| Highlights of Dawn | September 1954 |
This Trembling World
“His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.” —Psalm 97:4,5
RECENTLY in a second floor apartment home in one of Germany’s large industrial cities a group of earnest students of the Bible was discussing the promises of God pertaining to the hope of the church and the world when suddenly there was heard the sound of exploding missiles. Looking out of the window it was seen that the night had been turned into day by the flashing of high explosives. The street below was filled with excited people going in every direction—some wa1king, others running; hundreds endeavoring to steer bicycles through the chaotic and excited crowd in which there appeared an occasional automobile, and now and then a motorcycle.
As the explosions continued, the crowd below increased, and it seemed that in their excited milling around in the street many must inevitably be injured and some, perhaps, killed. There was no danger from the explosions, for the city was not being bombed. It was merely a display of fireworks put on by a carnival being held in the neighborhood, and it seemed that everyone in the city had assembled to see the brilliant lights and to hear the noise—a scene similar to those which only a few short years earlier had brought destruction to most of the city’s buildings, and death to untold thousands who had no way of escape from the grim “fireworks” which were so tragic a part of the last global war.
Although there has been good progress in the reconstruction of this and other cities in the war-stricken areas of Europe, in almost every direction one turned wrecked homes and other buildings were to be seen. Yet this did not seem to mar the happiness of the thousands who had come from all parts of the city and surrounding districts to enjoy this colorful and noisy display of high explosives.
In the midst of all this, one could not help but reflect that practically every city in the British Isles, and in many of the countries of Continental Europe, had similarly been destroyed during the last World War, as well as those in large areas of the Orient; and that now the whole world is in fear lest more horrible destruction be brought upon the people of practically all countries—a destruction which, if let loose, will reach America as well.
In general terms, the Bible foretold these terrible times through which the world has been passing since the outbreak of the first World War in 1914. It has been a period of fear and gloom, as well as of actual trouble—a “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.” (Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:1,2) Aside from limited rationing of certain items of food, etc., during the years of the last war, the people of North America have experienced nothing of the horrors of war—with the exception, of course, of those whose sons have been killed or wounded on the battlefields of foreign countries.
If New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and all the other cities of the United States were laid waste by bombs, and millions of Americans—young and old—killed, or crippled for life, as Bible Students we would have no difficulty in realizing that the prophetic “time of trouble” had actually begun. What the future holds in the way of literal, and more widespread destruction of cities is something which the Scriptures do not clearly reveal in advance.
While there has been much destruction of property and life in many parts of the world, this is but incidental to the fact that through these chaotic and distressing years of the great “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation,” a social order—what the Bible calls a “world”—is being destroyed—the social order which Paul refers to as “this present evil world.” (Gal. 1:4) Jesus informs us that Satan is the “prince of this world.” (John 14:30) Through the prophetic telescope of God’s Word we are witnessing the “end” of this “world.”
The “world” (Greek, kosmos) of the New Testament is symbolized in the Old Testament by the word “earth.” This is the “earth” referred to in our text, in which it is stated that as a result of God’s “lightnings” the “earth” would tremble. It is further explained that this trembling of the “earth” would be caused by the enlightenment brought about by God’s “lightnings,” when seen and experienced by the people.
This, of course, is highly figurative language, but the symbols used are very apt, and easily understood. In an electrical storm there is first the lightning, then follows the frightening roar of the thunder. The prophet gives us the key to this figurative use of the “thunderstorm,” by saying that God’s lightnings “enlightened the world.” In other words, the Lord uses lightning as a symbol of the increase of knowledge, of information, of “light.”
Various prophecies pertaining to the “time of the end” call attention to the fact that it would be characterized by a general enlightenment of the world, described by Daniel as an increase of knowledge. (Dan. 12:4) Jesus referred to this enlightenment, mentioning it as one of the signs of his second presence at the “end of the world.” In his prophecy concerning the end of the age and the time of his second presence, he said, “Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth; behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming [Greek, parousia, meaning, “presence”] of the Son of Man be.”—Matt. 24:26,27
Here Jesus explains that when the time came for him to be present on earth for the second time it would not be as a human being who could be found by looking for him in the “desert,” or in a “secret chamber.” Rather, his second presence, he said, would be manifested by a world-wide enlightenment which would be as the lightning shining from east to west. Literal lightning seldom shines from the east to the west, but in using this prophetic symbol to describe the manner in which his presence would be revealed—first to his own people, and later to the whole world—Jesus emphasized that this prophetic increase of knowledge would be world-wide—“out of the east, and shining even unto the west.”
