Comment By Torchlight

Reflections

"Time, like an ever-rolling stream,

Bears all its sons away."

With these well-known words of Isaac Watts this feature, COMMENT by Torchlight, began its ministry just twelve years ago. It was a new venture instituted with some trepidation for a trial period in response to a suggestion made to editors. Its purpose was to comment month by month on current events, to attempt an assessment of them from a Christian point of view, to survey world trends in the light of Biblical prophecy, and, in general, to encourage God's people to greater dedication to His purposes in this late-twentieth century. It was thought that such topical comment in a magazine which for over 80 years has been devoted to "the teaching of the Word of God" would give balance to its ministry, and offset any impression of being too academic or of avoiding the pressures on those endeavouring to practise the Christian Faith in modern conditions.

Such an enterprise has its pitfalls. World events move with such bewildering speed that today's news is swept from the headlines almost before the commentator's ink is dry. Accurate assessment of its significance at monthly intervals can be a precarious undertaking. Nevertheless, over the years, we have received encouragement from many readers who have been helped by our treatment of various topics. Inevitably, there have been critics, but these have been surprisingly few.

If the Lord will, Torchlight will continue to flash his flickering 'torch' during the present year providing the ever-rolling stream of time does not carry him away or the Lord's longed-for return transport us all to the realms above. In retrospect the world scene over the past twelve years has been one

of recurring crises. The movement toward end-time conditions outlined in the prophetic word gathers pace. As the rule of law crumbles, violence covers the earth. Mercifully, global war has been averted, but the ideological struggle for world dominance proceeds relentlessly. The United Nations Organization is in disarray. World statesmen utter brave words but scarce conceal their despondency. The deep-seated ills which afflict mankind defy solution by human expedients. "Human politics are bankrupt", was the verdict of a famous social reformer who embraced the Christian Faith fifty or 50 years ago. How true!

Yet, in the light of Holy Scripture, we can look at world events with the assurance that, as ever, "the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men" (Dan. 4:25). Our God marches on. From this age is emerging that glorious divine masterpiece, "the Church which is His (Christ's) Body". With liberating power the gospel reaches out to men of every race. "The word of God is not bound"; no 'iron' or 'bamboo' curtain, no prison or labour camp can restrain it. And, in spite of mounting attacks upon it, Scripture "stands written", its authority the sheet-anchor of the faithful.

Israel at bay

In our review of world events during the past twelve years the Middle East, and Israel in particular, has seldom been off the news headlines. Two wars have taken place in this period: the six-day war of 1967 and the Yom Kippur war of 1973. In the wake of the latter came the interim peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, signed last autumn, on a new buffer zone in the Sinai desert. We commented on this in our October issue.

Israel has now ceded to Egypt the Sinai oilfields in accordance with the treaty. The next step is withdrawal from the strategic passes. But at the time of writing, because of moves against her at U.N.O., the Israeli cabinet is under strong internal pressure to freeze the rest of the disengagement agreement. The recent resolution passed by the Security Council condemning Zionism as 'racialism' is regarded by Israel as the signal for a new wave of anti-Semitism. This, and the admission of the P.L.O. to a debate on Israel by the Security Council, has brought the threat that she may withdraw from U.N.O.

Space forbids further comment this month, but there is no doubt that these developments do not give hope of any early easing of tension in the Middle East region.

unknown | Jan 1976
Comment By Torchlight