The Christmas message: Peace on earth

The Christmas message: Peace on earth
Dr. Stephen Jones, Dec 26, 2015
 
For many centuries the church believed that Jesus was born on the night of December 24/25 just before the start of the year 1 A.D. They were off by about a year and three months, since he was born September 29, 2 B.C. This was the feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hoshana—not only the start of a new year, but also a new age.

http://www.gods-kingdom-ministries.net/teachings/books/daniels-seventy-weeks/chapter-3-the-timing-of-jesus-ministry/

The magi arrived three months later on December 24/25, giving the “new-born king” gifts. The magi then went home by another route, instead of reporting to King Herod. At the same time, Joseph took his wife and child to Egypt for their protection. Jesus was three months old at the time, the same age that Moses was taken into the house of Pharaoh for his protection (Exodus 2:2).

In the fourth century, Saint Nicolas of Ephesus began leaving little gifts on the door steps of poor people on the night of December 24/25, following the example of the Magi who gave Jesus gifts on that date. Other people soon followed his example, and out of this developed the Christmas traditions. It was not long before December 25 also came to be seen as the actual date of Jesus’ birth, although in reality it was only the time that the Magi had arrived about three months after His birth.

It is unfortunate that Jesus’ birth is celebrated on the day that the magi arrived, because it opens up the celebration to criticism. Further, the standard display of Saint Nicolas (i.e., Santa Claus) is far from an accurate portrait of the kind, humble man in the fourth century. The addition of other traditions used by pagans have turned the original scene into a day that little resembles the original biblical scene.
In more recent decades, Christmas has been secularized to the point where most of the songs are now mere weather reports about snow and flying reindeer, led by one called Rudolph.

Yet there is still a basic truth that we may remember, if we know the original story. One of the most important truths is found in the message of the angels about “peace on earth” (Luke 2:14). This message is a core revelation about Christ’s method of establishing His Kingdom on the earth. As the Prince of Peace, prophesied in Isaiah 9:6, His ability was declared, not as a great warrior who could conquer the world by force, but as a peaceful Messiah who conquers by love and by the sword of the Spirit.

The Jews did not want such a peaceful Messiah, for their concern was in regaining independence from Rome and smashing all their enemies by the power of God. Other religions, too, most notably Islam in the seventh century, sent out armies to conquer the world by force of arms. Even Christianity itself succumbed to the lure of the force of arms after it lost their spiritual sword.

None of these fulfilled the ideal of the Messiah or His will. After all, it is only when one loses the sword of the Spirit that force of arms becomes necessary. Such forceful methods may seem to work, but they can never establish the Kingdom of God. They can only establish fleshly religious kingdoms, empowered by the arm of flesh.

Such religious people sincerely want peace—but only after they have killed all enemies, destroyed all other religions, and forcibly subdued all men to their religious ideals. In such wars, it is said that “he who is most ruthless wins.” It is always peace through war. The problem is that the wars never cease. There are always more enemies to fight. And even when everyone subscribes to the same religion, there are divisions within the religion itself. And so the reasons for war are endless.

Until the conquest of the world is done by spiritual swords by those who are in agreement with the Prince of Peace, there will never be peace on earth. We can never burn enough dissenters, bomb enough infidels, or brainwash enough people to bring the Kingdom of God to earth. Because carnal methods have dominated history, we have yet to see the Kingdom of God established on the scale prophesied in Scripture. Jesus said in Matthew 11:12,

¹² And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.

The best we have seen is where the power of God was manifested—mostly during Jesus’ ministry of healing, where he set captives free from their captivity. How did He do this? It was by the peaceable methods of healing and casting out demons. Matthew 12:28 says,

²⁸ But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

At some point in history, the Kingdom will spread from human hearts to the land itself, and whole nations will become part of the Kingdom on a grand scale. This means the Spirit of God will be poured out upon “all flesh” (Joel 2:28 KJV), for it is only by the Spirit that all things will be subjected to the rule of the Prince of Peace. It will not be done through Old Covenant means, which were seen in Joshua’s conquest of Canaan.

Under the Old Covenant, the power of God was used to win wars to kill Canaanites. But under the New Covenant, the Great Commission is what conquers the world. “Death to infidels” is replaced by “baptize them.” It is a different form of death—a death that identifies with Christ’s death on the cross, so that we may also identify with His resurrection life.

This is all inherent in the angelic message of “peace on earth.”

Hosea & the 10 Tribes of Isael

HOSEA AND THE TEN TRIBES OF ISRAEL

The Ten Tribes of Israel

The northern nation of Israel containing the 10 tribes defected from King Rohoboam after the death of Solomon and were deported by the Assyrians beginning in 745 BC.  It has been widely assumed by many Bible teachers and commentators that the majority returned to the land at different times and were present during the 1^st century days of Jesus and also of today, calling themselves Jews.

Other historians and Biblical researchers have determined they did not return but migrated north through the Black and Caspian seas into Eastern Europe and then migrated into Western and Northern Europe.  During the 1^st century days of Jesus and the apostles, the location of the ten tribes was considered to be known where they witnessed a tremendous increase in population.  Some consider they developed into the Scythians and others even believe they were the progenitors and primary people of the Parthian Empire.

