Signs Of The Times (Part 216 of 0)

Signs of the Times – Part unknown

Russia, Expelled From Egypt.

To the watchers of world events, July 18th marked the end of yet another scene in the drama of the last days. The Egyptians announced the withdrawal of all Russian personnel from their land. It was 17 years ago, in 1955, that this scene began when Gamel Abdel Nasser, President of Egypt, first purchased arms from the Soviets, giving the communists their first penetration of the middle east. Since then Soviet presence there has been steadily increasing and until the latest development was approaching equality with that of the U.S.

But the unexpected expulsion of the Russians by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat has brought this growth to a sud­den. if only temporary, halt. At first it had been doubted that the Egyptians could carry through their orders. But by now it appears nearly all of the 20,000 Russian advisors, technicians, engineers and military personnel will be removed. Only a few hundred technicians and civil­ians w ill remain.

There are several surprising things about this bold change in Russo-Egyptian affairs. It was quite well known that pressure was building in Egypt to do something about Israel. The Russians, while investing more than $5 billion in military equipment in Egypt, have consistently denied Egypt’s request for long range bombers and missiles for offensive warfare. This has made it impossible for Egypt to seriously consider going to war again with Israel. However since the Arabs non-negotiable terms for peace have been rejected by Israel, and Israel’s requests for negotiations rejected by the Arabs, there has been neither peace nor war for Egypt. It was this situation which produced Sadat’s decision.

Western powers were surprised that the order was obeyed even initially by the Russians. Egypt has just signed a 15 year pact with Russia and is heavily in debt as well. Why the Russians went through with what was obviously a diplomatic humiliation is now clear. The reasons are to be found in the carefully controlled military assistance that has been given to Egypt. Since their defeat in 1967, the Soviets have evidently become convinced the Egyptians could not maintain and operate the highly sophisticated equipment they desired. Thus if they were to again declare war upon Israel, they would again lose.

There appears to be another, perhaps greater, concern of the Russians. Another Egyptian provocation, this time with weapons requiring direct Soviet assistance to operate, would bring Russia into direct confrontation with the U.S. This is something evidently highly undesirable to them at this time. Thus limited military help has been given, to Egypt’s great frustration. In addition to this, the incompetence of the Egyptians in military matters has created considerable friction between the two. Russian officers have been cited as guilty of arrogant disrespect for the Egyptian officers, which added further pressure upon Sadat to expel them, if he could.

For the moment then, the Great Northern Power has been arrested in its attempt to gain control of the Mediterranean Area. Egypt, for the moment, seems to be partly delivered out of the hand of the “cruel lord” to whom she is ultimately to be subjected just before Christ is manifested to all nations as he executes God’s judgments upon the assembled invaders.

Russian influence in Other Areas

In other areas of the middle east the fingers of Russian influence are probing for receptive governments. At the moment her progress is slow having only a measure of success in the two Arab states of Syria and Iraq. Most other areas are either strongly anti-communist or at best very cool toward Soviet offers.

Syria is receiving military aid as well as domestic in the form of arms supplies and the construction of a large power and irrigation dam across the Euphrates river. Scheduled for completion in 1974, the dam will double the amount of land under irrigation and double the electric power supplies of the country.

In Iraq there are now communist members in the Cabinet of Baghdad. Russian plans for Iraq include boosting the oil production by 3.5 times in the next two years! It should be remembered that it is the Persian Gulf ports, at present, which are the depots for virtually all of the middle east oil supply. Russian advances in Iraq are a step closer to gaining con­trol of these areas.

Sale Of Grain and Potatoes To Russia

Russia has made news in other quarters by its agreement with the U.S. to buy about $1 billion worth of wheat and potatoes in the next couple of years. The wheat purchase, alone worth about $750 million, represents about one fourth of the entire U.S. output for one year! The purchase has been made necessary by failure of the Soviet crops to reach their anticipated yields, and a commitment of the government to increase the protein in their citizens’ diet by 25 in the next 5 years. Although the “breadbasket” of the U.S.S.R. is several times the size of the fertile plains region in the U.S., it has less rain and less efficient farm management. Consequently it Produces less than half the output of the U.S. farms.

