Sudan
and Israel
(Signs of the Time - June 2004)
Turmoil continues in Iraq as British and American forces struggle to bring the nation under control. With each new development, the instability of the area is underscored and the potential is increased for further dramatic developments. This month we note other dramatice developments in the area particularly in Sudan and Israel.
Turmoil in Sudan
The ancient land of Ethiopia today encompasses Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan.
As scripture reveals, these nations will be allied with the Gogian host
which comes against Israel in the latter days.
For the past 20 years rebels in southern Sudan have sought to topple the
Arab-dominated government in the north. Two million people have died in
this continuing conflict which has again flared into great violence. As
the New York Times reports: “Sudan’s decades-old civil
war was much about religion — the north is mostly Muslim, the south
animist and Christian. This conflict is over ethnicity and resources;
it pits Muslim against Muslim. The rebels here scored some early victories,
and the government responded with a fury, angering countries that thought
it was finally taking the country toward peace after decades of civil
war. The army has used helicopter gunships and old Russian-made Antonov
planes loaded with bombs. But the Arab-African rivalry has long festered
here, and the most ruthless weapon has been the mounted Janjaweed fighters,
who know no rules of war. The Janjaweed ride camels and horses and use
automatic weapons against those they come across. They ride into villages
en masse and shoot anyone in sight. As the militiamen torch and loot,
the villagers grab what they can and run.”
Here is an area of turmoil and violence which will readily march with
the massed forces of God when they converge on Israel.
Israel
Israel has intensified its military pressure on Gaza as Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon seeks support for his plan to unilaterally withdraw the 7,500
Israeli settlers who live here and the soldiers who guard them.
While supported by the United States, Sharon’s own party is opposed.
As reported by the New York Times on May 11, 2004; “in a party
referendum on May 2, Mr. Sharon’s Likud faction overwhelmingly rejected
his proposal to withdraw from Gaza and from four isolated settlements
in the West Bank.”
In the ancient land of the Philistines, which has historically been occupied
by gentiles, the Jewish settlements are viewed as “a historical
mistake.” Today these settlements, and the army forces which
protect them, are a flash point for conflict with the Palestinians. Sharon
realizes this and seeks to remove an obstacle to peace in Israel but was
voted down by a significant majority of the dues paying members of his
own party.
Being in the midst of the events leading up to the return of Christ, we
continue to watch with fascination and great interest as the Most High,
who rules in the kingdom of men, draws the nations to that great day of
God Almighty.
George Rayner