What a Year!

What a year it has been. The frequency of major events has left us breathless at times, but such have been the circumstances, few have been able to call them exciting times in a positive sense. Too often, the news has been filled with tragic events or depressing reports.

One commentator was moved to describe 2011 as the ‘year of the Tsunami, both literally and figuratively’ (source). Few can have been unmoved by the horrific scenes as the sea was driven far inland as a result of a massive earthquake off the Japanese coast. The recovery from this event is underway, but it will be a long and difficult road. Politically, the Middle East and North African area has been faced with massive changes. A great wave of change hit a number of countries – some governing systems have been capsized (Tunisia, Egypt and Libya) whilst many others have been challenged to change or be changed. Our commentator noted – “the Middle East lacks most of the advantages that will guide Japan's recovery - a peaceful neighbourhood, a cohesive population and a strong tradition of effective governance.”

In the midst of all this, the economic recovery from the 2008 credit crunch has stuttered. There have been reports of “a ‘tsunami’ of house repossessions (in Britain) as interest rates start to rise” (source); the economies of a Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain have created a crisis in the euro-zone that threatens the prosperity of the region.

No Reason to Despair

It really does seem that the leaders of the world are struggling to resolve the issues they face – whether the issues are triggered by natural events/disasters or driven by human behaviours. It is hardly surprising to that there is a increasing level of despair and despondency. What will happen next?

That is exactly the question that the word of God, the Bible, helps us to answer – and it tells us that we need not despair. God has a plan and it is on track to completion – there are many signs that reassure us of that.

A Sample Prediction

Jesus spoke to his close followers (disciples) about the future of the Jewish nation. At the time, it was in its homeland, Palestine, but overruled by the Romans. Over the centuries, God had warned the people that if they did not follow His commands, they would be removed from the land. It had happened before and the first part of the Bible (the Old Testament) records how the Jewish nation fell to the might of the Babylonians. It was seventy years before they returned to the land. There were also warnings that if, as a nation, they continued to ignore the God’s ways, they would find themselves out of the land again. It was in the work of Jesus to demonstrate what following God’s ways really meant. When as a nation they ignored his message (there were individuals who listened), Jesus explained what would happen to Jerusalem, their capital city.

"They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

"And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Luke 21:24-28 (ESV)

The first part predicted the global dispersal of the Jews and the loss of control of Jerusalem to other nations. Note the words ‘until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled’ which tell us that the Jews would be given control of the city again. History records that all of this has happened. By AD 136, the Roman Emperor Hadrian had crushed a final rebellion of its Jewish subjects and expelled them from the city, re-naming it as Aelia Capitolina and dedicating it to the chief Roman god Jupiter. For over 1900 years, the Jews were not in control, but as Jesus predicted, the time of the ‘other Nations’ would come to an end. On 28 June 1967, Israel, declared that Jerusalem was once again unified under their control and they announced free access to holy sites of all religions (source).

The language of the second part of the prophecy may well be literal, but there is also good precedent in the Bible for the ‘sun, moon and stars’ representing those with rule of others, and the ‘earth, sea and waves’ representing those under their rule. Taking that figurative view, we can certainly see that there is a strong correlation between the predicted state of fear and the reality of today’s world. The leadership of the world’s nations is in turmoil, facing many challenges that they are poorly equipped to resolve.

God’s Solution to the World’s Problems

The third section of our quotation from Jesus tells us that when we see the first two conditions met, we should be looking for the return of Jesus (the Son of Man) to establish God’s Kingdom on Earth with God’s power vested in him.

So although we may be frightened by world events, God has told us this will happen and we can be sure that the rest of God’s plan is on track. Let’s make sure that in the coming year we don’t ignore God’s word. God has promised true life for those who trust in Him.