This is in keeping with the Apostle Paul’s reference to the time of Christ’s second presence. Referring to the great Antichrist, the “man of sin,” which would develop during the centuries of the Dark Ages, he wrote, “Whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness [Greek, epiphania] of his coming [Greek, parousia, “presence”].” Here the brightshining of the Master’s presence is shown to result, ultimately, in the destruction of the great counterfeit kingdom of Christ described by John as the Antichrist.
And this is one of the first results of the lightning-like, or brightshining, of the Master’s presence—the destruction of all systems and institutions of selfishness, superstition, and unrighteousness, which together make up “this present evil world.” It is not accomplished in a moment, or a day, or a year, but through many years, during which there is an increasing severity of the destructive spasms of trouble until the “world” is brought fully to an end.
Nor is the cause of the trouble at first recognized by those not enlightened by the “sure word of prophecy.” (II Pet. 1:19) By the worldly-wise, the sudden “increase of knowledge” which has come to the world is thought to be the result of human wisdom—wisdom which has been increasing throughout the centuries. When the printing press, the telephone, the electric light, the steamship, the railroad, and the automobile first appeared, many worldly philosophers claimed we were entering the “brain age.”
What they did not take into consideration was that the people of ancient times were just as intelligent as modern man. Nor did they give due consideration to the fact that the world’s enlightenment was not of a gradual development, but came suddenly, compared with the centuries of the past during which there was no progress. In fact, almost immediately proceeding this modern era of general enlightenment, the world passed through that period of dense ignorance and superstition now appropriately described as the Dark Ages.
The printing press marked the beginning of preparation for the prophetic “increase of knowledge.” This led to the newspaper and to books, to public libraries, to schools; and also to the circulation of the Bible in all the principal languages. Further increase of knowledge was thus accentuated, leading to inventions of rapid means of travel and communication. All of this was good; it was encouraging to the people of the world. In many countries the standard of living was raised, and millions were introduced to a more abundant life than they had ever before enjoyed. The princes, the dukes, the lords, and the kings, of the old world, with their castles and their slaves did not live in the lavish luxury and comfort which is enjoyed by the ordinary artisan of modern times.
The kings of old had to bathe in a tin tub into which water was poured which had been heated over a crude fireplace; while the workman of today, in some parts of the world at least, enjoys the comforts of a tiled bathroom, with all its conveniences. We said that these modern blessings are now being enjoyed in “some parts of the world.” Herein lies the explanation of another result of the prophetic increase of knowledge, a result which is now out of control so far as the world’s statesmen, economists, and diplomats are concerned.
The prophetic increase of knowledge is rapidly becoming world-wide in its impact upon the people. The so-called backward nations of earth, with their teeming millions of the underprivileged, are learning of the riches and the high standard of living being enjoyed by the few, and they are clamoring for their share of earth’s bounties. They are recognizing that in the past their natural resources were exploited by powerful nations under which they were held as vassals, and as supply bases to maintain powerful empires in which those at the top were enriched, while they themselves suffered serfdom and poverty.
These are no longer satisfied to remain at the bottom. They are clamoring for freedom, and this is resulting in the gradual disintegration of empires, and the falling apart of a world. True, many of the poverty-stricken people of earth, in their determined desire for liberty and for a higher standard of living, are falling easy victims to an even more restrictive imperialism. However, the result of this ultimately will be a more thunderous “explosion” as the flashings of the Lord’s “lightnings” continue.
Yes, so far as human wisdom is concerned, the “increase of knowledge” has gone out of control. Those who claimed that the world had entered the “brain age” are not wise enough to find a solution for enlightened human selfishness. What they failed to realize was that knowledge and the comforts of life do not erase the result of adamic sin and the consequent reign of selfishness in the human heart. Those first blessed by the increase of knowledge are not willing to relinquish any of their gains that others might share more equally in the common good; and those less privileged are no longer satisfied to remain at the “bottom.”
So the struggle goes on. Invention has provided the nations with horrible instruments of warfare, and communication and travel make it possible for them to collaborate and co-operate—some on one side and some on the other—of a world lineup of national and international interests which, like two great giants, are maneuvering with each other for more strategic positions in world politics. And, while hoping that they can come to terms short of war, they are preparing for any eventuality which might happen.