The steadily improving diet of the average citizen of this far northern power will no doubt what his desire for still more. The flesh is never satisfied, least of all the belly. It only requires a reversal of this improving trend to create great pressures within that could drive them forth in search of the needed commodities.

Frequently in our discussions of the prophecy of Ezekiel chapter 38, we place heavy emphasis upon the strategic importance of the Middle East, particularly Israel. This is seen as the lure that brings “Gog, of the land of Magog” against the mountains of Israel. The text, however, makes it quite plain that Gog’s thoughts are upon the spoil to be gotten from the people. We are told, in verses 10-13, that he thinks an “evil thought” and while he does come against those who dwell in “the center” of the land, perhaps a recognition of this strategic importance, his primary purpose is plunder. This does not seem to be another Hungarian takeover, it is an outright conquest like that to be expected of the Babylonians or Assyrians of a past age.

Though it is protested by -Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof,” it is Adonai Yahweh, “He who will be the Kings,” who defeats Gog upon the mountains of Israel and is by this act sanctified in the eyes of a previously unbelieving world.

There is not much time left in this dispensation. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Labor now that your faith may be found genuine, and that you may find rest in the day of the overthrow of the enemies of our God and His Christ.

“The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:20,21.

About 750 years after Isaiah made this divinely inspired observation, Jesus in His Mount Olivet prophecy gave His disciples a projection in history using the same figure of speech. “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking for those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of Heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21:25,26. That this statement related to world wide conditions just prior to His second coming is confirmed by the following verse—”Then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, with power and great Glory.”

If we are correct in our understanding of prophetic terminology the sun represents political power, the moon ecclesiastical influence and the stars individuals in high authority in the political heavens. Following this symbolic principle the sea represents all the elements of human society, in this case in a state of extreme agitation—”The sea and the waves roaring”. As Bible students we are greatly interested in the underlying factors which cause this violent action whose byproduct is the casting up of “mire and dirt”. We feel quite confident the answer is that the “perplexity” mentioned in the Mt. Olivet prophecy is God-generated. The resulting frustration in man’s inability to arrive at any solution for his complex problems makes the following verse so completely relevant: “men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth”.

Human society is broadly organized on the following lines—political, social, economic and religious. Notice as we review the current press releases how every phase of human activity is affected by this turbulence in the sea of nations.

First of all let us take a look at the present political scene. The U.S. News and World Report of June 26, has an analysis of American foreign policy by President Richard Nixon entitled “The Real Road to Peace”. This is an exclusive article and is considered to be of particular significance because of the possibility of his re-election and the perspective it gives regarding the President’s personal political philosophy. Mr. Nixon speaks about “a new foreign policy for a new world” and reviews the summit talks which took place with China and the Soviet Union. In this long and comprehensive article he gives a detailed pro­jection of his hopes and plans for the future.

The President closes his treatise with these remarks. “We pursue peace as an end in itself. But our goal is something more. For the peace we seek is an essential pre-condition if man is to pursue those great humane ideals that are rooted in our religious heritage and have inspired our highest civilizations. In seeking to prevent war, we seek also to make possible those advances in human well­being, in the arts, science and philosophy, in the enriching of human experience, that define men’s highest destiny here on earth. If we succeed in building a lasting structure of peace, not peace alone but a chance for mankind to fulfill this higher destiny will be the monument of our success”.

We do not question Mr. Nixon’s sincerity or his motivation, but we are sure that many readers of United States News and World Report will remember “with perplexity” the previous (June 19th) issue which states the Nixon administration propose to speed development of a new type submarine armed with a more sophisticated nuclear missile system. A supersonic bomber will also go into production and an anti-ballistic missile ring may be built around the Nation’s capitol.

The administration proposes to maintain the United States troop commitment in Europe at its present level of 300,000 men. The size of the armed forces, in spite of some reduction, would still be more than two million. Defense spending if the present administration plans materialize will rise to about 75.6 billions in the fiscal year of 1973. These statistics seem to indicate that in the President’s search for “The Real Road to Peace” he finds it expedient to swim with one foot on the bottom.

