Should we ever wonder if God can bring about the fulfillment of His prophecies, given the power mankind exerts over the earth? Sometimes it seems mankind can solve any problem given enough time. For example, a few short years ago experts were predicting that the shortage of energy would strangle the western world’s economy within a decade or possibly less. For good reason the predictions were based upon the fact that much of the oil used by the western world comes from unfriendly nations. It was predicted that these sources would increase the price of oil to bring western nations to heal or worse.
However, it appears that science is once again rescuing western civilization. A revolutionary method of extracting oil and natural gas from beneath the earth’s surface now appears to be capable of providing enough energy far into the future. The method is called fracking. It is in the news for one reason or another virtually every day. Involved with fracking are complicated environmental concerns, but we are told these too can be solved by technology.
For the past fifty years most people who believe in Bible prophecy have thought that war in the Middle East would bring about the return of Jesus Christ to save the world from annihilation. It was thought this final Middle Eastern war would draw the world powers into a final World War III. The catalyst for this war was predicted to be an attempt by Islamic powers to force western powers to abandon the modern nation of Israel. This would allow them to wipe Israel off the map.
However, if the United States and other western nations can become largely energy independent from these unfriendly nations and their oil within ten years, does this defeat God’s prophecy about a catastrophic Middle East war? Do the efforts and achievements of men derail the prophecies of God? To answer such cynical criticisms of Bible prophecy, it is necessary to consider the power of God to guide providence. The Bible is full of examples that display God’s authority over the rulers of men who believe they can control the events of the earth. There are many examples of God moving rulers to fulfill His purposes. A clear example is Ezra 1:1-2.
Ezra 1:1-2: Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. KJV
This intervention by God occurred after the Jews had been in captivity under the Babylonians and the Persians for seventy years. This seventy-year captivity was not only prophesied to be according to God’s will, the end of it was brought about by God’s moving Cyrus’s mind.
A modern example of God moving the minds of world leaders to set the stage for the fulfillment of prophecy is seen in the manner the Soviet Union collapsed. It was necessary for East and West Germany to be reunited in order for Germany to become the super economic power it is today. The Church of God has understood in these modern times that Germany would lead a united Europe to plunge the world into a third world war. For Germany to reunite and become the leader of Europe, Eastern Europe had to be freed from Soviet domination, which also would bring about the inclusion of many nations under the Germanic leadership umbrella. The collapse of communism and the disintegration of the Soviet Union happened virtually over-night. This collapse reportedly was the result of a late night conversation between then President Mikhail Gorbachev and then Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze. These two men were the most powerful rulers in the Soviet Union, and they essentially abandoned the Communist system, agreeing it was a terrible way to live. The abandonment of Communism resulted in the collapse of the Iron Curtain and the freeing of the eastern European nations including East Germany.
The reunited Germany has become the third most powerful economy in the world, and once again Germany has become the center of power in Europe. This sets the stage for the rise of the Beast Power in Europe prophesied in the Book of Revelation.
There is a proverb that explains the dominating power of God, and how He exercises His authority over the minds of world rulers to bring about His ends.
Proverb 21:1: The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. KJV
This simple Proverb explains that God is able to direct human activity so that it fulfills His prophecies. The poetic interpretation of this proverb emphasizes God’s effortless power to move world rulers to do what He wants. This interpretation likens the flow of the minds of world rulers to tiny rivulets streaming through a garden. The gardener is irrigating the garden, and when he wants to direct the flow of one of the rivulets, he simply builds a small dam with the toe of his foot. As we saw in Ezra 1:1-2, the most powerful rulers in the world are puppets in God’s hand when it comes to bringing about His will.