The UN at 80: Is World Peace a Lost Cause?

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Out of the ashes of World War II, the charter of this global dream of international collaboration was signed on June 26, 1945, but the organization did not officially come into existence until Oct. 24, 1945, after ratification of the five permanent members of the Security Council and a majority of the other signatories. The October date is marked annually as United Nations Day.

But as a recent Associated Press article assessed about the U.N. anniversary: “There’s little to celebrate. Its clout on the world stage is diminished. Facing major funding cuts from the United States and others, it has been forced to shed jobs and start tackling long-delayed reforms. Its longtime credo of ‘multilateralism’ is under siege. Its most powerful body, the Security Council, has been blocked from taking action to end the two major wars in Ukraine and Gaza. And as the latest conflict between Israel, Iran and the United States flared, it watched from the sidelines.

“Four generations after its founding, as it tries to chart a new path for its future, a question hangs over the institution and the nearly 150,000 people it employs and oversees: Can the United Nations remain relevant in an increasingly contentious and fragmented world? With its dream of collaboration drifting, can it even survive?” (Edith Lederer, “As It Turns 80 and Faces Dwindling Global Clout, Can the UN Survive?” June 25, 2025).

The overriding goal per the 1945 charter was “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” We have thankfully not yet seen a third world war. But wars still rage. And as the terrible war in Ukraine and other globally significant conflicts are being directly handled by the major powers of the world, the United Nations has seemed increasingly irrelevant. We saw its International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) repeatedly flouted in Iran. Worse still, we often sadly find the U.N.’s blue helmet “peacekeeping forces” not bringing peace but acting corruptly and abusively among populations meant to be helped. The U.N. does play a significant role in attempts to implement global governance, but that is beyond its purview and will only worsen the human condition.

These days, the United Nations appears to have devolved into a forum for issuing gripes against the state of Israel. Its International Court of Justice has even issued arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Sadly, the U.N. General Assembly is packed with enemies of Israel, including numerous human rights violators that have ironically sat on the U.N. Human Rights Council in judgment over others.

We should ask at this juncture: Given the corruption and failures of the United Nations over its history, is the hope of world peace on which it was founded ultimately revealed to be a pipe dream—one that could never really come to be? Or, despite fallible human institutions, can the world at last find true peace?

Swords to plowshares?

Outside the U.N. headquarters in New York, next to the East River, stands a famous bronze statue of a man beating his sword into a plowshare—a biblical, prophetic image from the books of Isaiah and Micah. Ironically, this statue was a gift from the totalitarian Soviet Union in 1959—an atheistic power that consequently put little stock in the Scriptures. There’s a hint in that of the way many have imagined peace can come—through human efforts. Worse still, the Soviet idea was that “peace” would come by the spread of communism throughout the world to bring everyone under the same totalitarian regime.

Across the street from the U.N. headquarters, on the city side, is the Isaiah Wall, in which the quote from Isaiah 2 is engraved. The dream here, as we’ll note shortly, is truly beyond mere human endeavor and remains unrealized. While “Swords to plowshares” has been a popular motto of the United Nations, has the organization even begun to recast the world’s implements of war into farming tools or other peaceful equipment? Is the world even close to peace? Sadly, no.

Again, while we’ve not yet seen a third world war, there have been many regional conflicts over the 80 years since the U.N. was founded—many with global consequences. The war in Ukraine alone has been devastating, with nearly 1.4 million casualties, including more than 300,000 deaths.

A Heritage Foundation commentary a few years ago began: “Former U.N. Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold once observed, ‘The United Nations was not created in order to bring us to heaven, but in order to save us from hell.’ Unfortunately, recent events have shown that neither goal is within its grasp” (Brett Schaefer, “Is the United Nations a Failure?” Sept. 20, 2022).

Sadly, this has long been the case. Jeane Kirkpatrick, who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Reagan administration, later lamented over the Balkan debacle of the mid 1990s regarding NATO and the U.N., stating that “a military alliance that serves no function will not survive for long, nor will a world organization that cannot protect peace” (“The U.N. Emasculation of NATO,” San Diego Union-Tribune, July 14, 1995).

Answers in global governance?

The general consensus still seems to be that, as in past assessment, “for all its weaknesses and chronic financial problems, the United Nations remains the only—and so the essential—global forum where many of the world’s gravest problems can be discussed and efforts made to manage them” (“Troubled Organization at the Age of 50,” Los Angeles Times, June 26, 1995).

