrophes. That which is wide connotes freedom from distress and the ability to pursue one’s own objectives. Thus salvation is not merely a momentary victory on the battlefield; it is also the safety and security necessary to maintain life unafraid of numerous dangers.
John E. Hartley, “yasha,” Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Vol 1, pp. 414-15

The Biblical definition of “salvation” is much bigger than that of the televangelists. Perhaps you’ve noticed that in the Christmas narratives (the first 2 chapters of Matthew and Luke) there is almost no mention whatsoever about "justification by faith" and going to heaven after death. The narratives are almost entirely political. And there is no indication that the political language of Christmas was meant to be interpreted “figuratively” or metaphorically. “Salvation” in the Christmas story (and as expounded in the New Testament history of the early church) turns out mainly to be salvation from those who persecuted the Christians. Zacharias’ son John the Baptist began his ministry with that theme:

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath about to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3)

The fiery “wrath about to come” came in A.D. 70 when Jerusalem was burned to the ground. But as Prof. Hartley notes in the definition of yasha above,

salvation is not merely a momentary victory on the battlefield; it is also the safety and security necessary to maintain life unafraid of numerous dangers.

In the Bible, Salvation is thus social and cultural more than individual. It is in fact global. It is not just “momentary victory,” but long-term stability. This point is often grasped, but not accurately. There are many passages in the New Testament which describe a momentary deliverance from persecution, but which are inaccurately placed in the category of long-term salvation in the afterlife, while many verses (particularly in the Old Testament) which do speak of long-term salvation (in this life) are ignored.

Let’s look at some more evidence that the first-century Christians experienced momentary deliverance from the tribulations and persecutions inflicted on her by her enemies. Paul reminded the Thessalonians:

14 For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews; 15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove out us, and pleased not God, and are contrary to all men; 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2, referring to Jesus’ indictment in Matthew 23:31-32: Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers!)

Paul sent Timothy to Thessolonica,

our brother and God’s minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith; 3 that no man be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

Paul had told the Thessalonians about the persecution and tribulation that was about to come, and it was already coming to pass. In his next letter, Paul promised them deliverance from their enemies:

we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

“That Day” is the Day spoken of by Malachi (3-4), which spoke of and was inaugurated by John the Baptist, and was happening just as Jesus said it would: in their lifetime:

27 For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matthew 16)

This was a momentary deliverance promised to those who were then suffering, not a promise for the yet unborn thousands of years later, a promise which would have been no comfort to those who were then suffering.

The enemies of the Church were identified––as they had always been––as “wolves”:

Ezekiel 22:27
Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.

Zephaniah 3:3
Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are evening wolves That leave not a bone till morning.

Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 10:16
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Luke 10:3
Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

Acts 20:29
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

But the wolves were destroyed and the Church delivered from these enemies.

The New Testament emphasizes this momentary deliverance, but the rest of the Bible also speaks of a long-term cultural salvation, beginning in the Garden of Eden. “Capitalism,” the absence of the initiation of force, is the natural state of unfallen humanity. The Bible repeatedly states that the human ideal is to dwell “safely,” without fear of the initiation of force by others. This long-term salvation is “capitalism.” Long-term salvation is the state of being able to “exercise dominion over the earth” (Gen. 1:26-28) and “serve the Lord without fear in holiness and righteousness” (Luke 1:74-75).

Prof. Hartley’s definition of “salvation” above is pretty much the definition of “capitalism” as propounded by advocates of capitalism. Of course, opponents of capitalism define the word as something quite different.

The name “capitalism” was coined by Karl Marx, a Satanic opponent of long-term social salvation on Christ's terms. Capitalists have adopted Marx’s term as their own (without accepting Marx’s content, of course). One of the most comprehensive defenses of "capitalism" is George Reisman’s treatise on Capitalism. It is a huge book, but easy reading, and full of insights. (Reisman studied with Ayn Rand and Ludwig von Mises, and translated some of Mises’ works into English.)

Here is how capitalism is defined by the greatest defenders of capitalism:

Capitalism is the social system based on the rejection of the initiation of force or violence against others.

