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             "The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace." [Psalm 29:11].

            There are only two times in the book of Revelation where the word PEACE is spoken of; once where it is given, and once where it is taken away. Of the latter the world is quite familiar today ― conditions that rob them of their peace. "There went out another horse that was red: and was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword." [Revelation 6:4].
            The symbols are quite clear ―the RED horse appears, as the emblem of war and bloodshed; and to make this even more clear, to him that sat thereon was given "a great sword," as emblematical of his power to take peace from the earth. Wars and rumours of wars ― conflict of every dimension, not only in regards to war, but in every aspect of society ―struggle for power and supremacy, self-will defending its rights. Any kingdom-building, be it of a personal nature, or national, then requires a constant defense to maintain itself, with a myriad of forces that are constantly waiting to TAKE PEACE away. "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." [John10:10]. And we could rightly add, to take away thy peace.
            However, we hasten to emphasize, any force that is allowed for a time to take peace from the earth, is under the sovereign control of God, who has determined to GIVE PEACE unto the earth ―and the final answer, from God to creation, will always be one of PEACE.
            The other occasion where peace is spoken of in Revelation, is in the first chapter, verses four and five. "Grace be unto you, AND PEACE, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ."
            How beautifully this begins: "Grace be unto you, AND PEACE." Wherever grace is manifested and working. PEACE will be the result. When God imparts of His divine favour to man, it is always as a part of ushering in new dimensions of peace. When DIVINE GRACE, personified in our Lord Jesus Christ, came to earth, and was announced to the shepherds by the angelic host, the message was, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth PEACE, good will toward men." [Luke 2:14].
            When the trauma of the events of Calvary had shaken the disciples to their depths, followed by the resurrection, when Jesus came and stood in their midst, the first thing He said unto them was "Peace be unto you." [Luke 24:36]. HE IS A PEACE GIVER! Grace, coming on the scene, always imparts peace!
            "From Him which is, and which was, and which is to come." That this designates God the Father, Bible scholars agree. PEACE FROM THE ALMIGHTY!
            "And from the seven Spirits which are before His throne." Speaking of the various gifts and graces of the holy Spirit, in the prophetic language, of fulness and perfection. HE IS A SPIRIT OF PEACE!
            "And from Jesus Christ." For even when manifested AS SON, He is still our peace.,
            Three beautiful sources of peace, ALL ONE, but spoken of as in different expressions. The Eternal, in the truest sense of being Eternal, is the SOURCE of peace for the universe; the seven-fold expression of His Spirit, which works in each of us to bring us into His peace. Then Jesus Christ as the visible expression of that invisible realm, coming forth to reveal the wonders and glories of divine peace. From the totality of the Almighty God, through the sevenfold Spirit, unto the messenger Jesus Christ, who has brought "life and incorruption to light through the gospel," [2 Timothy 1:10], and now whispers into our hearts of His peace.
            We are greatly encouraged by the Word to "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." [Psalm 34:14].
            Seek ― the Hebrew word is "baqash" meaning: to seek, ask, beg, require. It implies an imperative necessity demanding fulfillment. We seek peace, we must have it, for all of our being cries out for His peace.
            Pursue it ―Hebrew word is "radaph" meaning: to run after, follow after, not just for the sake of running, but with a view to obtaining. There is a goal before us, and we run, not in circles, but we would obtain that for which we are seeking.
            Perhaps we could borrow the words of Romans 11:7, "Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it." Why did not Israel obtain it? ― because they were seeking through self-effort and WORKS ― whereas the "remnant according to the election of grace" knows that it is the sovereign inworking of Divine favour, and so they receive it BY GRACE. Thus we reckon that all of our seeking, pursuing, is to bring us into that singleness of purpose to be fully yielded to the grace of God, that we might receive the benefits of His grace, which certainly includes PEACE.
            Paul wrote of those who are "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." [2 Timothy 3:7].God has not called us to be always pursuing, ever seeking, continually tarrying, when there is a time for RECEIVING, even if it be as at present, only "in part," For even now there is a MEASURE OF PEACE that is to be received and enjoyed, as we receive HIM who is our peace into our life, to dwell within us.
            "We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." [2 Corinthians 6:1-2].
            Now is the "accepted" time, The Greek word used here, literally could be translated as "the RECEIVABLE time." It becomes a self -evident fact that we first must RECEIVE this peace from Him, before we are able to share it with another. Peter said, "Such as I have give I thee." [Acts 3:6]. This is in contradistinction to those who utter a stream of words in a rah, rah, rah, form of cheer-leading and excitement, to encourage you to release the faith you do not have, so that you can receive from God what they are unable to give you. But when we have fully RECEIVED FROM HIM, and are ONE IN HIM, so that we "in His stead" are able to share these divine treasures, then shall we truly be able to freely give. "Freely ye have received, freely give." [Matthew 10:8]. A man has nothing until He receives it from God. Indeed, "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." [John 3:27].
