Conflict in the Middle East

[nChrist]

From The American Tract Society
(Labelled Free)

Conflict in the Middle East

History began there.
The most important event in history happened there.
History's final showdown will take place there.

The current turmoil in the nations of the Middle East is not the first time all eyes have been riveted on that part of the world. And it won't be the last time, either.

History began there. The traditional site of the Garden of Eden is near present-day Babylon in Iraq. And that, of course, is where the Bible says God created Adam and Eve and where human history began.

The most important event in history occurred in that part of the world; in Jerusalem, now in the nation of Israel. That's where the Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world. No other event will ever be more significant than that one.

History's final showdown will take place in the Middle East, too. Who has not heard of Armageddon, that great war that will be fought at the end of this age? Armageddon is actually a lush valley in the northern part of Israel southeast of Haifa. The plain, about 20 miles long and 14 miles wide, will be the scene of the future battle between the kings from the east and the nations united under Antichrist (according to the Bible, Revelation 16:13-16).

That battle will not be won by either side, but instead the Lord Jesus Christ will end it by His return from heaven with His armies. Then He, the Conqueror, "will stand on the Mount of Olives which is in front of Jerusalem on the east" (Zechariah 14:4). So once again the eyes of the world will focus on the Middle East.

Is the World Out of Control?
When a tense, international crisis bursts onto the world scene, people look to their political leaders for solutions. Will their negotiations be successful? Will they be able to avert war? Is there anybody strong enough and wise enough to bring order and peace out of chaos and crisis?

I am not minimizing the role of world leaders in keeping the peace, but failing to look beyond human leaders, however adept and sincere they may be, misses the point. Whatever the rulers of the world do in the Middle East, God is ultimately in control. In fact, we can be sure of God's control in the present crisis precisely because He has for centuries used the Middle East as the arena for some of the most profound events in history. And in the future He will use this same region to stage one of the most earth-shaking events of all time.

But why would a good God allow the world to eventually plunge to Armageddon? Simply because God does not always restrain evil people. A lust for greed and a thirst for power will bring the nations to that final battle. Sometimes sin must be allowed to run its course to reveal what people are really like.

Although God is in control, that does not mean that He causes the evil which we see all around us. Evil people cause evil, and sometimes they become tyrants who inflict their unrestrained desires on innocent victims. But God will not allow evil to flourish unchecked forever. Every person, whether a tyrant or not, will ultimately be examined and judged by a holy God.

What Can We Learn from the Current Fighting in the Middle East?

   1. We learn that our world is very interdependent economically. Oil has taught us that. Why does the TV news report the price of oil every night? It is the oil under the Arabian sand that concerns nations worldwide and sometimes shapes their foreign policies. The need for food is also a sober reminder of the economic interdependence of the countries of the world, especially when crops are poor and famine is widespread. And the ability to have our credit cards verified almost anywhere in the world should remind us of our global ties. Is all this significant? Definitely! One day the Antichrist will require people to receive his mark to be able to buy or sell (Revelation 13:17). Not only will the availability of goods be interlocked between nations, but the ability to purchase or sell them will be controlled by Antichrist.
   2. We also learn that the Middle East is far more important than we ever considered a few generations ago. The state of Israel was founded in 1948, and since then the attention of the world has increasingly focused on the Middle East. More than one nation juggles its foreign affairs in an attempt to preserve harmonious relations between itself and Israel and the Arab nations.
   3. We realize that the time between now and the climax of the age at Armageddon is shorter with each passing day. We should live mindful of not only the brevity of life but also the certainty of Christ's return. Our knowledge of the future ought to affect our lives now.

What About Your Future?
You need to be very concerned about your destiny if you are not a Christian. If the close of the age is soon and if you survive until the end without trusting Christ as your Savior, not only will you have to endure Armageddon, but worse, you will live forever in the torment of the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

The Bible tells us what's going to happen to this world, but it is much more important to know what's going to happen to you when your life ends. When Jesus Christ died and rose from the grave centuries ago, He paid the penalty for our sins, and now He freely offers forgiveness, heaven and eternal life to everyone who believes in Him.

Don't look to political or even religious leaders for salvation. Look to Jesus Christ, because "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven...by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). It is the Lord Jesus alone "who delivers us from the wrath to come" (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

If you wish to receive the Lord Jesus and His salvation, just tell Him so right now. From your heart, say something like this: "Lord Jesus, I recognize that as a sinner I need forgiveness and salvation. I believe You died for me, and right now I take your gift of eternal life. Thank You for giving it to me. After reading this message, I now believe in Jesus as my Savior."

Copyright 2005 - American Tract Society