There has been A LOT of talk about peace lately. The year 2025 opened with President Trump stating ‘My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker‘ during his inauguration speech. The newly elected Pope themed his first international trip ‘Blessed are the peacemakers‘ while in Turkey and Lebanon.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Matthew 5:9
In the Bible, there are the peacemakers spoken of by Jesus. But, there are also those who do not know the way of peace.
“Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goes therein shall not know peace.”
Isaiah 59:7-8
Let’s discern if these leaders are peacemakers serving God or going in ways that will never bring peace.
“Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.”
Malachi 3:18
President of Peace
From the start of Trump’s 2nd term, the President has made peace and his self-proclaimed ‘peacemaker’ status a major topic of his presidency. He claims to have ended multiple wars, has anointed himself as the ‘President of Peace’ and was just recently honored when the US ‘Institute of Peace’ was renamed the ‘Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.’ To his disappointment, he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet, shed no tears, he was recently awarded the inaugural FIFA (Federation Internationale des Associations de Football) peace prize. Trump has been called the most powerful man in the world and he is focused on peace! The world should be a very peaceful place!
“…they have seduced My people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace…”
Ezekiel 13:10
Roman Warfare
With all that, in what way does the US strive to achieve peace? Through strength. By ‘strength’ they specifically mean military strength. A buildup of military arms and military action is a US policy justified as a means to accomplish peace.
Trump did not come up with this strategy. In fact, historians have traced the origins back to Roman Emperor Hadrian and point to Hadrian’s Wall as the manifestation of the policy of preparing for war in order to have peace. In the 4th century a Latin phrase that means ‘Therefore, whoever desires peace, let him prepare for war’ was written in the book De Re Militari, which translates to ‘Concerning Military Matters.’ This book documents Roman warfare and the military principles of the Roman Empire.
The Roman Empire claimed to have a period of ‘Roman peace’ or Pax Romana. But the Roman period of peace, as this article points out, was not ‘an absence of war, but as a rare situation which existed when all opponents had been beaten down and lost the ability to resist.’ They achieved that rare situation with war and oppression. How peaceful! The US is continuing the ways of the Roman Empire!
‘Peace Through Strength’
In the 1930’s ‘Peace through strength and unity in our empire’ was a slogan of the soon-to-be Prime Minister of the UK, Neville Chamberlain. He was looking to justify a military arms buildup with the reported intent of preventing World War II. Obviously, whether or not that was the intent, it failed. After Britain entered the war, isolationists in the US took to the phrase ‘Peace through Strength.’ The Assistant Secretary of War broadcast a Christmas message in 1939, before the US entered the war, with the keynote topic of ‘peace through armed strength.’ It is really no surprise that a military buildup led to war. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When a military expands, wars continue and the global arms trade flourishes.
From World War II to the present day, ‘Peace through strength‘ has been used by many US Presidents and their advisors, regardless of which party they associate with, to justify military arms buildup and military action. Franklin Roosevelt, Truman, Nixon and Ford all promoted this strategy. Ronald Reagan elevated this strategy to ‘one of the mainstays of his foreign policy’ and with that directive, modernized and increased the size of the US military. The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier has ‘Peace Through Strength‘ as the ship’s official motto.
Military-Industrial Complex
Both Bush Presidents followed in Reagan’s footsteps expanding the military, continuing arms buildup and starting wars such as the hazily defined War on Terror. Clinton, Obama and Biden may not have used the phrase directly after it became closely associated with the Republican Presidents, but they certainly continued military activities and arms sales around the world. The Military-Industrial complex is in full control of the US and the world. And that leads us back to Trump, the self proclaimed President of Peace. He is modeling his presidency after Reagan by bringing the ‘Peace through Strength‘ theory back into the spotlight as a primary policy.
“The President gave us a clear mission: achieve Peace through Strength. We will do this in three ways – by restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military and reestablishing deterrence.”
Secretary Hegseth’s Message to the Force – January 25, 2025
American Interests First
Notably, the arms buildup is not just within the US, but also through arms sales from the US to areas around the world. Trump ran for president on an ‘America First’ platform which many understood would be a draw down in oversees military activities. What has manifested is an ‘American Interests First’ agenda. Many of those interests in oil, rare earth minerals and control of governments are oversees in countries such as Israel, Ukraine, South America, Taiwan, Somalia and Nigeria. The newly named Department of War has expanded oversees military activities, maintained the US position as the #1 exporter of weapons and requested a record breaking $1Trillion for the military in 2026. The US spends more on it’s military and weapons than the next ten countries combined.
