June 4
The Arms Race Round II
There are growing signs that the Cold War arms race between Russia and the U.S. is back on. Russia generated headlines last week when it successfully tested a new ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and a new cruise missile. The world media was suddenly asking the question, "Is this a new arms race?"
Russian President Vladimir Putin compounded worries when he launched a series of scathing attacks on the West, accusing Washington of imperialism and of starting a new arms race. Putin said, "There is no need to fear Russia's actions: They are not aggressive. Our partners are stuffing eastern Europe with new weapons," he said. "What are we supposed to do? We cannot just observe all this."
Putin must have been in a particularly grumpy mood. He ended the week by threatening to target Europe with missiles, potentially including nuclear weapons. In an interview with the Globe and Mail, Putin went deeper into his Cold War talk, saying, "It is obvious that if part of the strategic nuclear potential of the United States is located in Europe, and according to our military experts will be threatening us, we will have to respond," he said. "What kind of steps are we going to take in response? Of course, we are going to get new targets in Europe," added the Russian President.
The "new weapons" that have Moscow so alarmed is a plan by the U.S. to deploy elements of its global missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. Washington says it wants to avert attacks from "rogue states," but Russia sees a threat to its own security.
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. became very concerned about the growing possibility of missiles being able to reach Europe and on our own soil. In the near future, several nations will have multi-stage rockets that can cross vast distances.
Iran has a very active missile program. Its Shahab-3 was the first intermediate-range ballistic missile that was built by Iran's military. Its first model, also known as Shahab-3A, has a range of 1300km. The Shahab-3B has a range of 2000km, and can carry a heavier warhead. The soon coming Shahab-3D will have a range of 2200km. In a few years, the Shahab is projected to have a range of 4000 km. This type of reach would allow Iran to target any city in Europe.
China is another good example of a nation that is steadily modernizing its ballistic missile arsenal. Although limited in number and capability, China's ballistic missiles are being improved in a several of key ways, making them a growing threat to the United States. The newly developed DF-31 is capable of targeting the west coast of the U.S. Its longer-range follow-on, the DF-31A, once deployed, may be able to reach most of North America.
As much as we would like to make the world safe from a missile attack, I don't think there is any realistic hope of ever developing a workable system. Russia recently proved that it can defeat a missile shield by designing a missile with the "ability of wide maneuver." America's current technology is based only on hitting missiles that maintain a steady flight path. If you add the factor of dummy warheads, you end up with a defense plan that simply won't work.
Despite Russia and the U.S. having stated in a number of treaties that they wish to reduce global conflict, both nations have been in the business of arming the world. Money has long been the chauffeur driving the arms race. Russia is in the arms trade because it desperately needs to bring in foreign credit. America's interest in selling arms is about big defense companies being able to turn a profit.
Russia has sold S-300 missiles to Iran. According to defense intelligence officials, joint Russian crews are manning two S-300 units just outside of Tehran and Iranian Army soldiers are now undergoing operational training on the advanced missile system in Moscow. The Russians have also been helping Iran build its nuclear program.
The US has sold a package of F-16s to Pakistan. At the same time, in order not to alienate India, it provided that country with “the next generation of sophisticated, multirole combat aircraft, including upgraded F-16 and F-18 warplanes, as well as develop broader cooperation in military command and control, early detection, and missile defense systems.” Being that Pakistan and India are traditional foes, it's an arms merchant's dream to be able to arm both sides of a conflict.
Pride is another factor driving the arms race. Third-world nations want to gain international fame by joining the nuclear club. Russia has long been no more than a large third-world nation with an economy the size of Italy. Besides maybe having a good Olympic team and being the largest nation by land mass, Russia doesn't much else going for it. The need to stand out and be noticed is one explanation for why Putin has been thumping his chest.
In recent years, Russia has been feeling very insecure from its inability to keep up with America's growing military resources. In February, Mr. Putin suffered a huge personal embarrassment when he took part in military exercise that was intended to show the West that Russia is still a major power. Putin was smartly attired in his Naval uniform on the deck of a submarine. He was there to watch the launch of three missiles from a nearby submarine. To the embarrassment of him and the Russian General Staff, two of the sub-launched missiles never left their launch tubes. A third ICBM veered off course after 98 seconds of flight and self-destructed.
The return of the arms race has "prophecy" written all over it. The military hardware being developed today will eventually find its way onto the field of battle in the Middle East. The desire to become a major player on the world stage could be the reason Russia leads the Gog invasion against Israel.
"Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes" (Ezekiel 38:14-18).
Christians in the Last Time
While listening to a television program (I’m blind, but I do “watch” TV in my own way) I heard the program’s host –of whom I’m not exactly a fan because he is a “prosperity preacher”—say something that is nonetheless very true. He said his wife told him, when he began wondering out loud whether this is the “last generation,” that for him it is indeed the last generation, because when he leaves the planet, whether in the rapture or at death-- it will be the last for him, personally.
