World News and Trends: The Arab awakening and Islamic fundamentalism
The unrest that began with Tunisia in December 2010 has spread to many other Middle Eastern countries. Other despotic rulers may well fall in addition to those already forced from power. But will we witness the emergence of secularist democracies supporting the West, as many hope? Or will the era of autocratic rulers in the Middle East morph into an Islamist confederation spanning the region?
Even though most of the recent revolts have had a secular appearance, alead editorial in the April 2, 2011, issue of The Economist points out that "religion is a growing force in the Arab awakening" ("Islam and the Arab Revolutions"). Another article in the same issue stated, "Jihadists are both supporting and exploiting the Arab spring [as the uprisings have been dubbed]" ("A Golden Opportunity?").
What the Western world fears may occur in the Middle East is already well under way in Pakistan. Yet another article in the April 2 Economist explores, as it describes it, "why Islam took a violent and intolerant turn in Pakistan" ("A Great Deal of Ruin in a Nation"). Will this happen in the Arab world as well?
The Economist's editorial also acknowledges that "Islam is bound to play a larger role in government in the Arab world than elsewhere. Most Muslims do not believe in the separation of religion and state...and have not lost their enthusiasm for religion, as many 'Christian democrats' in Europe have."
One question we should all ask is: How will all these troubling events end up? Ultimately, that's a question only the Bible can answer.
A sidebar in our free booklet The Middle East in Bible Prophecy warns of "A Rising Tide of Arab Nationalism." Its concluding paragraph observes: "In this cauldron of nationalism, resentment toward the West, hatred of Israel and frustration among citizens with their own governments and leaders, an ancient force has re-emerged to bring terrorism and grave concern to the heart of the West—Islamic fundamentalism" (pp. 44-45, emphasis added throughout). Additional pages of this booklet highlight the fact that fundamentalist Islam will continue its resurgence.
An article in the March 14, 2011, issue of The Wall Street Journal was aptly titled, "The New Mideast Will Still Mix Mosque and State" (Nader Hashemi, March 14, 2011). It warned that "after Benal [in Tunisia] and Mubarak [in Egypt], many Arabs and Muslims in the region identify secularism with tyranny."
We need to realize that current events across the region could ultimately lead to the end-time fulfillment of Bible prophecies, such as those found in Daniel 11 and Psalm 83. Several articles in this issue of The Good News cover some of the crucial historical background and the vital prophetic framework. And more may be found in our free booklet The Middle East in Bible Prophecy. (Sources: The Economist [London], The Wall Street Journal.)
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: May - June 2011
Course Content
Jerold Aust
Jerold Aust has served in the ministry for 52 years, as a public speaker for 58 years, a published writer for 38 years, and is employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond Today Magazine and has taught Speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.
Jerold holds a BA in theology from Ambassador College, Pasadena (1968), an MA in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (1995), a distance-learning Ph.D (2006), and a Famous Writers School diploma in non-fiction writing (1973). Additionally, he studied post-grad communication at University of Southern California (1995), radio, TV, voice-overs, and Public Relations at Fullerton College (1995-1996), and graduate communication at Wichita State University (1978). Jerold has taught communication at the University of South Alabama (7 years) and ABC (17 years). His published works include, Ronald Reagan’s Rhetoric: Metaphor as Persuasion and EZSpeakers: Public Speaking Made Easy in 7 Steps. Jerold's overarching goal is to share with humankind its incredible destiny!
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
