The risk of a war with Israel increases as Syria's military might grows mostly through the re-armament supplied by Russia. This very fact which is well known to high-ranking Israeli officials, only adds to the likelihood of another war between them soon. Each side knows the advantage of making the first surprise move.
In addition to this, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq are all under Russian pressure of one kind or another. What is lacking is a dominant leader to rally the forces behind him. What they now want is a man of power like Dan. 8 speaks of as understanding "dark sentences" or perhaps a dealer in mysticism-the occult. Much of what Daniel saw has been fulfilled historically, in Antiochus Epiphanes. This partial fulfillment is prophetic of a complete realization of what will take place after the rapture of the Church. The words of the angel to Daniel are, "At the time of the end shall be the vision;" and again, "Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be." Dan. 8:17, 1917So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. (Daniel 8:17)
19And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. (Daniel 8:19).
The present turmoil around the Israelitish state is stirring to the Christian observer. We know that the Lord God has said, "I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and I will give it Him." Ezek. 21:2727I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. (Ezekiel 21:27). This refers to the antichrist's being put down and the true Christ set up. The overturning process is in all those nations around Israel also.
As the end approaches, we see the Moslem world more and mare opposing the Jews and the Christian nations. At the same time the western powers are more and more being forced to oppose terrorism generated by radical religious Moslem leaders.
In the background is the huge shadow of the great Russian bear casting a dark, sinister pall over the events in the Middle East.
All these happenings are a prelude to the coming sorrows of the judgments to fall upon this world. But for the Christian they are the very early rays of light in the eastern sky that announce the day. Surely "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:88Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8).
1. Israel appears to be ready to receive their apostate head.
2. The western powers are being forced to think of a stronger alliance against the northern powers.
3. In the past two decades, Egypt has greatly increased in strength and appears ready to push from the South against the coming antichrist.
The people of the countries north of Israel (referred to in Scripture as the "Assyrian" and also the "king of the North") are in a restless warlike state looking for their occult leader and signal to invade Israel from the North and pass on to fight the Egyptians. (Dan. 11:40-4540And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: 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. 41He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 44But 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. 45And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:40‑45).)
We look for the Savior and expect Him very soon. None of these final events need to take place before He comes. Deliverance is so certain, that Scripture puts it in the past tense in 1 Thess. 1:1010And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10): "And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." The coming wrath is the tribulation and its terrible "destruction from the Almighty" (Joel 1:1515Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. (Joel 1:15)) upon this world. Jesus is our deliverer from this coming wrath and He does it by taking us out beforehand. Ed.