Sometimes it is hard for the average citizen to grasp the staggering potential destruction in atomic weaponry. Senator John Stennis of Mississippi points out that one Poseidon submarine with its on-target missiles could destroy one quarter of Soviet industry. He adds that ten B-52 bombers could destroy about forty percent of its manufacturing capability and fifty Minutemen missiles could wipe out one half the production capacity of the Soviet Union. The overkill insurance maintained by the United States seems fantastic in the light of the following figures. This country has 41 Poseidon or Polaris submarines, 457 B-52 bombers and one thousand Minutemen in active service.

If statistics were available we are sure that the Soviet Union’s offensive and defensive capability would parallel that of the United States. Mr. Nixon makes it very clear that he considers “The Real Road to Peace” must be based on balance of power diplomacy. His recent visits to China and Russia have been in pursuit of that policy.

Let us now look at the back-drop against which “The Real Road to Peace” must be played. It is a world of tension and fear. If we had a world globe and gave it a spin and stopped it with our finger we would find that any land mass touched would be a trouble spot. Problem areas are universal today and the “sea and the waves” roar continually. The Middle-East which is so prophetically significant to us is in constant turmoil. At this writing Israel is conducting punitive forays across the Lebanese border and Egypt’s President Sadat continues to threaten a war of recovery of Israeli occupied territory. The escalation of the Vietnam war is a festering wound in the world scene. Even the smaller countries are subject to the general pattern of misery and death. Ireland still struggles with her bloody factional dispute and Burundi, one of the tiniest nations in Africa, is decimated by the deliberate and systematic reduction of one of its tribes. More than one hundred thousand of its people have died since April in this little publicized conflict.

The economic outlook is also that of a “troubled sea”. The imbalance in the haves and have not seems insurmountable. The contrast between the starving people of India and the affluent American is so apparent that it needs no comparison. Economists declare the race between an expanding population and dwindling resources can only end in disaster for humanity. The pollution of the environment is compounded as the population grows and Isaiah’s words “The wicked are like a troubled sea, when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt” though undoubtedly symbolic, can in a sense take on a literal connotation. Environmentalists say that unless a solution can be found, civilization will eventually be buried in its own waste.

The monetary markets of the world were upset this week by the decision of Britain to let its money standard, the pound, float (find its own valuation level). The pound sterling is international currency and repercussions in financial systems all over the world have already taken place. The European Common Market in particular will require drastic adjustments to accommodate Britain’s new monetary policy. We quote John Cuniff in an Associated Press release—”For many months the world’s great trading nations have been seeking monetary reform based on agreements to maintain currency values. Fixed values it is felt, are necessary to provide confidence for trade. Britain’s failure to maintain the value of its currency represents a defeat for the entire trading world. Since major nations are traders, most will eventually be affected, mainly adversely”.

The old standards no longer apply. There was a time, not so long ago, when you went to your doctor for a check up and heard him say “You’re as sound as a dollar” you knew you were in good shape. Not so today! A statement like that today would require a prescription to go along with it.

Let us now turn our attention to the social order in which we live. The depressing thing about a survey of this phase of our article is the fact that the more affluent and progressive a nation becomes the more it corrupts itself with wanton interests. The moral fiber of a nation is demonstrated by its art, music, literature and the quality of its entertainment. We are told we live in a changing world. This is obvious, but we ask has the world been improved by the new, uninhibited freedom demanded and obtained by this present generation? Has it brought true happiness, security and contentment? Are we unrealistic when we point out that the greater part of today’s literature, art, music and entertainment is commercialized to serve one purpose—the stimulation of the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life”, 1 John 2:16? Isaiah is so right—”The wicked are like a troubled sea, when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt”. “Mire and dirt” how appropriate this phrase is !

It might be supposed in the great and varied field of religion we should be able to find something inspirational. It certainly is impressive when evangelists fill huge stadiums with thousands of sincere people, many of whom at the end of the service claim a “born again” experience. But there is a great tragedy here—the tragic oversimplification of the Gospel of Christ. The spirit of ecumenism has de-emphasized essential doctrine as comprehended in “the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ”, Acts 8:12, and has substituted the nebulous, democratic principle of the brotherhood of man and the universality of all religious concepts.

