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13-Worldly Peace and Prosperity

The fourth and last basic false doctrine being preached in these last days is “Peace and Prosperity.” I have written substantially about this subject already, however, the New Testament deals with this subject extensively, so bear with me.

John 16:33,

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

John 14:27,

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

There is a mountain of difference between the peace of the world and the peace of the Lord, as He makes very clear to His disciples. The vain peace the world struggles for is based upon military and economic power or peace through strength. You don´t need a doctorate in history to see that.

The Bible is crystal clear that worldwide peace among men and nations will never last until the Prince of Peace returns. Jesus warns us that wars and rumors of wars will dictate history until He returns. Man´s attempts to bring peace are hopeless, like chasing the wind. For the world, even the religious men, resist the saving blood of Jesus Christ, therefore peace will be only a fanciful dream of proud men.

The world´s prophets of peace, dressed in sheep´s clothing, invariably are also the prophets of prosperity. For peace and prosperity are intertwined and inseparably linked. Listen to Paul´s searing denunciation of the New Testament prosperity preachers. Notice also his love for their souls, as tears stream down his face.

Philippians 3:18-21,

18)”For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19)Whose end is destruction, whose God is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, and mind earthly things. 20)For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21)Who shall change our lowly body, that it may be fashioned like his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

Paul sadly tells us here that many in the churches are really enemies of Jesus, because they seek prosperity and not the person of Christ. We are instructed to seek the Lord´s righteousness and His kingdom, not use His words as a Sears and Roebuck catalog. We are not to be caught up in our minds with earthly things, but to seek for truth through Him.

Paul is addressing these people who walk in the visible church, as the enemies of the cross, who have made material things their God. They are worshiping the created, not the Creator; the blessing, not the Blessor. Those who seek for the things of this world rather than the return of the Lord, are determined to shameful destruction.

Jesus died on the cross to cut the cord of love for this world that we´re all born with. Paul exposes those who use the cross to justify their inner, carnal desire for wealth and success. They boldly proclaim that Jesus was financially poor that we may be rich. What a kick in the face to a scarred Savior, who was despised and rejected, who said that we as disciples are not greater than the teacher. He suffered, so we shall suffer, for He is in us through faith. If we suffer with Him, we shall reign with Him.

We are citizens of Heaven, just passing through as ambassadors for Christ. As citizens of a foreign land, we are not to absorb into our hearts the wicked traits of the country we´re in. We are to be examples of a higher calling and culture, so that the people may defect over to our country.

When people are seeking for success and prosperity they will never be content, as we are commanded to be. This contentment with material possessions can only be experienced when Jesus truly is the Lord of your life. His person, principles, and peace are then all that matter, everything else must take a back seat.

So, teachers of prosperity, who seduce you to seek the blessings before the Blessor, have themselves made things their god. Don´t return to their idolatrous ways. Keep tasting the riches of Heaven, the promise of His coming, and the things of the world will taste bitter in comparison. Prosperity is a state of mind. A contented heart can rejoice and feel prosperous in a tent, for Jesus promises peace internally and eternally.

It is an ignorant or deceived heart that names Jesus as Savior, and still desires to possess great wealth for himself in this world. In that state he is in open rebellion to the Lord who has commanded not to lay up for ourselves treasures on the earth. Such a man doesn´t know that in knowing Christ are all the riches that he will ever need.

There are multitudes of teachers today who are repeating the errors of the false prophets of Israel´s days before judgment fell. Hear what God says to those who preach peace and prosperity to a carnal people. The people of Israel needed to hear and obey the voice of the prophet and then to mourn for their rebellion. For as lightning precedeth thunder, so the voice of the prophet before judgment. But all they heard was how God was going to bless them and protect them.

Jeremiah 23:16-22,

16)”Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you. They make you vain; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. 17)They say still unto those who despise me, the Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto everyone that walketh after the imagination of his own heart. No evil shall come upon you. 18)For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word, and heard it? 19)Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind; it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. 20)The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart; in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. 21)I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. 22)But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my word, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.”

For those skeptics that laugh at these words, who say God doesn´t do those things, please take careful note of verse 20. God says in the latter days His judgment will be as a whirlwind. Study Jeremiah 25:12-38, and you will see that not all of the prophecies were fulfilled when Babylon invaded Israel around 600 B.C. The latter days are the days of the 70th Week, in which all of these prophecies will be finished. The whole earth will be punished for their sin, including Israel and the harlot church.