Middle East Totalitarian Temptations Die Hard
By Jan Markell
President
Bush is clearly focusing on the Middle
East. So are today's headlines. But
nowhere is it emphasized as it is in the Bible. Even references to Russia and
the "Kings of the East" (likely China and others nations) are in context how they fit into
the Middle East scenario. And there aren't a lot of biblical
references to peace in that region before the early stages of the Tribulation.
The antichrist "will destroy many through peace" (Dan. 8:25). There will
be cries for peace--"peace, peace, when there is no peace" (Jer. 6, Jer.
8, Jer. 14, Ez. 13).
Clearly
the "Bush Doctrine" is causing at least a temporary new wind in the
region and even Bush opponents Sen. Diane Feinsten and Sen. Ted Kennedy
acknowledged this. For now, America has shaken many in that region. In one case--the
Palestinian elections in January--it was at the expense of Israel.
Here
are some conclusions I have drawn:
*
The "Bush Doctrine" is making Middle
East nations nervous, as are our
successes in the war on terror.
*
Freedom is the longing in every human heart. When other nations in the region
saw 8 million Iraqis voting in January, they collectively asked, "Why not
us?" But democracy in that region can mean that terrorists are elected as
they were in the Palestinian elections with over 90% being from Hamas or Fatah.
All candidates running in Egypt's first-time election are hard core Islamists. The
recent Saudi elections weren't very impressive as women were not even allowed
to vote. Some democracy!
*
The "cedar revolution" in Lebanon will likely give that nation more freedom but not
without a terrible fight with Syria and Iran. Syria sent a convoy of 500 busses this week with Syrians
demonstrating on behalf of Syria and her leader, Bashir Assad. Lebanon will
always have to deal with the radical terror group Hezbollah who will remain
entrenched there, hiding in the shadows, given aid by Syria and Iran to
perpetrate terror. And until Syria is pushed to the limit by the international
community, she will always maintain some presence there.
*
It's one thing to have "democracy" but it's another thing to have
democracy "terrorist-style." What has been gained for the people in
those nations or the rest of the world?
The
Middle East's totalitarian temptations die hard but that doesn't
mean there won't be some short-term victories. Even Libya's
strongman Muammar Ghadaffi has a new spirit of co-operation with the West once
he saw Saddam pulled from his rat hole in Iraq--but don't expect democracy in Libya any
time soon.
What
does the Bible say? It only talks about ongoing wars in that region before the
supernatural short season of peace the antichrist brings. There is the Gog-Magog
War of Ezekiel 38-39, spearheaded by Russia but using Muslim allies in the region to come
against Israel. There is the war of Psalms 83 where many Islamic
Middle East nations join the choir singing, "Come let us wipe out the very
memory of Israel." Doesn't sound like real
"democratic" nations would participate in that.
Thus,
it's a stretch to think that peace and democracy efforts today are going to be
long-term in that region. The Bible is the bottom line, not the U.S. State
Department, any current presidential administration, the E.U., or the U.N. We
need to do a "reality check." Let's acknowledge the victories in
ridding much evil in Afghanistan and Iraq, and pray for the above-mentioned scenarios as they
unfold in their quest for freedom.
(Jan Markell is founder/director of Olive Tree Ministries. To learn
more, consult her Web site, www.olivetreeviews.org.
You can request her free newsletter at her Web site or by writing to Box 1452, Maple Grove, MN 55311.)
