Welcome to this week's edition of the Bible in the News. This is Paul Billington speaking with you - and this week, about the way countries are governed. Most listeners and readers will live in one of the so-called Western Democracies - the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or some such democratically run country.
It is the turn of
Australia to start thinking about an election again now, as Julia
Gillard the Prime Minister is widely expected to call an election to be
held in late August. It is interesting to note that like Canada,
Australia is still firmly linked to the British crown.
Under
Australia's electoral system, the prime minister decides the date for
an election and must then get consent from the governor-general, Queen
Elizabeth II's official representative, who will then dissolve
parliament.
This situation is one that identifies "the merchants of Tarshish,
with all the young lions thereof,” as we read of these latter-day
powers in Ezekiel 38:13. They have a significant role to play in world
affairs as these are related to the nation of Israel in the latter days
- see verses 8 and 16 that give us the time frame and context, for
these "young lion" countries and their associates.
Australia,
as with the other "young lion" countries are still firmly linked to
Britain's monarchy, though they are governed of course by the
democratic process. But from a Bible perspective democracy is not the
ideal way for men to rule themselves - as we read in Jeremiah 10:23.
"O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."
The reason for this is that human nature is far from being the wonderful thing our humanistic world likes to believe.
Consider the following verses of Scripture:
• Genesis 8:21. "...For the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth".
• Jeremiah 17:9. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
• And
it was Jesus who said: "For from within, out of the heart of men,
proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts,
covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within,
and defile the man." (Mark 7:21-23).
So
as Australians consider their future, as earlier this year Britain did
(bringing to power the Cameron-Clegg coalition government) we wish them
well, but have to say that the results of an election will not bring
the well-being that many hope for.
Australia
and the other young lions - together with Britain, their "Mother
country" and others, will fulfill their part in the purpose of God. But
none of them can bring the rule of righteousness that they all need.
It is the promise of Scripture, that God will send Jesus Christ as the only solution to the world.
In Acts 17:31 we are told:
"...He
hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in
righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given
assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."
Jesus
will not come to power through the popular vote - he will "come as a
thief" (Rev. 16:15), taking from men and women their power to rule
themselves, for they are not fit. He will bring to an end all
democratically elected corrupt government, establishing righteousness
and peace for the benefit of all nations.
Thank you for joining us again this week. We hope to be back with you in two weeks time God willing.
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