The moment has not yet come when men's hearts will fail them for fear as they anticipate the things that are coming on the earth. But that dread moment approaches; and while people in this land boast of luxury, comforts, and peace, they know not at what moment all may be changed. This world has experienced many sudden and dramatic changes, but there is scarcely any recent 48-hour period which has brought forth as many great changes as the week of October 11-17. They were astonishing, especially from the standpoint that they may affect the future of the world for a long while to come.
The one man who has left his indelible mark on the world for the last decade had fallen into such disfavor at home that he-the world's strong man-could be fired in disgrace. That man who brought many low before him-a man honored, feared, held in contempt, depending on where in the world one may have lived-proved to be but a man after all, whom other men could degrade and belittle. Premier Nikita Khrushchev was fired without apology, and stripped of the honor which had been his. What is this but the same scene all over. The world favor is short-lived, and many men live to see it vanish before their eyes. O man, whoever you are, who seeks the plaudits of this world, how soon the tide changes! The people who once adored Mussolini finally treated him with scorn and derision. The world is a fickle place, and all its honor soon vanishes. Pilate would crucify Jesus to placate a mob, and to curry favor with Caesar; but shortly thereafter Caesar banished him.
Now what will happen in Russia? We know not; but if past history is a teacher, it indicates that those who replaced Khrushchev will soon start a palace struggle for power. Stalin did; Khrushchev did it in his rise to power, and there is little likelihood that the two men who assumed Khrushchev's double role as Premier and party head will be able to work together as a team. One or the other, or perhaps still another, will eventually feel strong enough to eliminate all rivals. But until a single unchallenged head emerges, much of world diplomacy will be stymied. There are two reasons for that; namely, until one gathers the power to himself, he will not be able to make international commitments; and until he does, other world leaders will not wish to sit at the bargaining table with him.
For all of Mr. Khrushchev's bluster and egocentric proclivities, it seems evident, according to highly placed men in the Kremlin, that they considered his administration a failure. But what seems strange is that the two men who divided his responsibilities between them were brought up with him and shared whatever he had of success or failure. If there were failure, it will be up to them to correct the wrong, or sooner or later share the same fate. The ideological rift between Russia and Red China was probably the one thing more than any other which led to his downfall, for it divided world communism into two camps.
Another major development of that week, which is related to the first, is the sudden announcement, following Mr. Khrushchev's downfall, that China had become one of the world powers possessing the capabilities of producing nuclear weapons. This is the great prestige builder, and many small nations are going to be much impressed by it. It may swing the balance between some nations' alignment with China or not. But for world peace, this latest member of the nuclear club may pose the most frightening. As of now, China has exploded one low-yield device; but she has proved her capacity to do more.
China got her start on the way to nuclear armaments from Mr. Khrushchev, but in all probability he later regretted these overtures and feared the time when China would be such a power. She would then pose as a threat to Russia, especially in world importance, because she could act with more reckless abandon. And while China has not a stock of bombs, or means of delivering them, yet a power possessing any can effectively use them in international blackmail; unless the threat is discounted, risk of a nuclear holocaust is run, with its frightening results. In days of banditry, only one small gun was necessary to control greater foes.
Napoleon referred to China as a sleeping giant, and many have been the warriors and statesmen who wished that she would not wake up; but today she is wide awake and conscious of her almost unlimited manpower. Give China a supply of "A" bombs and, with her zeal for world conquest, she could acquire world domination.
But this is not what we learn from the Holy Scriptures which describe coming events in this world. While China may become a scourge on other nations, it is not destined to exercise dominion over the rest of the world. The great world behemoth to arise will be the revived Roman Empire-the Western world centered about Rome-but there will doubtless be compelling problems that will force the federation of Western powers under one head, referred to as the beast who comes up out of the sea in Revelation 13. There will yet be great assemblages of powerful armies, and, according to the Prophet Joel, the nations will "prepare war," and "the mighty men" will awaken. This world is headed for carnage on an unprecedented scale. It once rejected and cast out the "Prince of Peace." When He does return, it will not be to bring peace, but judgment. God has said to the Messiah, "Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession." Psalm 2:88Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (Psalm 2:8). He will first clear this world by unsparing judgments when He rises "to shake terribly the earth" (Isa. 2:1919And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. (Isaiah 2:19)). All creation will then be brought under His righteous sway, but first all nations shall weep and mourn because of Him.
The present ominous happenings, which may well cause men of the earth to shudder, are no cause of alarm to the Christian. "He that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about." Psalm 32:1010Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. (Psalm 32:10). And we who believe also live in the daily expectation that any moment we will hear the Lord's commanding shout which will summon all the redeemed, both from the earth and from the grave, to be with Him in the Father's house in glory. Our rest is not here. Our home is not here. Then why should we be disturbed at sudden changes which take place, or even at their disquieting possibilities. We look for the "Lord Jesus Christ as Savior" (Phil. 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20); J.N.D. Trans.). He will come to bring salvation, not then to our souls, for we have that now, but a full and complete salvation that includes our bodies.
Another eventful happening of that same week was the displacement of the ruling Conservative party in Britain by the Labor party. This was just as ordered and allowed of God as was the removal of President Kennedy almost a year ago. The means for this governmental change was a national election, but from whatever outward cause, the source is in Himself. "He removeth kings, and setteth up kings" (Dan. 2:2121And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: (Daniel 2:21)).... "and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?" (Dan. 4:3535And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? (Daniel 4:35)). The change in the British government brings other faces forward and a change in one land has effects on all lands as world complexities increase.
At one time China was referred to as the "yellow peril"; but today the whole of the non-Caucasian world is drawing closer together, and problems and perils increase.
As we now approach the end of 1964, we can look back and say that it has been an eventful year. Many changes took place under His direction who orders all things after the counsel of His own will. It will not be long before 1965 will dawn. What will it bring? There is not one reason why this may not be the time when the Lord will take His own beyond this world and its strife and sorrow to rest in the cloudless sunshine of His blessed presence. What a prospect!
When God, for Israel's sin of idolatry, gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, He allowed some of the people to remain in the land with Zedekiah to rule over them, until Zedekiah broke a pledge he had given to Nebuchadnezzar in the name of Jehovah to be subject to him. Then God said, "I will overturn, overturn, overturn it... until He come whose right it is; and I will give it Him." There has never been such a king; but Christ, God's King, will yet come and subdue all His enemies, and He will reign for God. But overturning has been the order of the "times of the Gentiles" in which we live. Do we want our rest here, or can we sing:
"Jesus, we wait for Thee,
With Thee to have our part;
What can full joy and blessing be
But being where Thou art?" ?