The End of War | Dr. David Jeremiah

The prophet Micah depicted the profound changes that will occur under the reign of Jesus, offering one of the Bible’s most notable Millennium prophecies. He writes in Micah 4:3, “He shall judge between many peoples and rebuke strong nations afar off. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” This powerful vision shows God as the ultimate judge, removing all reasons for conflict. He rebukes those in error, and weapons of war are transformed into tools for agriculture, symbolizing peace and preservation of life.

In the Millennium, God will bring about peace not through force, but through a mutual renouncement of war. This vision brings up a question often asked: Will there ever be peace on Earth? An interesting study suggests that, over the last 3,400 years, humanity has experienced only 260 years of peace. For over 92% of recorded history, humanity has faced the specter of war. In recent times, nations like the United States have participated in multiple conflicts, including the World Wars, the Cold War, Korea, Vietnam, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the current global strife.

The Bible addresses the root cause of war in the Book of James, where it says, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” Human conflict is deeply rooted in the heart’s desires—our fallen nature explains why peace is so elusive.

However, does this mean that war is always unjustifiable? Philosopher John Stuart Mill once said, “War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. A person who has nothing they care about more than their own safety is a miserable creature.” This idea speaks to the courage needed to protect principles beyond self-preservation. Mill’s statement reflects the sentiment that, although tragic, some wars are fought to safeguard core values and freedoms.

The Bible contains many instances of war as part of God’s plan, such as when Moses followed God’s command to confront pagan kings or when Joshua led Israel to conquer Canaan. These examples reveal times when conflict was directed to protect God’s people from destructive influences. The biblical accounts remind us that, while war carries a heavy cost, it has sometimes been necessary for preserving a greater purpose.