Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is actually praying for the return of Christ, because Jerusalem will know no peace until the Prince of Peace returns.
Les Feldick teaches that the Psalm's instruction to pray for Jerusalem's peace is a prayer for the Lord's coming. Jerusalem has not been a city of peace for thousands of years, and human efforts — even the Antichrist's coming seven-year treaty — cannot produce true peace. The peace the world longs for will only come when the Prince of Peace returns to Jerusalem and establishes His Kingdom.
Psalm 122:6 — This is the direct biblical command to 'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,' which Les Feldick repeatedly identifies as the instruction that actually means praying for the Lord's return.
Isaiah 9:6 — It names the coming Messiah 'The Prince of Peace,' the One who must return before Jerusalem can ever know true peace.
Psalm 122:6 gives the direct command: 'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.' This is the instruction to pray for the peace of the city where God placed His name. Isaiah 9:6 reveals that the coming Son is named 'The Prince of Peace,' and Isaiah 9:7 promises of His Kingdom: 'Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.' Isaiah 11:6-9 describes the peace His reign brings to all creation: 'The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 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.' Zechariah 12:3 adds that Jerusalem will be 'a burdensome stone' for all the people of the earth in the day of the Lord.
Les Feldick teaches that when the Psalm instructs us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are actually praying for the Lord's coming. He points out that Jerusalem means 'city of peace,' yet it has not been a city of peace for thousands of years, and it will know no peace until the Prince of Peace is back in Jerusalem. As he says, when you pray for the peace of Jerusalem, you are praying, 'Lord, come quickly,' just as John does in Revelation. Les contrasts this with the world's approach to peace. The world understands peace as the absence of war, and leaders keep trying to bring peace to the Middle East — yet every president has stumbled over Jerusalem, the stone of stumbling. Les is clear that people can talk peace until they are blue in the face in Madrid, Washington, or anywhere else, but there will be no peace on this earth until the Prince of Peace comes. In fact, the Antichrist will finally be the one to bring a seven-year treaty of peace to Israel and the Middle East, and the world will think he is the mastermind — but that is not the true peace of Jerusalem. The true peace that the Prince of Peace brings, Les explains, is more than the absence of war — it is the whole sphere of good things that God is ready to pour out when Christ is King. The increase of His government and peace will have no end upon the throne of David, and even the animal kingdom will be transformed: the wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the kid, and every animal will be as tame as a household pet.
Les Feldick teaches that the Psalm's instruction to pray for the peace of Jerusalem is actually a prayer for the Lord's coming. Jerusalem will have no peace until the Prince of Peace is back in Jerusalem, so when you pray for the peace of Jerusalem you are praying, 'Lord, come quickly,' as John does in Revelation. As Les says, 'When you pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as Psalms instructs us, you pray for the Lord's return.'
The world understands peace as the absence of war, and Les agrees that is noble — but he insists there will be no peace until the Prince of Peace comes. Every president has stumbled over Jerusalem because Scripture says it will be a stone of stumbling. People can talk peace until they are blue in the face in Madrid, Washington, or anywhere else, but Jerusalem will have no peace until the Prince of Peace returns. Ultimately, Les notes, the Antichrist will be the one to bring a seven-year treaty of peace to Israel and the Middle East, and the world will think he is the mastermind — but that is a false peace.
Les teaches that peace in Scripture means more than the absence of war — it is the whole sphere of good things that God is ready to pour out, but He cannot pour them out until Christ is King. Isaiah promises that of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon His Kingdom. When Christ reigns, Les says, the animal kingdom will be transformed: the wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion will feed together, and every wild animal will be as tame as a household pet. There will be no hurting or destroying in God's holy mountain, and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
According to Les, the world's idea of peace is simply the absence of war, and that is noble. But biblical peace is far greater — it is the whole sphere of good things that God is ready to pour out, and He cannot pour them out until Christ becomes King. That is why no human negotiations, however well-intentioned, can bring the kind of peace that praying for Jerusalem is really asking for.
Peace in the Kingdom Reaches the Animal Creation
Les teaches that when Christ rules in His Kingdom, every wild animal will be as tame as a household pet — the wolf will dwell with the lamb and the leopard with the kid — showing the full scope of the peace that the Prince of Peace will bring to creation.
Praying for Jerusalem's Peace Is Praying 'Lord, Come Quickly'
Les directly answers the question: when the Psalm says to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, you are praying for the Lord's coming, because Jerusalem will have no peace until the Prince of Peace is back in Jerusalem.
The City of Peace Has Never Had Peace
Les explains that Jerusalem means 'city of peace' yet has not been one for thousands of years, which is why praying for its peace is actually praying for the Prince of Peace to return.
The Antichrist Brings a False Seven-Year Peace
Les shows that world leaders keep stumbling over Jerusalem, the stone of stumbling, and that the Antichrist will ultimately bring a seven-year treaty of peace — a false peace, not the peace we pray for.
Biblical Peace Is Everything God Pours Out When Christ Is King
Les teaches that biblical peace is the whole sphere of good things God will pour out when Christ is King, and that the increase of His government and peace will have no end upon the throne of David.
Praying for Jerusalem's Peace Is Praying for the Lord's Return
Les summarizes the answer in one sentence: 'When you pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as Psalms instructs us, you pray for the Lord's return.'
The World's Peace vs. the Prince of Peace
Les contrasts the world's 'absence of war' idea of peace with the truth that there will be no peace on earth until the Prince of Peace comes.
No Peace Talks Will Succeed Until the Prince of Peace Returns
Les teaches that no amount of peace talks — in Madrid, Washington, or anywhere else — will bring peace to Jerusalem until the Prince of Peace returns.
Psalm 122:6: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
This is the direct command that Les repeatedly points to when he says the Psalm instructs us to pray for Jerusalem's peace.
Isaiah 9:6: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
It identifies the coming Messiah as the Prince of Peace, whose return must precede Jerusalem's peace.
Isaiah 9:7: Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
This verse describes the endless peace of Christ's Kingdom, which Les says cannot be poured out until Christ is King.
Isaiah 11:6: The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
This pictures the transformation of the animal creation when the Prince of Peace reigns, a point Les emphasizes.
Isaiah 11:9: 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.
This describes the complete peace and safety of God's holy mountain — the Kingdom — that praying for Jerusalem's peace ultimately anticipates.
Zechariah 12:3: And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
This is the 'stone of stumbling' Les cites to explain why every president and world power fails to bring peace to Jerusalem.
Revelation 22:20: He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Les connects praying for Jerusalem's peace to John's prayer for the Lord to come quickly.
Yes. Les Feldick teaches that because Jerusalem will know no peace until the Prince of Peace is back in Jerusalem, when you pray for the peace of Jerusalem you are praying, 'Lord, come quickly,' just as John does in Revelation.
Les points out that Jerusalem means 'city of peace,' yet it has not been a city of peace for thousands of years and still is not today. The reason, he teaches, is that the Prince of Peace has not yet returned to Jerusalem.
No, according to Les. World leaders keep trying to bring peace to the Middle East — every president has stumbled over Jerusalem — but there will be no peace until the Prince of Peace returns. The Antichrist will eventually bring a seven-year treaty of peace, but that will not be the true peace of Jerusalem.
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