Ceasefire vs. Shalom

Following 12 days of back-and-forth strikes between Israel and Iran, President Donald Trump announced a mutually accepted ceasefire early Monday evening (June 23, 2025).

Reflecting on this latest conflict, several points stand out:

1) Following the murderous attack by Hamas operatives and civilian Palestinians from Gaza on October 7, 2023, Israel resolved not to restrain itself against sources of terror sworn to annihilate the Jewish state.

2) After decimating (though not yet utterly defeating) Hamas, Israel also struck Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen after they entered the fray.

3) For the first time since the Islamic Revolution turned Iran into a pariah state in 1979, Iran directly attacked Israel with waves of ballistic missiles in April and October of 2024. Having neutered the threat posed by Iran’s proxies (including the failed state of Syria), Israel vowed to take out the head controlling the tentacles.

4) With a supportive administration in Washington (following the weak and vacillating leadership of President Joe Biden), and recognizing the imminence of an Iranian nuclear capability, Israel struck the Persian state with a fury and focus that has amazed military strategists around the world. In short order, the IAF (the Israeli Defense Force’s capable Air Force) had gained unchallenged air superiority over then vast expanse of Iran and was unencumbered in destroyed military targets throughout the country.

5) Iran’s only recourse was to launch poorly guided ballistic missiles in an effort to kill and maim as many civilians as possible. At the conclusion of the war, no Israeli soldiers had been killed, but numerous civilians had perished—in spite of most of them living in bomb shelters for days on end.

In the end, Iran’s military capability and economy suffered a grievous blow, even before President Trump ordered the United States Air Force to obliterate Iran’s nuclear facilities. Facing the humiliation of defeat and the very real threat of an uprising that would bring down the Islamic regime under the 86-year-old Ayatollah Khamenei (and despite its public boasts to the contrary), Iran was eager to accept a ceasefire.

Most peace-loving people rejoiced when the ceasefire between Israel and Iran was announced on Monday evening. I was watching as Vice-President J.D. Vance beamed with excitement over the development that happening just prior to his interview with Bret Baier of Fox News. His excitement was justified if the war really is over. But, there is more than meets the eye.

Tenuous at Best

In the hours that followed the ceasefire announcement, both Iran and Israel were accused of violating its conditions. To be clear, the ceasefire recognized that certain operations already underway might be impossible to call back. It is worth remembering that the Battle of New Orleans was fought in early January of 1815, 15 days after the Treaty of Ghent formally ended the War of 1812. News of peace simply did not reach the armies in Louisiana.

Today, communication is much quicker, but not always instantaneous (despite Hollywood’s unrealistic depictions). But even if this ceasefire holds (and it is an open question as to whether it will), it is a far cry from true peace.

Wars that end decisively with the defeat of one party or the other have definitive, unambiguous conclusions. Consider World War II, when both Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan agreed to “unconditionally surrender” (although there were allowances made by General Douglas MacArthur for the Japanese Emperor). Since that time, most conflicts have not ended so cleanly. Korea ended with an armistice agreement, leading to a cessation of hostilities that is considered a mere pause even 72 years later.

Israel’s various wars with its belligerent neighbors also ended with UN-imposed cessation of hostilities—typically when the Jewish state began to bludgeon its stronger adversaries. Now, Iran has ostensibly agreed to a ceasefire but will certainly not engage in the kind of cold peace that has evolved between Israel and Egypt or Jordan. Instead, everyone with eyes to see and ears to hear expects that Iran and all its hate-filled proxies will merely rearm and wait for another opportunity to fulfill their stated goal of annihilating the Jews in Israel.

“Peace, Peace” When There is No Peace

Without sounding pessimistic, this ceasefire simply cannot lead to true and lasting peace. God’s prophetic Word clearly indicates that Persia (Iran) will join with other nations (including Russia and Turkey) to attack Israel when it is feeling relatively secure. That battle of Gog and Magog is described in Ezekiel 38. If the past is any indication, Israel will endure rising animosity and additional terror attacks even before that overwhelming attack that God Himself will thwart.

This ceasefire is only a temporary pause between the battles.

The shalom (peace) Israel longs for will not happen until the Millennial Kingdom, when Jesus Christ reigns from Mount Zion in Jerusalem and rules the world with a rod of iron. Only the Prince of Peace can usher in real peace and sustain it through the power of His Presence.

Since this current conflict began in 2023, Lamb & Lion Ministries has been unequivocally clear that we stand with Israel. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all Israel (land, people, and nation). But we recognize that our prayer will only find ultimate fulfillment when Jesus returns. So, in a very real sense, even our prayer for peace is a plea for Jesus to come again and reign on the earth.

On a Personal Note

If you have not put your trust in Jesus Christ, and allowed Him to give you peace which passes understanding, you do not have a true and lasting peace. You may even think Satan has chosen to leave you alone in this season of life, while in fact he may only have accepted a temporary ceasefire. Without salvation that comes only through Christ, you will find yourself under assault again—and you will lose the war.

But Jesus has already fought the battle against Satan and death, and has won a decisive eternal victory. His victory can be yours if you simply confess your sin and believe in Him. Trite as it sounds, the bumper sticker gets it right:

No Jesus, no peace.
Know Jesus, know peace.

Don’t wait until every knee bows—some in reverent worship and some in begrudging submission and everlasting defeat—before the triumphant God of the universe. Surrender unconditionally to Him today and gain true life everlasting. If you do, the fiery darts of Satan will not find their mark and even mortal death will lose its sting as you come to know the unsurpassed shalom He offers to all who love Him.