            Our prayer is: "Father, help me to receive all that you have purposed for this day, so that I may grow up into Thee, the Head, so that when I am one in Thee, at Thy appointed time, I will be able to GIVE, in harmony with Your divine plan and purpose."
            David had a strong complaint. "My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war." [Psalm 120:6- 7].
            The natural world is very war-oriented. Sad to say, Christendom has picked up the same spirit. The world's activities are geared for war. Its cycles are repeated over and over again. But it is a tragedy to find that the same destructive force had come into many areas of Christendom. They have taken that which belongs to a spiritual realm, and lowered it into the realm of the flesh, to contend one with another, as they build their religious kingdoms; the greed, to have, to hold, to take away from another.
            Certainly there is that God-appointed spiritual warfare appointed to us for our overcoming exercises. We need not delve into this now. Suffice it to say that it is a battle secured in victory, because our Lord has already won, and we can be "more than conquerors through Him that loved us." Most of our spiritual warfare is learning to "stand still and see the salvation of God" while resisting the enemy with positive declarations of faith, not in engaging in a shouting contest of negative denounciations.
            To "fight the good fight of faith," [1 Timothy 6:12], and to "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints," [Jude 3], does not mean that we are to become "contentious" and of a "fighty-spirit."
            "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable..." [James 3:17]. If we hold a doctrine that we must FIGHT FOR, we had best look again and see what is the source of that wisdom. HIS TRUTH IS PEACEABLE! "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (verse 18). Therefore when the Spirit of God quickens His truth to us, and it is pure, not muddled with our own carnal concepts, then we need not fight for it. Truth needs no defense, it just IS. We only need to live it!
            Men fight to defend their rights, but as soon as we lay down our rights, there is no need to fight. I am not speaking on natural things. Certainly there is a realm of defending our national heritage in good patriotic form. We are declaring spiritual things. When, in Christ, we lay down our own self-rights, we will cease to fight for them. "Not my will, but Thine, be done," will ultimately pulsate through every atom of our being, and IN HIS WILL we shall have PEACE.
            "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Spirit." [Romans 4:17].
            In those blessed beatitudes ―attitudes that we are to BE, we find this one, Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." HE is bringing forth after His own kind.  We have already noted that there is "PEACE, from Him which is, which was, and which is to come." He is the FATHER OF PEACE, and therefore it is self-evident that His children would be peacemakers. When our STATE OF BEING is of His nature, His image, His likeness, we shall be able to MAKE PEACE ―express peace, bring peace to all the troubled world about us.
            Once again we turn to the Old Testament for some of the beautiful types, limited, in part, but holding promise of better things to come, and so they give us glimpses into these truths.
            When Israel was going in to possess their promised land, they were duly instructed: "When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it shall be if it make thee an answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be..." And they will be your servants, not your enemies. [Deuteronomy 20:10-11].
            What a way to go to battle! Come up to the city, and before ever a sword is lifted, "PROCLAIM PEACE UNTO IT. " If there is any response of peace within them, the war is over before it began. What would have been an enemy to be subdued, simply begins to serve you ―yea, and you serve them, for we are not called to be ministered unto, but to minister.
            If there was no response of peace, then God promises to help Israel fight their battles, so would they gain the victory. This was part of that dispensation and time; but there is a principle and insight given here of the ways of God. The first thing you do is PROCLAIM PEACE.
            2 Samuel 20:19-20. A man by the name of Sheba had revolted against David. Joab, captain of David's army, went in pursuit. When Sheba finally took refuge in a certain city, Joab was prepared to come against that whole city. Then a wise woman from the city said unto Joab, "I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord? And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy."
            Here was a woman that saved an entire city because she was PEACEABLE. She had a reasonable answer for Joab, and a solution to the situation. It was out of a realm of peace that she could gain the victory. (In the rest of the narrative, she convinced the elders of the city to toss the head of the rebel over the wall, which they did, justice was met, and that ended the matter). But the principle is clear: If we have an agitated, fighty spirit, reason gets lost in the confusion, and war follows. But if we are PEACEABLE, then wisdom can operate, and the matter can be solved.
            "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." [Hebrews 12:14].
            "Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it." [1 Peter 3:11].
            The combination is absolutely tremendous. There is to be  no compromise in our pursuit for peace, since we must, also, have  HOLINESS. We dare not sacrifice the interests of truth for peace, but truly, ONLY IN TRUTH IS REAL PEACE FOUND. Without true holiness there can be no peace. Throw the head of the rebel over the wall― purge out the self-will and rebellion, we must walk in holiness with Him. But there is a union with holiness and peace. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." [Psalm 85:10].