The Parthians rivaled the Roman Empire in power and size.  The magnitude of the Parthian’s ruler ship extended from the Euphrates river to India from 64 BC to 225 AD.

The Euphrates river was usually the recognized border between the Parthian Empire and the Roman Empire. Thus, Josephus records that the ten tribes of Israel lived beyond this Roman Empire border in Parthia.

The Magi

The origin of the Magi is thought to be either Babylon or Persia.  At the birth of Christ the Parthians had taken over the area of Persia, now known as Iran, and it seems possible the educated of the Israel tribes would desire to see, honor, and worship the Messiah.  The number of the Magi range from 3 to 12.  If they were a powerful class of Parthian nobility, they were probably accompanied by a number of troops to guard their merchandise and gifts for the King of Judah.   Matthew 2:3 tells us that not only King Herod, but "all Jerusalem" was troubled by this visit.

Matthew 2:3 KJV  When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Hosea

The life of Hosea, the prophet, is a symbolic representation of the destiny of the house of Israel (the northern 10 tribes).  He was directed by God to marry a prostitute named Gomer (the same name as the oldest son of Japheth).  This union produces three children:  Jezreel, meaning “God scatters”; a daughter, Lo-ruhamah, meaning “not more mercy”; and a second son, Lo-ammi, meaning “not my people”.

Hosea 1:4, 6, 9 KJV  And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.  6) And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.  9) Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

Hosea, chapter 2, is a judgment of God against the tribes of Israel, whereby, Israel as the wife of God is divorced by God due to their spiritual adultery.

Hosea 2:2 KJV  Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;

The first son named Jezreel, which means “God scatters” is a symbolic representation of the coming scattering of the tribes of Israel which will occur by the hand of the Assyrians.  Hosea 1:4 prophecies the kingdom of the house of Israel will cease.  This may be another reason the current nation of Israel is using an unlawful name in the mind and edicts of God.

Hosea 1:4 KJV  And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

Lo-ruhamah, the daughter and second child, means “no more mercy” which validates the conquering, slaughter, and deportation of the tribes of Israel by the Assyrians approximately a century after the prophecy was given.

Two centuries later, Jeremiah speaks of this divorce.

Jeremiah 3:8-9 KJV  And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.  (9)  And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

Jeremiah then prophecies that God will bring the nation of Israel back to the land of Zion.  Of course, this will occur in the future of the Millennium with the descendants (Church people) of the ten tribes of Israel.

Jeremiah 3:12-14 KJV  Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.  (13)  Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.  (14)  Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

The prophet Hosea also speaks of the reuniting of God with Israel.

Hosea 2:14-16 NET  However, in the future I will allure her; I will lead her back into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.  (15)  From there I will give back her vineyards to her, and turn the "Valley of Trouble" into an "Opportunity for Hope." There she will sing as she did when she was young, when she came up from the land of Egypt.  (16)  "At that time," declares the LORD, "you will call, 'My husband'; you will never again call me, 'My master.'

The word “allure” or “lure” is used in most versions (entice is also used).  A Greek dictionary says it is a verb meaning:  to entice, to deceive, to persuade; to be gullible in perhaps a negative manner or in a seductive romantic way.

Verses 19 and 20 of Hosea 2 is a completion of the alluring with the 10 tribes of Israel betrothed (engaged) to God.  This may be viewed as the action of the Gospel of Christ and the true Church which was primarily accepted and believed by the mostly Caucasian descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel.  The final enactment will be the Marriage of the Lamb and the bride of Christ at the beginning of the Millennium.

Hosea 2:19-23 KJV  And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.  (20)  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.  (21)  And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth;  (22)  And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.  (23)  And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.

Hosea states that God did not cast out the House of Israel forever, but would restore her at a future time.  Hosea’s son, Jezreel, whose name means “God scatters,” is a prophesy of the destruction of Israel and the following deportation or scattering into northeaster Assyria.  The name Jezreel also means “God sows”, thus, to sow is to scatter seed for planting and growing a new crop.  Israel was scattered into parts of the world or planted into a field.  The meaning of Jezreel reflects the sowing of seed (Israel) in the field (world) for the purpose of bringing forth many sons. The children of Israel were to become as numerous as the sands of the sea (a promise to Abraham and fulfilled by the nation of ten-tribed Israel).

The Pearl of Great Price

Matthew 13:45-46 KJV  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  (46)  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

There is a statement by Moses in Exodus 19:5 that Israel was to be the peculiar treasure of God.  This can be said not to have happened with Judah but mostly with the tribes of Israel within the context of the Church.

Exodus 19:5 KJV  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Like the pearl, God hid the nation of Israel into the field of the nations of the world.  Joseph who was given the birthright promise by Jacob was hidden in Egypt for a purpose (the plan of God).

Jesus sold all that He had (His heavenly glory and His life by crucifixion) and bought the field (the world) containing the pearl, which is the nation of Israel and all who will believe (because He also bought the world).