This definition will surprise many who attack capitalism. Ask a critic of capitalism to define “capitalism” and the critic’s definition will not even be close to this definition. Most definitions in mainstream economics texts or encyclopedias are not only inconsistent with this definition, they are nearly incomprehensible. They usually have something to do with corporations using the power of the State to gain an advantage over consumers and workers which could not be obtained by persuasion alone. In her essay “What is Capitalism?” Ayn Rand dissects these definitions, notably the entry from the Encyclopedia Britannica, and shows how they are not only self-contradictory, but subtly designed to advance a socialist agenda. They are not “neutral” or “objective.” I do not know a single self-described defender of capitalism who would disagree with the definition above. In fact, most would agree it gets to the very heart and soul of the dispute between capitalism and socialism. For the benefit of those who doubt, I would be happy to supply the quotations and footnotes from the writings of self-conscious defenders of capitalism to buttress my claim. The quotes would be many and lengthy. I would quote Ayn Rand,[1] George Reisman, Milton Friedman,[2] Ludwig von Mises,[3] F.A. Hayek,[4] and many other defenders of capitalism.
[1] Ayn Rand, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, with additional articles by Nathaniel Branden, Alan Greenspan, and Robert Hessen, New York: Signet Books, 1967
[2] Milton Friedman, Capitalism and Freedom, University of Chicago Press, 1962. Friedman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1976.
[3] Ludwig von Mises, Human Action, Yale University Press, 1949. See also the Mises Institute, http://www.mises.org/
[4] Friedrich A. Hayek, The Constitution of Liberty, University of Chicago Press, 1960. Hayek was a student of Mises, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in economics in 1974.
As an example, the Libertarian Party, a Party formed by a group of pro-capitalists, and unquestionably the political party most vigorously committed to capitalism, requires its members to sign this pledge in order to join the party:

I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals.

That is the full extent of the Libertarian Party membership pledge. It is widely viewed as the sine qua non of capitalism.[5] It is often referred to by defenders of capitalism as “the principle of non-aggression.”[6]
[5] “Sine qua non” is Latin for “without which not,” meaning here, according to defenders of capitalism, without this commitment to non-aggression, you do not have capitalism. Period.
[6] A google.com search for “capitalism” and “non-aggression” will bring up hundreds of relevant pages.

To live in a “capitalist” society is therefore to live in a state of being “saved from our enemies” (Luke 1:71) and

⁷⁴ that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,

“Enemies” (in this broader sense of “being placed in a wide open space”) are those who seek to violate God’s commandments against us. “Enemies” are those who seek to steal our property, our liberty, or our life.

We have seen this several times in our quotation of Micah 4, the promise of living safely under your “Vine & Fig Tree.” Keep Prof. Hartley's definition of long-term salvation in mind:

That which is wide connotes freedom from distress and the ability to pursue one’s own objectives. Thus salvation is not merely a momentary victory on the battlefield; it is also the safety and security necessary to maintain life unafraid of numerous dangers.

There’s more:

Leviticus 25:18-19 Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety.

Leviticus 26:5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

Deuteronomy 12:10 But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety;

Deuteronomy 33:12 And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

Deuteronomy 33:28 Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.

1 Samuel 12:11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

Job 11:18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Psalm 78:53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

Proverbs 1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Proverbs 3:23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

Proverbs 3:29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

Proverbs 10:9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

Isaiah 14:30 And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant.

Isaiah 32:17-18 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

Jeremiah 23:6 In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His Name whereby He shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.

Jeremiah 32:37 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in Mine anger, and in My fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:

Jeremiah 33:16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.

Ezekiel 28:26 And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the Lord their God.

Ezekiel 34:25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.

Ezekiel 34:27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.

Ezekiel 34:28 And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.

Ezekiel 38:8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

Ezekiel 39:26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.

Hosea 2:18 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.

Zechariah 14:11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

The opposite of “salvation,” of dwelling “safely,” is living under socialism:

Ezekiel 12:19 And say to the people of the land, “Thus says the Lord God to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the land of Israel: ‘They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink their water with dread, so that her land may be emptied of all who are in it, because of the violence of all those who dwell in it.’”