The answer many people would seek is major reform. Yet what form would that take? What is basically wrong with the organization?

Many in the past have pointed to the problem of the U.N. being stymied by the will of member states. At the organization’s 50th anniversary 30 years ago, the Geneva Post noted that the U.N.’s failure in the Balkan crisis was “hardly surprising considering the fact that the drafters never worked out the paradox between collective security and individual state sovereignty” (reprinted in World Press Review, June 1995, emphasis added throughout).

According to the co-chairman of a congressionally appointed commission at that time on improving the U.N.’s effectiveness: “The initial concept was terribly, terribly flawed. It is, I suppose, theoretically possible to set up an institution that is somehow or other going to be better than the people who set it up . . .” (Charles Lichenstein, “U.N. Finds That Its Reputation Has Slumped,” The New York Times, June 25, 1995).

For such reasons, many seem to think the answers lie in stronger centralized world government. The U.N. even aspires to such a role in various ways. “Transforming global governance” is one of the areas it identifies as needing reform in its recent Pact for the Future, Global Digital Compact and Declarations on Future Generations (September 2024).

We saw previews in the U.N.’s World Health Organization (WHO) making bold forays into directing the response of many nations to the Covid pandemic—yet discovered that it was in various ways bowing to the manipulation of China. There are still attempts to gain control over other nations’ policies through agreements to WHO regulations, though the United States has withdrawn for now.

There have also been attempts through UNESCO (the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to implement media and online communication regulations to combat “misinformation” in building an “Internet of Trust”—a plan for global censorship. We see attempts to regulate national economies and conduct massive wealth transfer under the umbrella of U.N. climate change agreements—even imposing rules over the foods people eat. But still, compliance will fall to individual national enforcement.

There are, of course, more serious pushes for one-world government—as there have been for some time. The semblance of such a government is going to emerge at some point, and Bible prophecy reveals that it will be through the economic and religious might of the final European-centered revival of the Holy Roman Empire (Revelation 17)—though not every country on earth will be directly controlled by it politically.

Sadly, your Bible reveals that man’s last attempt at global government will be the cruelest and most totalitarian ever experienced—even worse than Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler. Human-led world government will never really work. Why? Essentially for the same reason the U.N. doesn’t work: people cannot construct an institution superior to themselves—and people have problems!

The ultimate solution

What is the true root cause of human conflicts? Jeane Kirkpatrick stated that “what is always lacking is a will to peace.”

For thousands of years, people have been saying, “‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14; Jeremiah 8:11). In the end time, the Bible reveals, “Surely their valiant ones shall cry outside, the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly” (Isaiah 33:7). That has often been true already, but later it is going to get far worse! Why? God answers, “The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace” (Isaiah 59:8).

Why do wars happen? The apostle James asked—and answered—the same question: “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war” (James 4:1-2).

The real cause of human conflict is the lack of submission and obedience to the Great God of the universe and His supreme law: “The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so” (Romans 8:7, Christian Standard Bible). It is impossible to obey God with a selfish mind. To find real peace, our attitude of mind must be drastically changed.

This important fact is even recognized in UNESCO’s constitution of 1945: “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.” But only God has the power to transform the human mind through the giving of His own Holy Spirit. Only by His Spirit can we be enabled to think like the loving Creator of all humanity and come to truly obey Him from the heart.

Swords into plowshares? Again, so many think that we are somehow going to bring this about by ourselves. Is this what the Bible teaches? Let’s look at the actual words of Isaiah 2:

“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills [referring to God’s Kingdom centered at Jerusalem then exalted above all nations, great and small]; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’

“For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; 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” (Isaiah 2:2-4; compare Micah 4:1-3).

When Jesus Christ returns, He is going to educate the world in His perfect law—the way of peace—and directly judge international disputes. There will be no war! “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9).

At Christ’s first coming, He came as a human being preaching the true gospel or “good news” message of ultimate peace in the coming Kingdom of God. Indeed, “the gospel of the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14) is also called “the gospel of peace” (Romans 10:15; Ephesians 6:15). With Christ’s rule over our lives today we must be striving toward that peace as much as depends on us (Romans 12:18). But we are not yet perfect, and we contend with others who do not strive for peace. In the words of Psalm 120:7, “I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.” Yet things will ultimately change.

