Nations and Powers of Nations
Matching specific current
events with Bible prophecy seems sometimes like trying to fit square pegs into
round holes. But one current event
seems to be shaping up as a match. It
involves the current Middle East “road map” which Israel is now being pressured
to adapt.
In Zechariah, there is a
mysterious prophecy about “four horns” that “scatter” Israel.
Zechariah 1:14 AMP So the angel who talked with me said to me,
Cry out, Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion
with a great jealousy.
15And I am very angry with the nations that are at ease; for
while I was but a little displeased, they helped forward the affliction and
disaster.
16Therefore thus says the Lord: I have returned to Jerusalem with
compassion (lovingkindness and mercy). My house shall be built in it, says the
Lord of hosts, and a measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem [with
a view to rebuilding its walls].
17Cry yet again, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities
shall yet again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion
and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
18Then I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, four horns
[symbols of strength].
19And I said to the angel who talked with me, What are these?
And he answered me, These are the horns or powers which have scattered
Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
20Then the Lord showed me four smiths or workmen [one for each enemy
horn, to beat it down].
21Then said I, What are these [horns and smiths] coming to do? And
he said, These are the horns or powers that scattered Judah so that no man
lifted up his head. But these smiths or workmen have come to terrorize them
and cause them to be panic-stricken, to cast out the
horns or powers of the
nations who lifted up their horn against the
land of Judah to scatter it.
Note that the four horns
in the Amplified version are identified as “nations” and “powers of
nations.” Currently there is a
“quartet” of nations and powers of nations that is pressuring Israel regarding
the land. Notice how precisely “nations
and “powers of nations” describe the members of this quartet which is composed
of the United States (a nation), Russia (a nation), the United Nations (a power
of nations), and the European Union (a power of nations). I’m not sure in history if there has ever
been such a ready match. “Powers of
nations” is only a recent international reality.
“Scatter” is a suitable
description of the intent of this quartet: the forced pulling back of Israel
from her settlements and the establishment of a Palestinian state on God’s
covenant land. It is presumptuous to
think that nations can dictate the partitioning of land that God says belongs
to Him. He has given it in eternal
covenant to Israel.
The Bible says that the
nations and powers of nations involved in this scattering of Israel will reap a
judgment by “being terrorized and panic-stricken.”
What caught my attention
again this morning and supported the application was an Israeli news article
that contained the following observation:
"...I am sure you are aware that all
initiatives and plans put forward over the years by the US and the UN have
failed, and have contributed to more tension and violence. . .”
In other words, the
nations and powers of nations up to this point, and particularly since the Oslo
agreement, have only made the situation in Israel worse by their
influence. The nations have yet to
realize that the efforts of man to establish peace in the region are
presumptuous and wasted and even detrimental.
God is pointing that out having already declared that only when Jesus
Christ returns will there be lasting peace in the region.
Zechariah 1:15:
“And I am very angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was but a
little displeased, they helped forward the affliction and disaster.”
I believe the implication
here is that these nations, who were at peace and not directly involved in the
conflict, were not trying to make things worse, but in their presumption and
influence, they do so. It is not
difficult to find four nations in history who have scattered Israel. But can we find any other situation in which
nations and powers of nations have come with the intent to improve matters and
yet have ended up only making matters worse?
To paraphrase, “Four
nations and powers of nations, who are themselves not directly embroiled in the
situation, will involve themselves with the land and only make Israel’s
situation worse in spite of their best-intentioned efforts. As a result of failing to realize and honor
God’s ownership of the land, they will reap terror as a judgment.”
If this is applicable, it
will only become clearer as the United States and others continue to impose
political pressure on Israel regarding her covenant land. They can expect to reap terror as a direct
judgment from the hand of God.
One has to wonder if this
has already begun.
Vern Kuenzi