Signs Of The Times (Part 81 of 0)

Signs of the Times – Part unknown

During the last two months, the world has watched with fear and we have observed with interest the turmoil that continues in the new Russia.

While it is only one of the former republics of the Soviet Union, it is clearly the most important. The New York Times of February 28, 1991 reports that Russia is in the process of gaining control of all the nuclear weapons that once belonged to the Soviet Union. “The transfer of all short-range nuclear weapons to Russia from other former Soviet Republics will probably be completed by May, two months ahead of schedule, a senior Russian general said today. General Sergei Zelentsov, chief nuclear engineer in the Russian Defense Ministry described the new timetable for the withdrawal of the tactical warheads (mostly nuclear tipped artillery shells and short range missiles) outside of Russia.”

New dangers result

The specific plan is that all of the weapons will be collected, stored and destroyed by the end of the century. One hundred tons of weapons-grade plutonium and 400-500 tons of highly enriched uranium could be recovered from the dismantling process. This could result in the rise of new industries. The manpower is surely available; close to 1,000 nuclear trained scientists are now under employed.

The New York Times article continued, “In order to help promote peaceful use of the scientific knowledge that goes into making the arms, the Bush Administration has pledged $25 million to help establish commercial projects. By financing peaceful research on commercial projects, the Administration seeks to blunt the temptation of ex-Soviet nuclear experts to move to aspiring nuclear powers like Iran, Iraq or Libya.”

Authorities are not sure if this money and effort will be enough to dissuade the Russian scientific community from seeking greener pastures. The big question is how much longer can these scientists hold out.

The Associated Press reported on January 9, 1992 that, “A Russian scientist said yesterday that Libya has offered high-paying jobs to his colleagues at Moscow’s top nuclear institute, providing new evidence that the Soviet Union’s collapse could spread nuclear technology.” Western leaders have expressed mounting concern that the breakup of the Soviet Union and its crumbling economy could lead to the transfer of nuclear weapons — or scientists capable of building them.

Libya recently offered jobs to nuclear scientists with tempting $2,300-a-month salaries. The deputy chief of the thermonuclear department at the leading institute of atomic energy noted that “many of the specialists at our institute are pursuing with great interest the chance to work abroad.” Yevgeny N. Avrorin, the scientific leader of one of two Russian research centers for nuclear weapons design, said such temptations would be natural, but hoped “a moral threshold” against spreading nuclear technology would prevent scientists from selling their talents indiscriminately.

The leadership

An interesting trend has developed in the new Russia — the rise of the political right. This rise has been propelled by the increasing economic hardship experienced by most Russian citizens. Enormously high food prices have been in effect for two months; many have lost jobs and many more fear losing them; soldiers are poorly paid, suffer inadequate housing and face career uncertainty as a result of the disintegration of the Union. These factors have all contributed to the rise of reactionary nationalism and general discontent within Russia.

Since January 2, prices in the new Russia are up an average of 350% and standards of living have fallen dramatically. Understandably, President Yelstin’s government is under attack from both the right and left and Boris Yeltsin’s personal popularity has dropped from 60% to 20%.

On February 8, 3,000 people gathered in Manezh Square to protest against Yeltsin’s government and its initiatives. In addition, the Reds (hard-line communists) and the Browns (extreme right wingers) have organized noisy and occasionally violent demonstrations in attempts to attract support.

Aleksander Rutskoi

A former air force general, Rutskoi was instrumental in persuading the Soviet military from attacking Yeltsin during last July’s aborted coup attempt. Today, he is a Vice President in the cabinet with no duties but with a very loyal following. Should Yeltsin depart, Mr. Rutskoi is the legal successor to the presidency.

The New York Times of February 9 reported that “The Vice President was stripped of his chairmanship of five major committees after he made a series of biting attacks against the government’s plans for economic change.” The article continued to note Mr. Rutskoi’s tremendous popularity. “Mr. Rutskoi enjoys the support of army officers and managers of military industries, which have been hard hit by budget cuts.” Were it not for Mr. Rutskoi’s personal popularity, Boris Yeltsin would have expelled him rather than merely relieving him of his duties.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky

Zhirinovsky is widely seen as a pos­sible future Russian dictator, reports the Economist (February 29, 1992). His platform has earned him comparisons to Hitler. He is a fascist and ran third in the presidential election. He promotes the greatness of the Russian nation, the need for an authoritative central government and the benefits of state capitalism.

