The Coming of Christ and the Shaking of the Powers of the Heavens

It is very important not to confuse political  sagacity with the insight that comes from the study of the sure word of pro­hecy., About fifteen years ago General Smuts gave evidence of possessing a large measure of the former, but little or none f the latter. He uttered words that seemed almost a reiteration of the words of Dr. Thomas in Elpis Israel, but in reality they were far from identical. Smuts summed up the position as he saw it and anticipated very ably what would follow; but the significant fact is emerging that his anticipations are gradually ceasing to correspond with what is actually happening and we are rapidly approaching a series of events that were far beyond his vision.

Let us recall some of his utterances from Thoughts on the New World of 25th Novem­ber, 1943

“France is gone, and will be gone in our day and perhaps for many a day.”

“Germany will be written off the slate in Europe for long, long years, and after that a new world may have arisen.”

Here are the words that thrilled us most at the time, but the lack of any understanding of the significance of Russia’s rise should now be noted.

“Russia is the new Colossus in Europe the new Colossus that bestride, this Continent. When we consider all that has happened to Russia within the last 25 years, and we see Russia’s inexplicable and phenomenal rise, we can only call it one of the great phenomena in history. It is the sort of thing to which there is no parallel in history, but it has come about. These are questions of power which I say we should not neglect. Russia is the new Colossus on the European continent. What the after effects of that will be nobody can say.”

Then concerning Britain.

“The purely European position of Great Britain will be one of enormous prestige and respect, and will carry enormous weight, but she will be poor.”

Finally he sums up,

“You will therefore have these three great Powers; Russia, the Colossus of Europe; Great Britain, with her feet in all continents but crippled materially here in Europe; and the United States of America, with enormous assets, with wealth and resources and potentialities of power beyond measure.”

France and Germany and Britain are recovering faster than Smuts anticipated. The great economic power of the United States is threatened by recession and depression. Nebuchadnezzar would certainly never have identified the Russian Colossus to-day, with its blustering, bullying and un­certain foreign and domestic policy, with the great Image he saw in his dream “which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent  and the aspect thereof was terrible.”1

Recession in the United States may well be the beginning of far reaching political and military changes. The bewilderment it is causing is well set forth by Christopher Serpell, B.B.C. Washington Correspondent, in The Listener for March 20th (p. 487).

“As usual there is much learned contro­versy over the way the depression started. Some time last year, somebody  for some reason stopped buying something. It might have been the Govern­ment Cutting down on defence purchas­ing; it might have been the small man, frightened of all he was being pressured‘ into buying on the ‘ never-never  system . . . As soon as industry started to spend less—billions of dollars less­on new plant and equipment, the recession had begun its downhill roll, and there is more controversy now over whether the gradient will level off or whether something drastic must be done to arrest the growing snowball, and, if so, what?”

There may be deeper causes than any con­troversy will discover. “He enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again. He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander . . . He maketh them to wander like a drunken man.”2 “He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?”3 His will has been revealed that “Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions there ­of” shall have sufficient power to question the motives of the Gogian invader of His Land in the latter days.4 This definitely points to a recession of the power of the United States and the restoration of the prestige and power of Britain, exercised from her African and Arabian centres, but backed to the full by the Mother country and the Commonwealth.

Mr. Alan Green, M.P. in an address to business men at Blackpool, reported in the Manchester Guardian, Monday, April 21st, of this year, said :—

“This poor, battered, bewildered, broke little country, bankrupt for some of the finest reasons that have ever motivated a country, is curiously enough now getting into a position where eventually, if only it has the courage to keep its present course, it will be able to finance a revival from an American slump . We, who have been borrowing and begging money since the war are getting into a position when we can again offer credit to those who have hither­to been saying We shall lend you some money!”

A good illustration of the insight that comes from the study of the sure word of prophecy-1s to be found in what Dr. Thomas wrote- over a hundred years ago in 1852— republished in The Christadelphian for 1874 (pp. 450-451).

“Politicals in this country imagine that Britain will be overthrown by the Continental league of European despots, unless aided by the United States in the approaching contest. This is a great mistake. The British power, old as it is, will endure as long as this con­federacy. Britain cannot fall until her mission is accomplished. Energised by God, she has withstood the world in arms, and will do it again. She has wealth enough, and men will not be wanting. She will gain many victories and experience many defeats; still she will carry on the war till Christ appears to conquer for God, and for himself and people.”

His anticipations in respect of the United States were also expressed at the same time, but with less conviction.

