Hope Beyond Terror

Other Articles on Terrorism and 9/11

Hope After Terrorism - Remembrance of 9/11

The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, still fresh in our minds, have thrust us all into a new and seemingly more ominous world, one that is less safe than we had imagined it to be. Besides over 6,000 killed, hundreds of companies wiped out, thousands of jobs lost, tens of thousands of jobs lost in related industries, 40-60 billion dollar insurance loses, the devastation will ripple. It is estimated that 10 million people worldwide will be forced into poverty. A depression is looming. More terrorism is predicted—perhaps biological, chemical or nuclear. Violence is bound to increase with a corresponding threat to the economy.

What is this world coming to?

The Bible foretells that the hate and greed in the human heart would escalate into the devastating worldwide violence and economic distress of our day. And though the threat of terrorism is not over, there is a ray of hope through the clouds of trouble.

The Scriptures not only predict the trouble-but also offer substantial hope beyond the fire and terror. God's Word predicted that a great increase of knowledge would be accompanied by an unprecedented "time of trouble" (Daniel 12:1,4). During this unprecedented trouble, "the weak say I am strong" (Joel 3:10). Just so, a few—"the weak"—have terrorized The Superpower of the world. During the 20th Century, 175 million were slaughtered by the "politics of insanity." Yes, we are living in this unparalleled time of trouble and peoples' "hearts [are] failing them for fear, and looking after those things which are coming ..." (Luke 21:26).

As a loving Father, God is deeply grieved with man's inhumanity to man. But man's extremity will be God's opportunity. Psalm 76:10 states that the "wrath of man" shall one day praise God. Divine wisdom is overruling man's vice, graft, corruption, power politics, discrimination and exploitation to shake all nations. Finally God's Kingdom will fulfill the legitimate "desire of all nations." Haggai 2:7 Because Jesus died a "ransom for all"(1 Timothy 2:6)—peace, life, economic security, vigorous health and freedom from fear are some of the blessings God's Kingdom will bring to all peoples. Just as the trouble and terror of today were prophesied, the raising of all the dead is also assured in prophecy. That means all those who perished in the bombings will be reunited with their loved ones (1 Corinthians 15: 22).

Why Does God Permit Evil?

If after all of humankind's suffering God is going to bless them abundantly-why the need of suffering in the first place?

To fully understand why God permits evil, we must go back, back to when God dwelt alone. God desired to have a family, to be a parent—a father or life-giver—The Heavenly Father. The most loving parents are not overly protective. They are willing to permit their children to endure difficult experiences, realizing it will cost themselves as parents dearly in pain, as they watch their children struggle to maturity.

God knew his children could only be happy individually and collectively if each one loved and obeyed God's laws for the well being of all. Therefore, God created Adam and Eve in "His own image"—free will and moral discernment. God could have programmed the ideal man and utopia would have been inevitable, but man would be no better than a robot, nor would he be happy. But free will has a built-in dilemma. God told Adam that if he obeyed he would live. If he disobeyed he would die—"dying thou shall die." Genesis 2:17 Death would be a process of sickness and suffering. Because of lack of experience God knew Adam or anyone of us would disobey.

A parent will tell a baby not to touch the stove because it is hot. But what does a baby know about pain? Inevitably the baby will touch the stove. A wise parent will lightly and quickly touch the child's hand where the heat is not too severe. Likewise God is giving mankind a controlled experience with sin.

Knowing man would disobey him, God planned for man's redemption before he even created the earth and man. First Peter 1:19-20 speaks of Jesus as slain "before the foundation of the world." God lovingly planned the best for His future human children. This meant a plan that would deeply grieve His fatherly heart as He watched man trampled down into death by the machinations of evil while learning the consequences of sin. Further, it would cost the ultimate in fatherly suffering—watching His only begotten son suffer the agony of being vilified and crucified. God's gift of Jesus was the greatest demonstration of fatherly suffering in history.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed, God withdrew His fellowship. Loneliness, stress and depression engulfed them. The latest scientific research confirms the Biblical account of man's "Fall" into sin. Loneliness, stress and depression render both the mind and the body prone to disease. Fear, hostility and aggressiveness became the norm. Exploitation, crime and violence were the inevitable consequences. The body's immunity to disease soon broke down. The dying process had begun. Yes, Adam's children, the human race, were born sinners (Psalm 51:5) worthy of death. Romans 6:23 This is "the sore travail God hath given to the sons of man to be exercised [learn lessons] therewith." Ecclesiastes 1:13; 3:10

After Adam and Eve disobeyed, they were cast out of their Eden paradise into the unfinished earth, where the components of nature were yet unbalanced. Man is learning by experience the bitter consequences of sin and evil, which results in death.

A parent who disciplines their child by sending him to his room for the evening often has loving thoughts of their continued relationship. God has remanded His human children to their room—the unfinished earth. In their affliction He is afflicted and He has wonderful loving thoughts-recorded in Bible prophecies-concerning their restoration to His favor. Yes, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:22, "as in Adam all die" but he continues, "so in Christ shall all be made alive." Why? Because Jesus died "a ransom for all." 1 Timothy 2:6 and Hebrews 2:9

A Suffering Savior and Suffering Christians

But before all are made alive in God's Kingdom, God has been training Christians—a "little flock" (Luke 12:32), by contrast with the billions of mankind. Why? That they might reign with Christ in God's Kingdom as priests and kings. Revelation 20: 6 Like Christ, they are being made sympathetic priests through suffering. 2 Timothy 2:11-12 The minds of men are scarred and twisted by tragedy. Christians experience the same disasters (1 Corinthians 10:13), but by the power of the holy Spirit their hearts are healed and made compassionate. Why? They will be able to heal the minds of their fellowman when mankind come forth from the graves (John 5:28-29, NASV, NRSV) to their probation or trial time in the Kingdom. Mankind will have a vivid remembrance of the bitter effects of sin and evil. Then they will learn the joyful rewards of living righteously with their fellowman and make their choice for eternity. Jeremiah 31:29-31, 34

Many scriptures reveal that the majority of mankind will share the joys of eternal life. God's willingness to endure fatherly sorrow proves that the permission of evil is a necessary experience for man's eternal welfare. God's fatherly sorrow contains no anxiety like a human parent. With Divine serenity, He knows the end from the beginning. Isaiah 46:10 All the forces of evil are overruled for man's eternal welfare. Psalm 76:10 By faith we can have this same peace of God. Philippians 4:7 The present sufferings are but a moment compared with the joys of eternity. 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18

There is a logical and faith-inspiring answer to the two questions—Why does God permit evil? and What is this world coming to? Both are answered in our new and entirely revised edition of the booklet, What Is This World Coming To?