| Highlights of Dawn | April 1957 |
The Troublesome Middle East
MORE than nineteen centuries ago the greatest event in history occurred in the Middle East. It was the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. However, the news of this mighty miracle was not flashed around the world. At the time it was restricted to a select few, just a little band of Jesus’ disciples. Telling about it later the Apostle Peter said, “Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.”—Acts 10:40,41
After his resurrection, Jesus commissioned his disciples to preach the Gospel throughout all the world, and to announce that “it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.” (Acts 10:42) The proclamation of the Gospel has included the information that Jesus was raised from the dead, and thus his resurrection has become common knowledge in the civilized world. Some have sincerely believed it, and have endeavored to be faithful in following in the footsteps of Jesus. To many, however, it has been but a pleasant story, a sort of folklore based upon the imaginations of the disciples of Jesus, whose minds, it is said, became over stimulated by the trying circumstances through which they had passed.
Those early disciples believed that Jesus had come to establish the kingdom which the holy prophets of Israel had foretold. While their hopes were temporarily dashed by his crucifixion, since they were convinced that he had been raised from the dead, they again had confidence that he was the foretold King who was to rule from “sea to sea,” and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” (Ps. 72:8) After his resurrection, Jesus announced to his disciples that “all power” had been given to him in heaven and in earth. Surely One with such great power would be able to set up that kingdom of promise, that “government” that was to extend its influence throughout all the earth.
True, Jesus left them, returning to the heavenly courts, but the angels promised that he would come again. So the hope and inspiration of the Early Church was in the return of their Lord and King, and in the kingdom which they believed he would then establish. This kingdom, they believed, would be the panacea for all of earth’s ills, including sickness and death. Paul wrote that Christ would reign until he put all enemies under his feet, and that the great enemy Death would ultimately be destroyed.—I Cor. 15:25,26
But that was nearly two thousand years ago. Today that section of the world where these glad tidings originated, and from where they went out to the nations far and wide, is in the grip of the most distressing circumstances it has ever experienced. Since Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, the Israelites themselves have been scattered throughout all nations, but now they are repossessing at least part of the Promised Land, and have become an independent nation among nations. But, withal they find themselves at odds with their neighbors even as in the days of old. Egypt, Syria, Arabia—all these places are involved in tensions with Israel even as they were in Old Testament times.
The difference is that now these nations, in the world family of nations are not rated among the strong and powerful of the earth, as they once were. Until recent years they have been viewed as inconsequential, and of importance only to the extent that the great powers of the West could profit from their natural resources, principally of oil.
But suddenly this situation has changed. Not that these small middle eastern nations have in themselves become strong from a military point of view, but because of their geographically strategic position in a struggling world of powerful nations, and because their natural resources are coveted and, to an extent, essential to the economic stability of some of the great powers of earth.
The Eisenhower Doctrine calling for the defense of the Middle East against communism has brought a warning from Russia that nuclear weapons might be used if the Arab world allows itself to come under the domination of the United States. The situation is a precarious one in which a slightly wrong move on the part of any of the parties involved could well lead to the Third World War with all its horrors.
Out of this stress and strain unprecedented things are emerging. The visit to Washington of King Saud, of Saudi Arabia, is an example. Although quite different in most respects, the visit of this fabulously wealthy monarch—the only remaining absolute monarch, who required several floors in a large hotel to house his attendants and advisers—reminds us of another royal visit. This one occurred more than three thousand years ago; that is, the Queen of Sheba’s visit to Solomon. Solomon no doubt was on a par with King Saud so far as his wealth and glory were concerned.
But there was a vast difference between these two visits so far as the method of travel is concerned. It was quite an undertaking for the Queen of Sheba to make what was then a long journey to visit Solomon. But times have changed since then—radically changed. And this change has come about suddenly.
When, through invention, this sudden change began to take place, many philosophers announced that the human race was entering the “brain age.” But this was not the true explanation. Actually, the human species is no more brainy now than in the days of Solomon. Many of the greatest sculptors, artists, musicians, and writers which the world has ever produced, pre-dated by centuries the so-called brain age of modern times.
The Bible alone supplies the true explanation of why, in so short a time, the world has advanced from ten-mile an hour travel to several hundred miles, and in far greater comfort. That explanation is furnished in the prophecy of Daniel, chapter 12, verse 4. This prophet of God foretold a period in human experience which he designated the “time of the end”. He forecast that in this “time of the end” there would come a great increase of knowledge, and that there would be much running to and fro. It is the fulfillment of this prophecy that we are now witnessing.
The general increase of knowledge and the much and rapid travel have come about in such a comparatively short time that it is almost unbelievable. And we are only in the beginning. Based on information released by large manufacturing concerns and by outstanding research laboratories, and other reliable sources, it is now being predicted that in a very short time we will see such things as air conditioned clothes; rockets that will take passengers to Europe in an hour; conveyer belts on which to ride to work; towering city buildings built almost entirely of glass; radar brakes for automobiles; that people will be spry and healthy in old age, and live past a hundred. These are just a few of the marvels which are ahead.
