The Way to Peace: In our world today, especially at the end of December, we hear a lot about “Peace on earth and goodwill toward men,” yet the news is full of reports of violence and suffering. The desire for peace is universal, but that hope has remained elusive for most human beings. While world leaders talk of peace and religious leaders pray for peace—and the United Nations sends “peacekeepers” to trouble spots around the globe—the world simply does not know the way to peace (Isaiah 59:8). However, God’s word reveals that the way to peace is to learn to love and live by the laws of God (Psalm 119:165; Isaiah 32:17). The world will learn the way to peace when Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, returns to this earth and the laws of God are spread from Jerusalem by teachers who are in training now (Isaiah 9:6–7; 2:2–4; 30:20–21). Let’s prepare for that day!
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
When Jesus returns, the kingdom will be fully realized under the New Covenant. Promises like universal knowledge of God ("no longer shall each one teach his neighbor... for they shall all know me," Jeremiah 31:34) point to consummation at Christ's return and that the church, believers from all nations, inherits the blessings as the fulfilled people of God (Galatians 3:28–29; Ephesians 2:11–22).
There will be no restoration of the Old Covenant or its sacrificial system, as it was temporary and shadowed Christ's work. The future kingdom is governed by grace, internal transformation, and direct access to God through Christ alone. Jesus' return brings the full realization of the New Covenant, not a return to the Old. The Old Covenant's purpose was fulfilled in Christ and set aside.
No one has ever kept the Old Covenant in its completeness, including every single COG group today, nor has any COG member ever fully kept the Old Covenant. It was deliberately set up to be impossible to keep.
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And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Jeremiah 31:34
Under the New Covenant, we no longer need a mediator like a pastor general, chief overseer, apostles or even prophets. We will have direct personal access to God - Joel 2:28-29. There will be total amnesty for sins not just covered (as in our annual Day of Atonement) but forgotten. The slate is wiped clean and no longer remembered. That enables the relationship with God. There will also be absolutely no need for COG leaders, evangelists, super deacons, or great Bwanas. "From the least to the greatest" implies equality, fulfilled in a messianic age where barriers dissolve.
The Old Covenant exposed sin but couldn't empower obedience or provide permanent atonement. The New Covenant provides regeneration (new heart), indwelling Spirit, and total forgiveness—enabling what the Law demanded but couldn't produce (Romans 8:3–4).
There will be no reverting to temple sacrifices, Levitical priesthood, or Mosaic regulations because that would be regression, not progress (see also Hebrews 10:1–18; Galatians 4:9–10). This directly counters any theology that expects a restored Levitical system in the future as some in COGland believe.
Even the Sabbath and holy days (as we claim to know them) will no longer be in effect. People will have their "Sabbath rest" living in the presence of Jesus. The holy days, as we claim all point to Christ, will no longer be necessary since that "point" is dwelling among us, and then would serve no function.
We will have the confidence of access. We will approach God directly through Christ, without human mediators or rituals (Hebrews 4:16; 10:19–22).
We will have the assurance of forgiveness: Sins are not just covered but removed—"remembered no more."
We will have empowered obedience: The Spirit writes God's law on our hearts, producing genuine transformation, not external conformity.
Hebrews 8 warns about returning to legalism or ritualism that denies the sufficiency of Christ's work.
In essence, Christ’s return brings the complete realization of the New Covenant in grace, making any form of Old Covenant legalism, ritualism, or hierarchical church leadership unnecessary and contrary to Scripture, thus will not require any COG-trained member wandering around the world preaching Armstrongism.