September 11

None of us at this moment can even approximately imagine what the impact will be of the terrible attacks that struck the U.S. on Tuesday, September 11. While the smoke has barely lifted and countless Americans are plunged into mourning, the world, according to experts, has entered an entirely new phase. How the world will look from now on, in economic, political, and military terms, is still completely unclear—but that we are passing a milestone seems unmistakable.

For answers to the question of the impact of the attacks in America, it is still too early. Why anticipate matters that upon closer inspection turn out differently than we first supposed? Let me limit myself to a few cautious reflections. Reflections that arise involuntarily when one is convinced that…

• “the prophetic word is very sure”; 2 Peter 1:19
• the Scriptures unmistakably speak of a central role for the Middle East in the end-time scenario;
• the “two days” (of 2× a thousand years) after which the Messiah would return are within a few decades of coming to an end.

Consideration no. 1
A large part of the world’s current problems can be traced back to a small Jewish state that must struggle to save its life in the midst of hundreds of millions of Muslims who begrudge it even the light of day.

“In that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be sore wounded.”
Zechariah 12:3

Consideration no. 2
The Bible speaks of the city of Babylon as the world trade center (what’s in a name?) of the end time. Not New York but Babylon will be the economic capital, not merely of the region but even of the world. What will become of present-day Iraq when the U.S. undertakes military action?
Zechariah 5:5–11; Revelation 17,18

Consideration no. 3
Although at present the number one world power, the United States of America as such plays no role in the prophecies concerning the end time. Why is that? Will it be eliminated as a power? Will it choose an isolationist stance? Or are the U.S., together with Europe, in the Bible regarded as one mighty Western bloc?

In Daniel 7:7 mention is made of a fourth beast with iron teeth (!!) that differed from the “previous” beasts. In Hebrew the word ‘qdm’ stands here, which actually means “east.” In that case the fourth beast is a Western alliance (including the U.S.?) of ten rulers.

Consideration no. 4
Will the conflict in the Middle East escalate to such an extent that all parties will be compelled (to be or not to be) to come to a peace settlement? But beware: before the true Prince of Peace will appear, the world will first be confronted with a pseudo-messiah who will undoubtedly interpret this peace in the Middle East as the fulfillment of biblical prophecies.

Consideration no. 5
As never before, the free Western world has been attacked in its sense of security. But how long will the Western world remain free? We must reckon with the possibility that the great good of privacy will more and more become a thing of the past. The capacity of intelligence services will be (extremely) increased, total electronic surveillance seems inevitable, and biometrics and other technologies will not be long in coming.
“Big Brother is watching us.” The specter of Revelation 13—a society in which only people with a mark on the forehead or on the right hand can participate in the economy—comes very near…

Delen: