There are two overriding principles that sum in my mind the attacks by Islamic zealots on American soil. First, God is sovereign, and second, Satan is cruel. God is sovereign but not responsible for sin or its subsequent miseries. I know that atheists and critics of God will be beating the drum on how could a loving, all-powerful God exist and allow such a tragedy to happen. But such events are not a reflection on God or His existence. They are a reflection on man and his sin. God allows man to choose the world he will live in, and man chooses to sin. Therefore, man chooses to live in a world of sin and the consequences of sin. Would a loving God protect man from the pain and cruelty of sin? Yes and no. God does protect man from himself. In fact, if it were not for God, man would be ruled by antichrist right now if not utterly destroyed by now. God is restraining the full weight of the consequences of sin (Second Thessalonians 2:7). However, He is mercifully allowing us to experience the horror that comes with sin. The merciless and vicious cruelty of terrorism is a reminder that we live in a world dominated by sin. It is a reminder that a world of sin is horrific, and we should flee sin. It is a call to repentance from sin. To drive the point closer to home, let me explain how you are personally responsible for the destruction of the world trade center. The Bible says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Therefore, you are a sinner. When you choose to sin, you choose to take the law into your own hands. The decision to sin is a decision to be lawless in God’s eyes. You release yourself from moral restraint to do right (God’s standard of right). Whatever subsequent restraint you do exercise or rules you do impose on yourself are self-righteous laws. You become lawmaker and judge. In principle, if not in practice, you become a god, assuming by choice to do as you please and setting up a standard of what is right and wrong for yourself. Such a choice on your part is a personal condoning of others to do likewise. You may not approve of the rules others make for themselves, but who are you to say no one but you can make up rules? If you can choose to release yourself from God’s laws, how can you complain about others who follow your example? Perhaps you would never consider bombing the world trade center or killing thousands of civilians in an act of terrorism, but that is your choice not to do so. Others who choose to live by their self-made rules may decide terrorism is a legitimate action. The bottom line is this, when you choose to sin, you condone the right of everyone to choose the sin of their choice. So remember the words of Paul in Romans 2:1, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” In other words, when you condone one sin, you condone all sins. God is sovereign, and therefore nothing happens by accident. It is said that hindsight vision is twenty-twenty. Many have experienced making prayerful choices, and after the fact understand that God indeed was guiding them. God rules in the affairs of men. Daniel said in Daniel 2:20-21, “… Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.” In Daniel 4:17, Nebechanezzar told of the holy one saying to him in a dream, “… that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” God is sovereign and all things are done with a purpose in mind. Second Peter 3:9 states that God’s purpose behind everything that is done is to save souls saying, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God tolerates even the continuance of evil on earth for the purpose of giving everyone every opportunity to be saved. Satan also has a purpose in mind that is manifested on earth, and it is easy to spot him when he rears his ugly head because there is always wickedness, misery, and death associated with his activities. Sin ultimately brings death, and thus, death always follows Satan. Isaiah 14:12-14 describes the purpose and accomplishments of Satan saying, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Satan is determined to be like God. And Isaiah 14:15-17 show Satan’s influence and end saying, “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?” Ultimately, what we see on earth in the wars and conflicts between nations is the war Satan is waging against God. Satan mobilizes his troops under the banner of many names from pagan gods to atheism but all have one purpose, to obscure if not remove truth from the face of the earth. Satan’s strategy is described in Second Corinthians 4:4 calling him the god of this world who, “… hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” For the Christian who knows the end of the story, the events can be evaluated from an insider’s viewpoint. The Bible speaks of one world government, one world control, anti-Semitism, and the reign of antichrist in the end times on earth. Daniel 12:4 describes one aspect of today perfectly saying, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Certain events in world history mark a significant advance toward globalism and fulfillment of one-world prophetic descriptions. The bombing of the World Trade Center and the U.S. Pentagon is one event that is propelling us toward globalism like nothing else has before. President Bush is gathering a world-wide coalition to fight terrorism. Ironically, he is negotiating with countries that sponsor terrorism, such as, Saudi Arabia, the PLO, and China, to join the coalition. The need for global unity is the protection of all citizens of the world from terrorism. Together in unity, the