Current Events & Trends: Syria's part in a new Middle East
Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan pressed the embattled government of Syrian President Bashar Assad to accept a peace plan that would impose an immediate cease-fire between Assad's forces and rebels, deliver humanitarian aid to Syria's beleaguered people and force the government into dialogue with the opposition.
The plan won endorsement of the U.N. Security Council, including Russia and China, who had blocked tough resolutions in the past. But Assad held firm, shelling suburbs of the capital, Damascus" ("An End to Violence?" Time, April 2, 2012). Things may not stay this way, though.
The ultimate reformation or fall of Syria's dictator and government is part of a greater geopolitical rearrangement. Who could have fathomed the fall of major players across the Middle East? First Iraq, then Egypt, followed by Libya, and now Syria's Assad teeters on the cusp.
Certainly there could be operatives from different nations helping to depose longstanding governments. But secret ops can only do so much. Beyond this, random and extreme forces can change a planned strategy, negating the most brilliantly laid-out plans.
But there's more. This world is presently ruled by great unseen forces under one referred to in the Bible as "the ruler of this world" and "the god of this age" (John 14:30; 2 Corinthians 4:4). This being, Satan the devil, who "deceives the whole world" (Revelation 12:9), currently holds sway over the earth's kingdoms (Matthew 4:8-9). Yet even he can't do anything without God allowing him to for the time being. God is the one who ultimately determines who rules: "He removes kings and raises up kings" (Daniel 2:21). The ancient Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar learned that God can bring down a ruler filled with pride (Daniel 4:32).
As mentioned elsewhere in this issue of The Good News, Scripture shows that a great Muslim confederation will come to dominate the Middle East, its ruler identified in prophecy as "the king of the South" (see Daniel 11:40). The successive toppling of Mideast dictators, of which Syria's leader may well end up a casualty, could be part of a domino effect precipitating the rise of the final king of the South.
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.
