Putting Out the Fires of Anarchy…
Serving God "Shoulder
to Shoulder"
"Therefore wait ye upon
me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise 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 shall be devoured
with the "fire" of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure
language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with
one consent [‘shoulder to shoulder’ NAS]." Zephaniah 3:8-9
Too many of us feel perplexed—some are even faint
with fear—for what we see happening on the world scene. As Jesus prophesied
about "the day" at the end of the age, "Upon the earth dismay among nations,
in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear
and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world…" (Luke
21:25-26).
As the year 2008 began we were exposed to scenes
of tribal conflict—this time in postcard perfect Kenya. These scenes vividly
reminded us of Darfur, the "anarchy" of Rwanda and other the genocides and
religiously motivated wars that bathed the last century with the blood of
millions of innocents. Images appear in the media briefly, but soon we were
either numbed or of necessity distracted by yet other crises, diversions—or
football games. Few of us are prepared to keep the flames of Kenya fresh in
our minds, much less be able to do anything to assist Kenyans directly—even
if we knew what to do. Will Kenya’s Luo tribesmen go the way of the Tutsis
of Rwanda? What will eventually come of UN intervention? Will it be an effete
useless effort? How far and wide will such "fires" spread?
Gathering of the Nations
Globalization and its global factory and marketplace
are another source of potential destabilization and financial combustion.
The world’s economies are now lined up as so many dominos precariously placed,
interconnected and capable of bringing each other down. Even the growing credit
crisis will play into the gathering of all nations spoken of by the prophet
Zephaniah (3:8) who wrote that God will "gather" the nations to pour out the
"fire of His wrath." And while all that sounds awful, there is hope. God
has a plan!
After the "fire" of that day, God will turn to
the people and they will call on His Name and serve Him "shoulder to shoulder."
Thus understood the earth does not literally burn up. If so, who would be
left to turn to God? But after the "fire" that is just what all people will
do—they will turn to God.
Brush fires after War
The 20th Century has experienced significant
changes in international conflict. Wars have led to revolutions and revolutions
have led to anarchistic brush fires. The "Great War" of 1914, the "Russian
Revolutions" of 1917 were benchmarks of global change. The imperialism that
helped ignite World War I, also pressed African tribes and Eurasian ethnic
communities together within artificial borders. The fading of totalitarian
Soviet might in Eurasia and the departure of Imperial powers left behind powder
kegs of resentment and mistrust ready to explode. And explode they did! Yugoslavia
and Rwanda being just two examples. Is there a pattern?
The war-revolution-anarchy machine continues
to wreak unspeakable devastation on humanity. The machine is driven by any
number of forces—
- Economic
scarcity, overpopulation, famine, poverty, disease or fear of these;
- Social
conflicts, ethnic revenge or tribalism bloodletting;
- Religious
zeal to gain converts, dominate or annihilate;
- Political
power hungry factions.
High profile, targeted wars, in Afghanistan or
Iraq may tend to ignore the true picture of a worldwide Islamic jihad mentality.
What role terrorism in the 21st Century will play in the "war-revolution-anarchy"
scenario may not be clear, but the reality on the ground is that religious,
social, economic and political issues are still at the root cause. Unsolvable
conflicts will continue to press many of earth’s billions under the wheels
of crushing war machines.
The widely praised, but expensive, democratic
elections which put President Joseph Kabila of Congo in power have left the
West blind to the corruption—some attributed to multinational corporate mining
involvement. Tragic is the cost in human lives—estimated to be 5.4 million
since 1998. Yes, Congo is a disaster. But how long will its crisis remain
within its borders? How long the major powers ignore it and remain isolated
and safe from the conflicts? Kenya, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and
Sudan’s Darfur all are shouting for help. Unheard cries will not go away—rather
their "fire" can spread.
Fires Around the World
Fire is destructive. There is nothing more destructive
to society than anarchy. The Scriptures define anarchy, in principle, as the
fighting of "every man’s sword …against his brother and…neighbor" (Ezek. 38:21;
Isaiah 19:2). Through earth’s history, there have always been bursts of anarchy.
But since World War I—when the world gathered for the Great War—the nations
have gathered as never before—and are now so interdependent that "fire" in
one place can easily spread. However, African States now burning with tribal
wars seem so removed from Western society.
The heroic Canadian U.N. Commander, General Romeo
Dallaire, assigned to Rwanda (1993-1994), found himself helpless in the face
of a 100-day, 800,000-person genocide because the Western powers—who could
have made a difference—did not help. He said, "Because there was no self-interest....No
oil!….They didn't come because some humans are [considered] less human than
others." But will anyone really be isolated from the "fires" of this century?
A Climactic Vision
The Scriptures actually give us a model of the
sequence that we have seen since World War I. Fleeing a death threat by his
arch enemy Jezebel, Elijah the Prophet of the LORD escaped to Mount Horeb
(I Kings 19:1-12). For His Prophet Elijah, the LORD produced a awesome display
of power—first a "wind," then an "earthquake," then "fire"—but finally "a
still small voice." That dramatic display was a prophecy symbolic of the end
time: winds of war; socio-political earthquakes or revolutions and fiery anarchy—all
before the peaceable Kingdom. The 20th century saw two World Wars.
It witnessed more than half of the world’s population hit with revolutions
and social upheavals. It saw anarchistic genocide in Turkey in 1915 and in
the Congo as the century ended (the worst human crisis since WW II).
Yes, the LORD has cause to be angry with the
nations. Former colonial and imperial powers will bear their share of responsibility.
Multinational corporations have done much to control the world’s resources
and production. Copper, gold and diamond rich Congo—are being pillaged while
the profits earned never reach the native population. Congolese government
leaders and their crowd are kept well paid to achieve free reign for corporate
exploits. But a fiery day of reckoning is approaching.
Causes of Anarchy
Education leads to demands for rights and liberties.
Selfishness generates pride and lust for power. Governments hold the people
in place, but the "fire" of anarchy will flare up when there is no government—whether
good or bad—to maintain order.
Colonialism kept African tribes under its thumb.
But as Britain, France Belgium and Portugal fled Africa, artificially created
neo-nations were left with new power bases igniting tribal suspicions and
rivalry. The results have been chaotic—and now anarchistic.
After the "fire"—A Glorious Home
Yet the Prophet Zephaniah wrote that after God
gathers the nations and pours out the "fire" of His wrath—He will "turn to
the people" the "pure language" of Truth—and they will call on His Name and
serve Him "shoulder to shoulder."
Once again this means that the earth will not
literally burn up. For then there would be none left to turn to God. But after
the "fire" that is just what all people will do—they will turn to God.
The "Armageddon" of end times is generally misunderstood.
What began in the last Century is bad enough to be described as the Biblical
Armageddon, but has it already started? If not, the gathering of the nations
in leagues, unions and economic conferences makes Armageddon seem close (Rev.
16:14-16).
God wants man to learn the valuable lessons of
the consequences of sin and selfishness. But the core problem is the human
heart—both for the people on the street as well as those in power with authority.
God's Plan will soon climax, and "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee:
the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain" (Psalm 76:10). The Bible affirms
that God is in control. What might be excessive—God will step in and halt
(Matt. 24:22). Thus man’s wrath will ultimately serve for his own ultimate
good to God's praise.
The Earth Abides Forever
Symbolically speaking there is no question: our
present society—the symbolic "earth" will pass away (2 Peter 3:7). But the
Scriptures clearly tell us that the planet earth will never, never be burned
up. "One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth
abideth for ever" (Ecclesiastes 1:4).
The Earth was prepared for Man’s home—forever!
In spite of people speaking of going to heaven when they die, most of earth’s
billions dream of living in an earthly paradise anyway. Yes, the truly consecrated
Christian's hope is to live with Christ in Heaven, and to see God fact to
face. But that hope is the exception to the universal desire of mankind. The
Christian Church will be the Bride of Jesus Together they will give perfect
life on earth to the rest of the world—their children (Rev. 22:17).
Yes, our God created the earth as man's home:
"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed
the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain,
he formed it to be inhabited...." (Isaiah 45:18 KJV)
In fact, even though, Heaven is God’s throne—Earth
is His footstool. And He will make the place of His feet glorious! It will
be a Paradise. "Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth
is my footstool...:I will make the place of my feet glorious...."
(Isaiah 66:1; 60:13).
Therefore, the purpose of Jesus returning is
not to save a mere few—and destroy the remainder with the Earth. The Scriptures
say, the heavens retain Jesus until the "times of restitution"—restoration
of mankind to their home on Earth. "That He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed
for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all
things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient
time." (Acts 3:20-22 NAS) Restoration to what Adam—and all his children—lost:
Perfect life and home on a perfect earth. "For the Son of man is come to save
that which was lost" (Matt 18:11).
Shoulder to Shoulder
In the "times of restoration," humanity will
be learning God’s righteousness. "When thy judgments are in the earth, the
inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness" (Isa 26:9). It will be
a time for healing. As Revelation describes the "water of life" coming out
of the throne of God and the Lamb—symbolically "leaves" will be for the "healing
of the nations" (Rev. 22:1-2). After the "fire" of anarchy has destroyed the
structure of the present evil society—as the Prophet Zephaniah says—God will
turn to the people the pure language of Truth. The knowledge of God will cover
the earth. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the
earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover
the sea" (Isaiah 11:9) Instead the anarchy of every man’s hand being against
his brother or neighbor—people will serve God "shoulder to shoulder."