The End of Terror

“WASHINGTON—The nation is woefully unprepared to respond to a bioterrorism attack despite a $20 billion government investment in bioterrorism preparedness since 2001, according to top government and public health officials and members of Congress.”  USA TODAY August 1, 2005

Not only is escalating terrorism becoming a worldwide anxiety—but people themselves are feeling terrified just thinking about what is coming. “Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world…” (Luke 21:26). Random—yet seemingly well calculated—terrorist attacks appear to be giving the “weak” power over the “strong.” Uncertainty is the call of the hour!

Innocent citizens try to be patient when they are searched at airports…or found to be on “Watch Lists” …or find that the tunnel they were supposed to drive through will be “closed for security.” The recent permanent renewal of the US antiterrorism law—the Patriot Act—gives government officials authority to investigate suspected terrorists. A 2005 renewed Patriot Act allows the government’s use of secret search and surveillance powers. But certain civil liberties organizations have challenged the use of this law as possibly being abusive. There are no easy solutions!

Although a “war on terrorism” was declared after 9/11, some have pushed to change the mission name to the “global struggle against violent extremism.” Billions have been “invested” to “stop the terror.” In any case, terrorism has not stopped—but on the contrary, escalated.

What is Terrorism?

Terrorism is motivated by sociological or religious reasons—as opposed to criminal violence used to get money. Terrorism is aimed at civilians and is designed to inspire fear—as opposed to guerrilla warfare against military targets. Terrorism might be defined as being carried out by “subnational” groups—not by the army of a country. Terrorism is designed to influence a wider audience beyond the victims of the violence itself. In a sense, terrorism is like theatre. Some have argued, “one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.” In principle, then, terrorism might be defined as, “The weak say[ing], I am strong” (Joel 3:10).

When Did Terrorism Begin?

Although fear and terror have evidently always been a part of human history, “terror” or “terrorism” was probably first coined with the “Reign of Terror” in France (1793-1794).

But the advent of the 20th Century brought with it Anarchists whose goal ironically was to bring about a peace loving society through the use of terrorism. With the arrival of the 21st Century, international terrorist forces have struck out mainly against “infidel” cultures. Truly, terrorism is one of the signs of the “end of the world [age]” (Matthew 24:3) “For then there will be great distress [tribulation], unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21, 22 NIV).

The “Father of Modern Terrorism” launched his career in 1970 with the bombing of a Swiss Air Flight in route to Tel Aviv, murdering 47 passengers and crew. Just eight months later in September, four planes bound from Europe to the United States were hijacked. Three of the planes were taken to Jordan to be part of a coup by Arafat. By the time Jordan’s King Hussein drove Arafat’s band out of his country, over 2,000 people had been killed. In 1972, in the Munich Summer Olympic Games, nine Israeli athletes were taken hostage and killed. Although three of the eight terrorists were captured alive, the German authorities capitulated to renewed Arab Palestinian terror by releasing the surviving terrorists when a Lufthansa jet was hijacked the following month.

Terrorism Today

The 9/11 attacks on the United States raised the weapon of terrorism to new heights and dimensions of distress. Besides the emotional devastation still felt today, those terrorist attacks caused substantial losses for the insurance industry with current estimates topping $32 billion in liability. As a result, insurance companies have begun excluding terrorism coverage from their policies. Because businesses have inadequate financial protection, the nation is left vulnerable to economic disruption if there is another major terrorist attack.

In March 2004 Islamic terrorists bombed the transit of Madrid, Spain. In July 2005 a series of four bomb attacks struck London’s transport system during the height of rush hour. While key members have been captured or killed, al Qaeda and affiliated terrorist groups claim they will continue to launch attacks. These terrorists are now the focus of the US-led global war on terror.

Solutions to Terrorism

“Think tanks,” such as the Rand Corporation, have been commissioned to figure out a protocol for the protection of Americans in the certainty of future terrorist attacks. Communicating with the Department of Homeland Security, these commissions calculate the real challenges. The Washington Post reported on August 8, 2005, “In 2000, the Pentagon’s Defense Science Board concluded that to respond successfully to a biological terrorism attack, the United States would need 57 specific drugs, diagnostic tools, and vaccines. At the time, only one drug was available. Five years later, officials say, that number has increased to two.”

