Watching The World

The emergence of Soviet Russia as a major aggressive power since 1917, with consequent prospects for the fulfilment of Ezekiel 38, have ex¬cited the Brotherhood for a number of years now. This article raises the possibility that the events of Ezekiel 38 may be, some way off yet.

Until a year or so ago, the steady growth of Russian military power had, more or less, been matched by Western alliances, nuclear power, productivity, wealth and moral reso­lution. This, together with Russia’s political set-back in the Mid-East, particularly with Egypt, has tended to keep some expectations of the onset of conditions for fulfilment of Ezekiel 38 at bay.

The decline of American influence, in world affairs and matters military, placed alongside the continued rapid growth of Russian power, now places the world much more at the mercy of Soviet desires. However, it is not to be overlooked that another power has recently arisen to keep Russia in rein — that of the Chinese. On top of this, there are at least three reasons detectable in Scripture which support the view that Russia’s time as “Gog” has not yet arrived.

Chapters 38 and 39 of Ezekiel give few clues and no positive information to permit dogmatic placement in the order of events around the return of Christ. We may deduce — but no matter how strong we feel the indi­cations appear, deductions are the product of fallible man.

Within the chapters, however, are positive facts. Three significant ones are these

1. The confederacy that accompanies Gog is a wide-ranging one, embracing North Afri­can, East Arab and northern peoples. Even if, to avoid incorrect identification, we decline to nominate specific areas, it is clear that the list is comprehensive.
2. The confederacy led by Gog comes upon the mountains of Israel NOT FOR ANY POL­ITICAL REASONS CURRENTLY THE CAUSE OF MID-EAST TENSION, but for the oldest of reasons — GREED; not to help the P.L.O., not to establish a West Bank state, not to support Syria, not for any current Mid-East reason — but for cattle, goods, spoil, i.e. to take Israel’s wealth.
3. The confederacy comes upon Israel in a time of peace, safety, confident dwelling.

Putting The Confederacy  Together

Whilst Russia is not without influence in the Mid-East, it is also true that she has lately had a rough time. Her North African ties are still tenuous, and, in this respect, Russia’s ad­ventures in Angola are particularly interesting. If she should succeed in bringing white rule to an end in Rhodesia, her stocks will soar in African circles and. then she may be well on the way to wielding great influence. Her con­trol of affairs in Libya, Ethiopia and Somalia still seems subdued.

Similarly, Russia’s influence over the oil countries of the East Arabs is small. They still feel rich enough to be very independent, although the Shah of Iran is experiencing budget difficulties and is developing close ties with Russia now.

How far we are to take the extent of Gomer territory to the north seems an open question; and, of course, Russia holds a tight rein on much northern territory now. Taking an over­all view of the confederacy as prophesied, it seems that some further development is called for, at least in Africa and the East.

Not Politics But Riches

This is the really intriguing factor. If Gog can ignore political reasons, and have as his prime motive for invasion the riches of Israel, we have a clue to a great change in Israel’s affairs that it seems must occur before this momentous event. There is little in the way of riches to attract an aggressor at present; and it must be admitted that political reasons pro­vide the only likely reasons now. Some suggest that this indicates that, as Israel at this future time, is also said to be dwelling safely, then Jesus may well be ruling over Israel, thus pro­viding the riches as well as the safety and confident dwelling. But would Sheba, Dedan, and Tarshish challenge Gog? Would not that be Jesus’ responsibility? Perhaps it could be said that he would not yet be revealed to the nations. However, the writer’s opinion is that the presence of Jesus is not likely at this time.

The Return Of Jesus

Revelation 17 reveals another attack by a confederacy of “the beast” which is directed against “the Lamb”, certainly Jesus. This is the only prophetical event in Scripture con­cerning movements of nations that is sequenti­ally linked to the return of Jesus. Those events definitely occur after Jesus’ return. In no way is the return of Jesus inhibited by any other Biblically-forecast events. Jesus may return tomorrow, even if we may be able to discern a number of events yet to move to their maturity. If we should make a judgment that, for example, some of Zechariah 14 is yet some way off, or that it will take some years yet for the confederacy of Ezekiel 38 to mature, that, in no way, precludes the appear­ance of Jesus to his household tonight!

To say that there are no more events to be fulfilled before the return of Jesus is a mean­ingless statement. It has always been so from the first century, so far as Scriptural indica­tions go. The early believers were told that, for them, certain events must happen first -­”a falling away” and the revealing of “the man of sin” — but those events soon happened in sufficient form to possibly fulfil that prophecy. Since the first century, every believer has pro­perly lived in an expectation of Jesus’ return — each life must be lived as if momentarily expecting Jesus.

Thus, there is no difficulty in forming an opinion that some political events are still in an early stage of development, in relation to God’s plan. This in no way compromises the early return of Jesus and raises the interesting question of the judgment and Jesus’ work with his household and Israel before revealing him­self to the world. This approach to the return of Jesus and prophecy seems to provide an answer to the problem of those who would say, “Why should I continue to expect Jesus tomorrow, when such expectations of others for hundreds of years in the past have seemed to be misplaced?” Or, “Anyway, there is more prophecy to be fulfilled yet”.

Even though we may be able to detect a course of events yet to be fulfilled, we must continue to instil an instant expectation in the return of Jesus. These two circumstances are quite reconcilable and both principles are healthy and ought to be encouraged. The fact that a long period of time has elapsed since the return of Jesus was first preached presents us with a difficulty which can be overcome, and which must not be allowed to inhibit the urgency of the message of his imminent return for every believer.