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THIS MAGAZINE, The Watchtower, honors Jehovah God, the Ruler of the universe. It comforts people with the good news that God’s heavenly Kingdom will soon end all wickedness and transform the earth into a paradise. It promotes faith in Jesus Christ, who died so that we might gain everlasting life and who is now ruling as King of God’s Kingdom. This magazine has been published continuously since 1879 and is nonpolitical. It adheres to the Bible as its authority.

In this magazine, the terms “warʺ and “conflictʺ refer to fighting between armed groups to achieve a political objective. The names of some of the individuals quoted have been changed.

SOLDIERS

CIVILIANS

War and violent conflict can break out in places currently at peace. Even those who are far from a conflict may suffer because the world is more interconnected than ever before. And the harm inflicted lasts long after the fighting ends. Consider some examples:

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  Food shortages. According to the World Food Programme, “conflict is still the biggest driver of hunger, with 70 percent of the world’s hungry people living in areas afflicted by war and violence.”

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  Physical and mental health problems. The threat of war and the insecurity that it brings can cause people to suffer stress and anxiety. Those who live in conflict zones are not only more likely to suffer physical harm but also to develop mental health problems. Yet, they often have limited access to medical services.

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  Forced displacement. As of September 2023, more than 114 million people worldwide had been forced to flee their homes, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. A major reason for this crisis is war and violent conflict.

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  Economic hardship. People often experience economic problems triggered by war, such as inflation. They may suffer when government resources are diverted away from services such as health care and education in order to fund military operations. And the cost of rebuilding after the devastation caused by war is enormous.

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  Environmental problems. People suffer when the natural resources they depend on are deliberately destroyed. Polluted water, air, and soil can cause long-term health problems, and the danger from hidden land mines remains long after the fighting stops.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Goal: Improve the quality of life for people. This can help eliminate or reduce economic inequality, which can be a key driver of conflict.

Limitation: Requires governments to change their spending priorities. In 2022, an estimated 34.1 billion dollars (U.S.) was spent worldwide on peace building and peacekeeping. However, that was only 0.4 percent of military spending for that same year.

“We spend much more money and resources managing conflicts than on preventing them and building peace.”​—António Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations.

What the Bible says: The world’s governments and institutions can help the poor, but they will never be able to eliminate poverty completely.​—Deuteronomy 15:11; Matthew 26:11.

DIPLOMACY

Goal: Prevent or settle disputes peacefully through dialogue and negotiation to the mutual advantage of both sides.

Limitation: One or more parties may be unwilling to negotiate, compromise, or accept an agreement. And peace agreements are easily broken.

“Diplomacy does not always succeed. A negotiated agreement to end a war may be so flawed that it sets the stage for further conflict.”​—Raymond F. Smith, American Diplomacy.

What the Bible says: People should “seek peace.” (Psalm 34:14) But many people today are “disloyal, . . . not open to any agreement, . . . betrayers.” (2 Timothy 3:1-4) Such traits prevent sincere political leaders from resolving conflicts.

DISARMAMENT

Goal: Reduce or eliminate weapons, especially nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.

Limitation: Nations are often unwilling to disarm because they fear losing power or becoming vulnerable. Eliminating armaments does not address the reasons people fight.

“Many of the disarmament commitments and promises entered into at the end of the cold war have gone unfulfilled, including practical steps to reduce dangers, ease international tensions, and ultimately bring us closer to a safer and more secure world.”​—“Securing Our Common Future: An Agenda for Disarmament.”

What the Bible says: People should abandon weapons and “beat their swords into plowshares.” (Isaiah 2:4) More is required, however, because violence begins within a person’s heart.​—Matthew 15:19.

COLLECTIVE SECURITY

Goal: Nations agree to take collective action against aggressors. In theory, an aggressor will not start a war if that means fighting the combined forces of many nations.

Limitation: The threat of retaliation does not guarantee peace. Nations do not always abide by their commitments, nor do they agree on how and when to act against aggressors.

“Although collective security . . . played a prominent part in the League of Nations Covenant and is embodied in the United Nations Charter, it has completely failed in both cases.”​—“Encyclopedia Britannica.”

What the Bible says: There is often safety in numbers. (Ecclesiastes 4:12) However, we cannot look to human institutions for lasting peace and security. “Don’t put your trust in human leaders; no human being can save you. When they die, they return to the dust; on that day all their plans come to an end.”​—Psalm 146:3, 4, Today’s English Version.

SIN

God created our first parents, Adam and Eve, in his image. (Genesis 1:27) That meant they would naturally reflect God’s qualities, including peace and love. (1 Corinthians 14:33; 1 John 4:8) However, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sinned. As a result, all of us have inherited sin and death. (Romans 5:12) Inherited sin inclines us toward violent thoughts and actions.​—Genesis 6:5; Mark 7:21, 22.

