THREE KINGS

Just a few days ago on Saturday, the 19th, one of the most remarkable maps I have seen in a long time was published in the London Daily Mail. The Mail does tend to have a somewhat sensationalist approach from time to time, but it can also produce some excellent material. Such is this map. It shows the Arab, or Islamic nations from Morocco on the Atlantic to Iraq at the eastern extremity. Each of these nations shares borders with one or two of the others, giving a land connection through each of the others. The one exception being Iraq which, with Jordan, is just a short distance from Egypt, being separated by the very small Israeli town of Eilat.

Adjacent to Jordan, Iraq, the Yemen and a very short distance across the Red Sea from Egypt is Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is perhaps the world’s largest producer of oil and has a pro-Western king. Starting with Egypt when thousands upon thousands of people rose up against the Mubarak government and forced his removal from office, the fires of rebellion against corrupt governments have been lit and burning out of control. In both Yemen and especially in Libya, governments have been endeavouring to keep their control of the people and thereby maintain their grip upon oil reserves and the vast income generated. Colonel Gaddafi in Libya has virtually set the attack dogs upon the population in the shape of the air force, and its machine guns, and snipers placed on top of conveniently located office buildings and is trying to keep his grip on the nation and the oil revenues.

The fires that started in Egypt have swept through the Moslem nations to the east and to the west right through all of North Africa and the western part of the Middle East. These nations are all strategically located to exercise control of the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and Iraq. For the Western nations the issue is the maintenance of oil supplies, the stability of the western economies and continued employment for those living in the west. And, of course, the continuation of the western standard of living. So what is the end result most likely to be?

To quote Oxford University historian Mark Almond who is also the Visiting Professor of International Relations at Bilkeni University, Turkey, “in the long term, democratising the Middle East must be a good thing – that is, if we can get to the long term. In the short term, the world is in for its bumpiest ride for decades.” Professor Almond made some further points: He said that in Bahrain a religious civil war could be sparked off by the bitter Sunni Muslims. This could spark a religious civil war which could quickly spread to Saudi Arabia. – Shi’ite infighting with outsiders pouring in. Iran would support the Shi’ites of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. America would most likely get involved as Professor Almond says it couldn’t abandon the pro-Western rulers of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia if Iran got involved. But if the West got involved other nations may well react adversely. In addition, Professor Almond says that Iran’s ally, Hezbollah, which is now basically the government in Lebanon, and strong enemies of Israel, would take advantage of the situation.

Our view as to the end result is that, out of the present shambles, it is not impossible for the Islamic nations of North Africa and the Middle East to form an alliance probably under the auspices of the Moslem Brotherhood. An alliance holding the Western nations to blame for the world’s troubles. An alliance which would then control the life-blood of the West, oil! An alliance that the bible refers to as the King of the South.

The book of Daniel is a fascinating book and Daniel himself was puzzled as to the meaning of the prophecies given by God through him. In chapter 2, verse 28 it says this: “there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, and makes known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.” By “latter days” is meant that period of time close to the return of Jesus Christ. At the time the prophecies were made known through Daniel he was in Jerusalem and close to the Mediterranean Sea. Daniel speaks of some major world alliances, or world powers to arise in the “latter days” – known as the King of the South, the King of the North and the King of the East. Why North, South and East? Because these alliances would be formed to the South of the Mediterranean Sea, to the North of it and to the East of it. Why no West? Because not far away was the Atlantic Ocean. No one was going to form an alliance in the middle of an ocean! And

how do we know that the Mediterranean is basically the centre point? Because its very name says it is! “The middle of the earth” Looking at a map you will notice that the Equator is not far south of the Mediterranean.

I have mentioned the King of the South. How about the King of the North? We have to look for an alliance, either existent or in embryo. We see such a power coming together in the shape of the European Union. The book of Daniel says that at “the time of the end” that is the end of the age and the time Jesus Christ returns, a conflict would arise between the two power blocs of the North and of the South. But as that happens verse 44 of Daniel chapter 11 says that “…tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; The prophecy continues in chapter 12 to say that there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. Daniel is then told that the book, the one containing these words, will be closed to the time of the end: And it would be then, that world events would be such that with the understanding coming from God’s word everything would become clear. The bible tells us that characteristics of the time of the end would be that “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”

Knowledge of biblical prophecies has certainly increased and all other areas have increased in knowledge. Science, biology, astrophysics and many other disciplines. Do people run to and fro? In today’s world virtually everyone travels everywhere! Politicians never seem to stop running to and fro! British prime ministers always seem to be somewhere else! As do American presidents.

Daniel, having recorded everything then asks God “what shall be the end of these things?” But he is told “Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” It is interesting to note that in the last verse, verse 9 the words “time of the end” could be translated “crisis at the close” – a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation – as it reads in verse 1 of chapter12.

I mentioned the King of the East at the beginning. Where in the bible do we find any information on him? In Revelation the very last book of the bible, in chapter 16 verse 12. “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.” The Euphrates is significant in that it is a wide water barrier virtually cutting the east off from the west and, effectively, the north as well. It is 1,700 miles in length and begins as a river in central Turkey. It then runs through Syria and Iraq before emptying into the Persian Gulf. From its source in Turkey there are a series of lakes and various water courses which complete the barrier from the Persian Gulf up to the Caspian Sea.

Who, of the various nations, best fits what we know of the King of the East? From the Caspian Sea to the east we have Russia, Kazakhstan and 5 more “stans”. Then there is Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma, Vietnam and a further 5 lesser nations. None of those carry the status or have the power and wealth of being the King of the East. But then there is India, Japan and China. China is the one candidate that makes sense of being regarded as an Empire. It has the military, financial and industrial strength and has grown in power considerably in a very short time. It has a dynamic determination to dominate the world’s markets. Already it is only because of Chinese money that even the United States has been able to weather the present financial storms.

However from the bible and from current world affairs it seems more likely that the EU will eventually find itself in a confrontation with the Islamic nations. This will continue until finally, as it says in verse 40 of Daniel 11, there is a final conflict whereby the King of the North, the Northern grouping comes against the King of the South “like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships and he shall enter into the countries – the nations making up the group –and shall overflow and pass over and enter into (verse 41) the glorious land –(Israel! The Holy Land) Verse 40 of Daniel 11 makes it clear that this is at “the time of the end” It is yet future, but as we follow world events you can see everything prophesied in your bible coming together. You can identify the power centres and see bible prophecy coming to pass as you read your daily newspaper.

Those people who are more familiar with their bible want to know when Jesus Christ will return. The disciples were no different. In Matthew 24 they ask him the question in verse 3. “what shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world.” (that is the world system, the planet continues) He gives them a list of things to be looking out for. In these letters we have mentioned them from time to time; we have just reminded you yet again of how close that event must now be. He speaks of nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom -- one of the prophets speaks of the land being full of crime and the cities filled with violence.

This present world, the nations of Britain and America in particular, two nations who had great blessings and every opportunity to know and accept the true God, have rejected Him and His law and are going to suffer the consequent penalty. That time is not now far off.

John Jewell