Yes — we should pray for the peace of Jerusalem because, as Les Feldick teaches, this prayer is really a request for Christ's return as the Prince of Peace.
Psalm 122:6 instructs us to 'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.' Les explains that Jerusalem will have no peace until the Prince of Peace is back in the city, so praying for Jerusalem's peace is essentially praying 'Lord come quickly.' When Christ returns, He will end Gentile domination of Jerusalem and establish an eternal, righteous reign of peace on David's throne.
Psalm 122:6 — This is the direct Scriptural command to pray for Jerusalem's peace, which Les uses as the basis for the question.
Isaiah 9:6 — This verse identifies the coming Son and King who will carry the government and is called the Prince of Peace.
Zechariah 8:22 — This verse describes the future day when strong Gentile nations will come to Jerusalem to pray before the LORD, showing the peace that will come when Christ rules.
Psalm 122:6 gives the direct instruction: 'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.' Isaiah 9:6-7 points to the coming Son who will carry the government: '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.' The same passage promises that '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.' Zechariah 8 also describes the day when 'many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.' Scripture itself, therefore, ties Jerusalem's peace to the coming reign of the promised King.
Les Feldick teaches that when you pray for the peace of Jerusalem, you are praying for the Prince of Peace to come. Jerusalem will have no peace until Christ is back in Jerusalem, so this prayer is effectively a prayer for the Lord's return. Les points out that Jerusalem has never had real peace and that human peace efforts, including Middle East negotiations, will not succeed. The Antichrist will eventually bring a seven-year peace treaty to Israel, but lasting peace only comes when Christ returns, ends Gentile domination of the city, and establishes His kingdom on David's throne.
Les directly connects the instruction to pray for Jerusalem's peace with the Lord's return. He says, "You pray for the Lord's coming, because Jerusalem will have no peace until the Prince of Peace is back in Jerusalem. So when you pray for the peace of Jerusalem, you're praying, 'Lord come quickly,' as John does in Revelation." He also explains that this prayer asks the Lord to bring "this horrible age of the curse to an end."
Isaiah 9:6-7 describes the son given to Israel: "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." The same passage says "of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David." Les highlights this prophecy as being addressed to the nation of Israel and pointing to the coming King.
According to Les, yes — but not until Christ returns. He says no amount of peace talks in Madrid, Washington, or anywhere else will bring peace to Jerusalem. Christ's return will end the Gentile domination of the city. In those days, as Zechariah describes, strong nations will come to Jerusalem to pray before the LORD, and Christ will be ruling in Jerusalem with His kingdom set up.
Les observes that presidents keep trying to bring peace to the Middle East, but Jerusalem remains "a stone of stumbling." He says the world thinks peace talks and the United Nations will solve everything, yet there will be no peace until the Prince of Peace comes. In fact, the Antichrist will finally bring a seven-year peace treaty to Israel and the Middle East — but that is not the true peace Jerusalem awaits.
Isaiah 9:6 — The Prophecy of the King
Les introduces Isaiah 9:6 as a prophecy to Israel: a child is born, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulder, identifying the coming King.
Praying for the Lord's Coming
Les directly links Psalm's prayer for Jerusalem's peace to praying for the Lord's return, since Jerusalem will have no peace until the Prince of Peace is back.
Jerusalem's Peace Awaits the Prince of Peace
Les answers the question by explaining that praying for Jerusalem's peace is praying for the Prince of Peace to come and end the age of the curse.
Prayer for the Lord's Return
Les repeats that the Psalms instruct us to pray for Jerusalem's peace, and this is a prayer for the Lord's return, which will end Gentile domination of Jerusalem.
Failed Human Peace Efforts
Les notes that presidents keep trying to bring peace to the Middle East, but Jerusalem is a stone of stumbling; the Antichrist will ultimately make a seven-year peace treaty.
No Peace Until the Prince of Peace Returns
Les teaches that no amount of human peace talks will bring peace to Jerusalem until the Prince of Peace returns.
Biblical Peace Means More Than No War
Les explains that biblical peace is more than the absence of war; it is the whole sphere of good things God will pour out when Christ is King, and His government and peace will have no end.
Gentile Nations Coming to Jerusalem
Les uses Zechariah to show that when Christ rules in Jerusalem, many people and strong nations will come to Jerusalem to pray before the LORD.
Psalm 122:6: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
This is the direct Scriptural command to pray for Jerusalem's peace, which Les refers to when he says it is a prayer for the Lord's coming.
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.
This verse identifies the coming King who will carry the government and is called the Prince of 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 shows that Jerusalem's lasting peace is tied to Christ's endless, righteous reign on David's throne.
Zechariah 8:22: Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
This verse describes the future kingdom age when Gentile nations will come to Jerusalem to pray, showing the peace that Christ's reign will bring.
According to Les Feldick, it means praying for the Prince of Peace to return. Jerusalem will have no peace until Christ is back in the city, so this prayer is essentially a prayer for the Lord's coming.
Les points out that Jerusalem has not had peace and human peace talks continue to fail. True biblical peace is more than the absence of war; it is everything God will pour out when Christ is King. That can only happen when the Prince of Peace reigns.
Les says the Antichrist will finally bring a seven-year peace treaty to Israel and the Middle East. However, that is not the true peace of Jerusalem in the biblical sense; lasting peace awaits Christ's reign on David's throne.
Watch the Teaching: Is Jesus God? The Prophecies of the Coming King Explained