This was not the religious stance of the First Century Church. Paul sternly and emphatically warns the Galatians “Though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed”. Galatians 1:8

We will also do well to keep in remembrance the identity and history of great Harlot mother “in whom was found the blood of the prophets and saints and of all that were slain upon the earth”, Rev. 18:24. She has assumed a benign and pious attitude in these last days as she endeavors with ecumenical blandishments to bring her daughters within her sphere of influence. This is the ancient enemy of the true church throughout Christian history. This is that great system—”whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of His coming”. 2 Thess. 2:8

There may be a tendency on the part of the Bible student to concentrate on the affairs of the Mid-East and fail to give this important area of prophecy the consideration it deserves. There are certain “watch” words that have been used in the past to stimulate interest in the signs of the times. Watch Israel and Watch Russia are frequently heard and who can deny the significance of these great prophetic signposts. We must recognize, however, that prophetically the Bible has much more to say about Rome than it does about Russia.

Roman Babylon’s present role in the world scene is subtle and deceptive. She plays the part of the virtuous peacemaker. The Pope as the head of this great system endeavors by pleading for peace among all people to create the image of “prince of peace”. He offers his influence as the spiritual head of five hundred million people to mediate the disputes and problems of the world’s inhabitants. The Roman Church is an experienced deceiver and as the initiator of world wide ecumenism she is conditioning the nations for acceptance of her leadership against the day of the coming of the King of Kings and LORD of LORD. Let us never forget Rome in our prophetic considerations. Watch Israel–Watch Russia—and Watch Rome!

What shall we say in summation? The most appropriate thought that suggests itself to the writer is to reverently say “Thank God for the Truth”. An understanding of God’s purpose has enabled us to escape the “perplexity” which confuses the world’s population. Our hearts do not fail us for fear “and for looking for those things which are coming on the earth”.

It seems reasonable that there should be reciprocation on our part for God’s goodness toward us. What can we do to show how grateful we are that our eyes have been opened to see the Way, the Truth and the Life? The answer must be found in the heart and conscience of each individual.

How many talents has God given you? Not many ?—Don’t be discouraged. Our Heavenly Father has left the evaluation of talents in the hands of His son, Jesus. He knows every member of his Household and all members are important to him and have something they can contribute that will be acceptable to him. Remember the principle Jesus brought to the attention of his disciples as he observed the widow cast her two mites into the temple Treasury—”she of her want did cast in all that she had, Even all her living“. Mark 12:44 Total commitment—in the treasury of the Lord. Think about it!

The great importance of Signs of the Times of these latter days, cannot be overemphasized. Present conditions in our world, were predicted by the Prophets of Israel, by the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Apostles. Think of it, events prophesied several thousand years ago, are now being fulfilled in our day. How remarkable it is, that the words of Jesus long ago, concerning conditions to prevail on the earth, just prior to his return, are prevalent now. They are signs of his coming in power and great glory.

The world needs greatly, the presence of a divine ruler, who will solve all of the problems of today. In this way, God will intervene in the affairs of men, as He has done in the past. We have this assurance in many parts of Scripture. Our faith is strengthened, that in the immediate future, God will manifest His presence in the earth again. Listen to the significant words of Jesus, in Luke 17:26, 27, “As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” Here Jesus drew a parallel between conditions on earth just before the flood and the time that God again intervenes in man’s affairs. Jesus also, drew a parallel between conditions that existed in Sodom and Gomorrah and the destruction that followed, with fire and brimstone, by saying, “Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” The Lord gives an indictment of our generation. We should note with concern, that our times reflect the attitudes and ways of the people of the days of Noah and Lot Violence filled the earth in Noah’s day, and it characterizes our days. This violence is brought right into our homes by the means of Television. This century has seen two world wars, with all the attendant misery. In between, there has been continual warfare between other countries.

The senseless fighting in Vietnam for many years, with terrible loss of life and suffering, testify to the evil in the world. But this is merely a testing ground of East against West, before a direct confrontation.

