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Page 1 of 5 Nationalism and racism are evident everywhere. Cultural, tribal, or family identity is becoming important to more and more people.
In South Africa apartheid has been dismantled and in USA African Americans now have equal rights with their European counterparts. Yet in both countries tensions simmer not far from the surface.
Racial hatred brings misery throughout the world. There is animosity between black and white, brown and black, yellow and white, and so on. This is not only a matter of colour. There is also open hostility between black African tribes, between Asian nations and between European races.
We may wonder why racism and nationalism are so rampant in the world today? The opposite might have been anticipated in the circumstances. To illustrate:
Two centuries ago all Englishmen were assumed to speak the same language. In practice, citizens from the north could scarcely understand the southern dialect and vice versa. Few people ventured far from the place where they were born until the steam engine was invented and railways enabled people to travel. Radio had an even greater impact as everyone listened to the same programmes. Gradually dialects modified and although the speech of the various counties remains distinctive, all Englishmen now understand one another.
What happened in England reflects a world-wide trend. The latter part of the twentieth century was the age of travel, enabling many people to experience cultures quite different from their own. Films, TV programmes and books introduce us to other cultures and add to radio's influence. But simultaneously with this new understanding, nationalism and tribalism are escalating. The grievances of ethnic minorities are to the fore. Racial tensions flare despite the gains in the area of human rights achieved by struggles of dedicated individuals and groups. Just when we might have anticipated greater inter-racial harmony, there is increasing unrest.
Our purpose is not to analyse the factors contributing to present situation. Others have done that better than we could. We do not denigrate the legitimate claims of those who have long been dispossessed and victimised, or excuse those who want to maintain their privileges at all costs. Atrocities committed by those who claim to be Christian are especially distressing.
Our purpose is to show:
· The Bible predicted the present tensions.
· The cause of racial conflict is to be found early in human history.
· No human organisation can resolve this problem.
· God is going to bring harmony among all peoples.
BIBLE PROPHECY
Throughout the Bible, multitudes of people are symbolised by the sea or waters. Invading armies are likened to floods in Isaiah 59:19; Jeremiah 46:7 and 8; Jeremiah 47:2 and 3. We have the key to such symbols in Revelation 17:15
"The waters which you saw,.......are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues."
This enables us to understand a very interesting prophecy Jesus made, (Luke 21:25 and 26) concerning world conditions just prior to his return:
"on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity,
the sea and the waves roaring;
men's hearts failing them from fear
and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth."
Not only the sea but the waves are also mentioned, indicating world-wide disturbance of nations and communities. Jesus foresaw our world.
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