The socialist, who rejects the core principle of capitalism––non-aggression–– says,

“I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’— 12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.” 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, “Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?” Ezekiel 38:11-13

In order to establish a capitalist society, we must first desire a capitalist society. In order to be saved, we must want to be saved. Many people do not want holistic Biblical “salvation.” They prefer socialism. Most of us have been trained to prefer socialism, and most of us are ignorant about the very existence or possibility of a Biblical capitalist society.

“Socialism” used to be defined by economists of all stripes as “a command economy.” Economic decisions under socialism are not made voluntarily by free people, but by the commands of government, enforced by the police or military. The “free market” becomes “the black market,” and capitalists are sentenced to the Prison Camps. We don’t hear the phrase “command society” that often any more. Instead, we are being brainwashed. We are being held in darkness, deprived of the light, diverted away from the paths of peace (Luke 1:79). Here’s an example:

A website called “InvestorWords.com” defines “command economy” like this:

command economy

Definition

An economy where supply and price are regulated by the government rather than market forces. Government planners decide which goods and services are produced and how they are distributed. The former Soviet Union was an example of a command economy. Also called a centrally planned economy.
Related Terms
socialism

Not a bad definition.

Let’s see how “InvestorWords.com” defines “capitalism.” Let’s see if there is an appropriate emphasis on “non-aggression” or, in Biblical terms, "the way of peace." Let’s see if it says anything about a society where we have been delivered from those who would confiscate our property, our liberty or our life:

capitalism

Definition

Economic system characterized by the following: private property ownership exists; individuals and companies are allowed to compete for their own economic gain; and free market forces determine the prices of goods and services. Such a system is based on the premise of separating the state and business activities. Capitalists believe that markets are efficient and should thus function without interference, and the role of the state is to regulate and protect.

Related Terms

invisible hand, socialism.

Even where the dry, academic language is accurate, this is a completely amoral definition. It is therefore unethical and unChristian. The conflict between socialism and capitalism is the biggest moral/social issue of our day, involving the theft of trillions, the liberty of billions and the murder of millions. A truly educational definition is evangelistic, in the sense that it leads us out of darkness and into the paths of peace. The definition above is dry and “neutral.” It does not fulfill its Godly responsibility. This is why nobody is energized and passionate about spreading “capitalism.”

Now let’s compare the dry, “neutral,” definition of capitalism with the evangelistic definition of “socialism”:

socialism

Definition

Economic system which is based on cooperation rather than competition and which utilizes centralized planning and distribution.

Related Terms

capitalism, command economy.

“Cooperation.” Isn’t that adorable.

This is pure socialist propaganda. The author is an evangelist for socialism (though he would never think of himself that way). If words like “Gestapo,” “Gulag,” “KGB,” and “prison camp” are your idea of “cooperation,” then this definition is perfectly accurate.

And the opposite of (socialist) "cooperation" is (capitalist) "competition," a misleading contrast. Under the non-aggression axiom of capitalism, the way of peace, "competition" means the freedom for me to shop at the store of my choice. "Competition" is rooted in peaceful, voluntary, persuasion. Socialist "cooperation" is forced at the barrel of a gun.
This definition is designed in a subtle way to encourage support for socialism, and the definition of “capitalism” has been stripped of anything that might encourage emotional support for capitalism. And this, in a nutshell, is America’s entire educational system, as well as the mainstream media (TV, magazines, radio, Hollywood, music, etc.).

To say “I am not a capitalist” is to say “I support the use of government violence to get what I want.”

It is capitalism, not socialism, that is consistent with the Christmas promise, “Peace on earth.” Ayn Rand writes:

The overwhelming majority of mankind – the people who die on the battlefields or starve and perish among the ruins – do not want war. They never wanted it. Yet wars have kept erupting throughout the centuries, like a long trail of blood underscoring mankind’s history.