Then the bitter hatred and human animosity in the strife in Bangladesh, is a tragic example of man’s inhumanity to man. Further, the horror and violence in the civil war in Ulster, Northern Ireland, between Catholic and Protestant, (both nominal Christians) brings forcibly to our attention, how evil and frustrating are the ways of man.

We live in a changed world. Events of supreme magnitude, crowd upon one another with breath-taking speed. One hundred years ago, men lived as they had for centuries, simple lives, with agriculture as the principal occupation. People lived principally in small towns and had few needs. Then came discoveries and inventions and with them, industrialization. We have the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy (Dan. 12) of the increase of knowledge in the time of the end of man’s rule on the earth. The discovery and development of many things, such as the steam engine, the printing press, electric lights, railroads, telephones, wireless telegraph, automobiles, airplanes, radio, television, atomic power, and many others. People have left the farms and have gone to live in large cities. On every hand we feel the impact of change. Especially so in the past 30 years, since World War 2. Conquests of the earth, sea and sky have brought mighty upheavals in the political, social and religious worlds. As a result we have realized the fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel 12:1, “There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was, since there was a nation . . . “. Previously, a war between two countries, affected only the principals. But now, it is the concern of all the world, all nations are involved, because their economies are so closely interwoven. With atomic and hydrogen bombs, guided missiles and chemical warfare available, all are vulnerable to attack.

We have truly reached that time that was prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ, in Luke 21:25-26, “Upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with Power and great glory.”

Scientific achievement has brought to man evil instead of good, because of the misapplication of these things. We find in 2nd Timothy chanter 3, a prediction of the evil times in which we live.

“This know also. that in the last days perilous times shall come.” Then follows a list of the evil conditions that prevail at the present time. Please read them and compare with our day. Now someone may say, “What’s wrong today? Our world has a certain respectability. The majority of the people are good, law abiding citizens and are well meaning.” But how does the situation agree with God’s Word? How many people obey the command of Jesus and “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. ?” Most people have no time for this, they are too busy pursuing the things that perish.

What are some of the signs of the times that tell us that we are indeed in the final days prior to the return of Christ? They are very evident, since the entire fabric of human society is affected.

Crime has reached alarming proportions, especially among the young. Juvenile delinquency is one of the greater problems of today. This has been compounded by the increasing use of drugs and alcohol. Much of this can be attributed to disinterested parents, who do not want to be bothered or concerned with the proper training of young people. In order to support the expensive habit, young people resort to stealing and to major crime. Coupled with this, unemployment has reached the high figure of between 6 and 7 per cent, especially high among the poor and minority groups.

There is an amazing population explosion in all countries, especially so in poor, illiterate areas. It is becoming very difficult to produce enough food to supply so many millions of people. Even in affluent countries, there are large sections of the underprivileged who do not have enough to eat each day.

In the schools, the knowledge that is imparted, concerns only the wisdom of man. Divine wisdom is excluded. God’s Word is not read or studied. Instead, the teaching of evolution is studied. As a result, there is no respect for God or His laws. No thankfulness or praise for the Almighty. The churches are of no help, since they do not speak of the promises of God, or the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God on earth. As a result, young and old are affected by a so-called new morality that has swept the world.

Quick marriage, easy divorce, then remarriage, have created untold problems, especially for children. Other serious problems, not to be mentioned at this time, confront society. Instead of finding time for God in their lives, the average persons devote their attention to various kinds of sport activity. Millions are in attendance in large stadiums to watch professional athletes perform. Millions go daily to the track to place bets on horses. In this way, millions of dollars are spent in gambling, while untold sick and elderly people are in great need.

Then there is the problem of the Jew, the greatest sign of the times, of all. Driven out of his land of Israel over 25 centuries ago, because of disobedience, it was prophesied that he would return in the latter days. We have witnessed a partial fulfillment of this prophecy in our day. Before World War I, there was a very small number of Jews in the land. However, today there are around 3 million Jews in Israel. In order to fulfill the prophecy in its entirety all must be re-gathered from every nation in the world. Jews returning to Israel, have gone there in unbelief, not having accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their future King. But we have the assurance that when he returns, they will acknowledge him as their deliverer and King. Meanwhile, the Jew is still persecuted in many lands, especially in Russia. This is driving many to Israel, as it did in Hitler’s Germany, when 6 million Jews were slain. But the time to “favor Zion” has come and the establishment of God’s kingdom over all the earth, will be the means of solving all existing problems for both Jew and Gentile.

