NEWS & VIEWS: TERRORISM

TERRORISM IS A problem that affects the whole international community. The aim of the war in Afghanistan was the defeat of al- Qaeda and the Taliban. The overthrow of Saddam Hussein was intended to bring peace and stability to Iraq. Have these aims been reached?

Turn on the television, read the newspaper, read news on the Internet or listen to the radio and the news is dominated by violence in one form or another. The news world-wide is filled with articles about terrorists and terrorism. Recent articles have included for example, a wave of co-ordinated car bomb attacks on Iraq's Christian minority. The bombings occurred one Sunday evening killing at least 11 people and injuring dozens more. In July, suicide bombers attacked US and Israeli embassies and Uzbekistan's prosecutor general's office in simultaneous attacks in Tashkent, killing themselves and two other people. President Bush describes the U.S. as ‘a nation in danger’ as the country remains on high alert against terrorist attacks.

In recent months, a number of people have been kidnapped in Iraq and beheaded, these atrocities being videotaped then released to Islamic websites and news media. The objective behind them according to a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia is ‘a political, psychological ploy to show that the enemy is merciless, vengeful and will stop at nothing’.

Aftermath of suicide bomb attack in Israel

Israel has commenced building a fence to protect its citizens from suicide bombers and other similar atrocities. This act, which is viewed by Israel as an act of self defence, is heavily censured by many other countries most of which do not have to live with the spiralling violence on their own doorstep. In August an Israeli helicopter fired at least four missiles near Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip to deter an attack on Israel. Israel had been conducting raids at the camp, which it considers to be a stronghold of Palestinian militancy, to destroy weapons-smuggling tunnels. In March two Palestinian suicide bombers blew themselves up at the Israeli port of Ashdod. Eleven Israelis were killed along with the two bombers.

Israel’s Shin Bet security service arrested a Palestinian terrorist in the Gaza Strip who was allegedly planning to use a remote-controlled airplane packed with explosives to attack a Jewish settlement. In a statement, Shin Bet said the man was an operative for the Islamic terrorist group Hizbollah in Lebanon. He received financial backing, ideological support and training from Hizbollah. Israeli generals have been warning that terrorist groups are seeking ways to overcome the obstacles posed by the security barrier and to continue attacks in Israel.

These are but a very small example of the daily events that take place throughout the world. Many people understandably are concerned about when and how it will all end. The reality is that nobody can really foresee what the final outcome will be. However, lessons from past and recent history tend to suggest that increasing unrest and war is inevitable. If this were the only view in sight, then the future would be bleak indeed!

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

We believe that there is hope and the promise of a far better world to come. The title of this magazine ‘Light on a New World’ is taken from a theme that is consistent throughout the Bible. The Scriptures shed light upon what appears to be an insoluble state of world affairs and describe what the final outcome will be. Mankind can neither foresee nor predict the outcome of world events, but God can foresee and has already decided the final outcome. The majority of people wilfully ignore the fact that there is a Creator and that creation had an original purpose. However, God will not compromise His sovereignty and will bring His objective to fruition. The prophet Isaiah wrote:

“…I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.’” Isaiah 46:9-10

God has spoken of a time when a new world order, the kingdom of God, will spring into existence, founded upon the ruin of the kingdoms of this world. It is the Middle East that holds the key to both the end of mankind’s dominion of the earth and the setting up of God’s kingdom upon the earth. Now this concept will not be popular with the majority of mankind, who will suddenly find that they have no ‘human rights’ and are made to realise their utter dependence upon God for their very existence. History shows that man is incapable of ruling himself. The past is littered with the ruins of civilisations brought about by countless wars and mans inhumanity towards his fellow man.

Those who know the Bible will review current world events and realise that the Scriptures long ago foretold an age of growing apprehension, fear, unrest and violence. The world we live in may well be a very fearful place in which to live but we can take courage. You may well ask ‘why’? The answer lies in the fact that the earnest Bible student will see in these world events, signs that herald the fulfilment of prophecy and will know that a time of true and lasting peace is at hand. This time of peace will only come when Jesus Christ returns to the earth.

