What's Going On?
Clement (Clem) Buchanan
Table of Contents
What's Going On?
The above three words can be a statement or they can be a question. Our intention is to take them up as a statement although sometimes we will have to stop and ask, "What is going on?"
We live in such very interesting times and the things that are going on today very often relate to something found in the Bible, the Word of God. We know that God has His plan for the earth and that nothing can hinder the full accomplishment of everything He has purposed. All will be fulfilled.
In Psalm 132 we find, "The Lord hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation." He further says, "This is My rest forever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it." vv.13,14. This place is the center of the earth in God's purposes. The four directions, north, east, south, and west relate to Jerusalem. Zion is one of its hills.
To the north of Israel at the present time, there is much going on in Lebanon and Syria. A little farther to the north is another country that is beginning to stir and make its importance known in the world. We refer to TURKEY, a large country in both area and population.
The three-and-one-half year war in the Persian Gulf has been escalating instead of diminishing to the consternation of all the surrounding nations. Some of these nations would very much like to act as peacemakers but because of not having been neutral or lacking credibility are not in a position to do so. Turkey has kept herself strictly neutral in the war between Iran and Iraq. She has a large economic trade with each nation so is in quite a favorable position to act as peacemaker if some kind of settlement can be negotiated.
The Turkish Prime Minister, Turgut Ozal, visited Iraq in April and Iran in May. The primary reason was to discuss economic issues, but it also shows Turkey's desire to project herself as the only credible peacemaker in that area.
Of what interest are these things to the Christian today? Those who are looking for glory to come to the Lord Jesus Christ know that there are certain events to take place before He shall have His rightful place here on earth. Matt. 24:32 says, "Now learn a parable of the fig tree." Luke 21:29 says, "Behold the fig tree, and all the trees." In these scriptures trees are symbols of nations and the fig tree is Israel who of late years is again a nation after centuries with no territory at all.
We know from Daniel 11 and other scriptures that there is to be a great nation to the south of Israel and one to the north. For some few years now Egypt has been gaining strength after years of much weakness and so seems ready to fulfill her place in prophecy. The king of the south will be from Egypt.
Syria to the north of Israel has gained prominence lately. She and Iraq are armed by Russia. It is likely that the power to the north at first will be close to Israel and include more than just Syria. It may be that both Turkey and Iraq or parts of them will be involved in that power to the north.
These events now shaping up the nations for the judgments that precede the millennial kingdom are surely strong indications of the nearness of the Lord's coming.
The apostle Peter, when writing about coming things, left us this exhortation, "What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" 2 Pet. 3:11. It is important for us then to learn by what is taking place amongst the nations, particularly around Jerusalem, and to live as those who belong to Christ now. It may be that because of this we suffer reproach and tribulation, but if it is for the name of Christ the answer is in 1 Pet. 4:14, "Happy are ye." Then it adds, "The Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you."
Fellow believer, can we not also apply that wonderful verse in Luke 21:28? "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
What's Going On?
"Men that had understanding of the times" were found in the tribe of Issachar in the days of king David. 1 Chron. 12:32. They were the ones who knew what "Israel ought to do." Israel was God's chosen people of that time. In Deut. 7:6 we read, "For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth."
Today, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are God's chosen people and we, too, need to have an understanding of the times and to know what we ought to do.
One of the chief purposes of writing about what is going on is to stir us up to consider how events work out God's purposes and that many things point to the near return of the Lord Jesus for His people.
Opposition to the United Nations Organization has been growing of late. The support is still large for its peace-keeping and mediation efforts but many are offended by the anti-Semitic rhetoric by which Israel is attacked. As an example at a conference of the U.N. recently about two days of the four were taken up with talking about the West Bank of the Jordan river.
The trouble the little nation of Israel causes to other nations is perhaps symbolic of a coming day that we read about in Zech. 12:3. "In that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." In Zech. 2:8 the Lord says about Zion, 'He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of His eye." Another has said, "The nations appear to be beginning to burden themselves with Jerusalem. They do so without acknowledging the rights of Christ, who is alone the true King of Jerusalem, but God shall make good the claims of Christ."
We do not pretend to judge or endorse the U.N. or any other of man's efforts in governing the world but rather just to notice the facts. What we feel is important is to acknowledge God and to rest in Him who worketh all things according to the counsel of His own will.