One more thought. Bible students have been wondering about the place that China will occupy in the final crisis of nations. The recent visit of President Nixon to China has emphasized this. Surely there must be a place for this vast region that is peopled by at least 600 million. In Daniel’s prophecy, the great image portraying the kingdoms of men, had a latter day phase. (Daniel 2:42-43) He It is sad to note, that the majority of the describes the toes of the feet of the image as part of iron and part of clay. The iron and the miry clay shall mingle themselves with the seed of men, but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. It is probable that Russia is the iron element which is strong. The weaker element of clay then being China These two great powers have much in common. They are both communistic in government, they are governed by Dictators and they are atheistic. However, there is much jealousy between them and also hatred. While the role that China is to play is not definitely outlined in Scripture, we may be sure that she will oppose Christ and the Saints at Jerusalem. The Prophet Joel (3:1) informs us that the Lord “will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat.” Further, the Prophet Zechariah (14:1) “Behold the day of the Lord cometh . . . For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle.”

All of the peoples and nations that remain after the judgments of God are out poured, will be among those that go up to Jerusalem year by year to worship. The law shall go forth from Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. God has decreed that all the earth shall be filled with His glory. In Revelation 4:11 we read, “Thou art worthy 0 Lord, to receive glory and honour and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

The Almighty has invited us to share in the blessings promised. May we be among those who will be given the gift of eternal life in His soon coming Kingdom.

February has been an interesting month for Bible students with an eye on the world’s political scene. The president of the United States has been to China and returned. “The week that changed the world,” he said. Others were not so confident, but whatever the personal opinion of the trip’s outcome, one thing was clear: President Nixon was the first American President to ever visit mainland China. In some way that is a significant event.

Other nations view it as a significant event, too. Taiwan, the home of the Nationalist Chinese, is distinctly worried. For them the trip seems to be handwriting on the wall. The warming of relations between China and the rest of the World poses difficult questions for the major powers. There is a scurrying about going on as nations try to form favorable alliances. The Soviets are worried about a U.S.-Red China alignment against them. They also fear a Japan-Red China alliance. Europe’s future is once more seen in an uncertain light. She depends heavily on U.S. military might as a deterrent to Soviet expansion. With the U.S. apparently interested in retraction of global responsibility, not expansion, Europe may be thrust on its own defenses more than ever before.

We do not know, of course, all of what has been agreed to between the governments of America and Red China, but the U.S. is responding to what it has called “the political realities” which means to me, China exists and is a growing power, useful to have in a balance of power against Russia. The trade agreements are an important factor to China’s economic development, and the U.S. offer seems to indicate that this country has begun to back away from its staunch anticommunist position. The retreat is an example of the principle of expediency in operation. It is now expedient to recognize a political system which was once strongly denounced, even though it has not changed in nature and goal from its inception. It is precisely this sort of power play that will undoubtedly find it expedient in the “interests of peace” to dis­continue supplying Israel with military goods.

What is said about China in prophecy? Is there anything we can learn that may guide our expectations in the coming months? The only known reference that might be a reference to China, occurs in Isa. 49:12.

“Behold, these shall come from far: and lo, these from the north, and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.”

It is not known just where Sum is, or was. Both the RSV and the NEB render the word Syene. although the RSV does identify this translation as a construction, and gives the Hebrew word Sinim in the footnotes.

The Septuagint translates the word Person, in the Greek, or Persians. We learn from the commentators that some have thought Sinim denotes the Sinese, Chinese. Some weight is lent to this idea by the fact that the Arabian form of China is Sin, and the Syrians referred to them as the Tsini. In fact the 4th Dynasty of China, c. 249-206 BC, was known as Tschin, from which some think the name Sinese came. The laws of Menu also mention a people called the Tshinas. Kitto, in his commentary, cites the above evidence as that behind Gesinius view that Sinim did refer to the Chinese.