The Roman warfare strategy continues, and yet, there is no peace on earth.
“There is no king (ruler/government) saved by the multitude of an host (army/military): a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse (armored for war) is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. …Our soul waits for the LORD: He is our help and our shield.”
Psalm 33:16-20
Blessed are the Peacemakers
Speaking of Romans, next let’s take a look at the Roman Catholic Church. The new Pope’s first oversees trip was centered around the theme ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers.’ At every stop and in every speech he spoke about peace. Below is a short clip from his speech in Lebanon, a country experiencing airstrikes on an almost daily basis.
“We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!”
Jeremiah 8:15
World leaders and civilians alike look to the Roman Catholic Church for spiritual guidance and the path to peace. What is their guidance, their way to peace?
Just War Theory
The ‘just war’ theory is credited to Saint Augustine who lived in the 4th and 5th century AD. His ideas can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks and before them, the Egyptians. Essentially, the theory of a ‘just war‘ defines the requirements for when it is acceptable to start a war and how to fight the war. A ‘just war’ or a ‘righteous war’ are terms you will hear from governments, politicians and priests to this very day.
The Catholic Catechism defines a just war but, as with most of the Catechism, there is not a single reference to scripture to provide a basis for the theory.
The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 2309, 1994 Edition by Joseph Ratzinger
– the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave and certain;
– all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
– there must be serious prospects of success;
– the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.
These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the “just war” doctrine.
The third requirement to start a war ‘there must be serious prospects of success’ has also been summarized as ‘the ultimate goal of just war must be to establish peace.’ Ah ha! This is just another way of promoting ‘peace through strength’ as an acceptable path or way to peace.
The Ends Justify the Means
Hand-in-hand with the ‘just war’ theory and ‘peace through strength’ is the idea that ‘the ends justify the means.’ All of these ideas are Roman Catholic. None of these ideas are from God! Paul even said damnation was just for those who say ‘Let us do evil, that good may come‘ in Romans 3:8. He continues:
“There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way… there is none that does good, no, not one… Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known.”
Romans 3:11-17
The Roman Catholic doctrine is used to this day to justify wars. In addition, the Roman Catholic Church has a long history of starting their own wars and walking hand-in-hand with warmongers around the world.
Catholic Wars
Catholic leaders have personally initiated conflicts such as the Roman led crusades and inquisitions. They also gave approval for governments to conquer people and lands in the name of and for the Pope. The Spanish invasion of South America and Portugal’s invasion of Africa were justified as a means of spreading the Catholic version of Christianity. You know, the one with weapons, greed, oppression and pedophilia.
In more recent history, Pius XII supported the Ustashi, made his concordat with Hitler and appeased Mussolini during World War II. In South America, an anti-communist movement led to the dirty wars that saw Catholic Priests justifying Catholic dictators killing Catholic and non-catholic dissidents alike.
“When Archbishop Laghi was posted to Argentina in the 1970s the military terror was at its height… In 1976 during the early months of the military dictatorship he gave a speech to the army in which he quoted the Catholic Church’s just war theory and used it to sanction the military campaign against dissent. Hardly any of the Argentinian bishops denounced the daily human rights violations. A number of priests accompanied tortured prisoners on their last journey, blessing them and giving them last rites before their handcuffed bodies were tossed out of military helicopters into the South Atlantic. At least 30,000 ‘enemies of the state’ were killed by the junta between 1976 and 1983. This was the same junta that Pope John Paul II visited in 1982… “
The Power and the Glory – Inside the Dark Heart of John Paul II’s Vatican by D. Yallop, pages 175-176
Spelly’s War – Vietnam
Back in the US, Cardinal Spellman was over the New York Archdiocese during the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. He has been referred to as the ‘American Pope’ due to his significant influence over U.S. Catholics and politicians. As a staunch anti-communist, he is credited with selling the Vietnam War to Americans by framing the war as a battle of Catholics against Communists.
“The Cardinal declared that Vietnam was vital to the preservation of the American way of life and Catholicism. In doing so, Spellman helped make the possibility of direct American involvement in Vietnam not only acceptable but desirable to millions of Americans.”
