4. The Destruction of the Earth

       In Job 38:12-15 is a description of the sudden catastrophic calamity which overtook the first earth, and sank it with all its inhabitants, human and animal, beneath the dark and frozen waters of Genesis 1:2 (without form and void, i.e. "an empty wreck"). And in Ezekiel 28:12-18 we see the first of a long line of Satanic empires which, passing later through Egypt, Babylon, Rome, India, China etc. will

— end of page 51 —

find its final goal in the world empire of Anti-Christ, described in Revelation Chapters 13, 17 and 18. Wherever love is found men live together as in Acts 2:44-45 and 4:32-37. Selfishness has an equally inevitable finale, such as is found in Genesis 6:11-13 or Revelation 13. Men must either form a loving society or else fall under the domination of "wild beasts" (Daniel 7:1-7) like Sennacherib and Ghenghis Khan, or Napoleon and Hitler.

       As these words are being written mankind is face to face with the most fearful threat to its happiness that it has ever known. It used to be only those who were dubbed 'hysterical hot-Gospellers' who talked about the destruction of the world. Now every level-headed politician and 'intellectual giant' is threatening us with it and devoting his efforts to averting it! It is a solemn thought that every soul is moving inevitably towards perfect goodness or absolute selfishness: the soul's journey may include some sudden twists and turns, but will finally fix its compass Due North or Due South, to love or selfishness, to glad obedience to God or hatred of His ways. Ideas of world domination or even space dominion are already in men's minds and on their tongues, as were similar thoughts behind "the tower whose top may reach unto Heaven" of Genesis 11:4. The last "Wild Beast" of all is about to emerge upon the stage of history, and seek to gather all nations under his despotic rule, even fighting against the "Prince of Princes," only to be "broken without hand" (Daniel 8:25).

       We know not how long it was from the first sin of Lucifer until God was compelled to end the sufferings of a defiant race. But in Ezekiel 28:12-19 we are shown the final state of iniquity, profanity and violence which forced His hand "to shake the wicked out of the earth" (Job 38:13). There must have been more than one Age between the creation of

— end of page 52 —

the earth and the destruction portrayed in Genesis 1:2. The long-suffering of God waits far beyond the limits of human patience (1 Peter 3:20; Romans 9:22). All we know for certain is that failure, utter and complete and instantaneous, fell upon this original plan of the Almighty, and left nothing but a waste of dark waters, and a company of devilish angels under the malignant wing of the great Betrayer of his God and Creator and Friend. How long these dark waters remained frozen and desolate we know not; of the thoughts of Michael and Gabriel as they gazed upon the colossal tragedy we know nothing. It was the beginning of the "Mystery of God", not to be unveiled until the Light of the World brought with Him from Heaven the secrets of His Father's heart. (Romans 16:25-27).

       But, if there was as yet no answer to these great problems, certain facts stood out clearly enough:—
(a) That the success of God's great Creation did not depend solely upon God. When He had done all things well, it was still in the power of His creatures to wreck their own happiness. In other words the problem of the will was exposed in all its nakedness. Not even the Almighty could secure the happiness of those who were determined to live at enmity with Him and each other, and break the laws of life laid down by the Creator of life.
(b) That wisdom and power were not by themselves able to guarantee success. Lucifer was perfect in wisdom and full of power, but through pride and selfishness corrupted that wisdom and misused that power to serve his own ends, as did Solomon in his latter days.
(c) That in the end selfishness always leads to violence, and so to fear and misery.

       These three lessons, so clearly shown in Ezekiel 28, have been taught and retaught as the ages of history have unfolded

— end of page 53 —

themselves. Selfishness always ends in violence, which no amount of intellectual ability can evade, and happiness is only possible for those who live together in love.

— end of page 54 —

---

Previous | Next | Contents | Home Page | Site Map | < - >