When They Say, “Peace and safety!” Sudden Destruction Comes

World War I had cost Britain one million of its citizens, and Britain was for a second time on the cusp of another war with Germany. In September 1938, the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, met with Hitler in Munich to sign a nonaggression pact.

On September 30, upon arriving back at 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s residence, he read a prepared statement on behalf of Britain and Germany. He famously proclaimed: “My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honor. I believe it is peace for our time.”

The speech would later seal Chamberlain’s reputation as the chief architect of appeasement. However, less than a year later, World War II erupted when Hitler's Germany invaded Poland.

We all want peace in our time!

Israel attacked Iran on June 13, 2025, targeted Iran's nuclear facilities, and killed top military leaders, officials and nuclear scientists. The invasion of Israel into Iran was called “Operation Rising Lion,” taken from the Bible verse in Numbers 23:24: "Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion.”

The United States set in motion its highly successful first U.S. offensive action in the Iran–Israel war, bombing three of Iran's key nuclear sites in an attack dubbed, “Operation Midnight Hammer.” After the highly successful mission, President Trump stated: “And in particular, God, I want to just say, we love you God, and we love our great military. Protect them. God bless the Middle East, God bless Israel, and God bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you.” We applaud President Trump for stating our love for and thanks to God, and asking for God to protect the military.

Trump gave the conflict between Israel and Iran a name, “12 Day War,” which hearkens back to the 1967 Mideast “Six Day War,” in which Israel fought a group of Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan and Syria. A ceasefire has subsequently been declared by President Trump, but time will reveal whether it will hold.

U.S. President Trump said, “This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”

Everybody wants peace, but 1 Thessalonians 5:3 warns those who prematurely declare peace: “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”

Albert Barnes Commentary makes a statement about this verse, “One of the most remarkable facts about the history of man is, that he takes no warning from his Maker.” Are we on the precipice of an ephemeral fleeting peace when war erupts again unexpectedly? Are we willing to heed a warning from God’s word?

Which way to peace?

Immediately after the United States bombed Iran, there was talk of the Mideast having peace. Peace became a hot topic. Some even suggested President Trump should be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Over the years, several U.S. presidents have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, including George W. Bush, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, but only four have received the high honor.

This award is to recognize an individual who has made a significant contribution to advancing peace, either through promoting democracy, human rights or nuclear disarmament, or by brokering peace between nations. However, the fact is, none understand the way to peace: “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. 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 59:7-8).

Perhaps this is a rhetorical question, but should a prize for peace be given to someone if they engage in war and fighting? Only in a world where carnal minds dominate does that make sense. Is giving an honor for making war the way which leads to peace?

Upon this earth, there are a number of countries which are formidable military powers which can not be defeated easily. All of them have pride in their weapons of warfare. Is building up war materials the way to peace? Yet all nations do it for their protection. The wise men of every country would agree that, in case of hostilities, a nation must be ready to take the offensive.

Peace through strength

"Peace through strength" is a phrase that suggests that military power can help preserve peace, and it has been used by practically every American president. It is an ancient phrase which was used by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, who ruled Rome for 21 years beginning in A.D. 117. One scholar has described the Roman Emperor Hadrian as having sought "peace through strength or, failing that, peace through threat."

Does it have to be this way? The apostle James cautioned the ten tribes of Israel scattered abroad: “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. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:1-3).

James stresses the reason Israel was often embroiled in war and fighting. It was based on their lusts and carnal desires to “get.” As long as ancient Israel kept God’s laws and looked to Him, they prospered in peace.

God promised peace and safety in the land

When Israel was fleeing from Egypt in the Exodus, fierce armies pursued them. They were trapped and defenseless on the shores of the Red Sea. They were afraid. Who was there to help them? “And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Standstill, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace’” (Exodus 14:13-14).

When Israel entered the land of Canaan, God told them how He would fight to secure the land for them: “And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you. I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land” (Exodus 23:28-30).

Imagine if you did not need to fight for yourself, but God guaranteed your protection! What if all nations on earth were protected this way? Walls would not be needed to protect nations from invaders. In the Millennium it will be just that kind of world. Isaiah 2:4 states: “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.”

What a wonderful world it will be when the implements of war will be transformed into farming equipment, and no nation will attack another. “War” will be a foreign term. In 2024, global military spending exceeded $2.7 trillion, driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions and wars in Europe and the Middle East. Interestingly, it is estimated the money it would take to end world hunger ranges from $7- to $265 billion per year. The United Nations feeds over 100 million hungry people each year. They need $7 billion dollars annually to deliver food to the millions facing famine.

Imagine what could be done if the trillions of dollars spent on warfare were dedicated to build up and beautify the entire world. That will happen in the coming Millennium when Jesus Christ and the saints will rule for a thousand years (Revelation 5:10; 20:6). Isaiah 35:1-2 reveals what will begin to happen at that time: "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing.”

This is the time of a wonderful world tomorrow when God will bring peace and prosperity to all. God speed the day! Request our free Bible study guide, "Christ's Reign on Earth: What It Will Be Like," for more information on this topic.