Historians describe a 200-year span of peace in the Roman Empire, between 27 BC to around AD 180, as the “Pax Romana” (latin for “Roman Peace”). During that time, there were fewer civil wars, stronger laws, and a strong military (thus fewer wars). Caesar Augustus began this period of rule, so it is sometimes called “Pax Augustus.” Using propaganda and binding his military generals together, Augustus persuasively convinced Romans that the wealth and prosperity of peace would be greater than the potential wealth and honor achieved through war.
Today, some modern analysts wonder, in spite of world turmoil and the fluctuating market, if we are entering a similar time of peace in the world. Charles Payne reflects on Steven Pinker’s views in a “WStreet Market Commentary” (1-27-2012).
“Believe it or not, this might be the most peaceful period in the history of the planet. It's all laid out in the latest from Steven Pinker, Harvard psychologist, and author of ‘The Blank Slate,’ that shook up generally accepted norms about human behavior. In ‘The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined,’ Pinker uses mounds of statistical evidence to first prove violence is down significantly from earlier ages but also reasons for this miraculous turn of events.
“Each night we are greeted with horrific news of senseless crime, more often than not within our own community, but when that's not available, the media always has an atrocity from somewhere on the planet. Songs of violence and the quest for peace and justice are always on the airwaves with megahits in the past from the Eagles, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Jackson Browne, Peter Paul and Mary, U2, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, John Meyers, Jimmy Hendrix, Michael Jackson and Bob Marley—to name a few. Most of the time the lyrics, like those from the Black Eyed Peas ‘Where is the love,’ point to a world self-destructing in senseless and hopeless violence. The answer to that question might be that love is all around us ... or at least as much love as there has ever been before.” [1]
Pinker believes this “amazing peace” in the world comes from “smarter people.” He thinks people are getting smarter and with that comes a greater move to turn “swords into plowshares.” Payne likes the formula “Smarts + Peace = Prosperity.”
But what does the Bible say about the times in which we live? Are we truly moving toward a great time of peace? Notice these warnings from Christ: “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares” (Luke 21:34). “But as the days of [Noah] were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:37). The Bible predicts “Iniquity shall abound” and “because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12).
Are we getting smarter on planet Earth? Is true love all around us? It might appear so in some ways, but in other lines (morality and following God’s law) we seem to be flunking. An apparent time of peace (see Jeremiah 6:14) will catch many off guard. Jesus warns, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44). You can learn more about preparing for Christ’s soon return by attending one of our upcoming prophecy seminars listed on this page. Some day the Bible tells us there will be a miraculous turn of events. Jesus will return and bring peace, but not until sin is destroyed forever.
What do you think?