“Ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matt. 16:3) The Lord Jesus Christ spoke these words of reproof to the Pharisees and Sadducee’s They were proud of their ability to predict the weather from the observance of conditions in the skies. However, in the much more important interpretation of the times of their day, they were lacking totally. Here they were, leaders of the people of Israel, but they were unable to realize that the Son of God and Israel’s king was in their midst. That the Saviour of the world was manifested and was performing miracles and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. So Jesus condemned them as “blind leaders of the blind,” and foretold their coming destruction.
Conditions in the world today are similar to those of the first century. Most people give little or no attention to the Bible and its prophesies of the future. The leaders, both ecclesiastical and political, attach no importance to GOD’S Word, and its message for today. It is again the case of the “blind leading the blind.” However, Jesus foretold the conditions that were to prevail over all the earth in our day, just prior to his return. (Matt. 24 & Luke 21.) Violence filled the earth in the days of Noah, bringing God’s judgment in the Flood, which destroyed the antediluvian world of the ungodly. Now violence is rampant in the earth as never before. Major crime is increasing at alarming proportions, as is immorality and drug addiction. Graft and corruption among governmental officials at all levels, has brought public confidence down to a low ebb. Over all of these ills, there is the continual threat of nuclear war, which could kill millions. Is survival possible? What can be done to reverse these evil trends? Is it possible for man of himself to accomplish this.? Even though man has made great advances in technology and in other fields, he is still unable to govern himself. But the time is approaching rapidly, when it will be done for him forcibly. The prophet Isaiah speaks of this, (26:9) “For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” Immortal rulers, Christ and the saints, will bring Divine rulership to the world, with God’s blessing to all mankind.
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has spent a great amount of time recently, in travelling to and from foreign capitols. He has visited and revisited London. Paris, Bonn, Moscow, Peking, Jerusalem, Cairo and Damascus. The need for this is apparent. The focus of disarmament and arms limitation has shifted almost entirely from the United Nations framework to bilateral relations between the two super powers, the United States and the Soviet Union. The growing problem of the increasing flood of military weapons, and equipment in the world are secondary to issues such as the nuclear test ban or limitation of the strategic nuclear arms race. The conferences have been known as Strategic Arms Limitation Talks or Salt. One analyst has summarized the talk results as a failure to agree on any formula. Left open for the time being was the question of whether U.S. missiles would be increased to the Soviet level, the Soviet missiles reduced to the American level or both sides reduced to some lower level. Since the two sides failed to agree, Kissinger’s Moscow trip apparently did not lay the foundation for a new SALT treaty signing when President Nixon visits Moscow in June, 1974.
Meanwhile, Russia has been supplying arms to the Arab countries and the United States has been supplying arms to both Israel and some of the Arabs. It is easy to see how inconsistent this is. On the one hand, planning and working for peace, while feverishly manufacturing the weapons of war for supply to other nations. Surely a fulfillment of the words of Jeremiah’s prophecy, “Evil shall go forth from nation to nation.” Then the sequel, “The Lord hath a controversy with the nations, He will plead with all flesh, He will give them that are wicked to the sword.” (Jer. 25:31.) How different is the picture presented in Isaiah 2:2, “It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and all nations shall flow unto it. He will teach us of His ways and we will walk in His paths, for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” How wonderful it will be to live under this new order of things.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kissinger is still seeking a negotiated peace between the warring factions, in the Middle East. A partial success has been attained with Egypt. With the agreement for the pull back of Israeli forces in the Sinai, a disengagement of fighting forces has been reached. It was also agreed that the U.S. will pay for the reopening of the Suez Canal. The Canal to be administered by Egypt. Also a large loan of millions of dollars will be made to Egypt. So once again we see an attempt made to buy the peace. It may work for awhile, but eventually it fails. Especially so, since the Soviet Union is working continually trying to upset all efforts towards peace. We must remember that peace cannot come through human efforts, but must be by Divine working.
Meanwhile, fighting has continued on the Golan Heights in Syria, between the Arabs and Israel. Dr. Kissinger has visited Damascus and Jerusalem on several occasions, but has been followed in Damascus by Mr. Gromyko of Russia. This is of course in an effort to disrupt the efforts toward peace. Russia’s policy in the Middle East, is to keep all countries in a state of unrest and war, in order to further her policies of aggression. So in these last days of the Gentiles, we see the nations taking a vital interest in the Middle East. Not only because of the oil supplies, but also on account of the strategic position where three continent meet,
But more important than this, is the fulfillment of God’s great purpose. We read in Zechariah 14:2, “For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle. Then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.” It is the purpose of the Almighty to punish the nations that come up against His land. Thus we see the fallacy of trying to bring lasting peace through human efforts. There arc-many human obstacles in the way. Men are selfish and protect their own interests first, instead of considering the good of all.
As men go to law to enforce their rights, so nations engage in war to gain their selfish ends. So universal disarmament will be a failure and war will continue while the wickedness of man rules the earth. Very few know how God controls the nations. We learn this from the prophecy of Daniel. (2:21) “God removeth kings and setteth up kings.” Also, in Daniel 4:25, “The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.” The prophet says that at times God sets up the basest of men, that His purpose may be accomplished. In this way we can understand why men like Hitler and Mussolini were given power for a limited period of time. How then will God bring peace to the earth? The world is now in a state of emergency and all nations are involved. Perplexing problems harass all rulers and the world seethes with unrest. Peace is talked of by many, but what does the Bible say?
The Apostle Paul prophesied of these latter days, as recorded in 1st Thessalonians 5:3, “When they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction corneth upon them and they shall not escape.”
This is surely typical of our day. Because of the fear of non survival, peace and safety is the cry. The Lord Jesus Christ prophesied of our days as found in Luke 21:25, “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; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” The powers of heaven, meaning of course, the rulers in high places, ruling over the nations of the earth. These shall be shaken, overthrowing the governments of men, so that they can he replaced by Divine government. We have seen many governments overthrown in recent years, and the greatest action is yet to come.
Coincident with these conditions, we find a wonderful prophecy foretelling Christ’s return to the earth. In Luke 21:27 we read, “And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh.” So while Christ’s return will bring judgment on the ungodly, for those who are looking and waiting for him, it will bring peace and redemption. The Apostle Paul spoke of this to the people of Athens, (Acts 17:31. “God hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He bath raised him from the dead.” Only Christ can bring righteous judgment to the world.
The Divine Spirit speaking through David, prophesied of the future reign of Christ. We read this in 2 Samuel 23:3 “. . “The God of Israel said, he that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” This is where human rulers fail, they do not rule in the fear of God. Isaiah (11:2-5) in beautiful language foretold of Christ as the future king of the earth. “He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes nor reprove after the hearing of his ears, but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” With such a righteous ruler over all the earth. assisted by the saints or called out ones, a wonderful change will be made in the affairs of men.
God has invited us to inherit the kingdom and to be co-rulers with Christ in ruling the nations of mankind. He has also promised the gift of eternal life to those who are obedient. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” It is worth our every effort to attain unto the blessings that God has promised.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One