world will purge itself of this blight against civilized humanity. The cause is so noble that one can hardly resist such an effort. In a show of national unity, America’s leaders gathered for a Day of Prayer September 14, 2001 in the National Cathedral. Calling upon the names of all the prominent gods represented in America, the nation’s leaders attempted to rally the American people to unite around the symbols of religion and patriotism. However, in spite of the success in rallying the American people to war, this unity is false. It is a unity in humanity not in the true and living God. It is a unity in lies not in truth. It is a unity in paganism, ecumenicalism, and interdenominationalism. It is a unity that is an abomination to God causing people to trust in mankind and false gods. What twisted, perverted irony this is: calling upon the God of heaven to join hands with the gods of this world to rid the world of terrorism. It is Satan and his forces who are the terrorists waging war against God and His people. It is the false gods of this world who are wreaking havoc on humanity. In ignorance, for peace and security, people are calling upon the names of the very gods who are warring against God and who are intent on destroying the souls of humanity. No, Christ Jesus, the true and living God of heaven, will not be joining hands with his enemies. But the nations will unite, none the less, as prophesied. The American government is committing forty billion dollars and anything else necessary to destroy terrorism. But this is not conventional warfare. This is a war that involves sophisticated surveillance technology. It requires technology to seek and to find an enemy that hides in the secret places of the earth. Today’s technology is already awesome in its capabilities. With forty billion dollars being pumped into increasing its capabilities, it will be “impossible” for terrorists to hide. What a victory for civilization! What a victory against the terror that hides in dark places and is camouflaged among us! But remember, the same technology that can find and monitor terrorists can find and monitor you. “U.S. Congresswoman Mary Bono (R-Palm Springs) on Friday warned that the country should prepare for a fight against international terrorists that will likely include personal sacrifice, the use of ground troops overseas and the risk of retaliation against civilians by the enemy.” She also said that people need to prepare for “intense scrutiny of airline passengers, a national system of fingerprinting and identification cards and the specter of chemical and biological attacks on the United States.” The development of technology and the sacrifice of liberty prepare the way for antichrist to control the world. People willingly trade their liberties for security without realizing what they are doing. It appears that the time for American national freedom is over. Globalization has forced us to live among cultures that do not know God and do not live by the same rules. We live in a world with other people who do not live by traditional, American morals and constraints. The warning by our founding American fathers’ that “if we will not be ruled by God, we will be ruled by tyrants” is true globally as well as nationally. Unfortunately, the majority of people in the world do not regard the God of the Bible, and they will not be ruled by Him. Terrorists will not restrain themselves, and the world will respond by increasing its police force and control over the world’s population. Tyranny is inevitable, and might will make “right” (sic) on earth. If the wicked control the power of global government, how can it ever be reversed? There are no more new lands to run to as did the Pilgrims. It will take the power of God to overthrow wicked on their throne of global control. Is there reason for despair? No. God is sovereign. As Christians, if we understand our times, we can know what to do (First Chronicles 12:32). The following are important truths to understand to put major crises in Biblical perspective: 1) We are in the midst of a spiritual war between God and Satan, 2) Israel will be at the center of the controversy (America was attacked because of their support of Israel), 3) God will win the war, 4) the world is being prepared for the antichrist’s global reign of terror, 5) God is in control, 6) world events are not accidents, 7) people will choose antichrist just as they chose Barabbas, 8) the Great Commission is still our responsibility until the end of the world. What should be the Christian response and expectation? First, we should preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to win souls to Christ and reconcile the world to God (Second Corinthians 5:18-20). After Jesus gave His church the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), He said, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” We can take comfort in knowing that He is with us and that we still have a job to do to the very end. Second, we need to infiltrate and influence all levels of society. Careers for Christians in government are just as legitimate as careers for Christians in selling vacuum cleaners. If Christians have the opportunity to make the laws of the land, they are duty bound to do so for the well-being of the citizens and to demonstrate that God’s laws are good laws. Third, our national leaders must act responsibly to bring justice and security to the land by bearing the sword (Romans 13:1-6). Sinners should be forgiven, but sin should be punished. Citizens should be protected. |
