|
Seven Empires |
|
THE MIDDLE EAST |
|
The Regional Scope of End-time Prophecies |
|
|
|
|
|
To fathom biblical prophecy we must remember the original setting long ago. Some modern teachers of prophecy warn of an insidious one-world government, a global "Big Brother" which will control all things just before the end of this age. It is supposed to be the final human empire before the Kingdom of God is established on earth. But while there are organizations seeking global unity, we must admit that the "world" of prophetic writers did not extend across the face of the globe. The Middle East and Mediterranean basin was their scope. On top of that, the prophets of the Bible were rooted in a Judeo/Israelite background. This means prophecy has a special relationship with the nation
|
|
"You, O king (Nebuchadnezzar), are a king of kings. For the God of Heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all - you are this head of gold." (Italics added) map 8 |
|
Nebuchadnezzar is credited with astonishing authority yet he did not have global rule. Competing kingdoms surrounded his. (Note that the dream, and Daniel's interpretation occurred many years before the Babylonians conquered
|
|
"Thus says Cyrus, king of
|
|
So biblical rulers, who even by today's standards controlled vast empires, did not command the entire globe, even if their ancient boasts sound like it to the modern ear. Daniel 2 tells of empires which would follow Nebuchadnezzar's, including the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great. Compare with Daniel 2:39; |
|
"...Then another, a third kingdom of brass, which shall rule over all the earth." (Italics added) map 11 |
|
From the Hebrew perspective a ruler over "all the earth" or "all the kingdoms of the earth" had authority over the Middle East, not every continent. The Greek New Testament paints the same picture. Compare with Luke 2:1; |
|
"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered." (Italics added) map 17 |
|
Only subjects of Rome came to register to pay taxes, the rest of the world, which included Rome's arch enemy, the Middle Eastern Parthian civilization, ignored Caesar's decree. So again we see that the biblical writer's "world" was limited. It did not include Tokyo, Los Angeles, Capetown, Hong Kong or New York. Rather, it spoke of current civilizations which dominated the Holy Land. This means one must keep a Middle Eastern perspective in mind when reading biblical prophecies of "all" nations, whether they are submitted to the final, prophetic dictatorship, or whether they are those nations gathered for the final prophetic battle. |
|
Final Evil Empire |
|
Indeed, the book of Revelation, a Semitic composition full of Jewish imagery, and the last one included in the Bible by disciples of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, was penned only decades after Luke wrote of Caesar's decree, fourteen centuries before the New World was discovered. The book of Revelation must be evaluated in the same Middle Eastern light. The tyrant of Revelation 13:1-8, called "the Beast," whom "all the earth" wonders after and who has "authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation," who is worshiped by "all who dwell on the earth" will not be the sole ruler over the entire globe. If this dictator, who is also known as the final anti-Christ, were only to rule a realm the size and location of the ancient Babylonian Empire, then, Scripturally speaking, he could fulfill this prophecy completely. The rest of the planet would not be directly involved. Thus, contrary to popular teaching, we should not assume the entire world must be under one man's control before God's Kingdom will arrive. |
|
The Entire World Stands Warned |
|
But this does not mean other people around the world are exempt from biblical warnings. Everyone needs to turn their heart to the living God. There are indications that these distinctive events foretold in Scripture will have indirect effects around the world. The specific warning is given to the Middle East. But as it is said, "A word to the wise is sufficient." The rest of the world must realize these strong admonitions set God's standard for all mankind. God will bless all who seek Him, no matter where they are from. He will judge all who despise Him, just as He promised the world of the Middle East. |
|
|