We do not know the exact time when Jesus will return for as he said, ‘But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only’ (Matthew 24:36). However, Jesus did speak of signs that would herald his return and warned his disciples about what ‘the time of the end’ would be like, describing it in these words:

‘But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be’ Matthew 24:37-39.

In Noah’s time, people were going about their daily lives and ignoring the warnings that God had given them through Noah, who for 120 years had been building the Ark. Thus, when the flood came it was with swiftness and finality. So Jesus warned that the end of our age will be equally as swift and unexpected. Now the other primary characteristic of Noah’s day was that the earth was filled with violence [Genesis 6:5,6,11,12]. How appropriate this description is of the world today. Jesus also spoke of other similar signs that would herald his return saying:

‘And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; ‘men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.’
Luke 21:25-28

Distress of nations, perplexity, society in turmoil and fear about what is coming upon the earth are characteristic of our age. God will judge this age just as surely and with the same finality as He judged the world of Noah’s day. Such will be the level of destruction that Jesus prophesied:

‘For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And if those days had not been shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened’ Matthew 24:21-22.

Many nations and no doubt the terrorists will resist the coming kingdom of God but it will be futile. We read these prophetic words in the Psalms:

‘The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. Then he shall speak to them in his wrath, and distress them in his deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.’ Psalm 2:2-6

The kingdom of God is coming, but who can endure and have a part in it?

Many sincere Christians have the religious conviction that God has promised a future reward in heaven and because God loves His creation, it largely does not matter about belief or way of life. If a person lives a reasonably ‘good’ life they will go to heaven upon death. However, Jesus once warned: ‘Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it’ (Matthew 7:13).

If we want to live in a better world and have a part in the time of true peace that will exist in the coming kingdom of God, then we must seek out the ‘narrow gate’ and live our lives in trusting obedience to God’s requirements. Jesus has promised that, ‘He who believes and is baptized will be saved’ (Mark 16:16).

Now we note from Psalm two that God speaks of setting His King on the ‘holy hill of Zion’, and the prophet Micah says: ‘For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more’ [Micah 4.2,3]. Again, in the Psalms we read of Jerusalem: ‘…Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King’ (Psalm 48:2).

These verses speak of a king who will rule over the earth from Jerusalem and Jesus is that ‘great King’. He will sit upon the throne of David [Luke 1.32] and will reign with justice and mercy. This new age will be characterised by peace and the absence of war for Jesus will bring all into subjection to God, as the Apostle Paul wrote:

‘Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when he (Jesus) puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign till he has put all enemies under His feet.’ 1Corinthians 15:24-25

The ultimate purpose of God is that the earth will be filled with His glory (Numbers 14:21; Habakkuk 2:14). For He created all things to give Him pleasure. Just as God was grieved at the state of the world in Noah’s day so the evil of this age brings Him grief, not pleasure. God will destroy all that is evil but those who remain faithful will like Noah, be saved.

God’s promise to those who do believe and trust His word is one of a new life, not life as we know it now, but eternal life in His kingdom. Life is not something we have any right to, it is a gift from God as Paul writes: ‘the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 6:23).
God has provided the means of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ and warned about the impending judgments to come. God has given signs that demonstrate the truth of His Word, but each individual has a responsibility to take note of those warnings and respond to God’s gracious offer before it is too late. As when dark clouds appear on the horizon and the sky becomes ever darker before the storm comes, so the gathering clouds of destruction loom over this world. Present world leaders are totally unable to find a solution for international terrorism, war and all the other ills that beset society.

The end of human government is inevitable. Will you be taken by surprise along with the rest of the world or will you heed the warning and accept the solution given in the Bible? Will you put your faith and trust in the Word of God and accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and King?

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