Men are afraid that war might come because they know, consciously or subconsciously, that they have never rejected the doctrine which causes wars, which has caused the wars of the past and can do it again – the doctrine that it is right or practical or necessary for men to achieve their goals by means of physical force (by initiating the use of force against other men) and that some sort of “good” can justify it. It is the doctrine that force is a proper or unavoidable part of human existence and human societies.

Observe one of the ugliest characteristics of today’s world: the mixture of frantic war preparations with hysterical peace propaganda, and the fact that both come from the same source—from the same political philosophy. The bankrupt, yet still dominant, political philosophy of our age is statism.

Observe the nature of today’s alleged peace movements. Professing love and concern for the survival of mankind, they keep screaming that the nuclear-weapons race should be stopped, that armed force should be abolished as a means of settling disputes among nations, and that war should be outlawed in the name of humanity. Yet these same peace movements do not oppose dictatorships; the political views of their members range through all shades of the statist spectrum, from welfare statism to socialism and fascism to communism. This means that they are opposed to the use of coercion by one nation against another, but not by the government of a nation against its own citizens; it means that they are opposed to the use of force against armed adversaries, but not against the disarmed.

Consider the plunder, the destruction, the starvation, the brutality, the slave-labor camps, the torture chambers, the wholesale slaughter perpetrated by dictatorships. Yet this is what today’s alleged peace-lovers are willing to advocate or tolerate . . . .

Ayn Rand, “The Roots of War,” in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, pp. 35-36

Capitalists are a force for life and peace; socialists are a force for slavery and violence. During the 20th century, on average, non-capitalist governments killed more than 10,000 people per day. [This does not include abortions. There are approximately 137,000 babies killed each and every day, worldwide.] War makes up only about a third of that total. The rest are killed by pogroms, gulags, “the rule of law,” etc.

The Welfare State is far more deadly than The Warfare State.

Recall the questions found in the New England Primer, a school text book that completely dominated American schools around the time the U.S. Constitution was ratified:

“What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer?”

“How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?”

“How does Christ execute the office of a priest?”

“How does Christ execute the office of a king?”

Tomorrow:

How Christ executes the office of a King, and orchestrates

The Christmas Conspiracy for Global Capitalism.

Day 12: The Christmas Millennium

Tonight is the "Twelfth Night" (as I understand it -- as I admitted on the first day of this series, my family has never observed "The 12 Days of Christmas" or paid much attention to "Epiphany," which is observed by some Christians on January 6). In this final post in a series called "The 12 Days of Liberty," we're going to see the contrast between a world of liberty -- the world inaugurated by Christ the King at the first Christmas -- and the world far too many Christians believe in, a world of nuclear annihilation and a thousand-year Christian Reich.

These Christians believe that the fulfillment of Micah's "Vine & Fig Tree" prophecy -- a prophecy which inspired America's Founding Fathers and "the American Dream" -- is impossible until Christ's Second Coming in the future.

The age when Micah's prophecy (along with others like it) comes to fruition is wrongly called "the millennium" -- in reference to a period in the Book of Revelation lasting "a thousand years." Christ is said to return before this millennium begins, hence the theory is called "pre-millennialism."

But even when Christ returns, the "millennium" of modern fundamentalists is nothing like Micah's libertarian "Vine & Fig Tree" prophecy. The televangelists' millennium is a heavy-handed top-down police state administered by Jesus on a throne in Jerusalem, with his bureaucrat-minions around the world imposing law and order on the unbelieving with a "rod of iron."

Gary North has written about Premillennialism's Faith in A Police State. That link is critical reading here. Micah's vision of the future and John Hagee's vision are very different, even though they might use the same Bible verses, such as

Revelation 1:6
and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10
And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

The question to ask on this 12th Day of Christmas is, how are Christians supposed to "reign on the earth?" How are "millennial" conditions brought about and sustained? Our answer, as you should handily guess if you've read the last 11 Days' worth of posts on this blog, is "libertarianism," "the Free Market," or "capitalism." Christians are not literally supposed to wield a "rod of iron" and impose physical punishments on the unbelievers. Our "millennium" is a non-aggressive decentralized "NAGocracy."

