World War I, known as “The Great War,” officially ended when the “Treaty of Versailles” was signed on June 28, 1918 in the palace of Versailles outside of the town of Versailles, France. Fighting, however, ceased seven months earlier when an armistice–temporary cessation of hostilities–between the allied nations and Germany went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918 is generally regarded as the end of “The War To End All Wars” as people wistfully expressed the hope that it would be the final war and there would be peace. The word “armistice” is from the Latin and means “arms standing still.”  (NOTE: Interestingly, Jeremiah said of the false prophets in his day, “…they have misled my people by saying ‘Peace! when there is no peace…’ ” (Ezek. 13:10).

     In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of “Armistice Day” with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.” The original celebration involved parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m. An act approved on May 13, 1938 made November 11th a legal holiday, a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace. It  was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of WW I, but in 1954, after WWII and the Korean War, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veteran’s service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by replacing the word “Armistice” with “Veterans.” On June 1, 1954, the holiday officially became “Veterans’ Day,” a time to honor American veterans of all wars for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans’ Day Proclamation.”

     World War I was supposed to end all wars, but many, many wars have followed and there is still no real peace in the world. We currently have war between Russia and the Ukraine and between Israel and her surrounding enemies that vow to eliminate the Jewish people and their nation (much like Hamaan attempted to do centuries ago). The fact is, there can be no peace between men or between nations, and “wars and rumors of wars” (Mt. 24:6.7) will continue until the “Prince of Peace” returns to earth.  Zechariah of the Old Testament prophesied  concerning the coming of the Messiah into Jerusalem, riding on a lowly donkey’s colt: “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on the foal of a donkey” (Zech. 9:9).  The prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus when He came into Jerusalem on what we call “Palm Sunday” (Mt. 21:4,5).  

      Zechariah’s prophecy continues: “And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; and His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth” (Zech. 9:10).  This was definitely not fulfilled with Jesus first coming to earth, for there have been wars somewhere in the world practically every year since Jesus came. Nevertheless, the day will come when He shall indeed “speak peace” to all the nations. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can make such a peace, for He alone is the “Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6).  Indeed, He has already paid the price to make such true and eternal peace, for “…He made peace through the blood of His cross…” (Col. 1:20). 

     As world-wide conflict escalates to a climax at the end of the period the Bible calls “the great tribulation” (Mt. 24:21,29) and “the time of Jacob’s (Israel‘s) distress” (Jer. 30:7), all the armies of the world will gather against Israel at a place Har-Megedon” (or “Armageddon”), for “the war of the great day of God, the Almighty” (Rev. 16:14-16). Then the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:16) returns to earth with the armies of heaven which will conquer the enemies of God and of the Jews and of Christians and will establish His kingdom, “Making wars to cease to the end of the earth” (Psa. 46:9), “And the pride of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men will be abased, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day” (Isa. 2:17).  THAT will be “The War to End All Wars,” and until that time, no matter the efforts of the United Nations, no matter the efforts of the United States or the United Kingdom, there will continue to be “wars and rumors of wars” (Mt. 24:6).  (NOTE: When the antiChrist comes on the scene, after the rapture of the Church, he will establish a temporary–3 1/2 year–period of peace but will then turn against Israel and usher in the “Battle of Armageddon”).

     Meanwhile, as we live in this chaotic world of sin and wars and destruction, we can individually find peace with God by trusting in Jesus Christ, the “Prince of Peace,” as the sacrifice for our sin. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ro. 5:1).  We can also experience the  peace of  God. Paul wrote this to the believers at Philippi: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all expectation, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6,7).  

     We want to thank all the veterans (as well as those on active duty today) for their service for our nation, sacrificing their time and often their health or lives to maintain the freedoms we so cherish. And although they cannot provide the lasting peace we long for, we give all glory to our God who can!  He conquered sin and death through the cross and the resurrection, and will one day return to establish peace to this war-torn world. “Amen, even so come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 20:20).

Forever His,

Pastor Dave