The Patriot Act has been gradually transformed from a temporary antiterrorism measure to a permanent one. This legislation allows “sneak and peek” warrants for search of businesses and homes. These provisions allow searches that “leave no trace and are conducted without immediate notification of the subject” (Seattle Times, August 1, ’05). But some concerned civil rights groups want to scale back some of powers of the Patriot Act.

Terrorism and the Christian

“Who abides under the shadow of the Almighty? Who needs not fear the terror by night?” (Psalm 91:1) However, the Christian—full of faith—does not fear as his neighbor might for what will be happening next. Why? The Christian’s peace is not based on “homeland security,” but in the security of God’s will for him. Does the Christian feel that God will always miraculously protect him from physical harm? Not necessarily. But Christians know that Almighty God is in control of their lives and is not only all-loving, but all-wise and all-powerful.

Is this a selfish, self-centered love for themselves and their families? Not at all. Christians who know God’s plan for mankind realize that although a great trouble is prophesied at the end of the Age—beyond it lies God’s peaceable Kingdom on earth. Why else would we pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”? That prayer is soon to be answered!
It’s a comfort for Christians to know Jesus told his followers that at the end of the Age when he would come, the nations would be in “perplexity” (Luke 21:25) when “Men will faint from terror…” (vs. 26) That word “perplexity” comes from a Greek word meaning, “no way out” (Strong’s #640 fr. 639). In other words, man has no solutions!

Waiting for the End of Terrorism

When the Christians see these fearful things happening in the world, they are to rejoice because their deliverance is coming soon. “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). But when the whole Christian church is completed, it will signal the time the whole world is waiting for… Apostle Paul said so. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now… The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed” (Rom 8:19, 22).

Peoples and nations are scrambling for solutions to make “peace on earth”—they are waiting, hoping for something better. Actually, they do not know they are waiting for Jesus with the “sons of God” to bless them. This is God’s plan. But when that time comes, they will say, “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isaiah 25:9).

Searching Hearts instead of Suitcases

Gradually God’s Kingdom will be set up in power and accepted by the peoples of earth. Instead of searching suitcases for hidden weapons that harm—hearts will be searched. Instead of laws just written on paper, they will be written in the peoples’ hearts: “After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33).

Jesus spoke of the time when all hidden things would be uncovered and exposed. “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops” (Luke 12:2-3). There will be no hidden conspiracies to harm anybody. No terrorism!

Now the Christian is to let his “light so shine before men” (Matthew 5:16)—because we live in a dark world that does not know God (Isaiah 60:2). But in God’s Kingdom, none will hurt anybody else because the knowledge of the LORD will cover the earth. “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). In the dawning of the new day of God’s Kingdom, the Church of Christ will not just shine like little lights on earth—but as the rising sun! “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matt 13:43).

Rule of Iron Ends Terrorism

In an unstable society, strict laws and strong authority must certainly prevail. When Jesus with his “Bride” the Chuch rule the earth, will their power be abusive or inadequate? “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Rev 2:26-27). It will not be an abusive rule. The word for “rule” actually means “to tend as a shepherd” (Strong’s Concordance #4165). Although justice will be strict, it will be administered by a Shepherd caring for his flock. There will be no propaganda. No spin. There will be no secret conspiracies or plots to hurt anyone. “And I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the level; Then hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters shall overflow the secret place” (Isaiah 28:17 NAS).

Furthermore, although Israel seems to be the center of trouble and terrorism in the world today—in God’s Kingdom Israel will be the Capital and center for world peace. Yes, Jerusalem shall be an “international city” (but not the way the world might be planning for it now). “Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Behold I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be my people… I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heath, O house of Judah, and house of Israel, so will I save you and you shall be a blessing…And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another say, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts…Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem…In those days it shall come to pass that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you” (Zechariah 8:7-23).

Many say, “Peace,” but there is no peace. What is the reality? Only God’s Kingdom will eradicate terror and bring real peace.

Want to know more? Send for the free booklet about God’s Kingdom.