Every generation of believers desires to see Christ return in their day, and the present generation is no exception. Each generation looks for signs of Christ imminent return: an increase in the number of earthquakes, a peaceful resolution to the Middle East situation or an invading northern confederacy.
Yet, during the past month the signs of the times have not been encouraging and as such it seems as if Christ’s return is further away than any of us desire. This month’s article will examine the on-going Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a reduction in the military might of Russia noting both seem counter to prophecies of the last days. However, Christ has warned that his return will happen like a thief in the night and catch some unawares.
Russian military reductions
According to the New York Times, “Russia will reduce its military this year by more than 15 percent, to one million troops.” Since 1991, the Russian military has been in steady decline from 4 million soldiers to 1.2 million. According to the Times article, “President Vladimir Putin has made streamlining the military one of his main goals over opposition from many senior officers who want to keep up a large Soviet-style armed force despite the countries lack of money to support it.” Putin’s plans include trimming Russia’s military force by nearly one-third over the next three years, modernizing arsenals, gradually abolishing the draft and turning the military into a professional force.
Israel-Palestinian conflict
In early January, 2002, the Israeli government seized an aging 4,000-ton ship named Karine. The ship which had an unknown destination contained a wide assortment of weapons, which the Israeli military painstakingly cataloged. The haul from what Israeli Prime Minister Sharon called the “ship of terror” included 211 antitank mines, 735 hand grenades, and 62 122-millimeter Katyusha rockets, which have a range of 12 miles. It was not officially known for whom the cargo was intended, but the Israeli government made a strong case (backed up by the U.S. Government) that the cargo was intended for the Palestinians.
These allegations were based on the fact that most of the cargo was designed for submersible delivery. In a sign of the smugglers’ sophistication, 80 such 8-foot-long containers were found, the Israelis said, each already packed with its deadly cargo. Large objects, like mortar launchers, had been neatly cut up to fit; once ashore, the parts would be welded back together.
Claiming they drew their information from interrogation of the crew, Israeli military officials said the containers were to be dropped overboard off the Gaza Strip in the Mediterranean Sea. Several containers would be tethered together and anchored at a predetermined spot.
Alongside the weaponry, the Israelis found diving gear and inflatable boats, with 25-horsepower Yamaha outboards. Finding significance in every detail, the Israelis displayed the foot pumps used to inflate the boats. Arms smuggling, if conducted by Palestinian officials, would clearly violate agreements Yasir Arafat has signed with Israel.
A few days after the seizure of the Karine, violence returned yet again to the land. As reported in the New York Times, January 9, 2002, “Palestinian gunmen attacked an Israeli Army position in southern Israel on the border with the Gaza Strip today, killing four Israeli soldiers and wounding two others, one seriously. The gunmen also died. The attack broke a lull in violence against Israelis since Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, called for a halt to armed attacks on December 16.”
The reaction to the attacks by Israel was swift and defined. Within two days, Israeli bulldozers destroyed dozens of buildings in a Gaza refugee camp. Israel said the buildings in the Rafah refugee camp, where the two attackers lived, were used as cover for Palestinian gunmen and smugglers. Palestinians said the buildings were inhabited and hundreds of people were made homeless. The following day Israeli tanks and bulldozers tore up the runway of the Palestinian-controlled international airport in the Gaza Strip. The army also said it cut off a main road in southern Gaza, and that special forces arrested eight Palestinians wanted for arms smuggling in Rafah, a town on Gaza’s border with Egypt, and detained a Hamas militant and two gunmen in the West Bank.
As reported in the New York Times, all discussions between the Palestinians and the Israelis have been terminated. “Except for security issues, there will be no direct contact with the Palestinians…until (Arafat) arrests them, Sharon said in his speech, referring to the officials as well as gunmen who killed an Israeli cabinet minister in October. ‘Until arrests are made, Arafat will remain jailed in Ramallah and will not leave,’ he said, referring to an Israeli military blockade that has confined the Palestinian leader to the West Bank city. Sharon said the barricade could last years.”
This statement combined with the latest developments, including an announcement by the militant group Islamic Jihad that it would no longer adhere to its halt in attacks on Israel, threatened to wreck U.S. efforts to end more than 15 months of bloodshed.
Where are we going?
Where do these events leave us? Closer to the return than when we believed. As we live through these last days of Gentile times, we readily understand why the Lord warned us to be always ready, for his return will occur at an hour that we do not expect. All will be clear when we look back on God’s hand moving among the nations. Let us remain watchful and ready that we might be able to view these events from the joys of the kingdom age.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One