            If a condition exists that is part evil, part holiness, you do not have peace, you have war! "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other." [Galatians 5:17]. Therefore, until there is total holiness, there cannot be total peace. And only in the measure that righteousness abounds, is there a measure of peace that also abounds.
            "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (Greek, behavior)." [1 Peter 1:15].
            AS HE IS! Yes, as He is holy! Such is the challenge before us, and thus shall the people be whom He is processing, until they are fully clothed with His righteousness, and able to stand "in His stead," to bring peace to others.
            Another beautiful illustration of a PEOPLE OF PEACE whom the Lord shall have in the earth, is found in Genesis 41:14. "Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh."
            Permit us to insert a thought here, from Matthew 6:17 -18, "But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." See this principle working in Joseph. In a dungeon, everything seemingly having gone against him, yet when it was time for him to appear publicly, he shaved, washed, put on fresh raiment -there was no outward appearance of what he had gone through in all the trial and testing.
            We are not to parade before men as if we are in the throes of agony, we are to POSSESS HIS PEACE, and we are to emanate His peace. We are not to go about bemoaning our fate, how heavy the cross, how severe the judgment, how unjust the treatment, etc. Wash, shave, smile, and let the Father, who has already known and seen the travail which you passed through (after all, He appointed it), shall reward you openly with blessings of joy and peace. And it will be this image ―HIS IMAGE― that will be expressed to the world.
            "And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, IT IS NOT IN ME..." [Genesis 41:15-16].
            "Why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified His Son Jesus; ―and His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong." [Acts 3:12-13,16].
            One of the strong characteristics of those who become the EXPRESSERS OF HIS PEACE, His life, His message, is that at all times they will not take any of the glory to themselves, nor seek to have men drawn to their own person, but they will ALWAYS EXALT THE LORD. Through all the travail and processing we are conditioned, prepared, purged, purified, so that we might come into UNION WITH HIM. Yet in this marvellous covenant relationship with Him, where we live and breathe as one, we will always direct people toward our Father.
            "GOD shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." [Genesis 41:16].
            This is truly remarkable! Joseph had spent years in prison, sent there under false witness. Yet now there was not one complaint of the injustice that had been done to him. No vindictive remarks against ungodly rulers. There was no hell-fire and brimstone tirade. Why? Why no wrath? Why no demands for rectitude? Why this, "GOD SHALL GIVE AN ANSWER OF PEACE?"
            Truly, as Joseph had passed through all the severity of the processings, God had taken all of the FIGHT OUT OF HIM, and instilled a sense of His true peace. Furthermore, it is obvious that Joseph had come into a revelation on the true nature of his God ― that He is a GOD OF PEACE. For sure, it takes some deep purgings and removal of the carnal traditions of man, a purging out of the error and false doctrines that we have been programmed with by the religious institutions of Babylon, until we are able to see, at least a glimpse, of the mercies of God to man ― a fact that "ALL FLESH shall see the salvation of God." [Luke 3:6].
            "Joseph, who was sold for a servant: whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him." [Psalm 105:17-19]. We cannot fully identify with all that he went through in his private experience and testing ―but we can identify with the phrase "The Word of the Lord tried him." For how often have we also held a portion of the vision in our own heart, and then watched as all outward circumstances seemingly went contrary to that inner vision. But it is for one specific purpose, to bring us into a revelation of our God, yea, that our God is a GOD OF PEACE. And His answer to all of earth's turmoil is that in due time HIS PEACE shall fill the earth.
            "Having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." [Colossians 1:20].
            A reconciliation so complete, so total, that it embraces everything in earth, and everything in heaven. As noted in our previous chapter, Jesus Christ, as the Divine Mediator, brought both realms together again, and HE IS OUR PEACE. And HE will reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. True, "But now we see not yet all things put under Him. BUT WE SEE JESUS..." [Hebrews 2:8-9].
           What do we see in Jesus? A total victory! Glorious peace! Paul wrote to the Colossians, (2:15), that "Having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Literally, the text reads, "IN HIM-SELF." He gained the total victory in Himself. Heaven and earth, Deity and humanity were reconciled in the MAN Christ Jesus. He brought the two realms together, fused them into ONE NEW MAN, so making PEACE.
            Now He comes to dwell within us by His Spirit, to possess us, that He might bring forth this same reconciliation victory in us, to be our Peace. Thus, "IN CHRIST shall all be made alive. Every man in his own order." [1 Corinthians 15:22-23]. Order after order, ever increasing, reaching out to embrace the whole, for God so loved the world, He has an answer of peace for the whole world.
            "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, THOUGHTS OF PEACE, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." [Jeremiah 29:11].
            Rotherham: "For I know the plans which I am planning for you, declareth Yahweh, plans of welfare, and not of calamity, to give you a future and a hope."
            Far too often men have imputed their thoughts to God, trying to put words into His mouth which are not there, rather than finding out what truly are His thoughts toward men. And we do well to remember. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." [Isaiah 55:8-9].
            Man is so prone to lash out, speak revenge, cruel words, barbed retorts, but the more we become one in His nature, the more we will have His answer of peace for the world.
            The eye of the Lord is upon all the earth, and He is attentive to the groaning of creation, therefore His response is OF PEACE. And it is to this end that HE is now preparing a FIRST FRUITS of His new creation species, who being ''as He is" will become His peacemakers in the earth.
            "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them …My tabernacle shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people." [Ezekie137:26-27]. This is in the same chapter that begins with Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones. "Can these bones live?" These who have died under the law, by the sword, brought to what seems a dismal end, can they live? The answer came ringing loud and clear from our GOD OF PEACE. Not only did He go on to promise that He would "open your graves," but He would also "put My Spirit in you, and ye shall live," and then provides an everlasting covenant of peace with them, to the extent that HE Himself would tabernacle among them, to maintain their peace, sustain their righteousness, and be their victory. Whatever purgings which are necessary will be made, but the end is PEACE!
            "Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt." [Isaiah 57:19-20].
            Peace to those AFAR OFF, and to them that are near. I WILL HEAL THEM! This marvellous promise sounds so wonderful" But what shall we do with these current conditions? The wicked are like a troubled sea, forever spewing up mire and dirt ―the filthiness of the flesh. Do we speak about peace, and end up talking about the wicked? Is this the final answer? Good and evil to co-exist throughout eternity? NEVER! The answer is ultimately PEACE!
            "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire." [Revelation 15:2]. Aha! Now the process is on! and when the fire has fully done its purging work that sea will become as glass. The roar, the tumult, the noisy, miry surf, will all be quieted and purged. BEHAVED AND QUIETED!
            Then, "I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was NO MORE SEA." [Revelation 21:1].
           All the inner tumults of man will be quieted. In the new creation is the fulness of peace. Every creature of the sea of humanity will be brought into the new creation, into that higher dimension of His life, where there is NO MORE SEA. There will not be afar-off corner anywhere in God's universe where there is a little "troubled sea." HE will make ALL things new! His final answer is one of PEACE. All wickedness, all rebellion, all strife will have been dealt with, having been "mingled with fire," and HIS FIRE will restore all things to their original state of purity in Him. All things reconciled, so making peace.
            Certainly it is necessary for now that "Judgment dwell in the wilderness," for there must be those correctional chastenings which set to rights all of the waywardness of man. Then shall "righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." When shall all of this be fulfilled? When "the Spirit be poured upon us from on high… [Isaiah 32:15-17].
            Thank God for that promise, "I will pour out My Spirit upon ALL FLESH." [Joel 2:28].
            For then, "ALL thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children." [Isaiah 54:13].
            Truly, God has an answer of peace for all creation, HE will teach it to every man, until all shall experientially know of its reality. And they who shall, "in His stead," become His messengers to the nations, they shall declare this message of peace to all men.
            "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that PUBLISHETH PEACE; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth." [Isaiah 52:7].
            Herein is the conclusion of the matter: They who are in a covenant relationship with Christ, to live and breathe as one, fully possessed by Him, fully reconciled internally, with every desire purified, so that they express the nature and character of Christ, as living ambassadors will become EXPRESSERS OF HIS PEACE. How beautiful are these peacemakers!

How long the earth has known war,
The clamor, bick'ring, striving for
The things of self, as passions roar,
While envy, hate, pierce to the core
 
And when by struggle men are spent,
Their lofty dreams by fear are rent,
Their very bodies torn and bent,
No peace in their imprisonment.
 
Peace ―'tis such a calming, restful word,
And yet so seldom is it heard.
It seems illusive as a bird.
Longings for peace are being stirred.
 
Full well the Lord knows of this cry,
The God of peace is standing by,
HE is that bountiful supply,
But first He now must purify.
 
Purify ―till righteousness
In Him alone we shall confess.
And to His will we answer 'yes,'
That He our life might fully bless.
 
And when His peace shall reign within,
The fruitage of His discipline,
As peacemakers, we will begin
To share that peace, and vict'ry win.
 
The God of love and peace is He,
The answer to earth's misery.
Praise God for this vision we see,
Where heav'n and earth in us agree.
 
For He shall reconcile all things,
Until thy soul with rapture sings.
Removing all sin's bitter stings,
Message of peace, His Word now brings.
 

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(1)  Prinzing, Ray and Doris. WHISPERS OF EXPRESSING HIS LIFE. (now out of print), Boise, Idaho 83705}

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