Incidental to this larger picture of a fighting and dying world are the developments in the many festering spots among the nations, such as Indo-China, Korea, Guatemala, South Africa, and other places where the struggle goes on locally, while the great powers on both sides of the world scene endeavor to control the issues.
Concerning this time, the prophet wrote that the nations would “take counsel together,” but that it would “come to naught.” (Isa. 8:9,10) How descriptive is this prophecy of the many conferences held in recent years, conferences in which the great nations sought some means of agreement that would be satisfactory to all! Whether in Berlin, Geneva, or elsewhere, and whether the problems concerned Korea, or Indo-China, or Germany, or Austria, or other parts of the world, these conferences have resulted in no definite agreements which could be called even remotely satisfactory.
Many onlookers claim that in all these conferences there is a gradual yielding to the demands of the “Iron Curtain” countries, and that the communist world is gradually extending its sphere of influence, especially in Asiatic countries. Be that as it may, we know that the final outcome of it all will be the full “end of the world,” and that in its place will be manifested the long-promised kingdom of Christ, that figurative “mountain” in which the Lord will make unto all people a “feast of fat things,” and in which he will “swallow up death in victory,” and wipe away the tears “from off all faces.”—Isa. 25:6-9
We have already noted Paul’s references to the “brightness” of Christ’s second presence which he said would result in the destruction of the Antichrist. In a general way we might think of this system as being the unholy alliance of church and state which for centuries claimed to be Christ’s kingdom. Today, in most countries of Europe this system of government has already been destroyed—destroyed, that is, as a result of the enlightenment of the people, and their insistence upon religious and civil liberties.
Besides, the millions of church adherents to this system are rapidly losing their faith in the church which formed so vital a part of the “man of sin.” In Italy, where at one time the church claimed the loyalty of its entire population, at least one-third are now willing to vote for the party which is opposed to the church, and that number is rapidly increasing. All over Europe, while millions still like to consider themselves members of one or another of the established churches, they are happy to realize that they are no longer under bondage to its restrictions.
From the standpoint of human wisdom, all this is threatening. As the prophet declares would be the case, the “earth” sees and “trembles.” But, to us, it is a further evidence that we are living in the prophetic time of the end, when the flashes of the Lord’s “lightnings” are enlightening the people, causing them to break away from the superstitions of the past, and to demand what they believe to be their just share in the blessings of this modern era.
But, this is only the first result of the prophetic increase of knowledge, necessary to prepare the earth for the kingdom of Christ, and to convince the people that in their own wisdom, even with the aid of increasing knowledge, selfishness would make impossible the establishment of that utopia of blessing of which the philosophers and poets of the past have dreamed. The distressing results of increasing knowledge will continue until the “whole [symbolic] earth is devoured by the fire of God’s jealousy,” and then he will “turn to the people a pure language,” and they will all call upon him “to serve him with one consent.”—Zeph. 3:8,9
There is much which increasing knowledge has brought to mankind in the way of blessings which doubtless will become permanent, and utilized by the Lord as part of the kingdom blessings to be enjoyed by “all the families of the earth.” But there will be “still increasing light.” We are assured, for example, that the knowledge of the glory of God will fill the earth “as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 40:5; 11:9) The knowledge reflected in modern inventions will not fill the earth with the glory of God until, through the instructive agencies of Christ’s kingdom, the people learn that they are possible only through the Lord’s permitting man to stumble upon ways and means of harnessing some of the pent up powers of his creation.
The knowledge of the glory of God, as it is reflected through his glorious plan for the redemption and salvation of the human race, will then be caused to fill the earth. The knowledge of the “ransom for all,” for example, will then be “testified to all.” (II Tim. 2:4-6) How that will reflect the love and glory of God!
The resurrection of the dead is referred to by Jesus as an evidence of God’s glory. (John 11:4) During the kingdom age now dawning, all the dead, of every nation, will be awakened from the sleep of death. Surely that will cause the glory of God to fill the earth, when, as Isaiah declares, “all flesh shall see it together.”
But it will not be accomplished all at once. It will be the work of the entire kingdom age. In Zechariah 14:6,7 the entire millennial age is described as a “day” throughout which the “light shall not be clear nor dark,” but that in the “evening,” the close of the day, “it shall be light.” The dim light of the early morning hours of this “day” is already discernible by those who are watching the “signs” of the Master’s presence. But that light will gradually increase, until at the full end of the kingdom age there will be no “darkness” at all.
Thus, while the world now “trembles” because of the light, then the people will say, “Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”—Isa. 25:9