Let not your heart be troubled
In the Gulf war of one year ago, Israel took hits from 39 Scud missiles launched from Iraq. Now the picture is changed dramatically in that Syria, with a common border with Israel, has acquired many Scud C missiles. This newer version is more accurate and 3 times as destructive as the older model. Many, many other statistics point to the preparation for war in this region, even while great nations are frantically attempting to make peace-talks generate peace.
It reminds us of the words in Jer. 6:14, "Peace, peace; when there is no peace." Jeremiah prophesies this in his first chapter, "Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the Lord; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah." vv.14, 15.
There surely has been a partial fulfillment of this prophecy, but in prophecy, I believe, God always looks on to the end—the final and complete fulfillment. All prophecy has in view the setting up of Christ as the Man of God's purpose and counsel.
The glory of God is the object and end of all God's dealings with men. The proper subject of prophecy is the earth, and God's government in it, therefore prophecy has to do with Israel rather than with the Church.
Nevertheless, the Church is still here on the earth; we are affected by events and we are interested in them, especially since we now see so many nations concerned about the impossible situation of the Palestinians and the filling up of the tiny land of Israel. It is estimated that by 1995 Israel will have 6 million inhabitants.
Jeremiah writes in chapter 6, verses 22 and 23, "Thus saith the Lord, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy.”
Zechariah is very definite in his prophecy of the time when the Lord Himself takes up the fight. "Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle." Zech. 14:1-3.
At this present time the Lord is observing all these developments and, we may say, "biding His time" before He intervenes. "For so the Lord said unto me, I will take My rest, and I will consider in My dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest." Isa. 18:4.
We, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, know that all present things are under His keen and watchful eye. He is in full control, so we need not be disturbed or alarmed at whatever happens on the earth. Indeed, we know that our Savior Jesus is our deliverer "from the wrath to come." 1 Thess. 1:10.
Israel in the wilderness praised Abraham and persecuted Moses. In the days of the kings, they praised Moses and persecuted the prophets. In the days of Christ, they praised the prophets and persecuted the Savior. In the days of the popes, they praised the Savior and persecuted His devoted followers. Multitudes now applaud the courage and fortitude of the patriarchs and prophets, the apostles and martyrs, but condemn as stubbornness and foolishness anything like faithfulness to the truth today.
C. Buchanan