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1995-10-29
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"And This Man Shall Be The Peace"^15
Principle # 2: Lasting Peace Will Come To The Middle East Only Through
the Work of Christ
There are no references in the Scriptures of which we are aware that
describe a period of peace and prosperity in the Middle East before
the coming of Christ. Peace is associated exclusively with his reign.
In the prophecy of Micah, after revealing that Bethlehem would be the
birthplace of Messiah, the prophet continued with reference to his
work at his second coming: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou
be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come
forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have
been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will he give them up,
until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the
remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. And
he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of
the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he
be great unto the ends of the earth. And this man shall be the peace,
when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in
our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and
eight principal men. And they shall waste the land of Assyria with
the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall
he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and
when he treadeth within our borders. (Micah 5:2-6) This prophecy is
dealing specifically with the threat posed by the invading army of the
Assyrians to the remnant of Jacob that has returned to the land. What
power is indicated by the Assyrians, the Arab States to the east or
some other nation? Is this prophecy not a parallel reference to the
invasion described by the prophet Ezekiel in chapters 38 and 39?
Making this connection between Micah's prophecy about the Assyrian and
Ezekiel's prophecy about Gog is strongly suggested by the question
with which the prophet Ezekiel addressed the invading force he
foresaw: Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants
the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that
I would bring thee against them? (Ezekiel 38:17) Micah was one of
those prophets of old time in relation to Ezekiel. Ezekiel is clear
that the burden of his prophecy about Gog had been disclosed to the
prophets that came before him. Where are such prior references to Gog
if this one about the Assyrian is not included? In the same way that
Babylon, in its latter day usage, came to represent a Gentile
religious power in the West, so we believe that Assyria is used
typically to refer to a secular Gentile power with designs upon the
holy land. This foreign power has long been recognized by Bible
students as Russia. This identification need not be accepted in order
to establish the principle of Micah 5:5. Israel obtains peace from
its adversaries from the hand of Messiah and not from any treaties
into which it enters: this man, that is, Messiah or Christ, he shall
be the peace (giver).
If the Arab peoples make peace with Israel of their own accord, and by
such steps confer on Israel a measure of peace and prosperity, why
does the prophet Isaiah reveal that Edom will partake of God's fury in
its judgment? His vengeance and fury is caused by the unrelenting
enmity of Edom for Israel. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven:
behold, it shall come down upon Idumea (another term in Scripture for
Edom), and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. The sword of the
LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the
blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the
LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of
Idumea... For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of
recompences for the controversy of Zion. (Isaiah 34:5-8) The prophet
later reveals that the Messiah will be the agency by which the sword
of the LORD is executed against Edom: Who is this that cometh from
Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his
apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in
righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine
apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I
have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none
with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my
fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will
stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and
the year of my redeemed is come. (Isaiah 63:1-4) If Edom is so
severely singled out for judgment, does it not imply that its hand
against Israel has been treacherous? The perpetual hatred will not
cease because the Palestinians have signed an accord with Israel.
The prophet Jeremiah is also express in revealing the source of peace.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a
righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall
execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be
saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is the name whereby he
shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jeremiah 23:5-6). This
prophecy implies that safety shall not come to Israel in the absence
of David's greater Son. Divine arrangements and not ones struck by
men shall ensure the peace of Zion.
Is there any indication in Scripture that Israel will continue in
ignorance of its true Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, until Edom is
brought into judgment? The prophecy of Ezekiel is very clear on this
point: Therefore as I live saith the Lord GOD I will even do according
to thine anger and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of
thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them
(Israel), when I have judged thee (Edom) (Ezekiel 35: 11). Not only
does this prophecy show that Israel will continue on its present
course without recognizing the purpose of the Most High until Edom
comes into judgment, it further documents that Edom will reap as it
has sown. The judgment to be visited upon Edom by Christ will be
according to the anger, envy, and hatred which it has held out against
Israel. This shows, therefore, that the peace process of 1993/1994 is
not going to quell these emotions on the part of the Arabs.
The prophecy of the apostle Paul has been in the thoughts of many
Bible students throughout the past few years: But of the times and the
seasons brethren ye have no need that I write unto you. For
yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a
thief in the night. For when they shall say Peace and safety; then
sudden destruction cometh upon them as travail upon a woman with
child; and they shall not escape. But ye brethren are not in darkness
that that day should overtake you as a thief (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4).
This prophecy provides important insight into present events because
it shows that at the very time when they are talking about peace and
security, sudden destruction will break in upon them. In relation to
the holy land, never before has there been as much ongoing talk of
peace. Therefore, these are precisely the conditions in which we
should expect sudden destruction to arrest the progress towards peace.
This prophecy in the first epistle to the ecclesia at Thessalonica
does not indicate to whom the pronoun "they" refers. If this prophecy
is linked with Luke 21:35, the pronoun "they" appears to have a
universal application to the leaders of the nations of the Gentiles:
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the
earth.
Is there any indication in the Scriptures as to what this "sudden
destruction" refers to?