America just marked the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. That horrific day impacted thousands directly and also changed the way America and much of the world operates.

But is the world more peaceful today than it was 20 years ago? Were any lessons learned from those horrific attacks that have led to peace? Has terrorism ceased? Is the world today a better, safer place? Is there any real hope for mankind?

Thankfully, there is great hope for all of mankind! But to understand why 9/11 occurred and how to stop such violence forever, we need to understand God’s holy day of Atonement.

In John 8:44, Jesus Christ got right to the heart of why there is violence and terrorism in this world. He pointed out that Satan “was a murderer from the beginning.” Christ also revealed that Satan “is a liar, and the father of it.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 shows us that Satan is the god of this world. He is the “prince of the power of the air,” and his spirit now works in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2).

Simply put, Satan broadcasts his moods and impulses. The carnal mind is automatically tuned into his broadcasting (Romans 8:7). Unless a person understands that biblical truth and goes to God for the help to fight those broadcasts, he or she will be heavily influenced by Satan’s selfish way of thinking—and not even realize it!

In extreme cases, Satan influences people to commit murder, such as the terrible attacks of 9/11 (James 4:1-3). This is why, even after 20 years—and the deaths of many terrorists—terrorism continues. Satan is the author of terrorism. Until Satan is put away, mankind cannot have lasting peace.

This is why the Day of Atonement is so vital! Atonement shows us that Satan will be put away! Notice this spectacular prophecy in Revelation 20:1-3: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more .…”

The fact that Satan will no longer deceive the nations shows clearly that he still deceives the nations today. Satan’s deception is why nations fight against nations! Satan’s broadcasting is also why individuals struggle to find peace in their families and individual lives.

Mankind can never have peace until Satan the Devil is put away and his evil broadcast is stopped! But individually, you can conquer Satan’s broadcast today!

Satan broadcasts vanity (Isaiah 14:13-14). God says He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). To conquer Satan, we must draw close to God in humility.

Fasting is one of the commands associated with the Day of Atonement. To fast on Atonement means to go without food and drink for 24 hours (Leviticus 16:29-31). Christ fasted to draw close to His Father before battling and conquering Satan (Matthew 4).

Our Bible correspondence course notes, “Fasting should help us get closer to God, to spend more time studying His Word, more time in prayer and meditation, striving to learn God’s will, desiring to obey. Fasting should humble us to help us be willing to yield to God’s will—whether it be according to our own desires or not.”

In John 8, Christ said that most people do the will of Satan. But fasting draws us closer to God so that we can do His will. And those who do God’s will today are qualifying to help Christ rule this Earth once Satan is removed!

There is great hope in the Day of Atonement! God shows us the cause of world evils and how they will be solved forever! Soon there will be no more terrorist attacks. Instead, a wonderful millennium of peace is about to burst forth on this Earth! (Isaiah 11:9).

To understand the deep meaning of Atonement and all of God’s holy days, please read our free booklet Pagan Holiday—or God’s Holy Day’s—Which?