Peace!

Peace!

Many tears of joy were shed on the seventh of May when the news of peace spread all around Norway, even into the darkest prison cell. There was rejoicing beyond compare in the cities and in the country. Most families had been touched by the war in one way or another, and many were separated from their loved ones. The war had brought horror in its wake in various ways, and now the peace that was longed for has come.

Everyone was anxious to see the conclusion of this war, and most people feared the worst. There was talk about gas and germ warfare, about new and dangerous weapons, etc., and many feared the worst for the prisoners in Germany. The worst could have happened if the urgent prayers of the saints had not been sent up to God that everything might end soon and peacefully. Everyone has to agree that the conclusion of the war was a sheer miracle and that everything went well beyond all expectations. However, not everyone realizes that this result was in answer to prayer, and that during the war there was a fighting home front of prayer warriors who courageously fought on their knees against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places—and they gained the victory! These heroes of faith and prayer will not win a great name in this world; nevertheless, their reward is waiting for them, and they will be part of the victory march of the saints together with Christ when the final victory over Satan’s power has been achieved. On that day there will be perfect joy; peace will flow like a river and righteousness like the waves of the sea. All of creation is sighing and longing for the day of redemption when the devil will be bound and Christ and His saints will take over here on earth to establish a kingdom of peace where the lion and the lamb can feed together.

There will never be true peace as long as the devil is on the loose and sin and egotism are allowed to rule in the hearts. There is strife in the hearts, strife in the homes, and strife among the nations. Neither people nor animals can feel truly secure. Yet in spite of all this—in this evil and unbelieving world—we can have a blessed peace in our hearts by putting down all carnal weapons and letting Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace, into our hearts and homes.

God be praised that this spirit-power that arose from the pit for the express purpose of laying hold of children and young people has now received its deathblow. Victory for this ideology would have meant a victory for paganism. Having a conscience was considered weak and cowardly—it had to be destroyed and put to death so that that which is strong and brutal could be exalted. The people of Europe have felt the full force of this brutal power, and most of them breathe more easily now that this ruling power has been broken. Happy are they who, during all this time, closed the doors of their houses and hearts to this spirit. We shall love our enemies and pray for all men, but we must never play with such dangerous ideologies that have come up from the pit. We must hate them and despise them with all our heart. Jesus even said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!” when He met a strange spirit in him.

The gruesome, hateful persecution of the Jews should have been sufficient to open the eyes of every Christian. There were a few who thought that this ideology had to be victorious so that the Jews would go back to their own country. Nevertheless, we were absolutely certain that the Nazi ideology would be crushed, precisely because of the Jewish question. If Nazism had been victorious in the world, the Jews would never have been placed in Palestine, but in totally different places, because Palestine is one of the richest and best lands in the world.

The Nazis were as hunters who hunted the Jews out of their business graves (Jer. 16:16), but they were not given the holy task of leading them back to their land. The Jews will fly back to their land like doves to their roosts. The ships of Tarshish will come first. They will bring their silver and their gold with them, and the Lord Himself will reveal His glory in their midst. Isa. 60:8-9. During this war it was interesting to look at Daniel, Chapter 8, about the male goat and the ram. Let us continue to keep it in mind and pay attention to the horns.

May we keep our place on God’s holy mountain, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Let us pray that we may have peace in our country in order to work, and that the Word of truth may make abundant progress. The friends everywhere, especially those who live in remote places, have longingly looked forward to the day when we can again gather together for larger conferences. May God lead in such a way that this can soon become a reality. These conferences have throughout the years been an exceedingly great blessing to the friends. We have learned to love and esteem one another in a sincere brotherly love—that five long years of war could not quench. God be praised for this blessed fellowship of the Spirit, which constantly grows deeper and deeper.

We have all reason to be exceedingly thankful because we have partaken of a kingdom that cannot be shaken in all eternity. Let us therefore serve the Lord with zeal and joy. The Lord has done great things for us in every way. It was God who intervened and stopped the war in a marvelous manner. “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments . . . .”