The following article, entitled, “The Coming Storm In The Middle East”, is a bold effort to pin-point the date for the establishment of the Kingdom of God. There have been many’ attempts in the past by various Christadelphian writers to set a date for the return of Jesus and the commencement of His reign of peace, and they have always met with failure. It is the opinion of the editorial staff of the Tidings Magazine that the task of naming the actual year in which God will set up His kingdom is an impossible one, and that the mild rebuke of Jesus to His disciples just before His ascension to the Father’s right hand still stands; “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.” (Acts 1:7) There have been so many limes when interpretations of prophetic events yet future, have been shown to be wrong. that we should always approach the uncertain details involved in the unfolding of God’s purpose with caution. You may wonder, then, just why we elected to publish the following article, when it seemingly attempts to do what we consider impossible. The reason is simply that it is a well thought out arrangement of future events, and its thought-provoking challenge is certain to stimulate our readers about a subject that should constantly fill our prayers.
In Matthew 24:32, 33 Jesus s a y s: “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” In the marginal references, “it” is translated “he” so that the context would read “he” is near, even at the doors.
In this chapter Jesus is telling his disciples of his return, and in this parable he tells of the coming Kingdom of God. Israel is the fig tree and it has grown much in the past seventy years, or since 1897, and Jesus is saying that the Kingdom of God will be set up here on the earth at a certain point in the growth of this fig tree. The budding branches are a sign that Israel will yet flourish, and the summer of God’s kingdom is nigh. The budding of this fig tree started in August, 1897 when the first Zionist Congress met at Basel, Switzerland, and founded the World Zionist Organization. This was principally through the efforts of one man, a Jew by the name of Theodore Herzl from Hungary. The World Zionist Organization had but one duty to perform, that was simply to return the Jews to their national home in Palestine. Thus the budding of the fig tree was started, and it takes a fig tree ninety days to come into full leaf, from spring until summer (actually the fruit appears before the leaves). If we use the formula of a day for a year, then the Kingdom of God will be established on the earth in 1987 when the fig tree is in full leaf, or ninety years from 1897 when the Zionist movement was started. There are approximately twenty years of this prophecy left, and we know that tremendous events will take place in these twenty years, events that will overshadow all that have happened prior to this time in the history of the world.
The Israelites at present are established in their own land and their own nation, 2,600,000 of them. After World War II the Zionist movement became a stampede, and the parable of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 became a reality. The bones came together and formed a skeleton, and flesh and skin came upon these bones. But there was no breath in them. Israel today is that skeleton with flesh and skin upon its bones but no breath in it. It is spiritually dead, and will have no spiritual life until it is “tried by fire”, and Christ returns, when it will recognize him as its King.
Today, the Israelites, or Jews as they are more commonly known, dwell in the land unaware that they have been driven back to their homeland by God. The purges in Europe and persecution in other parts of the world have accomplished this. The American Jews have not gone back because they have not been driven back. They are not persecuted and are well-to-do, but they have been useful in supplying money to those who did go back, money needed t o finance their young nation. No, the fig tree is not yet in full leaf, but the time of the end is soon coming—the end of Gentile times and the setting up of the Kingdom of God here upon the earth, with Christ as King and the Gospel or good news preached by Jesus and his apostles.
The Jews today have not only returned to their homeland, but they have made land that was mostly barren bloom as a rose. They have taken water from the sea of Galilee and piped it down to the Negev, a desert land to the south, and made this land flourish. This has enraged the Arabs of Jordan, because in doing this the Jews have lowered the level in the sea of Galilee. Water to an Arab is a very precious resource and they are hostile about this loss of water to the Jews. As a matter of fact, the Jews have moved so much water to the Negev that it has rained there where rain was unheard of before at that time of year.
So the Jew lives in his homeland, confident in the arm of flesh and unaware that the hand of God is guiding his destiny. But he still lives in an atmosphere of tension, because today Israel is an armed camp. The farmer drives his tractor with one hand while the other holds a gun. The surrounding Arab nations, jealous and full of hatred, wait for an opportunity to exterminate the small nation of Israel. Russia, when it moves against Israel, moves against a land of unwalled villages and a peaceful people, and Israel is not like that today. War must come between the Jews and Arabs, with the Jews winning an overwhelming victory. If you will look at the map, you will see a large portion of Jordan extending across the Jordan river and into Israel; likewise the Arabs control one-half of Jerusalem. Israel’s borders have to be established at the Jordan river, because the mountains on which Russia is destroyed are spoken of in Ezekiel 39:2 as the mountains of Israel, not Jordan; and described in Zechariah 12 is a notable prophecy soon to be fulfilled in the retaking of old Jerusalem. The great overthrow of Bozrah in Isaiah 63:1-6; 34:6; and Joel 3:19 all deal with the coming retribution on Edom, Moab, Ammon and Mt. Seir which make up present day Jordan. Once the Arabs have been decisively defeated, and Israel’s border restored at the Jordan river, then they relax and dwell safely in a land of unwalled villages; a land that is referred to in Ezekiel 38:8 as having been brought back from the sword, or in other words from war with the Arabs.
