Christ did not come in 1988; the U.S.S.R. broke up and Israel is making peace with her neighbors. These three events have apparently had a dampening effect on our prophetic witness. We now seldom see a lecture titled: “God Will Bury Russia in Israel!” or “Armageddon – The Nations are Ready for God’s Judgments.”
This should not be! We have every reason for vibrant presentations on prophecy even though many of us have been surprised by the recent course of events.
“Generation” a non-specific word
The 1988 disappointment arose when some brethren boldly proclaimed that within 40 years after 1948 (the establishment of the state of Israel) Christ’s warning would be fulfilled: “When ye see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things (including his return) be fulfilled” (Matt. 24:33-34).
We should know better than to be exact about Bible time periods. So far, everyone, including Bro. Thomas (who thought Christ would return in the 1870’s), has been wrong in prognosticating dates for the return. Christ will come “in such an hour as ye think not” (Matt. 24:44).
Within the context of Matthew 24, “this generation” could refer to the period ending in A.D. 70 or the word could be used in its broader sense of the prevailing condition of a race or people — e.g. “generation of vipers.” The term is too ambiguous for assertions about 1988 or any other date. We should never propose a firm date for Christ’s return; and when we do, we should not be surprised if we are wrong.
Today’s Europe better than before
For years we have featured the power of the Soviet Union in our lecture titles. Its looming threat, we said, indicated Ezekiel 38 was about to be fulfilled with a mighty invasion of Israel by Russia. Now, with the breakup of the Russian empire, we may feel we had it wrong and shy away from bold declarations.
But during the Cold War years, we consistently had a problem with Magog and Gomer. These are identified with western Europe. In fact, “Gog of the land of Magog” speaks of a ruler who originates in Germany and comes to have power over eastern Europe and Russia. When the iron curtain was in place, we were reluctant to make this point in our lectures because current events made it seem implausible. Now, the fluid state of political alignments, and the proven rapidity with which they can change, makes the biblical alignment completely likely.
As it has turned out, we would have been better off expounding the scripture and not worrying about the then-current political situation. Our presentation would have required the collapse of the Iron Curtain; but when it happened, those who had heard scripture rightly presented would have given glory to God for the accuracy of His word.
Ezekiel 38 and 39 are chapters for our time. We should present them as vigorously as ever without regard to how things look at the moment.
Peace and prosperity for Israel
What’s happening now in the Middle East is just a temporary condition. Israel is to be terribly defeated, brought to her knees until she cries out for divine help. In response, Jesus the Messiah will deliver her. But a temporary condition of peace and prosperity in the area is exactly what Ezekiel 38 requires.
“Unwalled villages,” “at rest,” “dwell safely” (Ezk. 38:11) are phrases clearly pointing to much greater security than Israel has previously enjoyed. Yet time after time in the 1950’s through 1980’s we performed expositional gymnastics with these words to make it appear they had been fulfilled and therefore Christ’s return was imminent. We would assert dwelling safely meant “confidently” and point to Israel’s self-confidence. We would claim “unwalled” villages meant the suburban sprawl of Tel Aviv or the many kibbutzim.
“Silver and gold,” “cattle and goods,” “a great spoil” (Ezk. 38:12) speak of a wealthy nation, not the Israel we have known. But we have said “cattle” indicated an agricultural society and pointed to Israel’s export of fruit to Europe or have overstated the wealth of Dead Sea minerals.
Yet now, before our eyes, exactly what scripture clearly requires is coming to pass. It’s coming about in the slow and tortured pathway of prophecy being fulfilled when one is living in the middle of the events. Yet it’s happening! “Promised land: the institution of economic reforms and the advent of peace are luring some U.S. banks to the Mideast” (The Wall Street Journal, 10/13/95) is the language we are now seeing with increasing frequency.
True, the nations hope agreements between the P.L.O. and Israel are steps to a permanent peace governed by man. We know that is not true; we know it is only temporary peace and security that will be achieved. But that temporary peace is exactly what scripture has prophesied.
The miracle continues
Since the days of Bro. John Thomas, we have expounded Bible prophecy regarding the establishment of the state of Israel. Even when the existing political situation (in the 1840’s) gave no indication of what would happen, scripture plainly spoke of the coming event. And as the surrounding nations tried to destroy the fledgling Israel (in the 1940’s and beyond), we have boldly declared they would not succeed.
What has happened in the Middle Fast over the last 150 years is a miracle which we saw coming and openly expounded because we believed the Bible. And it has been a miracle:
“Though fewer people today speak about the ‘miracle of Israel’ the way they did in the 1960’s, the fact remains that the survival of Israel against unbelievable odds for over half a century is a miracle. This miracle was helped by U.S. backing, in itself miraculous, considering how much easier life would have been for the U.S. had it taken the Arab side” (The Wall Street Journal, 10/2/95).
But the miracle is not over yet. Growing prosperity in Israel is being greatly enhanced by the influx of well-educated Russian immigrants. Their absorption into Israeli society is an ongoing miracle: “The sudden arrival of a large number of internally cohesive but culturally separate people holds the potential for chaos. The miraculous accomplishment of Israel is that the virtual population transfer of Russian Jews, who now account for 10% of the total Israeli population including Arabs in so short a time has only created minor resentments and nothing like the absolute havoc that the equivalent arrival of, say, 40 million Russians to America over five years would have done” (op. cit.).
Arafat (head of the P.L.O.) and Rabin (Prime Minister of Israel) shaking hands on the White House lawn is a miracle.
Yet to come is a peace accord with Syria, but it will happen! The economic development of the area is still in early stages. It is proceeding in fits and starts but it will result in prosperity with Israel so much at the center of things that she will be a great economic prize for the northern invader.
We need to be bold
All the pieces are not in place, but they don’t have to be before Christ comes for the resurrection. The redeemed will accompany him to establish the kingdom, so Christ must come some time in advance of the final political developments.
What’s honoring to God is when His word is declared with boldness even when its fulfillment seems unlikely. Then, when scripture is fulfilled, His word is seen to stand true.
It is helpful to point out the current developments that show prophecy fulfilling before our eyes. But when that does not seem to be the case, let’s not be distracted by the ebb and flow of current events.
Miracles have happened in our time and will continue to happen. We will see them in their right perspective and be able to point them out when we take our guide from the sure word of prophecy. But we can boldly declare the general outline of events even as we have done in the past. They have been revealed for this generation that we might take warning and have joy as our redemption draws nigh.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One