The American Pope – The Life and Times of Francis Cardinal Spellman by John Cooney, page 239
As the Apostolic Vicar for the US armed forces and the most influential American Cardinal at the time he came to be the vanguard of support for the Vietnam War. A 1942 song written after the Pearl Harbor attack ‘Praise the Lord and pass the Ammunition’ inspired this poster of Cardinal Spellman during the Vietnam War. The war even came to be known as ‘Spelly’s War’ as he blessed weapons to be used for ‘Christ’s War.’
While visiting Vietnam as the Apostolic Vicar for the U.S. Armed Forces, Cardinal Spellman paraphrased Stephen Decatur, a US Navy officer, and said ‘My country, may it always be right. Right or wrong, my country!‘
A Catholic Cardinal tells troops to defend their country no matter if it is right or wrong!?! The Catholic Church has missed the mark, contradicting Jesus. Good can not come from evil! In fact, that is how Jesus said you will be able to tell who is righteous and who is corrupt or evil.
“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in Heaven.”
Matthew 7:18-21
The Catholic Catechism requires Catholics to defend the nation to which they belong. As Spellman clarified above, that country does not have to be right or righteous!
“Public authorities, in this case, have the right and duty to impose on citizens the obligations necessary for national defense.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 2310, 1994 Edition by Joseph Ratzinger
Those who are sworn to serve their country in the armed forces are servants of the security and freedom of nations. If they carry out their duty honorably, they truly contribute to the common good of the nation and the maintenance of peace.”
There is no clarification on what solders are to do if two Catholic countries are fighting each other.
In Her was Found All that were Slain
When it comes to war and peace, the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church is that war is an acceptable means to peace. Therefore, she is responsible for not just the wars she started, but also those who use her reasoning to justify evil.
The Roman Catholic Church has fulfilled this prophecy found in the Book of Revelation.
“And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation/dwelling place of demons, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird (Cardinals). For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings/rulers of the earth have committed fornication (they are in bed/league) with her… And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints/holy, and of all that were slain upon the earth.”
Revelation 18:1-3, 24
The Wine is Her Ways
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty, (powerful/tyrants) drunk of wine*, and men of strength, mingling strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!”
Isaiah 5:20-23
That strong drink and wine* spoken of in Isaiah 5 above and Revelation 18 is not alcohol from a bottle. The wine is the teachings and ways of the wicked that has intoxicated the leaders of the world.
“For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them… Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.”
Deuteronomy 32:28, 33
“… And every man has done that which seemed right in his eyes and has chosen the stubbornness of his heart. They have not kept apart from the people (and their sin) and have willfully rebelled by walking in the ways of the wicked of whom God said, Their wine is the venom of serpents, the cruel poison (or head) of asps (Deu 32:33). The serpents are the kings/rulers of the peoples and their wine is their ways…”
Damascus Document 3:18-19 from the Dead Sea Scrolls
The ways of the Roman Catholic Church and governments that follow her ways, such as the United States, will not lead to peace.
“Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goes therein shall not know peace.”
Isaiah 59:7-8
“But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.”
Isaiah 57:20-21
Learn War no More!
“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it… and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
Micah 4:1,3 & Isaiah 2:2-4
God’s people learn war no more!
Michael, the Chief Messenger has the same message for you.
“I must warn you that there is a command from the Most High that all the Earth is to stop doing the works of this world and stand still – immediately! You must cease and desist from all wars, violence, fraud and pagan religious practices. You have been misled by your rulers, both secular and religious. There is none that do good, no not one.”
Michael – The Chief Messenger
The Work of Righteousness is Peace
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal/physical, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations (like the existence of a ‘just war’), and every high thing (leader) that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And My People shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”
Isaiah 32:17-18
Meek Inherit the Earth in Peace
“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not yourself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yes, you shall diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
Psalm 37:8-11
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Matthew 5:5-9
The Righteous Peacemakers
Those who turn to God, learn His Ways and keep His Commandments correctly, are the meek and humble. They follow God’s Will, not their own, making them the Children of God. Their works are righteous and lead to peace! The peacemakers are the Children of God who know that a wicked path does not lead to righteousness.
“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the Will of my Father which is in Heaven.”
Matthew 7:18-21