Boris Yeltsin

It has been noted by many that Yeltsin does not behave in the most democratic fashion. The Economist (Feb. 29, 1992) reports that he “rules by decree, by-passes parliament, and last year vetoed local elections in order to appoint personal representatives as local governors.” He may be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Time (March 9, 1992) reports Yeltsin himself as saying, “If Russia fails in its reforms, especially of the economy, a dictatorship will appear.”

To an unbeliever, an unusual and disturbing political alliance is quietly evolving in the world today.

It is unusual because two nations that were once diametrically opposed to one another have combined to form this alliance. It is quiet because the agreements between the two countries are just now becoming public knowledge though they have been in place for some time. They have not made bold headlines in the press. It is disturbing to many because of the changes this alliance is promoting.

To Bible students, the accord between these two countries is expected and is extremely exciting as a direct fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

The alliance is between Iran and Sudan.

Ezekiel foretold it

Ezekiel 38:5 indicates that ancient Persia, Ethiopia and Libya will be working together toward a common goal of punishing the nation of Israel. Indisputably, ancient Persia encompasses modern-day Iran. A quick glance at another chapter in Ezekiel pinpoints the location of ancient Ethiopia. “Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia” (Ezek. 29:10). Ancient Ethiopia bordered Egypt during Ezekiel’s time. Today, that ancient empire, described as Ethiopia in Ezekiel’s day, encompasses the nation of Sudan.

Iran and Sudan

Sudan, with a population of about 24 million, is the largest country in Africa. It is an extremely poor nation with an average per capita income of $400 per year. The literacy rate is only 20%. Iran (with 33 million) is like a rich parent with 40 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and a gross national product 25 times that of Sudan.

Today, Iran and Sudan are working together in pursuit of a common goal and Iran is positioning itself to become the dominant power in the Middle East.

The alliance

Two months after the visit to Sudan of Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani, hundreds of posters of Rafsanjani and the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenini remain plastered along the streets of Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan. The January 20, 1992 issue of the Toronto Globe & Mail reports that, “Sudan is pursuing a full-force Islamization program like the one that took place in Iran under the Ayatol­lah. Iran is providing Sudan with oil and weapons and is training a Muslim paramilitary force.”

The article continues, “the two countries have signed a trade agreement worth $345 million (US) a year, promising, among other things, 3.4 million barrels of oil yearly for Sudan. Iran has also started shipments of $23 million in light weapons, ammunition and military uniforms. Reports from Washington and elsewhere have said thousands of members of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards are conducting the training of approximately 85,000 members of Sudan’s Popular Defense Force.”

The February 1, 1992 Economist reports that, “The military junta in Sudan is racing to implement the first full sharia law (Islamic law) in Africa.” This is both interesting and intriguing. It is interesting because the law is being enforced in a nation where one-third of the people are Christians, not Muslims. It is intriguing because, with one exception, the implementation process has received very little notice despite the fact that the government has purged the army, the judiciary and the civil service. These changes will, no doubt, affect the balance of power in northern Africa and are certain to be causing uneasiness and alarm in the countries that border Sudan. Quite possibly, this is another example of “…let the weak say, ‘I am a warrior.” (Joel 3:10 RSV).

The next dominant power?

The December, 1991 Middle East Magazine reports that Iran is in the process of obtaining a very impressive collection of modern weapons. “An Iranian, acting as an agent for Teheran’s air force, has enjoyed a flourishing business in London, despite the British government’s closure in 1987 of Teheran’s official defense purchasing office in the capital. An organization run by the Iranian national, Hussein Ali Kazemi, has been involved with Iranian purchases of Chinese Silkworm anti-ship missiles, South African G-5 artillery systems and a range of artillery ammunition. In addition to these purchases, Iran also buys weapons from Spain and Portugal.”

The Toronto Globe and Mail reported, January 21, 1992, that “Iran has a five-year weapons acquisition plan with a budget of $50 billion (US) and has already purchased more than $300 million worth of nuclear materials for its weapons program. The weapons include 350 fighters and bombers, 20 MiG-29 fighter aircraft from the Soviet Union, more than 150 Scud missiles from North Korea, 15,000 DCA rocket launchers from Bulgaria and $5 billion worth of weapons from China. In lay terms, Iran now has more combined (albeit less sophisticated) weaponry than does Israel. Add to this the weapons possessed by Sudan and you have an impressive arsenal.

This weapons acquisition plan has not gone unnoticed and one can be sure that Israel, just having some relief over the demise of Iraq, is nervously watching the Iranian-Sudanese alliance.

Watching the Mid-East

As Bible students we know what to look for. We need not be alarmed when we see these things taking place, for they are written for our instruction. Let us continue to search the scriptures daily, for in them we have all that is needed to enthuse us in the walk for eternal life.