Terrorism is NOT…
…a judgment from God
Some people have advanced the idea that God was showing his disapproval of our modern way of life, our materialism, our variant lifestyles, our weak social structures, our vices and tolerance of evil, by allowing the destruction of the Twin Towers and the loss of thousands of lives.
What is our reply? Emphatically, no. While God is displeased with the decadence of America (and the world), He is not bringing judgment against America. In fact, there is no evidence that God ever used terror as a means of coercion. Jesus’ principle was, “Let both [wheat and tares, righteous and wicked] grow together until the harvest” (Matt. 13:30). And that harvest is yet future.
A similar incident occurred during the time of Jesus, and brought some of the same comments. The tower of Siloam had fallen and killed a number of people. Was this a judgment from God because these people were such awful sinners? Jesus’ reply was definite: “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:3-4).
God is not sending judgment on evildoers at the present time. When His judgments come upon the earth, everyone who lives will know it, and the result will be: “the people of the world learn righteousness”(Isa. 26:9 NIV).
Terrorism is NOT…
…the arrival of “doomsday”
Terrorists do not advance the cause of a God of justice and right. His plan is to remove evil and carnage from the earth and fill it with His glory, bringing about the promise made by the angels at the birth of Jesus: “Peace on earth, good will to men.”
Terrorists are not His instruments to cleanse the earth and fill it with a happy, prosperous, God-fearing people. On the contrary, this task has been assigned to His saints (Ps. 149:9). When Christ takes control of the earth, He and His righteous co-rulers will be in command (Rev. 3:21), and the rule of the day will be justice, order, happiness and peace. The prophet Isaiah describes the result: “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever” (Isa. 32:17).
Terrorism is NOT…
…an early step toward worldwide dominion by terrorists, or worldwide devastation
Do we need to be concerned that the terrorists are going to rule—or demolish—civilized life as we know it? The answer from Scripture is No.
Several prophecies of Scripture point to the fact that when Christ returns, normal life will be continuing, with no evidence of impending change.
The apostle Peter spoke of those who would deny the promise of Jesus’ coming, saying, “All things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation”(2 Pet. 3:4).
Jesus compared the time of His coming to the days of Noah just before the flood, and to the time of Lot, just prior to the destruction of Jerusalem. In both cases it was “business as usual,” right up to the time of the calamity. “They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built”(see Luke 17:26-30)—until the judgment descended “and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”