What is the transition from peace to turmoil?
Scripture shows that the peace believers now know in Christ gives way to a season of turmoil that begins with a falling away in the church and then unfolds into literal, physical judgments upon the earth as the Day of the Lord draws near.
Peace, as the New Testament describes it, is first a spiritual reality: reconciliation with God through Christ, an inner calm that guards the heart and mind, and a blessing of well being from God Himself. Philippians 4:6-7 promises this peace that transcends understanding, and Numbers 6:24-26 pictures it as God's favor resting on His people. This peace is meant to mark believers even while the world around them grows dark, and it is ultimately the hope of a Kingdom where, as Revelation 21:4 says, God will wipe away every tear and there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain.
But before that final peace is realized, Scripture teaches that turmoil must first come. Paul warned that the day of Christ cannot come until there is first a falling away, and the man of sin, the antichrist, is revealed sitting as God in the temple of God (2 Thessalonians 2:1-9). This falling away is described as already at work: the church drifting into doctrines that make righteousness feel offensive, and the mystery of iniquity working quietly until it bursts into full view.
Jesus Himself described the transition from peace to turmoil in terms of specific signs: wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. These, Matthew 24:6-8 calls "the beginning of sorrows," the world setting itself up for the revelation of the antichrist, with discontentment breaking out everywhere.
That turmoil then escalates into literal, physical catastrophe. Peter's citing of Joel's prophecy on the Day of Pentecost pointed to blood, fire, and vapour of smoke, the sun turned to darkness, and the moon turned to blood, as real events, not symbols. Revelation's trumpet judgments spell this out plainly: hail and fire mingled with blood burning up a third of the trees and all green grass (Revelation 8:7), a third of the sun, moon, and stars darkened (Revelation 8:12), and the stars of heaven falling to the earth like untimely figs shaken from a tree (Revelation 6:13). So the movement is clear: the peace of God sustaining believers now gives way to a falling away in the church, then to wars, famines, and earthquakes as beginning sorrows, and finally to catastrophic, visible judgments in the heavens and on the earth as the Day of the Lord approaches.
The scriptures
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
From the books
This answer is drawn from these passages in the Mary Banks Faith Library.