But all of this does not mean that the people are more brilliant today than in times past. Through the rapid increase of knowledge to which the printing press led, the accumulated knowledge of the past and present is made available for all in the fields of research. Every inventor and every scientist is helped by the findings of all the others. As for the vast majority of us, about all we need to know is how to push buttons. The people of Solomon’s time could have done as well.
Perhaps the best proof that the general intelligence of the human race has not increased is in the fact that man is not able to find a way adequately to safeguard himself against total destruction by his own inventions. Solomon was a man of peace, and the Queen of Sheba’s visit was merely one of courtesy and friendship, mingled with curiosity. Now that the increase of knowledge in this prophetic “time of the end” has brought all the far-flung nations of earth into each other’s back yards, so to speak, there is a hurrying back and forth of ambassadors, prime ministers, secretaries of state, presidents, kings and dictators, for the purpose of finding solutions for the myriad problems of the world, any one of which is serious enough, if solutions are not found, to lead eventually to the Third World War. The world can build rockets and hydrogen bombs, but it cannot solve the problems created by fallen man’s selfishness. The Prophet Daniel forecast this also. He indicated that there would develop a “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.” We are now witnessing this trouble. The prophetic increase of knowledge has permeated into the hitherto backward and “have not” nations of the earth, and they are all astir in clamoring for their rights, real and fancied.
This is one reason the Middle East is now so prominently in the news. Another reason is that Israel is one of the nations of the Middle East. Because we are living in a period of transition leading to the full establishment of the kingdom of Christ, it is the due time for the ancient people of God to repossess their Land of Promise. They are liked no more than they were in the ancient past, so the tensions mount, and will continue to increase, until the problems of Israel and the whole world are solved by that foretold “government” which will be on the “shoulder” of “The Prince of Peace.”
As we have noted, many centuries have passed since the early disciples looked to Jesus to set up this government. This does not imply any delay in God’s plan, however. During these centuries God has been taking out from the Gentiles a “people for his name,” a people to be associated with Jesus in the spiritual phase of his kingdom. Now that work is nearly completed, and in his wisdom and overruling providences the Lord turned loose the forces of knowledge that will continue to stir the world into more and more frenzied action, until man’s social order is set aside, and room made for the kingdom of Christ.
In that kingdom, the people of all nations will receive their rights. Peace and security will be assured to all. One of our modern expressions is the “abundant life.” The Prophet Isaiah forecast that in the kingdom of Christ all would be assured of this “abundant life.” He described it as a “feast of fat things” which the Lord would make “unto all people,” a feast “of fat things full of marrow,” and of “wines on the lees well refined.”—Isa. 25:6
The Lord, in his wisdom, knew that the human race would need a certain preparation for these blessings, especially an awakening to a realization of their need for them. God permitted the great increase of knowledge to bring about this awakening, and at the same time give mankind the opportunity to discover that apart from him and the controls of Christ’s kingdom, the very knowledge that could and will yet be such a marvelous and lasting blessing would lead to national suicide.
The rich and satisfying blessings of Christ’s kingdom will include freedom from sickness and death. The increase of knowledge is helping to prepare the people for these blessings also. And, while medical science is predicting that the time is not far distant when people will be living far past the century mark, we predict, on the authority of God’s Word, that when the long-promised kingdom of Christ is fully established, those who accept the provision of divine grace through the Redeemer and obey the laws of the kingdom, will live forever.
MANSFIELD, TEXAS
NOVELIST John Howard Griffen, who became blind as a result of bombing in the South Pacific thirteen years ago, has suddenly regained his sight. He said that he had received no bump or jar which, under certain circumstances, might account for this seeming miracle. While walking toward his parents’ home he suddenly began to see what seemed to be red sand before his eyes. A few minutes later he began to see objects clearly. Here was a case, apparently, in which nature’s own marvelous curative powers had, after years, succeeded in removing the block to vision.
When Jesus was on earth he employed the power of the Creator to restore sight to the blind, and to perform various other miracles of healing. He even restored the dead to life. We speak of these accomplishments as miracles, and to us they are, but this is only because we do not understand how they were performed. One may be a good driver of an automobile, yet know nothing of the principles involved in causing it to run. Should the engine fail, he would be helpless until an experienced automobile mechanic was available to start the engine. The mechanic, who knows how the automobile was made, quickly locates the trouble, and starts the engine. This is not a miracle. It is simply that the mechanic understands the operation of the automobile.
So the great God and Creator of the universe, and of life itself, is able, through whatever agencies he may choose, to repair the human organism—even to the supplying of new parts if necessary. And this is exactly what he has promised to do on behalf of the entire sick and dying world. In a sweeping promise pertaining to the time of Christ’s kingdom the Bible declares that the people of that time shall not say, “I am sick.”—Isa. 33:24
LONDON, ENGLAND
A REPORT from London tells of two persons who died of heart failure and, after being dead for half an hour, were revived by the massaging of their hearts. The report emphasizes that they remembered nothing of the time they were dead. The revival of persons whose hearts have stopped beating has been accomplished on a number of occasions in recent years, but in no instance has the person involved any recollection of what happened during the “death” period.
In view of the general belief that man is inherently immortal and possesses a soul which continues to live after the body dies, many wonder what becomes of this soul in the cases of those who die and are brought back to life. If the soul is the conscious being, and continues to be so after death, why does it become unconscious when the heart stops beating? It may be argued, of course, that in the case of temporary heart failure a person is not actually dead; not dead long enough, that is, for the soul to have a chance to escape from the body and resume its existence as an ethereal entity.
But there is one case on record of which there can be no question but that the person actually died. It was that of Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. He had been dead four days before Jesus awakened him from the sleep of death. His body had begun to decompose. But we have no record that Lazarus remembered anything of what happened during those four days. The logical assumption is that had he been dead for thousands of years it would have been the same.
When Lazarus died, Jesus said to his disciples, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth.” They misunderstood what Jesus meant, and he said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.” (John 11:11,14) A sound sleep is a state of temporary unconsciousness, and Jesus used it as an illustration of the position of Lazarus in death, for he knew that Lazarus would be awakened from death.
Death is the penalty for sin—“As in Adam all die.” Because of God’s loving provision of redemption through Christ, the dead are to be awakened—even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (I Cor. 15:21,22) Because of this the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, often refers to the dead as being asleep. Were it not for the provision of the resurrection they would be eternally dead.
The general belief of inherent immortality is not supported in the Bible. There is no such thing as an immortal soul. This expression is not found anywhere in the Word of God. In Genesis 2:7 we are told what a human soul really is. The text reads, “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
From this it is clear that a “soul” is, in reality, a living being consisting of an organism animated by the “breath of life.” When the organism fails to function, or the breath of life is cut off, the soul dies. Thus, in the case of those who experience heart failure, the soul, or being, dies. If a physician is able to start the heart to function again before there is a serious breaking down of body tissues, the soul, or being, is restored to life.
The report from London says that in England an exclusive club has been formed known as the “Good to Be Alive Club.” The only ones eligible to join are those who have been temporarily dead and “brought back to life.” In the millennial age the “Good to Be Alive Club” will no longer be exclusive. The millions of Adam’s race, once asleep in death, will then have been awakened from death, and doubtless the vast majority of them will be most happy to be alive again. These will be the “ransomed of the Lord” who will have returned from death with “songs and everlasting joy.”—Isaiah 35:10
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY
A GROUP of physicians has petitioned the New Jersey State Legislature to legalize “mercy killing,” that is, the taking of life under the supervision of a physician to put an end to suffering in the cases of those for whom there is no hope of recovery. Whether such a procedure is justified under the laws of God is a question on which not all agree.
The Bible informs us, however, that man was created in the “image of God,” and that God is love. This is unquestionably the reason for the quest of all ages, on the part of those not on the lunatic fringe of society, to find a way to lessen and, if possible, destroy pain. For this reason also it is considered a misdemeanor to inflict suffering even upon lower animals. Surely we are all thankful for the good work being done by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Strange, is it not, that traditions which have come down to us from the Dark Ages insist that God, the loving Creator, will torture unbelievers forever in a fiery hell? This view, of course, is quite out of harmony with the teachings of the Bible. The penalty for sin is death, which is a merciful penalty. But God in his love has, through Christ, provided redemption from even this penalty. During the thousand years of Christ’s kingdom, the Bible assures us, all the dead are to be awakened from the sleep of death and given an opportunity to believe, obey divine law, and live forever.
When this work is complete the wonderful promise of God in Revelation 21:4 will be fulfilled. This promise assures us that there shall be no more pain and no more death. The willfully wicked of that time will be cut off in death. (Acts 3:23) This we might refer to as the “mercy killing” of the willfully wicked. They will not be kept alive in a place of torment. All others will live forever, not in sickness and pain, but in perfection of health, and in harmony with their Creator. Then there will be no “incurables.”
JERUSALEM
A JEWISH scientist has developed a practical and inexpensive method of removing the salt from sea water, and the Israeli government is planning to put it into immediate use to solve their water problem. There are prophecies in the Bible which assure us that the desert lands of earth will become productive through an adequate supply of water. To what extent this will be brought about by man’s own efforts is a question which time alone will answer. So far as Palestine is concerned it is significant that there has been an encouraging increase in the amount of rain fall in recent years.
When God created our first parents he commanded them to multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it. Man, in other words, was commissioned to conquer the earth, and it might well be that the Lord, in his overruling providences, will permit man to discover ways and means of bringing about many of the things promised in his Word so far as the productivity of the earth is concerned. We know that the earth shall “yield her increase,” and that it will be brought about in God’s own due time and way.—Psalm 67:5-7