(Reprinted from 1978 Scripture Almanac)

Recent issues of leading news magazines had cover stories on "terrorism"; an AP news release stated that West Germany, burying its most recent victims of terrorists, urged other nations to adopt covenants against terrorism before it spreads "like a wild fire over the whole world." These are truly ominous signs of the times in which we now live.

Time magazine describes this war without boundaries as follows: "The tactics of combat include assassinations, kidnappings, skyjackings and bombings as small cells of urban terrorists attack the institutions of the world's industrial democracies. The principal victims are not soldiers but citizens; public officials and businessmen, as well as schoolrooms of children, planeloads of tourists and trains packed with commuters (October 31, 1977).

There probably never was a time in the history of the world when men were more averse to all authority than today. Why? What has brought about the breakdown in so many areas of society, from rebellion against parental rule in the home to the popular form of ultimate protest against authority called terrorism? Experts throughout the world have sought to answer these questions. They have found that many of the participants in the radical movements of today's world come from well-to-do, religious, educated families.

We might ask, Is not this lack of vision a result of the spiritual decay existing everywhere? Man has put his trust in institutions of human origin rather than in God. He has sought satisfaction among the mere things of earth and time rather than the heavenly which abide eternally. The wisest man that ever lived has said, "Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions" (Ecclesiastes 7:29). In Noah's day, God saw that the earth was filled with violence and corruption (Genesis 6:11), so He judged it with a universal flood, and only eight souls then living were spared by entering the ark of safety. Luke 17:26 declares: "And as it was in the days of [Noah], so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man."

The violence and corruption that presently fill the globe are strong indicators that judgment is soon to be administered upon this present world. The phrase "in the days of the Son of man" in Scripture denotes that seven-year period of judgment climaxed by the personal return to this earth of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom the Father "hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man" (John 5:27).

Today's terrorism is violence that is intended to produce fear in its victims. However, the terror of the Lord in judgment will be far worse than anything initiated by man. God's Word describes it this way: "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that … obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Yes, men's hearts will fail them for fear (Luke 21:26) and their end will be eternal death—banishment forever from Christ who loved the world and died on Calvary's cross that "whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

This is the vision needed today. Have you obeyed this gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ? He came into this world to save sinners, and now having died for our sins and been risen again, sends forth a wondrous invitation and warning to all men everywhere—"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36).

The terrorists of today claim that "the battle has just begun." However, we trust their increasing activities will awaken each soul to the realization of greater events about to take place upon this earth and cause all to flee to Christ from the wrath to come. "For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God' (John 3:17,18). Only the believer has victory over the fear of present and future terror.

—Timothy D. Johnson