“I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the war horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and he shall speak peace to the nations;
his rule shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.”
– Zechariah 9:10
The verse before this one was famously fulfilled when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey on Palm Sunday. This verse is a promise of the comprehensive world peace we will one day enjoy after Christ’s return. One day, Messiah will return and the weapons and equipment of war: chariots, horses, and bows, tanks, fighters, and guns will no longer be needed or wanted.
Nations will be at peace under the world-wide rule of King Jesus. This is a glorious and encouraging reminder that the present world situation and all the darkness, violence, war, terrorism, fear, refugees, and suffering we see around us is temporary. One day, we will see the final and forever fulfillment of the angel’s proclamation of peace on earth on the night Jesus was born.
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace at Christmas, we look ahead to the day He will make peace across the entire earth. We look ahead with eager anticipation to creation as it was meant to be and the enjoyment of eternity in Christ’s peaceful presence and reign.