At Christ’s second coming, He will return in all the power of the infinite God to establish His Kingdom forever: “For unto us a Child is born [Jesus at His first coming], unto us a Son is given; and [at His second coming] the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called . . . Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Yes, we will not bring this about ourselves! As Isaiah 26:12 says, “Lord, You will establish peace for us.” Nevertheless, we will have a part to play in submitting to God’s way by the power of His Holy Spirit. Peace, in fact, will not come “until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high . . . Then justice will dwell in the wilderness . . . The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places” (Isaiah 32:15-18). What an incredible and wonderful world to come!

No, the present United Nations with all its terrible problems is not the way to world peace. In fact, it may yet be used in waging war in collaboration with a future superpower that will make a grab at world domination (compare references to “all nations” in Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 18:3, Revelation 18:23). Bible prophecy states that “all nations” will actually attempt to stop the establishment of God’s Kingdom, fighting against Christ at His return (Joel 3:2). Thankfully, this joint human military effort will be thwarted. God’s Kingdom will come. Nothing can stop it!

A hope that endures

In all this, while man’s efforts to bring peace will collapse into total catastrophe, world peace is by no means a lost cause. In many ways, the United Nations has failed and will ultimately be left behind, but the dream of world peace it was intended to bring is not dead. The dream is not dead because the promises of God yet live. And these promises are of so much greater peace and joy than people have ever imagined (1 Corinthians 2:9; Romans 11:33).

The Hebrew shalom (peace) is more than just the absence of war. It entails being filled with something else—wholeness and contentment and assurance that all is well. And so it will be for the world at large.

It is upon the shoulders of Jesus Christ that successful world government will at last be established. He will never lack a will for peace. And since He is perfect, without sin and corruption, the governing institution that He establishes—the Kingdom of God—will shine with justice, equity, truth and peace.

Why not submit to the rule of that Kingdom now, so that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”? (Philippians 4:7). May His Kingdom come soon, and may it rule in your life today!

God’s Feasts: Commemorations of Future Events

As people around the world commemorate anniversaries like United Nations Day, so God’s people also commemorate significant events, yet ones that are far more important—the major steps in the Creator’s great plan. As The Encyclopaedia Britannica records: “The first Christians continued to observe the Jewish festivals [actually, God’s festivals, Leviticus 23:1-2], though in a new spirit, as commemorations of events which those festivals had foreshadowed” (11th edition, Vol. 8, p. 828). Leviticus 23 lists the enduring festivals of God—the weekly Sabbath and the annual festivals with God’s Holy Days.

The seventh-day Sabbath, each week from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, is a memorial of creation as well as a commemoration of the future world to come of peace and happiness. As the first six days of the week represent 6,000 years of man’s civilization, the seventh-day rest symbolizes the coming 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ, also called the Millennium, when His followers from this age will be raised to reign with Him (compare Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11; Hebrews 3-4; Revelation 20:4-6; and read our free study guide Sunset to Sunset: God’s Sabbath Rest to learn more).

Furthermore, each year we observe God’s annual festivals—those of late summer and fall in the northern hemisphere picturing the events surrounding the second coming of Christ. The Feast of Trumpets, called Rosh Hashanah by the Jews (September 23, 2025) represents the awesome return of Jesus Christ to the earth in power and glory at the culmination of a series of angelic trumpet blasts. At the seventh and last trumpet the dead in Christ will be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:50-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) and loud voices will declare, “The kingdom [or rule] of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15, CSB).

This is followed by the Day of Atonement (Hebrew Yom Kippur, October 2, 2025), which signifies the time that Satan the devil, the evil being who influences humanity against God and into war and conflict, will be banished and the world will begin to find peace and harmony through Christ.

We then move into the great celebration of the weeklong Feast of Tabernacles and the important Eighth Day that follows (October 7-14, 2025). This festival period represents the time of abundant blessing, spiritual harvest and world peace of the millennial reign of Christ and beyond. The joyous observance of these wonderful feast days affords a small foretaste of what’s to come.

The Bible explicitly states that all nations will keep the Feast of Tabernacles in that future age, even initially facing divine judgment for refusing to do so (Zechariah 14:16-19). Christ’s coming will not at first be peaceable, for He will be putting down the forces of the nations that make war with Him at His return and contending with stubborn resistance, taking firm control of the world for the good of all.

But soon after, the world will at last know peace.

For more about God’s commanded festivals, request or download our free study guide God’s Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind.