| Highlights of Dawn | December 1967 |
This Eventful Year
THE year 1967 is drawing to a close. The beginning of the year found an escalating American army struggling against communist forces in Viet Nam. As the end of the year approaches, the struggle against communist forces in that tiny far eastern country continues. About October 1 the report was given out in Washington that in the entire period of the war in Viet Nam there had been more than 100,000 American casualties, and that half of these had been inflicted in the first nine months of this year.
At no time has the American public been solidly behind the Viet Nam war, and during the year outright opposition to it has crescendoed to a point that is causing concern to official Washington. Prominent persons in the United States are openly expressing their belief that a halt should be called to the war; Governor George Romney of Michigan, an apparent candidate for the presidency next year, said that while in Viet Nam some, time ago he had been “brain washed” by army and diplomatic officials as to the real facts of the war, and that now, having learned the true situation, he was raising his voice against continuing the struggle. So, the difference between the beginning’ of the year and its end, as far as the Viet Nam war is concerned, is the growing doubt as to its need and as to any possible beneficial accomplishment.
Riots
For a number of years the civil rights struggle in the United States has been increasing in severity. There have been demonstrations of various sorts, including marches. Beginning particularly last year, and increasing this year, the poverty of negroes in the slum areas of American cities has been associated with the battle for civil rights, and there have been rioting, destruction of property and life, and wide scale looting. The worst of these outbreaks of violence during the current year were in Newark, New Jersey, and Detroit, Michigan.
Out of this display of anarchy has come the development of what is called the “black power” movement, headed by individuals who advocate the overthrow of the United States Government by force. In a Kingsbury Smith report of an interview with one of the chief black power advocates—an interview which took place in Europe—this man said, “Hate has its role to play. I am full of hate. Hate is necessary for our revolution, as is violence. There has never been a revolution without hate and violence.”
Continuing, this purveyor of hate said, “We do not have cannons. We are inferior in number. Therefore, we have chosen guerrilla warfare as a solution which the situation imposes upon us. We will concentrate on strategic points in the country—in the factories, the fields, and homes of whites. We can easily sabotage and destroy without even firing a shot. We can, for example, destroy telephone lines, railways, airports, the electric and electronic installations. The life in every city of the United States depends on an electronic system. If it is paralyzed, so is the city. Thus, city by city, we will succeed in bringing America to its knees, to economic ruin.”
This is a bold statement, prompted by the distorted thinking of a mind and heart poisoned by hate. It is unlikely that what this man advocates can be accomplished at the moment, except to a limited degree. However, there is little doubt that the rioting which has already taken place is one aspect of the prophetic “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.”—Daniel 12:1
So also is the Viet Nam war. These are evidences that man’s social order, which is so largely based upon selfishness, is crumbling, and that human wisdom will be unable to hold it together.
The meaning of these various manifestations of human failure to find solutions for the problems created by human unwisdom and selfishness is well described by Walter Lippmann, in a syndicated article appearing in an October issue of Newsweek. He said: “This dusty outlook marks, I believe, the historic fact that we are living through the closing chapters of the established and traditional way of life. We are in the early beginnings of a struggle, which will probably last for generations, to remake our civilization. It is not a good time for politicians. It is a time for prophets and leaders and explorers and inventors and pioneers, and for those who are willing to plant trees for their children to sit under.”
Mr. Lippmann’s own outlook is itself “dusty,” in that he clings to the hope that through generations of struggle man will finally succeed in building himself a world of peace and plenty which will satisfy all mankind. But how unreasonable to suppose that human wisdom will ever be able to establish such a paradise! Mr. Lippmann says that among other things this will require inventors. But inventions do not change the human heart. The wreck of the pre-1914 world has been brought about despite great strides in science and invention. He says that we will also need pioneers. Pioneers are already on the job, especially in outer space. They are endeavoring to reach the moon, and Mars, and Venus. But, despite treaties to the contrary, what assurance do we have that, if they succeed, these faraway places in space will not be used as “pads” from which to shower destruction upon the inhabitants of the earth?
God’s Prophets
Mr. Lippmann says that the world needs prophets. We have them. They are the holy prophets of God, whose messages are recorded in the Bible. These inspired prophets reveal, however, that man will be unable to solve the problems created by sin and selfishness, and that instead there will be divine intervention in the affairs of men through the long-promised messianic kingdom. This, God’s prophets emphasize, is the only hope for the world today. When this kingdom is established, swords will be converted to plowshares, and spears to pruninghooks, and the nations will learn war no more. Then there will be economic security, and all will dwell under their own vine and fig tree.
Ecclesiastical Problems
The ecclesiastical world also has its unsolvable problems. The Catholic and Protestant churches alike realize that their influence in human affairs is on the wane. Not long ago the noted evangelist, Billy Graham, speaking in Kansas City, said that the idea of a world constantly getting better is a myth. Apparently, about the only incentive Mr. Graham has to continue his campaigns is the hope that he will be able to save some souls for heaven who otherwise, as he supposes, would go down into eternal torment when the final wreck of the world occurs.
All the great churches are endeavoring to work together more closely. By so doing they hope to strengthen their position in the world. Many would like to find shelter under the wings of the Vatican. However, it is doubtful that this would help much, for the pope’s own pleas for peace go unheeded, and his prayers for peace unanswered. Many years ago it was suggested to the Russian premier, Joseph Stalin, that the powerful position of the pope should be taken into consideration. He put off the suggestion by asking how large an army the pope commanded. The power of arms is about the only one recognized by nations today; so the resolutions and suggestions of ecclesiasticism go unheeded.
Priesthood Problems
In addition to other problems now facing the Catholic Church, this year has witnessed a growing unrest among priests and nuns. According to a report by John Leo, in The New York Times, there are now an estimated 2,000 ex-priests in the New York City area alone. One of the principal reasons for priests and nuns withdrawing from their positions of service in the Catholic Church is their desire to marry. But this is not the only reason. There is a widespread disillusionment among priests and nuns with respect to the Catholic Church and its traditions, and this is causing many to leave its service.
Increasing Crime
Crime of all sorts has been on the increase throughout the world for many years. This increase has greatly speeded up during 1967. The FBI reports that this increase during the first nine months of the year was from seventeen percent in some categories, to thirty-seven percent in others. This, too, reflects the decreasing influence of religion. Jesus referred to this waning of ecclesiastical influence as a shaking of “the powers of heaven.” He said that, because of this, men’s hearts would fail them for fear as they looked ahead to the things coming upon the earth.—Luke 21:26
In the past, religion has been relied upon to hold the people in check. This was done partly through fear of future punishment, such as eternal torture. But now the general public has given up belief in this tradition, and they are no longer frightened by it. The moral standards of the church are also being set aside to an alarming extent. This means that crime is looked upon by an ever-increasing number of people as a rational way of life. There is no sin in committing crime, these reason; it is merely unfortunate when one is caught and punished for what he did.
Bishop Pike
Many will remember Bishop Pike, formerly a presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church on the West Coast. He denied belief in the virgin birth and the resurrection of Jesus, and confessed that as far as he could tell there is no real proof of life after death. Bishop Pike’s son committed suicide, and now it has been revealed that the bishop has been convinced that his son has communicated with him from beyond the grave. Thus the man who was unable to exercise faith in the promises of the Bible concerning the resurrection of the dead has fallen victim to the deceptions of spiritualism.
Probably the bishop did receive communications, but not from his son. The Bible tells us that “the dead know not anything” and therefore are not able to communicate with anyone. (Eccl. 9:5) There is scriptural reason to believe that fallen angels may have posed as the bishop’s son and carried on the communication. The one who communicated knew many personal things about the family. The bishop was certain that the mediums who relayed the messages could not possibly know about these things; so he reasoned that he must have been in communication with his son, who would know about them.*
*For further information concerning spiritualism and its deceptive powers, we refer our readers to the booklet “Spiritualism.”
Israel’s Short War
One of the outstanding events of 1967 was the short war in which the fighting forces of the little nation of Israel defeated the vast hordes of Arab and Egyptian fighters and captured large areas of land from the Arabs and from Egypt. Capturing the old section of Jerusalem was considered by Israel to be a very important achievement. Now months have passed since that short war, and it is becoming more and more apparent that nothing was really settled by it except the enlargement of Israel’s borders. Israel’s enemies refuse to accept defeat. They continue to insist that Israel has no right to exist as a nation, and they refuse to negotiate with her to seek a solution for their mutual problems. At the same time Russia has agreed to supply arms to replace those captured and destroyed by Israel, and has increased her military budget by billions of dollars in order to implement this agreement. Much of the war material lost in the conflict with Israel has already been replaced by Russia. So now we enter into another period of waiting, meanwhile getting reports of shooting back and forth across Israel’s borders.
There is a definiteness to the Bible’s prophecies concerning the final outcome of God’s design for Israel; but as far as we can presently discern, the Bible is somewhat vague as to the details of development prior to that time, and we should not attempt to be wise beyond that which is plainly written. That the Lord’s typical people would be restored to their land in this end of the age is made clear in the Bible, and this is being accomplished. We rejoice in this because it is one of the evidences of the second presence of our Lord.
This is also one of the evidences of the nearness of the messianic kingdom. In the prophecies Israel is represented as a fig tree, and Jesus said, “Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” (Luke 21:29-31) The kingdom is not actually here, not even in Israel; but as Jesus said, it is nigh at hand, and because of this we can lift up our heads with confidence that our deliverance into that kingdom, to live and reign with Christ, is near. (Rev. 20:6) What a blessed hope, and how that hope has been strengthened by events in Israel during 1967!
“Jacob’s trouble” is yet to come upon Israel. (Jer. 30:7) One of the prophecies which describes events leading up to, and the climax of, this trouble is found in Ezekiel 38. The outcome is described in verse 23, and in chapter 39 verse 7. We quote, ‘Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.” “So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen [Gentiles] shall know that I am the Lord.”
Obviously, when blindness departs from Israel, and when the Gentiles have their eyes opened to behold his glory, there will be a speedy settlement of the problems of the Near East, and, in fact, of the world. The Scriptures indicate that at the beginning of the earthly phase of the kingdom the Ancient Worthies will be raised from the dead. From these the word of the Lord will flow out to Israel and to all mankind. Obedience to these instructions will lead to life and health. Then the people will say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: … we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”—Isa. 25:9
Another year of waiting for the kingdom is nearing an end. Let us keep on faithfully and hopefully waiting, and at the same time continue to proclaim the good news of the kingdom now near. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”