Most premillennial Christians have never heard of the idea I'm about to advance, so I can't fault them for not believing it. There are lots of inconsistencies and un-thought-through ideas floating around in evangelical circles today. Let's take about 5 minutes to look at a couple.

True or False: In order for Christ's millennial “thousand-year” reign of the saints as priests and kings to begin, Satan must first be cast into the Lake of Fire.

Revelation 20:6 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.

False: Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire after the “thousand years.” During the “millennium” Satan’s power is arguably unrestricted except for the one thing that is actually mentioned in the text:

that he should deceive the Gentiles no more till the thousand years were finished (Rev. 20:3)

During this period, Satan is still alive and well, because believers reigning with Christ need their rods of iron to physically undo Satan's spiritual deceptions.

After the “millennium” (in which the Gentiles were no longer deceived), Satan is released from his “prison” for the purpose of raising up an army:

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, (v. 7)

This is a "little season" of total chaos, rebellion, conflict, and global war between the forces of Christ and the forces of Satan. If we're to believe the best-selling fiction on the matter, it's a mess. So great is Satan's warfare, that Christ is unable to prevail, and He takes His cosmic football and goes home. Popular dispensational writer Dave Hunt says,

In fact, dominion – taking dominion and setting up the kingdom of Christ – is an impossibility, even for God. The millennial reign of Christ, far from being the kingdom, is actually the final proof of the incorrigible nature of the human heart, because Christ Himself can’t do it.

Here’s what Revelation says about the “thousand years.”

Revelation 20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 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.

We have seen that Satan was bound by Jesus Christ at His First Coming, by His powerful ministry on earth, by His Death, Resurrection and Ascension. During the time Satan was “bound” (figuratively; not in literal chains, with a literal "seal") the gospel went out to every nation under heaven. Despite intense persecution and tribulation inflicted on Christian evangelists by the religious establishment of the day, every nation under heaven heard the Gospel. The seeds of the Empire's destruction were planted. Then Satan was “released” to organize the Gentiles (the Roman army) to battle, and to destroy Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Satan was Bound in the 1^st Century

The New Testament gives powerful evidence that Satan was judged and bound by Christ during the first century. That is, his attempts to "deceive the natoins" failed, and the Gentiles were incorporated into the "household of faith," and made sons of Abraham. The New Testament, taken as a whole, was not written to foretell of a binding of Satan thousands of years after the Scriptures were written, but the Scriptures tell of events that were taking place during that generation, the generation to whom the words were written. It was something that applied to the events they were facing in the first century, something they needed to know to help them persevere through their tribulations. The authors of the words you are about to read were not writing them to imperiled Christian communities to tell them about events several thousand years in the future.

By His Power over Satan, Jesus demonstrated that the Kingdom was not “postponed” but rather “at hand.”

Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

By His Power over demons, Jesus indicated that Satan was being bound.

Matthew 12:29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

Luke 10:18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Luke 11:20-22 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

Mark 1:24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

Revelation 12:10-12 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.”

Through the death (execution) and resurrection of Christ, Satan was judged.

John 12:31-33 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” [cf. Micah 4:1-2] This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

John 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.

John 16:11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

In His Resurrection and Ascension, Christ was enthroned, and the power which Satan and his host formerly held over the nations was transferred to Christ.

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Luke 10:18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Luke 11:17-22 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

Colossians 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Psalm 68:18
You have ascended on high,
You have led captivity captive;
You have received gifts among men,
Even from the rebellious,
That the Lord God might dwell there.

Ephesians 4:8 Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”

Hebrews 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”

Romans 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

What was the message the Scriptures brought to those to whom it was written (in the 1st century)? The message was one of hope, to continue faithfully to preach the gospel, and to be assured of victory even amidst persecution, establishing the reign of Christ and the dethronement of Emperor worship in the midst of persecution and tribulation.

Revelation 1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Premillennialists believe the "tribulation" comes before "the Kingdom." John said they were happening back then, at the same time.

The Gospel was preached to every nation under heaven:

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached to all the nations throughout the Empire unto martyrdom, and then the end will come.

Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.

Colossians 1:23 the gospel which you heard, was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Colossians 1:5-6 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, and growing as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

Romans 16:26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

This proves that Satan was bound and unable to deceive the nations. The power to make all nations disciples of Christ was exercised and Satan was overcome (Matthew 28:19-20).

The New Testament also says that believers were anointed as priests and kings. Back then -- not "someday," thousands of years in the future.

Christmas means the coming of the Messiah, and when the Old Testament prophets looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, they also looked forward to a day when believers would be anointed to reign with the Messiah in His Kingdom. That messianic age began on the first Christmas.

That the saints are anointed for the task of reigning is of special significance. Anointing was the way the prophet (Isaiah 61:1), the priest (Numbers 3:3), and the king were consecrated.

Anointing was particularly the marking-out of the king. A quick glance at the occurrences of the word “anointed” in the books of Samuel makes this abundantly clear: over and over the king is called “the Lord’s anointed.”

The New Testament makes abundantly clear the fact that Christmas means the coming of the anointed Prophet (Luke 4:18), anointed Priest (Hebrews 10:21) and Christ (that is, Anointed King; Hebrews 1:8-9; Acts 4:25-27, quoting Psalm 2:2).

The anointing of the prophet, priest, and king with oil was symbolic of the bestowal of the Holy Spirit, and it was with the Spirit that Christ was anointed (Acts 10:38). If there is one verb the Scriptures associate with the Holy Spirit is it the word “pour” or “sprinkle.” When God pours out the Spirit, He pours it upon His saints, anointing them priests and kings under Christ. We have been anointed, and we are now priests and kings:

But ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye know all things. But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.
1 John 2:20,27

Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God.
2 Corinthians 1:21

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father.
Revelation 1:6

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9

The amazing thing about the Old Testament prophecies of the coming reign of Christ’s and His royal priests is not just that His people would be put into a position of true authority in Christ, but that they would be seen carrying out His will. The new commonwealth in Christ (Ephesians 2:12-19; 1 Peter 2:9) is quite unlike the old nation of Israel, who continually rebelled and forsook the LORD. And it is the anointing of the Spirit which we have that enables us to keep His Law and to “walk in His paths” (Micah 4:2; Romans 8:1-4). That was the message that first Christmas: that the Babe would

give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:79

"The Last Days"
Micah’s prophecy begins with the words, “And it will come about in the last days. . . .” The prophet Joel began one of his prophecies in the same way, and the Apostle Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, declared that Joel’s prophecy was seeing its fulfillment on that great Day of Pentecost (literally "fiftieth," the Jewish harvest festival of Shavuot, the 50th day after passover, when the Lamb of God was sacrificed) . What did Joel predict, and what was then happening? It was the first stage of the anointing of believers as priests and kings to reign in obedience to Christ. Acts 2 describes the day when believers

. . . were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. And they were all amazed and marvelled saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Others mocked, saying, these men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my word: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose. . . . But this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel:

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy . . . .”
Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:1-21

When Joel looked into the future and saw this great outpouring of the Spirit of God upon all peoples, he saw the miraculous anointing that inaugurated that glorious age of human history foretold by the prophets.

The prophet Ezekiel had also spoken of the triumph of The Christmas Messiah:

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them.
Ezekiel 36:25-32

It would indeed be a miraculous day when God’s people would reign with Him, rather than against Him, obeying Him from the heart, rather than rebelling, departing to the left and to the right, as Israel did so consistently. (Some have suggested that the Old Testament is one of the most "anti-semitic" books in history, because it paints such an unflattering picture of "the chosen people" as being egregiously faithless and idolatrous.)

