Here's a surprising reason for Islamic militancy towards the West
Bill Faith: "What will be the sign of your coming?" the disciples asked Jesus. In reply he told them there would come a time of terror unique in history which only God's direct intervention would ensure mankind's survival (Matthew 24:21-22).
If the saints are to be raptured to safety before the tribulation, as some claim, this would have been the ideal time for Christ to have said so. But instead, Jesus said that for their sake the days would be cut short - implying that they would have to endure tribulation.
In outlining the events of 'the fifth seal' he later repeated this message to the faithful: "Rest a little while longer, until both the number of their ,fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed" (Revelation 6:11). This describes a future martyrdom during the tribulation, and immediately precedes the heavenly signs portrayed by the 'sixth seal' (v.12). [For a time-line of the Book of Revelation request the free booklet The Key to Revelation, available from any of our addresses.]
Jesus tells us that these heavenly signs follow the tribulation: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light" (Matthew 24:29).
This unique time of trouble is mentioned in various scriptures. For example in Daniel 12:1 we read, "At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time o trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, ever to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book".
All of these texts describe the same time of tribulation that will befall this earth near the close of this age. However, they also reveal that there will be hope. God will not forsake His people. In fact, the Bible tells us that our Savior Jesus Christ will return to this earth after the heavenly signs appear (Matthew 24:29-31).
Two Nations
This time of great tribulation preceding the return of Christ and the resurrection of the saints is also called the 'time of Jacob's trouble': "For thus says the Lord: 'We have heard a voice of trembling, Of fear, and not of peace. Ask now, and see, Whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins Like a woman in labor, And all faces turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob's trouble, But he shall be saved out of it." (Jeremiah 30:5-7).
[Jacob was the grandson of Abraham. God changed Jacob's name to Israel (Genesis 32:28). He had twelve sons and their families became known as the children of Israel.]
Many years later, during Solomon's rule, God sent a prophet to one of Solomon's servants and foretold that Israel would be divided. The fascinating account may be found in I Kings 11:29-37.
God's prophet told Jeroboam, a servant of King Solomon: "I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of .Solomon and will give ten tribes to you. But he shall have one tribe for the sake of my servant David, and for the sake o/ Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen".
The reason? Because of their idolatry. Thus was born two nations - the House of Judah ruled by Solomon's descendants, and the House of Israel ruled by a succession of unrelated kings.
Dispersion
About two hundred years later, about 721 BC, God had the House of Israel taken into captivity because they so blatantly disobeyed Him. He caused the Assyrians to capture and deport them to what is now modern day Russia where they became known as the Scythians.
The Encyclopedia Americana explains that the Scythians first occupied the territory around the Black Sea about 700 B.C. - around the time that the House of Israel was deported to that area. The Bible recounts that the Israelites were forcibly deported from their homeland and relocated "in Halah, on the harbor, the river of Gozan [northern Assyria] and in the cities of the Medes" (II Kings 18:11). This is not far from the region of Urartu between the Black and Caspian Seas.
"Historian Tamara Talbot [Rice] confirms that... 'Assyrian documents place their appearance there [between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea] in the time of King Sargon (722-705 B.C.), a date which closely corresponds with that of the establishment of the first group of Scythians in southern Russia' (Rice, "The Scythians", Praeger, NY, 1961, pp. 19-20,44). This date also corresponds with the disappearance of the captives from Israel's northern kingdom" (The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy, UCGaia). [See also "Scythians 700-300 B.C." (Men at Arms Series 137) by M.V. Gorelik, E.N. Cernenko, E.V. Gerneko, Osprey Pub., 1983.]
From southern Russia the House of Israel migrated to northern Europe and the British Isles. In Jeremiah 31:10 it states, "Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, And declare it in the isles afar of, and say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him... '"
Why did God say to declare it in the isles? That's where Israel was to go. And from the British Isles came many of the first settlers in the United States. Many people in the United States and Great Britain are the descendants of the children of Israel! This is important if we are to understand what is happening in the world today.