HUMAN GOVERNMENT

God did not create us to rule ourselves. The Bible says: “It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” (Jeremiah 10:23) For that reason, human governments cannot completely eliminate war and violence.

SATAN AND HIS DEMONS

The Bible reveals that “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) That “wicked one” is called Satan the Devil, and he has a murderous disposition. (John 8:44) He along with other wicked spirit creatures are the unseen instigators of war and violence.​—Revelation 12:9, 12.

GOD WILL ELIMINATE HUMAN GOVERNMENTS

God will end human governments by means of what the Bible calls the war of Armageddon.a (Revelation 16:16) At that time, “the kings of the entire inhabited earth” will be gathered together for “the war of the great day of God the Almighty.” (Revelation 16:14) Armageddon is God’s war to end all wars.

God will replace human governments with his Kingdom, or government, that will rule from heaven and never be destroyed. (Daniel 2:44) God has chosen his Son, Jesus Christ, to be its King. (Isaiah 9:6, 7; Matthew 28:18) This government is the Kingdomb that Jesus taught his followers to pray for. (Matthew 6:9, 10) All mankind will be united under one global government with Jesus as Ruler.

Unlike human rulers, Jesus will not use his authority to advance his own interests. Because he is fair and impartial, no one will have to worry about being overlooked because of his race, nationality, or ethnic background. (Isaiah 11:3, 4) And people will not have to fight for their rights. Why not? Because Jesus will take an interest in the welfare of each person. “He will rescue the poor who cry for help, also the lowly one and whoever has no helper. . . . From oppression and from violence he will rescue them.”​—Psalm 72:12-14.

God’s Kingdom will rid the earth of deadly weapons. (Micah 4:3) It will also remove wicked people who refuse to stop fighting or disrupting the peace of others. (Psalm 37:9, 10) Every man, woman, and child will feel safe wherever they go on earth.​—Ezekiel 34:28.

People will enjoy ideal living conditions under God’s government. It will eliminate the problems that cause people to fight, such as poverty, hunger, and inadequate housing. Everyone will have access to an abundance of nutritious food and will enjoy a comfortable place to live.​—Psalm 72:16; Isaiah 65:21-23.

Under God’s Kingdom, the harmful effects of war will be removed. This includes not only physical wounds but also the mental and emotional anguish that people suffer because of war-related atrocities. Even those who have died will be resurrected back to life on earth. (Isaiah 25:8; 26:19; 35:5, 6) Families will be reunited and the cruel memories of war will be part of “the former things [that] have passed away.”​—Revelation 21:4.

GOD WILL ELIMINATE SIN

God’s Kingdom will unite people in worship of the only true God, Jehovahc, “the God of love and of peace.” (2 Corinthians 13:11) People will learn how to live together peacefully. (Isaiah 2:3, 4; 11:9) All who apply what they learn will be set free from the effects of sin.​—Romans 8:20, 21.

GOD WILL ELIMINATE SATAN AND HIS DEMONS

God’s Kingdom will destroy the instigators of war, Satan and his demons. (Revelation 20:1-3, 10) Without their evil influence, “peace will abound.”​—Psalm 72:7.

You can be confident that God’s promise to end war and violent conflict will come true. He has both the ability and the desire to eliminate war.

• God has the wisdom and power needed to end war and violence. (Job 9:4) Nothing is impossible for him to accomplish.​—Job 42:2.

• God hates to see people suffer. (Isaiah 63:9) He also “hates anyone who loves violence.”​—Psalm 11:5.

• God always keeps his word; he cannot lie.​—Isaiah 55:10, 11; Titus 1:2.

The individuals quoted in this magazine are among the millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have been helped by the Bible to find peace. They have learned how to overcome racial, national, tribal, and personal hatreds. (Ephesians 4:31, 32) Jehovah’s Witnesses are politically neutral and refuse to take part in violence.​—John 18:36.

Jehovah’s Witnesses also find support in their loving worldwide brotherhood. (John 13:35) For instance, Oleksandra, quoted earlier, had to flee with her sister to another country because of war. She says: “When we crossed the border, we immediately saw local Witnesses who were there to welcome us. Their support helped us adapt to living in a new country as refugees.”

• Why is there so much war if everyone wants peace?

• Is it possible to enjoy true peace in a world that is filled with violence?

• Will we ever see a time when there is no more war?

The Bible’s answers to these questions may surprise you and will no doubt comfort you.

Why not examine for yourself what the Bible has to say about this important topic? Learn more in this issue of The Watchtower.