Including a Guideline to Survival

Every thinking man and woman should be deeply concerned at the worrying drift of world conditions. We live in an age of disturbing and ominous trends. World events are rapidly heading to world chaos! The worry is that political and social conditions could quickly reach the point of no return.

Where is it all heading? What kind of world will our children inherit? Is there no way of escape?

New standards of society have completely replaced those of the past. Ruthless violence on the streets, crude permissiveness and moral pollution characterise the world we live in. Permissiveness, corruption and violence are taken for granted as a way of life.

In the commercial field the conflict between Capitalists and Labour has completely undermined economic foundations. Greed runs rampant on both sides. The emergence of the welfare state has largely destroyed individual initiative and ambition in the lives of some.

Politically, governments have become so unstable that people no longer manifest great confidence in their ability to govern. We see greed and corruption in high places bring down ministers and even governments. Demonstrations, rebellions, uprisings and the overthrow of governments are everyday news.

In spite of prevailing affluence, dissatisfaction and discontent are rife, leading to hopelessness and aimlessness. Many are becoming tired of life. Suicide has become a common occurrence, especially amongst the young.

Civilisation is out of control. What is to be the outcome of today's sorry, sick civilisation? What does the future hold for the nations of this world? What can one do to escape the threatened calamity?

Can we find guidelines to survive the worsening world conditions?

Yes! The Bible can supply sound guidelines to the survival of a grim future. Indeed, a world in rebellion against its Creator is warned to prepare for the coming calamities. Jesus describes the immediate outlook for this world in the following statement from the well known Olivet Prophecy:

On the earth distress of nations, with perplexity (literally 'no way out') ... men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth ... Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:25-27)

Prophecies of Things to Come

The God of heaven, as creator of all things, claims to know the end from the beginning. Therefore the Bible speaks confidently about future events.

I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,' (Isaiah 46:9-10)

The Bible contains prophecies concerning nations of old, some of which had no existence at the time of writing. It foretold things that were to happen to these nations, the like of which had never happened before. We read of extra-ordinary experiences which nations would have, contrary to all natural expectation. These prophecies were fulfilled to the letter.

What does all this mean? Could men foretell such events unaided?

No. They could not. Only one conclusion can be made: the men who wrote the Bible received direction from God on high. The Bible claims that it was God who inspired its writers:

'For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.' (2 Peter 1:21)

Ancient Bible prophecies foretell the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, which will usher in a promised time of real peace and security for all. It tells of a time when all the corruptness, which we endure in this present age, will be completely removed. All poverty, hatred, injustice, pain, suffering and even death will be gone.

To bring this about, it is God's purpose that one day the world will be ruled in righteousness by the Lord Jesus Christ:

He (God) has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained (the Lord Jesus Christ). He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)

The Bible foretells that once he is king, and establishes the Kingdom of God, problems that man faces today will be solved. Jesus taught his disciples to pray for this kingdom to come, for a time when God's bidding will be done on earth, even as the angels in heaven now obey Him:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

Peter speaks of the Bible as the "prophetic word confirmed" and compares it to a light shining in a dark place.

We have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19)

This is a very fitting comparison. We look around the world, and all seems confusion, with no apparent meaning or purpose. History is just a haphazard sequence of events, with no obvious aim, apart from the fleeting ambitions of the men who pass across the world's stage.

A study of the Bible alters all this and demonstrates beyond all doubt that human affairs are controlled by God, and are moving forward to a totally unexpected climax:

The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. (Daniel 4:32)

These words were addressed to Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon. He was no fairy-tale figure, but a powerful emperor in the ancient world. Indeed, Nebuchadnezzar might well lay claim to being the first emperor who conquered all the nations of the known world. In a vision, an angel of God told him:

"The Most High rules in the kingdom of men" (Daniel 4:17)

An amazing prophetic vision

One night, as Nebuchadnezzar lay on his couch, he wondered what would be the fate of his vast empire after he had passed from the scene. "On whom will my mantle fall? Will it be torn in pieces by jealous rivals?"

Amazingly, Nebuchadnezzar was given the answer by God in a dream. It is one of the most remarkable chapters in the whole Bible (Daniel chapter 2).

Why did Almighty God bother to answer the question of a pagan king? Why did he choose to do so by way of a dream? Why was the visionary message given in symbols, which the king could not understand, nor even remember on waking?

(1) The importance of Nebuchadnezzar in the purpose of God lay, not so much in the greatness of his empire, as in the fact that his dominions included the land of Israel. These people were taken as captives to Babylon for 70 years. God's land and God's people were subject to Nebuchadnezzar's rule.

(2) The use of a dream brought to the forefront the young man Daniel, a captive Jewish prince, the only man who could explain the dream. This stressed the fact that the "God who reveals secrets" is the God of Israel. A vital aspect of God's plan was thus brought home.

(3) The use of symbols is a most effective way of revealing a great deal of information in a very short space. The modem political cartoon is an example of the same thing. But the cartoon deals with events of past and present. Nebuchadnezzar's vision threw a flood of light on the future.

Future World History Outlined

In his dream the king saw the image of a mighty warrior, composed of various metals. It stood over the king in threatening manner, causing him much fear and consternation. As he watched, he saw a stone, cut out of a mountain without hands, which struck the image on its feet:

You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. This image's head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:31-35)

Daniel's Explanation

What did all this mean? Nebuchadnezzar called his astrologers and magicians, who were unable to tell or explain the dream to the king. At length Daniel, the captive prince of Israel, was brought before the king.