Over a century after the House of Israel was taken captive the House of Judah was also taken into captivity to Babylon because of their sins - specifically for not observing God's Sabbath day. They were taken to Babylon for seventy years after which many returned to Jerusalem.
Islamic fundamentalists despise the Judeo-Christian civilization. "Though moderate Muslims may quote seemingly peace-loving verses in the Koran, there are clearly other Islamic scriptures that have given license to any action that leads to ultimate defeat of the infidels, who are particularly identified as Christians and Jews. Among them are found in Sura 4:74 and 76: 'Let those who would exchange the life of this world for the hereafter, fight for the cause of Allah; whether they die or conquer, we shall richly reward them ... The true believers fight for the cause of Allah, but the infidels fight for their idols. Fight then against the friends of Satan." (David Dolan, Sept. 18, 2001)
The majority of Muslims, of course, want only a peaceful and prosperous existence -just like everyone else. It is always a minority leadership that takes us into conflict!
"Sadly, some Islamic preachers and scholars, using these verses from the Koran, are encouraging suicide atrocities against the West - especially Christians and Jews who are the infidels. A few days before the terrorist attack in the U.S., the Jerusalem mufti [Islamic religious ruler] preached, 'The White House will turn black, with God's help, and America, England and Israel should be destroyed.' Tommy Lapid, member of the Israeli Knesset and head of the Sinui party, himself a holocaust survivor and professed atheist, says that radical Islam's target is the Judeo-Christian civilization that doesn't accept the Koran" (Maoz Israel Report).
As we look around the world today and see the various acts of terrorism, we see the fulfillment of Jesus' words when he said, "The time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service" (John 16:2).
Shared Origins
Both Israelites and Arabs have Abraham as their father. The Arabs (largely Islamic) are the descendants of Ishmael the son of Abram and Hagar. Hagar was the Egyptian maidservant for Abram's wife Sarai (Genesis 16:1-16).
Before Ishmael was born, an angel appeared to Hagar and told her, "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude". He continued, "Behold, you are with child. And you shall bear a son. You .shall call his name Ishmael, Because the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren" (Genesis 16:10-12).
The Arab claim is that because they are Abram's descendants, they have the right to the land of Palestine because of the covenant God made with Abraham. The covenant is found in Genesis 17:1-2, 7-8. The covenant, in return for obedience, deeded to his descendants in perpetuity 'all the land of Canaan' - later defined as from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates. As Abraham's descendants, Arabs claim to be a part of this inheritance. But God, while blessing Ishmael with the promise of becoming 'a great nation', limited the deed to Abraham's son by Sarah - namely, Isaac (vv. 19-21).
Isaac's son Jacob next became the recipient of the covenant; and God changed his name to Israel (Genesis 35:10,12). His descendants became known as 'the children of Israel'. This brings us back to where we started, that is, that many people in the United States, England and the nation of Israel are the descendants of Israel (Jacob). We are in fact, modern-day Israel.
Spirit Leader
Seeing Abraham's children (stepbrothers) disputing and fighting with each other, we need to keep in mind who the real enemy is. It is not Bin Laden or Islam, it is Satan. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).
Reflecting Jesus' reply to his disciples question about his coming, the Maoz Israel Report dated October 2001 accurately stated: "Remember, the same demonic powers that want to destroy the Free World through Islamic fundamentalism, equally intend to annihilate the Arab and Muslim nations. Satan intends to exterminate the human race. God intends to bring world revival."
Sometime in the future, the world will experience the worst tribulation it has ever seen. It will be particularly directed against the modern descendants of ancient Israel. But we have God's promise that He will not forsake mankind. God has put a lot of planning into this world. In fact, Christ was slain from the foundation of the world so that we could be brought into the Family of God (Revelation 13:8, Ephesians 1:3-5).
It is 'always the darkest before the dawn'. And so it will be just before Christ returns.
To comment on this article or request more information, please contact James McBride by e-mail at the comment form below.
For PDF or mailed copy, see CGOM. Excerpt from New Horizons Volume 6 No. 2, March/April 2002. Edited by James McBride of the Churches of God, United Kingdom.
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