The state of nations today is one of fear, fear of Russia and her growing might. The United States has taken up the mantle of the defender of the west and is spending billions of dollars annually to stop the spread of communism all over the world. Since World War II the United States has spent 135 billion dollars in foreign aid, and it has gained them very little. Communism still spreads over the whole world. The United States is kept busy spending money, and men are trying to plug the leaks that crop out in the western world’s defense. They are trying to build a ring of missile bases around Russia with atomic submarines and bases in foreign countries, but still Russian influence moves on. All this is leading the United States to economic ruin. The people in this country have enjoyed a reign of twenty years of plenty: plenty of money, jobs, food, good times, etc. But still the national debt rises. An indication of fear and unrest in the United States is the race and labor troubles, both stirred by communism.
In England it is even worse. Today, England, once the proud ruler of the seas and a mighty nation, is a second-rate power. It has lost many of its colonies from which much of its wealth was derived, and instead of being the greatest naval power it is now third. All this has come about because it opposed the return of the Jews to Palestine. God has declared concerning this people: “I will curse him that curseth thee” (Genesis 12:3); also: “Israel was holiness unto Yahweh, and the first fruits of his increase; all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith Yahweh” (Jeremiah 2 3) Because England opposed the return of the Jews, it op posed the purpose of God, and so it has fallen It yet has a purpose to fulfill in the plan of God, however British power is identified as Sheba and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof (Ezekiel 38 13) that oppose Gog s ambitions in the Middle East. The young lions thereof point to the extension of English Influence in the United States, Canada, New Zealand Australia, India, etc.
Russia today is the one nation that all others fear Its power is mighty from a human standpoint Russia has the second largest navy, the greatest number of sub marines, largest air force, and, since World War II, no less than one hundred million people have been drawn into the Soviet camp Russia controls over 25% of the land mass of the globe and 40% of the world s population They have more men under arms than all the rest of the world combined, and grow stronger as each year passes, while the United States and England grow weaker They are bleeding the United States white with their little brush fire wars all over the world, and when the time comes, when they have gone about as far as they can go short of total war, then they will offer the olive branch of peace to the United States and England, and it will be accepted They will offer peace in the form of a disarmament agreement, and because the United States and England face economic ruin they will accept it Russia never really Intends to disarm, It is only to lull the United States and England Into a false sense of peace This would explain Israel living in peace in its own land when Russia does invade and also accounts for the surprise of the United States and Britain when they ask art thou come to take a spoil (Ezekiel 38 13) In Daniel 8 25 it says By peace he shall destroy many.
Thus the setting is laid for the storm to break in the Middle East, that Russia is the latter day Gog there is no doubt Proof is established in Ezekiel 38:15, Ezekiel 38, verses 3 to 6 read. Thus saith Yahweh Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal And I will turn thee back, and put hooks in thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth Persia, Ethiopia and Libya, Gomer, and all his bands, the house of Togarmah of the north quarters and all his bands and many people with thee This means not only Russia but Europe as well, I lance, Italy and especially Germany will be accompanying Russia on the Middle East invasion Ger many and Russia have always been anti British and anti Semitic, and they unite their forces with the objective of capturing Israel and India, and the oil rich Middle East France is now making overtures to Russia, and General De Gaulle has made frequent references to the possibility of one day bringing the Soviet Union into their European family to create a new Europe, from the Urals to the Atlantic , as he expressed it Greed to possess the land which Israel has proved can produce, and also the vast wealth of the Dead sea, valued in American money at 1,388 billion dollars draw the Gogian host to the Middle East These are the hooks in their jaws that draw them forth Gog, Sheba, and Israel (three groups of nations)
After Russia has allayed the fears of the United States and Britain and lulled them into a false hope of peace, then they, together with Germany and the rest of Europe, strike south and quickly overrun Turkey and Greece Russia has long hated Turkey, because Turkey has thwarted the Russian desire for an outlet to the Mediterranean Sea But now they get then outlet, and Russian ships and submarines pour out of the Black Sea into the Mediterianean through the Dar dandles, the narrow strip of water be tween Turkey and Greece by which Turkey has kept Russ a bottled up in the Black Sea for so long Daniel 11 40 says.
And the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships, and he shall enter into the countries and shall overflow and pass over From the springboard of Turkey, Russia and allies next prepare for an invasion of Egypt to secure the Suez Canal The only deterrents to this are the American and British fleets in the Mediterranean Sea Here the Gogian host (Russia and allies) are helped by divine intervention It tells us in Psalm 48 7.
Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind Also Ezekiel 27 26 states in connection with Tarshish, the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas Therefore Gog and friends cross the Mediterranean Sea virtually unmolested and attack Egypt by land sea and air The attack will be successful Daniel 11 42, speaking of the king of the north says He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries and the land of Egypt shall not escape Thus the main artery of the British Empire (the Suez Canal) will be cut, and the host overflows Egypt, and dries it up simply by causing the Nile River to run into the Red Sea Isaiah 19, speaking of the burden of Egypt by God, says this in verse 4 And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord, and a fierce king shall rule over them The cruel lord and fierce king is Gog or the Russian host In verse 5 the waters (the Nile) will be wasted and dried up In verse 6 they shall turn the rivers far away, as far away as the Aswan dam Egypt is dried up and destroyed.
When Russia and her allies start this invasion of the Middle East, it begins as a three prong attack First the invasion, made from Europe Into Egypt across Greece, Turkey and the Mediterranean Sea Then another prong drives south directly from Russia for Israel, and a third drive farther east, heading for India is also made from Russia At this point the United States and Britain (Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof), deluded by Russian peace moves will say to the Gogian host. Art thou come to take a spoil hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? (Ezekiel 38 13). Russia’s intentions will now be evident to the entire world Her policy will be seen as anti Jew, anti American, anti-British, and designed to sovietize the entire world Her treachery will call forth in answering challenge from the Anglo American forces, who cannot tolerate Russian domination of the Middle East Russia herself has ample oil—as a matter of fact they export oil, but Russia in control of Middle East oil and the Suez Canal would deny them to Anglo Amen can forces, which would be a catastrophe for the west.
We have already covered the lightning drive into Egypt by the Russian host where they become solidly entrenched Now we turn our attention to the other two prongs of this three prong attack by Russia and allies in the Middle East One attack will be made straight south directly at Israel, while another is made farther east and aimed at India These two sectors will be opposed by the Jews and the Anglo American forces who effectively contain them for a while The main force entrenched in Egypt will hear the news of the effective opposition of the Jewish and Anglo American forces, for in Daniel 11:44 it says , Tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many Attacking Israel from the south as well as the north, the Russian forces crush the Jews and the Anglo American forces who retreat to the southeast of the Holy Land In Daniel 11 41 it tells us these shall escape out of his hand Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon Two thirds of the Jews in the nation of Israel will be killed See Zechariah 13:8, And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith Yahweh, two parts therein shall be cut off and die, hut the third shall be left therein.
After this great success of Russian might, Jerusalem will fall The Anglo American forces, together with the third part of the Jews, will be forced to retreat to the Arab territories of Transjordania ancient Edom and Moab, and it will seem as though the entire world must fall to Russia One can easily see that after the victory in the Holy Land India and all of Africa will lie before them. The Aral nations of Moab, Edom and Ammon give places of refuge to the fugitive forces in that day and their long time enmity is done away with. In Isaiah 16:4 Yahweh says: “Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to then from the face of the spoiler . . .”. In verse 3 it says: “. . . hide the outcasts betray not him that wandereth.”
Just as this great host stands upon the mountains of Israel, victorious, a new power enters the “theater of operations” divine power in the hands of Jesus Chris and his saints. See Ezekiel 38:18 and 21 “And it shall come to pass at the same-time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel. saith Yahweh, that my fury shall come up in my face . . . and will call for a sword against him through out all my mountains, saith Yahweh every man’s sword shall be against hi brother.” Jesus Christ and his saints, at army of immortals, will be able to command the very elements and cause then to unleash their fury against the invade from the north. Storm and tempest, hail stones and lightning of unprecedented fury and violence will cause havoc with the forces of Gog (Ezekiel 38.22). Th Jews will seize their opportunity to complete the rout of the force (Zechariah 14:14), and the forces of Gog in the terror and confusion of defeat will tun their weapons upon each other (Zechariah 14:13). The slaughter will be great It will take the Jews that remain and have been tried by fire seven months to bury the dead. Five-sixths of the great multitude will die in the slaughter. I takes seven years to burn all the war material left.
Jesus Christ will be the victor at Armageddon, and the Jews that remain accept him as their King. They have been “tried by fire” as it says in Zechariah 13:9: “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, Yahweh is my God.” Also note Ezekiel 39:29: “Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith Yahweh.”
The Jews will finally recognize Jesus Christ as their Messiah and they shall become the nucleus of God’s kingdom here upon the earth, the humbled, disciplined, regenerated nation of Israel. They will be educated in divine precepts. (Ezekiel 36:26-28), and be constituted the “first dominion” in Christ’s empire which will extend throughout the earth (Micah 4:8). The Gentile nations will similarly be converted and become a part of this kingdom, until, finally, “. . . the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11 :15 ) .
So the formation of the Jewish state in Israel points to the nearness of this coming storm in the Middle East. The coming Kingdom of God consummates the final result of Zionism that has always been in the plan and purpose of God, but more recently began with the World Zionist Organization in 1897. In the language of the parable of the fig tree, we know the summer of God’s kingdom is nigh.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One