Turning Points in
World History
The Coming Clash of Civilizations
W
estern nations have dominated much of the world for nearly five centuries. During this era, European nations— and later, the United States—gained power and spread the influence of Western civilization over much of the globe. China and Japan were forcibly opened to European and American trade. Africa, India, and much of Asia were overwhelmed and carved up by Western powers. The Russian Empire fell to the communists and then lost the Cold War to the West. Yet, in recent decades, the pages of history have begun to turn, and we have entered a new era. Scholars note that in the twentieth century, “the expansion of the West” came to an end and “the revolt against the West” began, as other civilizations re-emerged on the world stage (The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, Samuel P. Huntington, p. 53). Today, we face another major turning point in history—“one of those rare moments in history when the political and economic axis of the world is shifting”—away from the West and toward the East (The Dawn of Eurasia, Bruno Maçães, p. 1). But how will this major shift impact the world, as civilizations in the East emerge to challenge once-dominant Western powers? While secular analysts try to discern the geopolitical future, few today realize that key events in that future were foretold long ago in ancient Bible prophecies. Even fewer recognize the prophetic significance of current events that are beginning to match events predicted to occur before the return of Jesus Christ. Today, many have also forgotten that God guides the course of history, and that He raises up nations and brings them down, according to His purpose (Job 12:23; Daniel 2:21; 4:17).
30 Tomorrow’s World | March-April 2019
End-Time Bible Prophecies Around 539bc, while he was among the Jewish captives in Babylon, the Hebrew prophet Daniel was given a detailed dream about the distant future. In Daniel 11:40–45, he records that “At the time of the end” a king of the South (an Arab-Muslim force) will push at or attack a king of the North (an end-time European power) which will then invade the Middle East and occupy Jerusalem (see previous articles in this series, “Europe’s Final Revival” and “Islam’s Last Jihad”). Daniel also records in verse 44, “But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.” Today, Russia lies to the north of Jerusalem and Iraq, Iran, and China lie to the east. Other prophecies, in Revelation 9, indicate this European power will launch a five-month offensive toward the north and east, precipitating a major military response that will kill one-third of mankind. From the perspective of Bible prophecy, it is no coincidence that an aggressive Russia and a more assertive China have re-emerged while the power and influence of the West has declined. Return of Russia The current leader of Russia is Vladimir Putin, a dedicated nationalist and former KGB operative with strong Orthodox beliefs. Disillusioned by the collapse of the U.S.S.R. and the failure of Marxism, his goal has been to unite a fractured country, and—as a modern Peter the Great—restore the national pride of Russia. He reminds Russians that they successfully repulsed invasions from the West launched by Napoleon and Nazi Germany. Under his watch, the Orthodox Church has replaced
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