“We rather think the policy of the Union will change . . . and they will choose an intervention policy which their servants must carry out. It is quite possible, therefore, that an alliance will be formed, as much desired by America as Britain. Be this as it may, Christ will judge them both, and that power will fare the best which yields most promptly to his commands, and shows the most favour to his people Israel.”

In spite of the evident desire of Sir Winston Churchill for closer Anglo-American relations it is well to note that General Smuts’ more cautious approach has been followed so far. He said :—

“Many people look to a union or closer union between the United States of America and Great Britain, with her Commonwealth and Empire, as the new path to be followed in the future I myself am doubtful about that . If you were to pit the British Common­wealth plus the rest of the world, it would be a very lopsided world. You would stir up opposition and rouse other lions in the path. You would stir up international strife and enmity which might lead to still more colossal struggles for world power than we have seen in our day.”

The result has been that Russia has been thwarted and has been unable really to stand upon her “feet” in Europe. Over Western Europe she has been unable to gain control and in the Eastern part of Europe Yugo­slavia and Hungary have caused her to limp badly. Her moves in the Middle East, spectacular though they have been, have resulted more to the profit of astute Arab politicians than to the real furtherance of her own schemes. The fact that she of all nations was vulnerable on her northern frontier is the latest shock she has received.

The endeavour of Russia to gain a foot­hold in the Middle East has naturally aroused anticipations that she will disregard Europe and deploy her military forces there, only to meet her doom upon the mountains of Israel. Thus Russia being removed, Europe will re-organise itself under an Imperial Head and likewise march to its doom upon the same mountains at Armageddon.5

Before adopting such a view, which has many manifest difficulties, Dr. Thomas’ understanding of the reasons for the drying up of the Euphratean power should be recalled.

“Before the outpouring of this vial, the Ottoman was a power, overshadowing Egypt, Sinai, Palestine, and Syria, in great force. It could have concentrated its armies upon any of these provinces in great numbers; and with powerful and embarrassing effect, upon any un-warlike crowd that might be convened for the purpose of judgment, organization, and legislation, the necessary preparation for all great enterprises in a world like this. To prevent this embarrassing inconvenience, He deemed it necessary to dry up from these countries the overflowing power of ‘the Desolator’—to diminish it, and hold it in check by other jealous powers whose mutual distrust should reduce the Sick Man ‘to a nullity . . . The sixth vial is in part to remove Gentile Power to a convenient distance—to diminish, not to increase it, in the region of Sinai, and Teman, and Mount Paran;6 but, to substitute the Russian in Constantinople for the Turk; and to give the Czar dominion over the Ottoman empire before Christ comes, would render nugatory the drying up process of the past forty-eight years.”7

Mark how this pattern has been followed since the Turk was expelled. Britain and France tried to use the mandatory system after the First World War, but both had to abandon their military outposts in the region. The Suez Crisis was but the last effort to regain a foothold.

The Sinai Campaign revealed the weakness of Egypt and ensured that she would not again concentrate troops in a region where they could be trapped by Israel. It is one thing to be well-supplied with weapons and quite another to know how to use them. Arab attempts at unity have only revealed greater cleavages in their ranks. The position has not much altered since 1923, when Lt. Col. H. F. Jacob wrote in Kings of Arabia,

“The War with Turkey is over, and Turkish rule in Arabia is dead, but serious ill-feeling is rife amongst the various Arab rulers who are fighting over the carcass.”

It is to be noted how the Imperial City of Constantinople is still held by the Turk but relegated to the second place among their cities.

But if Christ is about to return, by what means can he secure immunity from outside interference to a yet further degree that the actual judgment and organisation of his household demands? I think that the answer he himself supplies can be found in Matthew’s gospel.8

“. . and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear (be manifest) the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of the heavens, with power and great glory.”

The sequence is striking. (1) The shaking of the powers of the heaven. (2) The manifest Sign of the Son of Man in the same heaven. (3) The mourning of the tribes, at the same time that the Son of man is seen with power and great glory. Alford in his Greek Testament agrees.

“This tote (translated ‘then’) so emphatically placed and repeated, is a definite declaration of time—not a mere sign of sequence, or coincidence, as, e.g., in verse 23—when these things shall have been some while filling men’s hearts with fear—THEN shall . . .”

It is important then to Understand what the “shaking of the powers of t heavens” portends. The words of Christ adapted from Isaiah which relate to the downfall of Babylon of old. 9 But a future shaking of the heavens is predicted in Haggai.10

“Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations.”