The view favored by the RSV and NEB, converting Sinim to Syene, identifies a city in ancient Egypt, also known by the name Aswan, toward the southern border. Ezekiel makes reference to Syene in chapter 29:10 and 30:6, where the usage indicates the city is in the south of Egypt, near the Ethiopian border.

One other view suggests that Sinim refers to Sin-Pelusim, a city also in Egypt, but in the north. This view holds the Sinim to be simply the Egyptians referred to by the name of their city. The context of Isa. 49:12 seems to require the location of Sinim at some distance, either to the south or east. Egypt does not seem to fill the distance requirement very well. The Septuagint rendering of Persians, is more distant and in an appropriate direction, but we have no information as to why they identified Sinim with Persia. The answer may yet be learned. But whatever the exact identity of the land of Sinim, the sense of Isaiah’s testimony is the same, that Israel will indeed be regathered from all corners of the world when the time to favor Zion is fully come.

Earlier I mentioned that the U.S. policy of expediency might find it inconvenient to keep Israel supplied (militarily) in the future. The significance of this sort of action would be clear. Israel will be left to its own devices in future clashes with the Arab powers. There has been much discussion of the course of events yet to befall Israel and I would now like to consider a point or two from Daniel 11:40 45.

We note here in verse 40 that there are at least two parties involved in the action described; The king of the South who “pushes”, and the king of the North, who may or may not be the one “pushed” at. Various suggestions have been made about the pronouns he and him in this verse (v40). Some have interpreted the him as Israel, others have said the king of the north, while brother Thomas in “The Exposition of Daniel” has identified him as the little horn of the Goat-Power, or the remaining Greco-Roman power of his day, which was Turkey. The Turkish empire, then in a state of rapid decline, was seen to be the existing power on the site of the old Seleucid kingdom of the Syrians, who were the original power called the “king of the north” earlier in Daniel 11.

If this last is correct, then there are three parties in the final activity, the King of the South, the King of the North, and the little horn—power referred to as “him.” We thus have the king of the South pushing at “him.” Then the king of the North comes against “him” with a great rush, like a whirlwind . . . “and the land of Egypt shall not escape” — v42. In the process, Israel is invaded, but the sweep of the invader carries him to Egypt, where he is located when the “tidings” out of the north and out of the east (two places?) trouble him. This is a three-party situation. The essential difference between the two party view and the above is in the posture of the king of the north. In the two-party view, the king of the north is the “him,” who reacts to the king of the south’s push by arising in a rush. In the three-party view, the king of the north waits until the little horn power is attacked, then moves in to subdue both the little horn and the king of the south.

Can we identify these participants among the nations? The king of the south was once the Ptolemaic kingdom of Egypt. This site still seems appropriate for this identity to be retained. Egypt is most likely the king of the South. If we look closely at the problem of deciding whether there are one or two other parties in the action, we realize it makes little difference to the outcome. The old Seleucid kingdom site, the original king of the north, incorporates modern day Syria. If Syria is to be the latter day king of the north in this prophecy, then she must greatly enlarge her forces in order to be appropriately described as a whirlwind of armies, ships, chariots and horse men. This could occur, but it seems more likely that the phrase “king of the north” recognizes Israel’s larger, more northerly enemy, Russia, who waits for trouble to occur before making her move.

In either case Egypt must in some way “push!” Notice also that in Daniel 11, the king of the south is always in opposition to the king of the north. This hardly describes the Egyptian position! Further, the nature of the “push” is almost certainly that of a military nature. A conflict between Egypt and Russia, started by Egypt is hard to visualize. It might be an attempt to free herself from Soviet control, in a way similar to the Hungarian revolts in 1956, but it looks more like an outright military thrust. A conflict among the Arabs seems more likely, but notice, that Israel is still there when the “push” occurs! But think what a change must first occur in Egypt’s views to attack Syria in preference to Israel.

I would like to say more but I cannot. Where does this take us? Right into the stage of the closing acts of this world’s play. The world picture daily becomes more complicated, national roles are in continual flux. “Times of trouble such as never was” are easier to envision. What is not changing is the sure word of prophecy. The stage is well marked and the curtain is about to go up on the final act. When it comes down, will you be among those who still stand ?