As The Tidings goes to press this month, things have quieted down almost to a hush in the Formosa area. After a six-week shelling from Red entrenchments on the mainland, the Communists ordered a seven-day cease-fire order. At the end of the ceasefire period, a two-week extension was granted, which gave the Nationalists opportunity to land sufficient supplies to last for several months.
This move on the part of the Communists was puzzling to both the Chinese Nationalists and the United States. For some undisclosed reason, the Reds have given the Nationalists time and opportunity to build the defences stronger than they ever have been. Some speculations have been ventured as to just why such a move was made. The Nationalists seem to think that this is a propaganda move to separate them from the United States.
Before the first cease-fire order was made, Chiang Kai-shek urged the United States to permit him to bomb the mainland. This was the only way, he argued, that the bombing of Quemoy could be brought to an end. The United States feared that if permission were granted, the Reds would certainly retaliate by bombing the island from the air.
Were this to happen, the United States would be duty-bound to step in and defend the island and possibly be plunged into an open war with Red China. While this problem was being debated, the shelling of Quemoy was brought to an end.
Officials in the United States, at news of the two-week extension, were hopeful that the ceasefire order might become permanent. Winter, too, is coming on, and there is thought that the Reds considered the taking of Quemoy, at least at this time, an impossibility. There is also speculation that the Communists are planning another “brink of war” campaign elsewhere.
Last month The Tidings mentioned that there was an ever-increasing tendency on the part of Russia to bring the nations to the very point of war and then backing down. Just before the ceasefire order, Nikita Khrushchev “proclaimed softly that the U S.S.R. would come to the aid of Red China only in the event of “an attack from without.” Presumably this meant the United States.
At this announcement, the cease-fire was ordered and Red China’s Defence Minister Peng Teh-huai proposed peace talks with the Nationalists. China’s quick response to Russian decisions certainly indicate that she will be numbered among that great band that descends like a storm to cover the land. Her 475 millions will form a very substantial segment of the latter day confederacy destined for the terrible judgements of Almighty God.
The great numbers and the military might of their armies will be absolutely futile against the fiery judgements of God as He comes out of His place to punish the high ones of the earth. Isaiah declares, “For, behold the Lord will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh ; and the slain of the Lord shall be many” (Isa. 66:15,16).
So many, in fact, that the earth will not be able to hide them; “For behold the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain” (Isa. 26:21).
In Lebanon, one of the tensest moments yet to come upon the war-torn nation is just quieting down. The Christian community, angered by the abduction of a Christian journalist, erupted into a violent protest against the new government. To add fuel to the already blazing resentment between the Moslems and the Christians, President Chehab appointed Rashid Karami to the position of Premier.
Resentment was enflamed inasmuch as Karami had led the rebel resistance in Tripoli and, according to his own words, was an ardent admirer of Nasser. According to an “unwritten constitution” the Moslem communities agreed not to merge with other Arab states, while the Christians promised to refrain from too close association with the Western powers.
President Chehab’s determination to remain independent may pave the way for United States evacuation of Lebanon, although recent street fighting seems to indicate a longer stay, at least temporarily. As this article is being written, the United States plans to pull out of the small nation by the end of October, in spite of an impending threat of outbreak between the Christians and the Moslems.
The British in Jordan, too, hope to evacuate that precarious region by month’s end along with the U.S. Their stay in Jordan, however, may be prolonged at least until substantial assurance of safety can be procured from the United Arab Republic. President Hussein is desperate in his attempts to keep the 4000 British troops in his country.
In the United States, the Lunar probe has instigated more interest and enthusiasm than any other missile test since the Russians first put their moon into orbit. Although the test was technically a failure, scientists described it as “the most successful failure ever made.”
valuable scientific data concerning outer space have been relayed back to the earth as the rocket described a huge elliptic which took it almost 80,000 miles away from its origin. Had the fourth rocket engine not failed, the satellite might have been put into orbit around the earth. Another test is scheduled “soon.”
Whether man will ever succeed in getting a payload to the moon seems to depend on just how long it will be before Christ returns. The Scriptures appear to be absolutely silent about space travel, a fact which is certainly significant. From those texts having to do with the time of His return, there doesn’t seem to be any indication that man will achieve his quest of reaching the moon. It might be pointed out, however, that even if some nation were successful in reaching the moon and placing a station on it, there would not be any breach in the harmony of the Scriptures concerning man’s habitation of the earth.
We say this because the moon is inseparately linked with the earth, being in its gravitational field. Were it not for the intense speed of the moon in its orbit around the mother planet, the gravitational attraction of the earth would soon bring it plunging to her in cataclysmic devastation.
As one views the disturbing events transpiring on the earth in fulfilment of Divine prophecy, it is apparent that the time for man’s venture into outer space is too short. If there is to be space travel, it will probably have to wait until the Kingdom of God is established, when peace and happiness is proclaimed throughout the habitable globe and when man can apply his ingenuity to the pursuit of peaceful scientific achievements, under the protecting hand of an all-wise, all-powerful and all-discerning Deity.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One