(RSV) The comment in Hebrews11 makes it plain that this refers to the time when the King­dom of God is nigh.12 The Hebrew term for “dry land” seemingly superfluous as “the heavens, the earth and the sea” seem to comprehend all. “I will make the rivers dry” of the dried-up bed of a sea or river and from the same root the place-name Horeb as “the dry region” is derived. It naturally links up with the imagery of the sixth vial.

What is manifest is that the “shaking of the powers of the heavens” must comprehend the two giant Powers, the United States and the Soviet Union. Their attention must be distracted from the Middle East so that opportunity be given for the “sign of the Son of man” to be made manifest there-without their active intervention.

For what is the Sign? It is not the establishment of the State of Israel—wondrous “Sign of the times” though it be; for there was then no “shaking of the powers of the heaven.” Are we then to say with Alford, “It is quite uncertain what the Sign shall be?” Only if we understand it be, as Alford did, “Some sign in the Heavens, by which all shall know that the Son of Man is at hand.” Rather we would understand it to be the ENSIGN of the Son of Man set up in the political “heavens,” i.e., the raising of his standard on the earth at his return. The Septuagint Version employs the word `SEMEION’ for ‘ensign.’ (A.V. banner) .13

This is of interest, because it is part of the context of the passage Christ uses in Matthew.14 It relates to the preparations made again Babylon of old, but the language seems charged with a fuller significance that past events do not satisfy. The Revised Version reads :—

“Set ye up an ensign upon the bare mountain, lift up the voice unto them, wave the hand, that they may go into the gate of the nobles. I have commanded My consecrated ones, yea, I have called My mighty men for Mine anger, even My proudly exulting ones. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people! the noise of a tumult of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together! the LORD of hosts mustereth the host for the battle.”

In the Ministry of the Prophets it is remarked “We might from this have expected quite another instrumentality than that which is specified further on (verse 17) ‘I will stir up the Medes against them.’ More significant still is the place where the banner or ensign is to be set up. The word translated ‘ bare ‘ only occurs twice in the Old Testament; in Job15 and in the above. One is forcibly reminded of the description of the Sinaitic mountains, quoted by Dean Stanley, as “the Alps unclothed.”

Isaiah 16 sets forth the lifting up of the Ensign as an event made known to all the inhabitants of the world. It is a challenge that is not immediately taken up or followed immediately by Divine action, i.e., so far as the inhabitants of the world are concerned.

“All ye inhabitants of the world, and ye dwellers on the earth, when an Ensign is lifted up on the mountains, see ye; and when the trumpet is blown, hear ye.”

“For thus hath the Lord said unto me, I ill be still, and I will behold in My dwelling lace; like clear heat in sunshine, like a loud of dew in the heat of harvest.” (R.V.)

Dr. Thomas fully anticipated this:—”it cannot, I say, be supposed, that all this an have been developed in sight almost of hat grand and important work the Suez anal, and not have become the great and absorbing theme of speculative wonder in the, newspapers and cabinets of the world.17“

The Psalmist 18 makes it quite clear that hen the final Arab attempt against Israel takes place with the help of “Assyria,” they take crafty counsel not only against God’s people Israel, but ” consult against God’s hidden ones!” They are those for whom David 19 speaks. “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in his pavilion “; “Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of man; Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.”— (Italics indicating similar Hebrew words) .20

It is significant that after the defeat of Amalek at Rephidim—the only military action needed to secure the unmolested occupation of Sinai by Israel—Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah­Nissi :—Yahweh my Banner.21 The work of ‘judgment, organization, and legislation’ in those days occupied under a year. The Tabernacle was completed and reared up on “the first day of the first month” in the year following their departure from Egypt.22 If Israel had been obedient, the invasion of Canaan would have taken place about a year after the Lord “came down upon Mount Sinai.” If there are chronological implications in the statement in Micah “according to the days of thy coming out o f the land of Egypt” the reference may well be to the time God would have taken apart from human rebellion.23

Incidentally it should be noted that British power is now definitely beyond “the rivers of Ethiopia.”24 The retreat from Egypt, Suez, Nubia, Palestine and Trans-Jordan, disconcerting at first sight, only makes the accuracy of the prophecy more manifest. Even Britain is not allowed to be in too close proximity to the area required for the Divine purpose of “judgment, organization and legislation.”

