Section 5
physical death, became the impulse of His be lievers' spiritual life in resurrection.
A CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS
In 12:51 the Man-Savior says, "Do you think that I came to give peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." Here the Lord asks if the disciples thought that He came to give peace on the earth. In a sense, the Lord did come to give peace. When He came, peace came, for He brought peace to mankind. When He was born, the multitude of the heavenly army praised God and said, "Glory in the highest places to God, and on earth peace among men of His good pleasure" (2:14). Hence, the coming of the Savior rendered glory to God, in the heavens and brought peace to men on earth. In Ephe sians 2:14 Paul even says that Christ is our peace. But, in another sense, the Lord did not come to give peace but rather division. This division is due to the satanic life in the unbelievers strug gling against the divine life in the believers—a conflict between the satanic kingdom and the kingdom of God.
The Lord spoke a similar word in Matthew 10:34: "Do not suppose that I came to bring peace