I wanted to resurrect this thread because I did more study on the issue of the proclamation of “peace and security” along with the 2022 Convention info on the JW app. This scripture has been rattling around in my brain for years with no real satisfaction of clear understanding until now. And, I admit I am still speculating, however, I do feel in my own mind we are going to be seeing this “cry” very soon with the 2022 Convention.
We have the 2022 Convention with the theme “Pursue Peace!” Friday’s main scripture is Psalm 29:11: “Jehovah will give strength to his people. Jehovah will bless his people with peace”. On Saturday there is a video on “How Our Brothers Are Enjoying Peace Despite Opposition, Illness, Economic Problems and Natural Disasters”. Sunday’s drama is “Jehovah Guides Us in the Way of Peace”. The keynote address is “Universal Peace is Sure To Come!” And, the original song for the convention is “Peace at Last!”. This is what I see as the backdrop to Jehovah impending judgment on the house of God and it will not be peaceful.
Here is the scripture as per the NWT.
1 Thessalonians 5:3-5 “Whenever it is that THEY are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on THEM, just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and THEY will by no means escape. But you, brothers, you are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you as it would thieves, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We belong neither to night nor to darkness.”
My question is who is THEY? It is the same “they” that is inescapably destroyed. The Watchtower itself has said in past publications that the cry of peace and security could be a global belief that Satan’s system has achieved worldwide peace but they have also said we don’t know for sure and it could even be a cry to express their desire for peace and security. In my mind there are only 3 possible scenarios. The first is that the world under Satan’s control will think they have achieved “peace and security” and then Jehovah will destroy all of Satan’s system. This does not make sense to me for 2 reasons. Reason “A”, the description of the 7th dual world power (US/Britain) is the clay and iron. It does not stick together so how could they have a unified cry of peace and security? Reason “B” is that even if the dual world power did stick together temporarily, it receives a death stroke but is then revived so it could not be the “they” since “they” suffer inescapable and instant destruction.
The second scenario is that the 8th King of Revelation (global rulership) proclaims “peace and security”, perhaps after they kill the symbolic 2 witnesses and/or after Babylon the Great is destroyed. Either way, the 8th King is fully destroyed at Armageddon. This still does not fit because Paul was not talking about Armageddon. He was talking about Jesus 2nd coming and he was strengthening the brothers who were dealing with persecution from their own “countrymen”. He even describes it as coming as a “thief in the night” which is used, almost exclusively, to describe Jesus’ 2nd coming.
The third and most logical fulfillment (in my opinion) is to follow the pattern set in scripture. There are many scriptural examples of times past when there were false cries of “peace and security”. It was always the religious leaders who as Jeremiah 8:11 says they were trying to heal the breakdown of the daughter of my people lightly. So, it was to appease Jehovah’s worshippers when they NEEDED to repent. These religious leaders were saying this message was from Jehovah but it was not.
So, now, God’s people, Jehovah’s Witnesses are once again in a place when they need to repent. For one reason, they have pushed Satan’s vaccine and it has KILLED brothers and sisters and disabled too many. Think of the account in Judges 19 and 20. Jehovah authorized war against the tribe of Benjamin over the rape and death of one concubine. He does not allow this type of unfaithfulness to go unpunished. Zechariah 11:4-5: “This is what Jehovah my God says, ‘Shepherd the flock meant for the slaughter, whose buyers slaughter them and are not held guilty. And those who sell them say, “May Jehovah be praised, for I will become rich.” And their shepherds have no compassion for them.’”
Here is a list of most, but not all, of the scriptures dealing with false peace.
Jeremiah 6:14: “And they try to heal the breakdown of my people lightly, saying, ‘There is peace! There is peace!’ When there is no peace.”
Jeremiah 8:11: “And they try to heal the breakdown of the daughter of my people lightly, saying, “There is peace! There is peace!” When there is no peace.”
Jeremiah 8:15: “There was a hope for peace, but nothing good came, For a time of healing, but there is terror!”
Jeremiah 9:8: “Their tongue is a deadly arrow that speaks deception. With his mouth a person speaks of peace to his neighbor, But inside he lays an ambush.”
Jeremiah 14:13: “At this I said: “Alas, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah! Here the prophets are saying to them, ‘You will not see the sword, and famine will not come upon you, but I will give you true peace in this place.’”
Jeremiah 14:19: “Have you completely rejected Judah, or have you abhorred Zion? Why have you struck us, so that there is no healing for us? There was a hope for peace, but nothing good came, For a time of healing, but there is terror!”
Jeremiah 23:16-17: “This is what Jehovah of armies says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are deluding you. The vision they speak is from their own heart, Not from the mouth of Jehovah. They are saying again and again to those who disrespect me, ‘Jehovah has said: “You will enjoy peace.”’ And to everyone who follows his own stubborn heart they say, ‘No calamity will come upon you.’”
Ezekiel 13:10: “All of this is because they have led my people astray by saying, “There is peace!” when there is no peace. When a flimsy partition wall is built, they are plastering it with whitewash.’”
Ezekiel 13:16: “The prophets of Israel are gone, those who prophesy to Jerusalem and who see visions of peace for her, when there is no peace,”’ declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.”
Micah 3:5: “This is what Jehovah says against the prophets who are leading my people astray, Who proclaim ‘Peace!’ while they bite with their teeth But who declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths:”
Psalm 28:3: “Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those practicing what is hurtful, Those who are speaking words of peace with their fellow man while evil is in their hearts.”
