As in the Days of Noah
(Signs of the Time - June 1999)
Events over the past several months could be categorized as depressing, shocking, newsworthy or commonplace. There has been a brutal mass killing at a suburban high school; continued ethnic cleansing and military warfare in Yugoslavia; a record stock market in several countries; record levels of personal bankruptcy and debt; and continued inclement weather patterns across the North American mid-west.
Despite the sensational nature of the events, there is nothing out of the usual. This month’s article will look at world events and conclude that the days in which we live are not really that much different from previous generations. That is, for centuries there have been killings, wars, financial extremes, unusual weather patterns and all others facets of life and death going on all around, yet these are just the signs we must look for when anticipating our Master’s return.
Colorado killings
The media gave sustained coverage of the killings which occurred at Columbine High
School in April, 1999, and an attempt to copy the massacre subsequently occurred in an
Alberta school. A rampage by two young men left 12 of their classmates and one teacher
dead. The news media provided immediate coverage and the assumption was made that if this
could happen in middle-class America, it could happen anywhere. Moreover, it appeared as
if modern life was to blame for the killings -- violent video games, the Internet and
nihilistic rock music all were implicated.
But long before the recent electronic era, violence has struck middle America with the same tragic results as Colorado. The New York Times reported, April 27, 1999, that for the most part a tragic killing, similar to the situation in Colorado, occurs every two to three years. The article chronicled a list of brutal and senseless killings and concluded that human nature, rather than the Internet, was to blame. The May 9, 1999, New York Times reported homicide is the second leading cause of death among youngsters in America. It is truly an unfortunate aspect of life when we can conclude the killings in Colorado, while very disturbing, follow a consistent pattern. In essence, we can expect similar tragedies to occur in two to three years.
Yugoslavia
NATO is pursing an around-the-clock bombing strategy that has grown to number about
600 missions a day. In early May, NATO bombs strayed from their course and destroyed the
Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia. Despite this "tragic mistake," NATO
indicated; "The accidental bombing of the embassy would not affect the basic
direction of its air campaign. There will be no pauses in the bombing," said a
Pentagon spokesman, Ken Bacon, "nor will NATO give advance warnings of its
targets to neutral parties. NATO is determined to continue this campaign and intensify the
campaign. In fact, I see that there will be broadening attacks as NATO continues to work
toward its goals."
As an unfortunate side-effect of the NATO bombing, China broke off talks on arms control with the United States, thus helping to contribute to the proliferation of nuclear arms.
Once again, it is indeed an unfortunate aspect of life that the conflict in Yugoslavia is following a sad and unforgiving pattern of age-long war in the Balkans. In 1914, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian nationalist touched off World War I as Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. In March, 1941, succumbing to German pressure, the country agreed to adhere to the Tripartite Pact with Germany, Italy and Japan. For most of the 1990’s, the region has again been torn by war as Yugoslavia brakes apart with great violence.
Record stock market and debt
Earlier this year, the Dow Jones Industrial Average first climbed above 10,000, then
quickly ascended to levels above 11,000. It could easily be assumed by the torrid climb of
the market that most people across the continent are profiting from the record highs. Yet
Americans filed a record 1.4 million bankruptcies in 1998.
Bankruptcies have risen over the past several decades as Americans increase their debt and then look for ways out. The New York Times reported May 6, 1999: "Household debt has risen sharply, with the number of personal bankruptcy filings rising by 400 percent since 1980, and growing by 300,000 in the last year alone."
Not only are bankruptcy filings increasing, so also is the debt of the average American. The Times continued: "As of February (1999) American consumers had amassed $1.3 trillion in outstanding installment debt, up 7 percent from the previous year."
Historically stock markets go down as well as up. Thus, while many rejoice in the new-found wealth, they do so with a sense of unease which parallels that of those burdened with excessive debt. As a result, the general feeling of the country is one of anxiety about the future.
Midwest storms
In early May, a tornado touched down in Oklahoma, destroying homes and businesses and
killing 41 people statewide. The Associated Press reported in one municipality: "The
mayor said that 609 homes, 16 businesses, 19 apartments and one church were totally
destroyed by Monday’s storm in the metropolitan area, while another 367 residences
and nine businesses suffered at least half-destruction, which he said meant the roof was
gone but the walls were still standing. Some lesser damage was suffered by 878 homes, 24
apartments and six businesses." The tornado was classified as an F5 tornado.
While tornadoes are a particularly destructive type of storm, they have always been common in the Midwest. So common in actual fact that on average, this type of storm transits through the Midwest and plains states at least ten times a year.
We’re told in Luke: "They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all" (Luke 17:27). What Christ is telling us is that life will continue on, celebrations will come and go, news will be depressing, shocking, newsworthy, commonplace or disturbing until suddenly, he comes.
Our Redeemer will come when the world least expects Him. The challenge for believers today is to keep our lamps full of oil (our minds full of the word of God) that we might be prepared for our Lord when he returns to this bruised world to set up His glorious kingdom on earth.
George Rayner