 |  |
The Kings of the East
#9.
pp. 81 - 83
In our previous study of the geographical changes that will take place at the time of
the end, we referred to the passage in Isa. 11: which speaks of the "tongue of the
Egyptian sea":--
"And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with His
mighty wind shall He shake His hand over the river (which we saw was the river
Euphrates) and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dry-shod"
(Isa. 11: 15).
There appears to be a further reference to this in Rev. 16: 12, where we read:--
"And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river, the Euphrates, and the
water thereof was dried up, that the way of the Kings of the East might be prepared."
This seems to be a fuller explanation of Isa. 11: 15, revealing that among the "men"
who will go over dry-shod, there will be eastern kings and their armies. That war is in
view, the verses that follow make plain. Supernaturally evil influences gather the kings
of the whole world to battle, and the battle-ground is Armageddon. This valley had
already played an important part in Hebrew history, for here Deborah and Barak had
destroyed Sisera (Judges 4: 19), and in Zech. 12: we find slaughter and lamentation
associated with Megiddo (Zech. 12: 9-11).
Who are these "Kings of the East" that meets in arms in the land of Palestine before
the end comes? We cannot say with any certainty, but if we listen to those who view
these things from the standpoint of national defence and diplomacy, it seems evident that
Japan must be included. If, moreover, it be true, as the writer we quote below claims,
that Japan is moved by a great religious motive, we can the more readily understand the
reference to demoniacal influence.
In John Bull, June 13th, 1936, there appeared an article by W. N. Ewer, an authority
on Foreign Affairs, which contained the following statements:--
At the other end of the world, a whole nation is convinced that it has divine mission to
conquer and rule all the Far East. And not only the Far East, but all the world. That is
why there is danger of war in Eastern Asia and in the Pacific, in which, should it come,
Great Britain can hardly help being involved. Not so much because of Japan's economic
need for expansion as because of Japan's religion. Economic wants can be met by
compromise and concession. There is no compromising with a religion. And, as never
before perhaps in history, imperial expansion is with the Japanese an article of religious
faith, as binding as the obligation on a pious Christian to preach the gospel to the heathen.
The Emperor is Akitsu-Kami, the Living God. The way of the Emperor is the Great Law
of the Universe. The Divine Virtue of the Emperor must be extended to all parts of the
world, equally and indiscriminately. That, quite seriously and earnestly, is the inspiration
of Japanese policy.