What then prevents the United States and Soviet Russia interfering at this stage? Is it not that precisely at this time their power is being shaken? At the time of writing, the Manchester Guardian comments that General de Gaulle’s offer to “assume the powers of the Republic “has” created a small earth­quake in political quarters.” What we have to expect is “a great earthquake such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.”25 Such an earthquake must “shake the powers of the heaven.” We do not link the two because we tend to think of the outpouring of the vials as succes­sive. Dr. Thomas argued :

“The Seven Spirits of the Deity had all gone forth from the Nave on a mission of divine wrath . . . While the first angel was operating in France, the other six were not idle spectators.”

Again :

“The Seven Angels previous to the appearing of the Ancient of days, as already shown, are the Seven Spirits of the Deity operating instrumentally through ‘the Powers that be.'”

Now, what John sees and hears in vision, is a dramatic representation of what is to be transacted in the moves of the pieces upon the board by the HAND that manipulates them. The Powers are so many chessmen upon the great Babylonian chessboard, whose policy and movements do not originate from themselves, but from the Nave; whence issue the impulses which cause them to utter great voices, and to make moves, which are often disastrous, and even fatal to themselves; but which in no wise disturbs or impedes, but judiciously secures the final success of the incomparable Player in the Nave, who manipulates the game.”26

Now “an earthquake” or Revolution cannot be a move on the part of a Power shaken,” except in so far as its own folly contributes to bring it about. Russia has a long time been committing manifest follies. Since Stalin has died, her rulers have committed mistake after mistake—slackening and then tightening her hold on her satellites—advocating “collective leadership” and then reverting to the concentrating of power in the hands of one man. In publishing Khrushchev’s speech of February 25th, 1956, the comment of “a Student of Soviet Affairs” was :

“The next stage of political development in Russia will be a conflict between the party’s desire to extend gradually the freedom within the limits it envisages, and the people’s desire to have freedom uncircumscribed by such limits. The experi­ment may get out of hand in either direction: the people may grab more than the party intends to give them, or the party may reimpose the stringent controls of the past.”

Sir Lewis Namier, the historian, gives,without any special reference to Russia situation, the signs of coming revolution. ” But revolutions are not made; they occur. Discontent with government there always is still, even when grievous and well-founded, it seldom engenders revolution till the moral bases of government have rotted away Revolutions are usually preceded by periods of high intellectual achievement and travail, of critical analysis and doubt, of unrest among the educated classes, and of guilt-consciousness in the rulers: so it was in France in 1789, in Europe in 1848, and in Russia in 1917. If such corrosion of the moral and mental bases of government coincides with a period of social upheaval, and the conviction spreads, even to the rulers themselves, that the ramshackle build­ing cannot last, government disintegrates and revolution ensues. Revolution as dis­tinct from mere revolts, usually starts at the center of government, in the capital; but the nature of the actual outbreak and its purpose almost invariably escape analysis.”27

The outbreak of Revolution it Europe would not be limited to one country or to East or West. It will affect the whole of the Great City and may well occur in all “the cities of the nations” from Lisbon to Moscow. It will therefore paralyse for the period required by the Divine purpose the powers of the heaven. Removing the menace to Israel and leaving the Arab States without encouragement or support, the new Power (the real Image power) which will arise will find itself confronted by Israel dwelling in apparent security and Britain and its Commonwealth incredulous of, its intention to “take a spoil!”28

References

  1. Dan. 2 : 31.
  2. Job. 12 : 23-25.
  3. Dan. 4 : 35.
  4. Ezek. 38 : 13.
  5. See “Russia’s Position in These Latter Days” in The Testimony for April, 1958.
  6. Hab. 3:3 and Deut. 33:2
  7. Eureka vol. 3, pp. 541-42 (old edition) section ” The Outpouring of Wrath upon the Euphrates.”
  8. Matt. 24:29.
  9. Isa. 13:9-13.
  10. Hag. 2 : 12.
  11. Heb. 12:26-28.
  12. Luke 21:31; Ex. 14:21; Josh. 3:17; 2 King 2:8; Ezek. 30:12.
  13. Isa. 11 : 12; 13 : 2; 18:3.
  14. Matt. 25 : 29.
  15. job. 33: 21.
  16. Isa. 18 : 3-4.
  17. Eureka vol. 3, pp. 600 (old edition).
  18. Psa. 83 : 3.
  19. Psa. 27 : 5.
  20. Psa: 31 : 20.
  21. Ex. 17 : 15.
  22. Ex. 40 : 2.
  23. Micah 7:15.
  24. Isa. 18 : 1.
  25. Rev. 16:18.
  26. Eureka vol. 3, pp. 486 and 472 (old edition).
  27. Essay on ” 1848 the Seed-plot of Modern History ” in Vanished Supremacies.
  28. Ezek. 38:11-13.