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Russia! The Nations! What Next?
September 1991
The eyes of the world are on the
Soviet Union. Unquestionably, the events occurring there in the
past few weeks are immensely significant. World leaders and the
media are watching these events hoping to decipher their impact
on mankind. We are blessed, as God's children, to have His word
of truth. The Scriptures have opened our eyes to the real
significance and impact of current events.
The Scriptural Context of
Today's Events
The prophetic time context of
today's events is that of The Day of the LORD. "The day of
vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is
come." "It is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of
recompenses for the controversy of Zion." Isaiah 63:4; 34:8 Thus
the prophet Isaiah refers to that period which Daniel (12:1)
describes as "a time of trouble such as never was since there
was a nation"; of which Malachi (4:1) says, "Behold the day
cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and
all that do wickedly, shall be as stubble."
This is the day of the LORD
wherein James (5:1-6) says the rich men shall weep and howl for
the miseries that shall come upon them; the day which Joel (2:2)
describes as a day of clouds and thick darkness; of which Amos
(5:20) says is "darkness and not light, even very dark and no
brightness in it."
Our Lord Jesus refers to this
day in Matthew 24:21,22 as a time of "great tribulation" so
ruinous in its character that, if it were not cut short, no
flesh would survive its ravages. But he will cut it short and
flesh will be saved after the tribulation. Then he will turn to
them and teach them a pure language that they may call on the
LORD. Zephaniah 3:9
Nations Judged—Not
Individuals
"Therefore wait ye upon me saith
the LORD, until the day that I rose up to the prey: for my
determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the
kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce
anger: for all the earth (social order) shall be devoured with
the fire of my jealousy." Zephaniah 3:8
That the dark and gloomy day
thus described by the prophets is a day of judgment upon mankind
socially and nationally—a day of national recompenses—is clear
from many scriptures. But, while noting these, we must bear in
mind the difference between national judgment and individual
judgment. While the nations are composed of individuals (who are
largely responsible for the course their nation takes and who do
suffer greatly in the consequences of that course) the judgment
of the world as individuals is distinct from its judgment as
nations.
The Apostle Peter says that
Jesus Christ will be raised up as a prophet to the world after
his second coming. Then during the times of restitution, when
the Millenial Kingdom will bring earth's restoration, those
individuals who "will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed
from among the people." Acts 3:20-23
Chief Cause of National
Judgment
The day of vengeance stands
naturally related to the benevolent object of its divine
permission. That objective is the overthrow of the entire
present order of things in preparation for the permanent
establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, under Christ, the
Prince of Peace.
The prophet Isaiah (63:1-6)
viewing the present time saw a mighty conqueror clothed with
authority and power riding forth victoriously over his enemies,
with whose blood his garment is stained. "Who is this that
cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is
glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his
strength?"
Edom is the name given Esau
after he sold his birthright to Jacob. Edom is an appropriate
symbol of a group in this age who similarly sold their
birthright; and that too for a reward as meager as the mess of
pottage which influenced Esau. That reward has been respect of
men, comfort and earthly power in the present time to the
compromise of future rewards from God.
Edom is frequently used by the
prophets in reference to the present so called Christian world
or Christendom. By allying herself with the kings of earth, to
prematurely establish Christ's Kingdom, the Church unfortunately
played the harlot. The result of this illicit union was the
"Holy" Roman Empire. The ensuing centuries of her reign were
filled with ignorance, corruption and bloodshed on a massive
scale. Far from being the light that lightens the Gentiles
(Isaiah 42:6,7) we refer to that period of history as The Dark
Ages.
The prophet Daniel gives a
vision of five universal empires. Four are of this present evil
world. The fifth is God's Kingdom in Christ. These empires rule
earth uninterruptedly. Each succeeding kingdom is present before
it overthrows its predecessor. In the seventh chapter of Daniel
we see the rise of the "Man of Sin." II Thessalonians 2:3 This
man, the "little horn" of verses 8 and 20, speaks great things,
changes times and seasons and persecutes the true saints of the
most high.
Notice that the little horn, the
"Man of Sin," is obviously not the fifth universal empire—which
is the true Kingdom of Christ. It is, however, part of the
fourth, the dreadful (Roman) beast. Daniel 7:19,20 God is
judging the nations now, but with particular emphasis on those
that have claimed to be His kingdom. They have been weighed in
the balances and found wanting. This great sin of nations will
thus receive national punishment.
Russia and the Baltic States
The prophet Amos gives us a very
exciting view of the past eighty or so years in a remarkably
encapsulated form. "Woe unto you that desire the day of the
LORD! To what end is it for you? The day of the LORD is darkness
and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met
him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall,
and a serpent bit him." Amos 5:18,19
Those that prematurely desired
the day of the LORD, thinking to establish themselves in power,
will find a bitter fruitage awaits their actions. In our time we
have borne witness to the empire of the lion—the universally
recognized symbol of Great Britain. During the height of
colonialism the sun never set on the British Empire. After World
War I the British sun began to set. As men began to flee that
colonial arrangement the bear met them.
All recognize the bear as
Russia's national symbol. Truly, with the demise of the British
Empire, the rise of communism out of Russia began. Now we see
communism's collapse. The Soviet Union is dissolving. One by one
the member states of the USSR have proclaimed their
independence. One by one they are fleeing into the house.
Nationalism is scripturally represented by a house. The various
republics are fleeing into their houses of nationalistic pride.
As they lean on the walls, as they put their trust in the
strength of a nation, they are bitten by a serpent. That old
serpent, Satan, will deceive the nations.
What will the deception be? Will
it be the uniting again of church and state? Will the nations
succumb to creating another counterfeit kingdom of Christ? We
must watch and pray lest we also be deceived.
Our Responsibility
We are espoused to Christ as
pure and holy virgins of faith. We lament the fall of the early
church into fornication (Revelation 17:12) with the kings of the
earth. Yes, the Church will reign with Jesus over all the earth,
but it will be by God's power—not the power of earthly strength.
The hope of our faith, to be joined with Christ and bless all
the families of earth, will soon come to pass. Let us keep our
faith and our patience in this hour of temptation. (Revelation
3:10) May we, by God's grace, stand strong in the promises of
His word and His Divine principles—they are His keeping power. |