The enemies of Judah and Jerusalem were warned in Isa. 8:9, 10, "Associate yourselves, 0 ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us." Immanuel means God with us. When that is true in the person of Christ the King, in the land that is His, and He takes claim to it, then all confederacies and associations shall indeed be broken in pieces. We, as Christians, do not look for this now but rather for the Lord to come for us and bring us into the Father's house with all its eternal blessings. And when He takes His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords, we will reign with Him.
As belonging to Christ now, we ask: "What ought we to do?" Certainly we ought to obey Him as our Lord. Daily we should pray, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" We will find Him always to be a gracious, loving Master who knows us perfectly and desires our happiness and blessing and communion each day.
What's Going On?
What is going on in your life? Will it result in a good report?
Deportment, behavior and conduct are graded at the end of the school term. Have you ever received an "E" for excellent on your report card? Has it been less than that? Of course we all like very much to receive a good report.
To get a good report at the end of the Christian pathway just one special thing is necessary. It is faith. Paul could say in the most adverse circumstances, "I believe God." That is faith. (See Acts 27:25.) Through faith "the elders obtained a good report." Heb. 11:2.
The standard upon which we as Christians are graded is perfection. This is because we "are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:26. Therefore, we are supposed to be in our conduct and behavior what we are as sons of God. This is where faith must come in, in our daily lives. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him [God]." Heb. 11:6. In our behavior, true faith will be manifest by dependence upon God and obedience to Him.
In Paul's first epistle to Timothy he gave him instruction to know how to behave "in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." 1 Tim. 3:15. This instruction for behavior is still true for us today, and more instruction is added in the second epistle for these last days. In 2 Tim. 3:16-17 it says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
Our time of schooling is this whole life. We are
producing our report now. The Christian's retirement is "out of this world" literally when the Lord Jesus comes for us.
What's Going On?
To every one of us, the events that happen in our own lifetime are full of interest. Some of those events affect us and others apparently do not. What happens on the other side of the world generally does not excite our interest. We notice much more what happens closer to us.
The truth of the Lord's coming has been known and taught largely in Christendom for about 150 years. We know on the authority of God's Word that the Lord Jesus will first come for His people and that a little later He will come back with us to reign over the earth. Between His coming for His own and His coming with them, there are many judgments to take place and there will be signs of His coming in power and glory. Surely even now there are events that are in preparation for those things that will take place during that time that is called the tribulation.
We do not want to make too much of what any of us may see in our own short lifetime. Yet we should consider what is happening in view of how it may relate to Christ and His glory.
A short time ago we called attention to some of the events amongst the nations that are in the Middle East. Now, let us consider another thing. It is what the Bible calls a falling away. Abandoning what one believed in, as a faith, is the definition of apostasy as given in Webster's dictionary. Quite likely you have known or heard of someone who has done this. Truth that was once known and professed is given up. Why is it so? Is this a sign of the times in which we live?
We find something about this in 2 Thess. 2:3. We quote: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." In the Spanish Bible in this verse "falling away" is translated "apostasy." They both mean the same thing. From this scripture we learn clearly that before a certain day there is a falling away, that is, a giving up of truth once professed. The day spoken of here is the day of "the Christ" or "the Lord." It is the time when God will begin to manifest the lordship of Christ.
One of the truths that is today given up by some in Christendom is the rapture, the Lord's coming for the Church. This truth has been commonly known and taught in Christendom for many years. Reports have come to us from both Canada and the United States of rather prominent persons who have given up this truth.
The "rapture" as we speak of it comes from 1 Thess. 4:17, and the very word can be used in place of caught up. It is so translated in some Bibles. "Shall be caught up" or "shall be raptured" is the definite statement. Do we believe it or do we not? It is the Word of God.
It is sad to hear of some, who certainly should know better, questioning or denying this wonderful "blessed hope." See Titus 2:13. Peter writes of our time, saying, "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming?" 2 Pet. 3:3, 4.
Another thing that is being denied is the clear teaching of dispensations. In Eph. 1 we read of "the dispensation of the fullness of times." That particular dispensation is coming and will be when God gathers together all things in Christ and to His glory both in heaven and in earth. The "times" in the above expression refers to other dispensations as, the law before the cross and grace in this present period. When we are "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15) we will understand and wonderfully rejoice in the order in God's Word and clearly see different dispensations.
Are we not in the last days? Little by little it seems that truth once known or professed is being given up or abandoned.
For Christians there is an exhortation that is very specific when we see the day of apostasy approaching. It is Heb. 10:24, 25. "Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." The next verse speaks of willful sin after having received the knowledge of the truth. This is falling away or apostasy. So then we see that the exhortation of assembling of ourselves together is given especially because of seeing the day of apostasy getting nearer.
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