Asking the king to give him time, Daniel sought help from his God, to whom he gave all credit for revealing the dream and its interpretation:

The great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure. (Daniel 2:45)

He explained that the image stood for the kingdoms of men in the ages that were to follow. The head of golden represented Nebuchadnezzar, with his glorious kingdom:

Wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all - you are this head of gold (verse 38)

Following this a second, "silver" kingdom was to follow and later, a third and a fourth:

After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth (Daniel 2:39)

The forth kingdom was different. It was to be a "strong as iron" world domineering kingdom; very powerful and very frightening empire:

The fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. (Daniel 2:40)

Then Nebuchadnezzar saw that clay was mixed with iron in the feet, although the feet remained strong:

Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.

The toes, however, were different:

And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.' (Daniel 2:41-43)

An Outline of World History

History tells us four great empires followed each other. Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, which was a joint empire in which the Medes first and then the Persians were dominant.

Later, Alexander the Great, who founded the Greek Empire in which bronze was widely used, ended their supremacy. Greece, in turn, yielded to a stronger power: Rome.

Rome Ruled the Civilised World

For centuries Rome ruled the world. She was strong and ruthless, being the most durable of the four empires. There had never been anything to compare with this strong and mighty Roman Empire. What power on earth could ever break or conquer it? No nation had that power. Rome was not to be superseded. There was not to be another great world conquering empire like those of the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Greek and finally the Roman Empires.

It is significant that the Roman Empire became divided in two. Eastern Rome was ruled from Byzantium, while the Western half was governed from Rome itself thus fulfilling the two-leg prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar's image.

In due course both legs extended their influence north. Rome was instrumental in establishing the Holy Roman Empire, situated in what is now termed Western Europe. Byzantium extended its influence through the Slavic states as far north as Moscow, representing the two legs of the image.

As time went by, the power of the two legs waned. First the western, then the eastern halves of the Empire were overcome by uncivilized barbarians. Over a vast area once ruled by Rome a number of independent kingdoms emerged. This has been the state of affairs ever since.

Just as the prophecy demanded, there has been no fifth undisputed empire in succession to the four we have named, whose dominions included the land of Israel. Many attempts have been made, but all have failed: Philip 2^nd of Spain, Napoleon 1^st Kaiser Wilhelm 2^nd, Hitler ...

Today the countries of Europe are trying to weld themselves into a united whole, the European Union. Some are strong, powerful countries. Others are weak, emerging from the woes of communist domination. What a task it is proving! It is significant that Israel is not to be part of the union. How true were the prophet's words:

They will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. (Daniel 2:43)

Who could have foreseen all this as long as two and a half thousand years ago? Who could have asserted so confidently that there would be four empires, not three, or five or six? Who in a few bold strokes, could have outlined the outstanding features of their history, and its sequel, with such uncanny accuracy? Could any man? From all that we know of human forecasts, we must answer, "No".

Men and women of all ages, who have studied this prophecy, have seen this as unquestionable grounds for confidence in God and His Word. It is a confidence, which you, the reader, may certainly share.

The "Crushing Stone" Represents The Lord Jesus Christ

With so much of the image prophecy accurately fulfilled, we look with renewed interest at th last stage. What of the little stone, carved out without human hands, which fell with shattering effect on the feet of the image, grinding it to powder, becoming itself a great world-filling mountain?

Being not of human origin, it must stand for some authority outside mans rule, and it is to establish itself as a world power upon the ruins of human governments. It will "break in pieces and consume" these nations. This is the explanation Daniel gave:

'In the days of these kings (constitutional heads of state?) the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.' (Daniel 2:44)

This is one of many promises in the Bible, which show that God has not forsaken the earth. He has devised a plan - the Master Plan for human salvation. That plan centres in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ was born, not by human hands, but by the power of God, in the miraculous nature of his birth. He was born to be the Saviour of mankind, 'cut out', as it were, of the mountain of humanity. Jesus, in fact, spoke of His role as the stone "which the builders rejected":

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you (the Jews) and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." (Matthew 21:42-44)

Right now, throughout the countries that once make up the Roman Empire, there is growing and unprecedented unrest, with uprisings and even war. All the signs indicate that the stone will soon fall with devastating effect on this unsuspecting world.

Today God is calling men and women to come out of the evil, which exists in the world, and to serve Him. He calls upon all to repent of ways. Jesus alone has power to save.

'Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. He will send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.' (Acts 3:19-21)

Kingdom of God

Before we leave the book of Daniel notice one final reference about the Kingdom of God, similar to the one noted in Daniel 2:44.

Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him (Daniel 7:27)

There is a wonderful part to be played by the people of God who serve Him now, and prepare for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The prophet Isaiah, make clear reference to the coming Kingdom of God:

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.' (Isaiah 2:24)

"The mountain of the LORD's house" is a reference to Mt. Zion, not as a geographical location, but as the very center of God's government over the world. God's kingdom is pictured as being exalted above the hills, i.e., the kingdoms of this world.

When the Kingdom of God is established, there will be divine justice in the way the kingdom is ruled. There will be no oppression and no persecution.

He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of his lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist. (Isaiah 11:3-5)

When Jesus is king over all the earth, the words of Numbers 14:21 will be fulfilled just as the angels sang at the birth of Jesus:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2: 14)

The last book of the Bible describes the state of affairs, which will exist when God's purpose is fulfilled:

I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:34)

What this could mean to you

We see that out of the storm clouds of trouble and war, which envelop the world today, a glorious future will unfold for the earth.

The call of the Gospel is a call to you to become part of God's purpose, in the hope of gaining eternal life. God, in His mercy, is calling men and women to submit to his will now, that they might be participants with the Lord Jesus Christ in that kingdom:

And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:9-10)

In view of the deteriorating state of affairs on earth today, we can confidently proclaim that Christ is coming! The purpose of God demands it. The signs of the times indicate it. The needs of humanity require it.

The question remains: Will you witness it? The answer depends upon your attitude of the reader to the Bible. The Bible gives some very sound advice:

Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6)