The description given by the prophet Jeremiah began the same way, and was also fulfilled by Christ according to the writer to the Hebrews:

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the LORD; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Jeremiah 31:31-34, in Hebrews 8:8-12

In the Old Testament it was difficult to imagine God getting anything accomplished through His people; with this remarkable change in the hearts of the saints, it is easier to understand how the Messiah would exercise His Kingship through the people of God and carry out all that the prophets foretold. Now the people of God can be entrusted with the Kingly rule of Christ, as spoken of by the Prophets:

He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
Psalm 47:3; cf. Psalm 118:10, Isaiah 14:2

For the LORD taketh pleasure in His people: He will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute this judgment written; this honor have all His saints. Praise ye the LORD!
Psalm 149:4-9; cf. Isaiah. 11:1-5

Armed with the two-edged sword of the LORD, which is the Scriptures (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12 -- not a literal sword), we who are saints are called to administer the Kingly reign of Christ, calling all people and all nations to repentance from socialist violence, even as King Jesus executes His judgments through us, by His powerful Word (Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 49:2; Hosea 6:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:15).

Armed with the Scriptures and the Spirit, we exercise the prophetic role of Christ, in denouncing the institutionalized selfishness which characterizes the empires -- the outposts -- of the old world order. We must help its victims overcome their oppression, just as Christ was sent to do:

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, To give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1-3; cf. Luke 4:18-22

The dominion of sin and death has been put to an end. Living in fear of Satan’s minions and being in bondage to their televised lies and half-truths, waiting mournfully for the death of the cosmic Saddam, living in a spiritual and cultural underground, waiting for a rapturous rescue from the terminated reign of a now-disarmed dictator, can finally come to an end. Christ is King, and as His ambassadors we spread this Good News to those who are crippled by disinformation from the Old World Order. Armed with the two-edged sword of the LORD, we extend Christ’s reign by preaching the good news of reconciliation to God, until all His enemies have become His friends (1 Corinthians 15:25; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; John 15:14) even as Christ put down all those enemies of His who opposed His work that first Christmas.

The Word of God is clear: “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.” In fact, violence is repudiated by the saints, employed against them by the pagans, and backfires to destroy Christ’s enemies.

Our fight against islamic extremism and jihadism is the same fight the Apostles fought, and they fought without military bases in Iraq and 130 other nations. False religions are a spiritual problem, not a military problem

Our fight against drugs does not require the DEA, the BATF, the FBI, or SWAT teams. Drug addiction is a spiritual problem, not a military problem.

The State's "war on poverty" is being fought with the wrong weapons. The poverty of the ancient world was caused by their kings and empires. It was caused by spiritual darkness. Poverty has been all but eliminated in America thanks to the idea of "liberty under God," not thanks to compulsory taxation and fraudulent "social security" ponzi schemes. Charity and welfare are concerns of the "church," not the "state."

In one area of human action and social order after another, violence and the initiation of force have been proven to be inadequate (at best) and counter-productive ways to deal with social and personal problems. The Prince of Peace has shown us that the "way of peace" works. If libertarianism isn't true, then Christmas isn't true.

I hope in these "12 Days of Liberty" you've come to see the Bible in an entirely different way, different from the way you hear about it in best-selling prophecy fiction and quite unlike what you hear from the televangelists. In the 2,008 years since that first Christmas, we have never been lacking in kooky cults and weird ideas about the Bible. True enough, the Bible was not written by dull, secular bureaucrats, but by farmers, tax collectors, doctors, kings, and converted Jews who saw the answer to oppressive empires that had dominated human history to that point, and erupted in enthusiasm and passionate literary expressions. If those authors and the people they wrote about in their day could travel through time and visit us today, and see the wealth and peace that hundreds of millions of human beings enjoy today, they would drop to their knees in utter astonishment and gratitude to God for what the Christmas King has done in history. We are not very grateful for the truly remarkable changes that have taken place as "liberty under God" has replaced tyranny under man.

That was the promise of the prophets, and the message of Christmas. It has been remarkably fulfilled, and yet the work of dominion still remains to be done. Life would be boring without a challenge.

Each generation is tempted to detour off Christ's "way of peace" and return to ancient Rome, where an elite few ruled over the enslaved masses. This desire for control over others has to be put to death.

Thanks for joining me in this unique observance of "the 12 Days of Christmas." I hope you won't forget about Christmas during the coming year. Don't reduce its public promises to a sentimental or commercial season at the end of the year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!