Bible in the News

As the world awaits the final election results, we reflect on what the Bible has to say about how God rules in the kingdoms of men through the Lord Jesus Christ. We look at examples from the Bible, from past and recent history to see how God has usd men to bring about his will. 

As America goes to the polls this week we bring to mind the words of Daniel the prophet who said:“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: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.”

Ezekiel 38 verse 8 addresses Gog, the invader which comes down into Israel from the utter most parts of the north (38:15). We can have absolute confidence Gog is Russia. Gog is from the land of Magog which we can trace as territory now occupied by Russia.  God, speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, says to Gog (Russia) “in the latter years thou shalt come into the land which have been brought back by the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against [or upon] the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them”.

In the midst of a global pandemic, a tumultuous U.S. election season, talk of peace and safety in the Middle East...conflict has flared again in a lesser-known dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia, but of what significance is that to the Bible believer?Video Version:

After watching the incredible peace agreements between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain we were reminded that the God of Israel is at work bringing about his purpose and plan.  Many Bible students have waited for this time of peace and prosperity for Israel that exists prior to the Northern invader descending on the holy land as outlined in Ezekiel 38.  These events will be responded to from the God of Israel as he intervenes to save his people with the revealing of his son, the Jewish Messiah, to the world on the Mount of Olives as shown in Zachariah 14.

For over a century our community has been watching and waiting for a situation of peace and prosperity to come to the regathered Jewish people living upon the mountains of Israel. This expectation has been drawn from a number of Bible prophecies, one of the more frequently referred to is the prophecy of Ezekiel 38. Ezekiel 38 comes near the end of a series of chapters that are prophecies of restoration of the Jewish people. This section leads into the final section of Ezekiel describing the glorious future temple, which is to be a house of prayer for all nations. A transformed land is described with water issuing forth from the temple sanctuary and healing the waters of the salt sea. These prophecies clearly were intended to describe the final return of the Jewish people to the land, when the Messiah would come and deliver the nation.

In last week’s episode of Bible in the News, Jonathan Bowen spoke at length of the fulfilment of Bible prophecy shown in the Gulf Nations signing peace deals with Israel.

As Bahrain joins the UAE in making peace with Israel, we are reminded of the hostile situation Jews faced in Arab lands from the 1880's through the present day. As attention turns to the Arab world, an exhibition at the Bible Lands Museum highlights the miraculous hand of God in bringing Jews from Yemen 70 years ago, and this puts into context the enormity of what is happening today. 

A few weeks ago, on Bible in the News, we spoke about the historic agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and what it could mean for peace in Israel – a prophetic requirement before the battle of Armageddon. This week we have seen further moves made among the nations, with Kosovo, another majority Muslim country, normalising its relations with Israel, and opening an embassy, not in Tel Aviv, but in Jerusalem – making Kosovo the first majority Muslim country to do so. In a joint agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, Serbia will also relocate her embassy to Jerusalem. These two countries join around six or seven other countries who are at this moment at varying stages of moving their embassies to Jerusalem. Only two days ago Malawi announced that for the first time they would send a diplomatic mission to Israel, and they are now due to become the first African country to open an embassy in Jerusalem. The list of embassies in Jerusalem is steadily growing, only three years ago it was empty.

Throughout the scriptures, we encounter a hostility between the Kingdoms men and the people of God and when in existence the Kingdom of God.  We discuss the character of Kingdom of Men from the prophecies and the character of Russia today, a nation that would poison those that oppose it.

A massive political earthquake which will bring sudden and dramatic change has rocked the Middle East. Here are some of the headlines from news articles and opinion pieces over the last few days. The National Post, "Israel and UAE to normalize diplomatic relations in historic shift in Middle East politics”; The New York Times, "A Geopolitical Earthquake Just Hit the Mideast”; The Telegraph, “UAE’s Israel olive branch punches a wall through decades of Arab intransigence”; Stratfor, "The UAE Paves the Way for Arab Gulf States to Normalize Their Israeli Ties”; Times of Israel, "Hailing ‘new era with Arab world,’ Netanyahu says others will follow UAE’s lead”, and " After Israel-UAE deal, Kushner indicates more Arab countries will follow”, and; The BBC, "Kushner: Israel-UAE treaty a 'massive change' for the region”.

The withdrawal of American troops from Europe will have the effect of France and Germany banding closer together in an alliance that will include their militaries. While politicians today try to work how they will pull this off, the Bible gives insight into the fact that somehow they will.

This past week we have seen the world reacting to the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul from a museum back into a mosque by decision on July 10th of Turkey’s President Erdogan. The so-called Christian world, especially in the east, has been riled by this move. Patriarch Kirill of Russia indicated it would cause deep pain to the Russian people. Pope Francis has also expressed his great sadness.

Things are heating up in Israel as controversial plans are afoot for the annexation of the West Bank. Hello, this is Matt Davies and together we’ll look at recent events and their significance in reaction to Bible Prophecy.

It was the case in the time of Christ as he says in John 7:7 - “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.”  This is story over history and is certainly the story in our world and news today.  And no where is this battle so sharp as in God’s own land, and in God’s holy city Jerusalem.