The somewhat amusing truism was stated in the context of how Christians should live in light of the imminent return of Jesus Christ.
The program’s guest that morning was David Barton, who, in my estimation, has done some great work, from a biblical perspective, in the area of holding political leaders’ feet to the fire regarding truth about America’s founding principles as laid out by the founding fathers. He receives much praise, but also considerable criticism, for his work.
The praise comes from all who want a return to sane thinking in matters of how to govern this once-great nation. When I say great, I mean great in the sense of its leaders and people realizing that the one, true God of heaven should be at the center of life for any people, whether it is the life of an individual, a family, or a nation.
The criticism comes from some of those who believe that what will be will be–that prophecy will play out, regardless, and that no efforts are necessary to try to elect people or develop and institute laws that will make things better, in terms of personal or national life.
I was doing an interview this past week for an audience that consists largely of those who view Bible prophecy as, at best, the second-class citizen of God’s Word. That is, they believe prophecy has been fulfilled already, is to be considered primarily as allegory or literature, or is to be spiritualized as mere concept that really doesn’t have any relevance to life now or for the future.
The host hit me with the argument I hear incessantly from critics of the rapture “theory”, as they put it. He said something to the effect that he finds that when talking to people who believe in the pre-trib rapture of the church, these people always indicate that they don’t worry about living by strict Bible rules, or about world conditions, because they know Christ will come and take them out of this world before the tribulation, and His wrath and judgment fall.
I told him –and it is absolutely the truth—that I know of no one within my circle of acquaintences within pre-trib believers--all who truly believe in the pre-trib rapture-- who think the way he described. On the contrary, our belief in the pre-trib rapture makes us more desirous of doing God’s absolute will in our lives. We want to hear our Savior say “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
No Christians who really believe they might stand face to face with the Lord Jesus at any moment can have the attitude that they can live any way they want because they are automatically secure. The Christians who know they will stand before Jesus –who truly understand and believe this—rather want to do all they can to kneel before Him in that great judgment hall of the BEMA and cast the crowns earned in physical life upon earth at His feet. These will be the many crowns He will be wearing when He returns to this self-destructing planet at Armageddon (Rev. 19: 11).
We are to be busy upon this sphere where we have been placed. Christians are to be working at every level of our influence to make this a more godly place. That activity begins and ends with our introducing people to Jesus Christ, the ONLY way to God the Father and heaven for eternity. Our influence is to permeate all, and everyone we touch. We must lift up Christ so that all men, women, and children will be drawn to Him for salvation.
We are to be salt and light to a decaying, dark world. Jesus spoke to this mission upon which each of us who name the name of Christ has been sent, while here in this flesh. Jesus’ disciples thought He was talking about bringing in the Kingdom of God immediately, as the Lord spoke of that coming time. They expected this to happen immediately, because they were nearing Jerusalem, and they knew this is where the Kingdom would be centered. Jesus told the parable of the nobleman who went away after providing those under his charge the mission of handling his wealth. I’ll let you read the parable; it is found in Luke 19: 11-27.
The story was of servants given different amounts of money, and different talents. Some servants, his lord called evil because they sat on these talents/monies –i.e., did nothing with them. The other servants, their lord commended, because they used the talents and wealth He left them with while He was gone to increase their master’s realm, etc.
Jesus was telling His immediate disciples, and those who would come down through the centuries, that this is what He expects of those of us who call Him Lord.
The specific Scripture that makes this clear is the following: “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come” (Lk. 19:13).
He was saying that Christians are to not be twiddling our thumbs, or be self-absorbed in the luxuries of this world. His telling us to “occupy” includes his instruction that we are not to neglect doing all we can to work within the governmental process to help assure that we can worship and spread the Gospel as freely as possible. As a matter of fact, I’m convinced that’s why America was founded: to act as a bastion of freedom so that followers of the true God of heaven could spread the salvation message of Christ alone throughout the sin-darkened world.
Yes. Our primary mission is the Great Commission of Matthew Chapter 28, but within those marching orders are Jesus’s words, “…occupy until I come”.
We expect Christ to come at any moment. All of the signals of the tribulation are already in view, and since we know the rapture will take place before the tribulation (God’s wrath) begins, we must be very near that stunning moment when Jesus will shout “Come up here!”
Our website is Rapture Ready. That means we are expecting that stupendous harpazo event at any second. However, Rapture Ready also means that we are to be prepared to look our Savior in His wonderful eyes and know that we have done all we could while laboring in His service –while serving as royal ambassadors on this fallen planet. We are to occupy until He comes.
--Terry
