The recent election of Donald Trump to a second term as president of the United States has shocked and dismayed many throughout the world. However, we Christadelphians are reminded of the principle we have mentioned before on this website: that God is in control of world events and will one day replace the kingdom of men with the kingdom of God. This is clear from numerous Bible passages, especially those in the book of Daniel.
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up
over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17, AV)
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Daniel 2:44, AV)
The New Testament similarly confirms God’s control, such as in Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (Romans 13:1, AV)
How might Donald Trump’s presidency fit in with Bible prophecy? He has boasted that he can end Russia’s war with Ukraine. If he achieves that, it would free Russia for fulfilment of its prophesied role in Ezekiel 38 as the leader of the future invasion of Israel. There we read that it is led by someone termed Gog, of the land of Magog, and ancient Magog was in what is now southern Russia. In most Bible versions he is described as ‘chief prince of Meshech and Tubal’, but in the English Revised version it’s translated as ‘prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal’ and Rosh is an ancient name for Russia.
Son of man, set thy face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, (Ezekiel 38:2, ERV)
Before the Ezekiel 38 invasion takes place, the current war in Israel, which seems to fit Psalm 83 where a confederacy of near neighbours is trying to destroy Israel, needs to work out. So far, Hamas in Gaza (former Philistine territory) and Hezbollah in Lebanon (Tyre, Gebal) are the main protagonists, but the Psalm also includes tribes now part of Jordan and a power associated with former Assyria. The latter is most likely Syria which is already a conduit for weapons against Israel supplied by Iran and is subject to Israeli airstrikes.
The demise of Syria and its capital is prophesied in Isaiah 17, and is coupled with Israel’s power being greatly reduced.
The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. (Isaiah 17:1, AV)
The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts. 4 And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean. (Isaiah 17:3-4, AV)
Israel must recover from the current war before the northern invasion by nations that are not near neighbours, because Ezekiel 38:8-11 speaks of her ‘brought back from the sword’ and ‘dwelling securely’ when the invasion is plotted.
Ezekiel 38:13 also speaks of weak support for Israel from Sheba, Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish at that time. Tarshish, we believe to be Britain; Sheba and Dedan were in what is now Saudi Arabia. Under Donald Trump’s first presidency, three Arab countries signed the Abraham Accords - bilateral agreements with Israel - but Saudi Arabia was not one of them. If Trump’s coming presidency succeeds in getting Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel, fulfilment of Ezekiel 38 will have come a step closer.
So too will the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.