"Will all of Asia go communist?" is a question that at present occupies the minds of many great statesmen. We have seen communism with Russia's aid sweep from Siberia and engulf large portions of the continent; today these forces are on the march south from the Yangtze and sweeping all before them. The sudden effectiveness of the Chinese communist armies has surprised many. Nor is China the only Asiatic nation threatened by communism.
Burma, Malaya, and others have been having trouble with communism which is working from within, but all having its source and directing genius in Moscow.
It does seem that if the same effort had been made by the Western Nations to head off communist expansion in Asia as was made in Europe the course of things would have been different. As it is, China can be counted lost to Western influence—it can be written off as irretrievable.
And what does all this prove? Just this, that men are only working out God's prearranged plans and purposes. The greatest statesmen of the world are very shortsighted because they lack the knowledge of God's Word. It reminds us of what God says about the great leaders of ancient Egypt: "Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counselors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings? Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err." Isa. 19:11-1411Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings? 12Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. 13The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. 14The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. (Isaiah 19:11‑14). Egypt in her glory was blind, and her leaders only carried out what God had decreed.
How many of the nations' leaders know what God has written concerning this world? It would be hard to find any. A simple Christian with a God-given understanding of the Scriptures knows much more of the final outcome (not all the present details) than the wisest men without it.
The Word of God indicates an East-West rift. The book of Revelation deals with east and west, while Daniel speaks of north and south; all is counted from Palestine. The "north" of Daniel is very likely part of the "east" of Revelation, just being viewed from a different point. "The uttermost north" (N. Trans.) of Eze. 38 and 39 is also the east as compared with the Roman Empire of the west. In other words, Russia and
her satellites in Europe, and all of Asia would seem to belong to an "anti-west" arrangement in the future, and therefore it can be concluded that communism will continue to expand in Asia and most, if not all, of that great continent will come under Russian control, directly or indirectly.
William Kelly, a very well known expositor of Scripture, of the past century, thought so, and so wrote; and we quote:
"I presume that the nations of Central Asia will all succumb to Russia, and will perish most signally upon the mountains of Israel. It is well known that, even to the Chinese and others, the Eastern nations are sinking under the control of Russia, not without resistance and checks, but sure in the end to fall under its steady never abandoned policy. It is not more certain for the Porte [formerly, the government of the Turkish Empire] than for Persia or for Central India; not all to be absorbed into the empire, but all to accept its leadership. Astonishing is the blindness of men to what is coming. Such will be the part played by the Assyrian [the "king of the north"] who appears to be the great northeastern instrument of Russia's designs; but they will all come under the judgment of God."
Mr. Kelly had not seen Karl Marx's theories developed in his day, nor had anyone ventured to suggest that Russia would be taken over by this ideology which would spark her lust for power in all directions. His conclusions were based on what he discerned from Scripture.
May we betake ourselves more to the Word of God for our food, direction, encouragement, and outlook, as well as to have some understanding of coming events which today are casting such long shadows across the landscape of this world.
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Note: These remarks should not be construed as belittling those who are in authority in any land, nor as disparaging their discharge of duty, but should be taken simply as stated, that apart from a God-given understanding of the precious Word of God men cannot discern what is coming. We recognize in all who are in authority "God's ministers," and render " honor to whom honor" is due.