The Ukraine War
After months of posturing on the border, Russia invaded the Ukraine on February 24. The Russian army and air force have put in a surprisingly poor performance (allegedly, large sums intended for defence were corruptly diverted into superyachts for oligarchs) and the Ukrainians have put up a brave resistance, but Russia is far stronger and would be expected to win in the long run, barring some extraordinary intervention. The West has responded with sanctions, which are a two-edged sword and may have very serious repercussions for Western economies. The outcome is in the Lord’s hands.
Some Western politicians have wakened up to the harsh realities of food, fuel, defence, and even potential nuclear war, while others are still pre-occupied with ideological luxuries such as climate change, transgender and institutional racism. “Pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness” was the iniquity of Sodom (Ezek 16:49) and has been of the West too, for a long time. To the people, it has been a great shock to see the ordinary European lives in Ukraine turned so suddenly into fear, danger, tragedy and extreme hardship; and so little that the rest of the world can do to intervene in the situation.
The Lord is setting before us all some basic lessons and reminders. One such lesson is the great evil of the human heart, which is the cause of war and becomes manifest in the brutalities of war. Another is that He is the Sovereign God who created this world, and does what He pleases in it: “None can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?” (Dan 4:35). A third is the flimsiness of all our securities in this world, which may be taken away in an instant, even when our life is spared. A fourth is that He is a God of terrible destruction when He rises up to judgement. A fifth is that even people who are living harmlessly in human terms, if they are living godlessly, deserve punishment; and even those who are living godly in Christ Jesus may receive grievous chastisement for their sins, and severe trials of their faith. A sixth is the wonder that any members of this wicked race of human beings should be saved: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?” (Ps 8:4).
We are praying that the Lord may deliver the Ukraine out of the hand of the aggressor, if it be His will; that He would preserve and build up His Church in both Russia and Ukraine in the midst of this conflict; that the intrusion of terrible reality into the “fantasy” lives of many in the West may have a salutary and blessed effect; and that we ourselves may be enabled to lay to heart the fearful lessons that we are being taught at this time, and may be all the more diligent in seeking to redeem the time (Eph 5:16) and to do the work of our generation (Acts 13:36). “Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you” (Jn 12:35). “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Lk 13:3). DWBS
The Horsemen of Revelation 6
In Revelation 6 we have the vision of the opening of the seven seals, which brings a vast panorama in sight taking in the whole of the Lord’s dealings in relation to His Church and to the world. The vision extends down through the entire history of the New Testament era. In the previous chapter it was seen that the seals could not be opened by any but Christ, the One in whom is vested all power in heaven and in earth, as Mediator and King and Head of the Church. He has absolute control over all events and He unfolds God’s purposes for the good of His Church, the vindication of God’s glory and the downfall of Satan’s kingdom. This is something we should be very thankful for at a time of great turmoil and uncertainty.
When Christ goes forth conquering and to conquer on the white horse of the gospel, multitudes are brought under the power of His Word. The comparison with chapter 19:11-16 shows clearly the identity of the One sitting on this horse, whose name is the Word of God. He uses the sword of the Spirit and, with His bow, fires arrows which sharply pierce sinners’ hearts, so that those who were previously at enmity with Him are brought graciously into willing subjection to His law and testimony. This has happened at various times in the history of the Church – at the time of the Apostles and their successors, for example, and also at the Reformation. We believe that He will yet in state ride prosperously throughout the earth, through the blessing of the Holy Spirit poured out on the preaching of the Word, so that the kingdoms of this world shall become “the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ” (Rev 11:15). For those days we are to pray earnestly.
When individuals and nations collectively reject Christ’s Word, however, the consequences are terrible beyond our power to comprehend on this side of eternity. While the Lord might leave sinners to destroy themselves for ever by a process of spiritual judgements without bringing any obvious providential calamities upon them, it has nevertheless been His consistent procedure down through the eras of man’s history to bring judgements of a more open nature upon His enemies sooner or later. This is the process which is unfolded by the three other horsemen in verses 4-8. While these verses do not exclude the sufferings of the Lord’s people, they point particularly to the outpouring of Divine wrath upon the wicked in the related matters of war, dearth and death. When peace is taken from the earth and evil men are allowed to wreak destruction and misery on others, we have one of the clearest evidences of God’s anger. In this light we can see the current war in Ukraine as a judgement upon our whole generation, not least in its consequences for the Western nations, which are now so morally bankrupt.
Down through the centuries, the fearful scourge of dearth, as represented by the black horse, has been unleashed and its consequences are always frightful. In verses 5 and 6 we see that there there is not only a shortage of food but possibly also a consequent inflation of prices, which affects the poorest in society most severely, while many of the rich and powerful seek to use their influence to maintain their luxurious lifestyle, crying out, “See thou hurt not the oil and wine”. Then in verse 8 the pale horse of death goes forth, bringing all other providential judgements to an awful culmination by sweeping great multitudes away from the ground of mercy to a lost eternity. The lesson is stark and of the utmost solemnity: wherever God’s mercy in the gospel is rejected, great judgements will inevitably follow.
This remarkable chapter ends with the complete ruin of every enemy and oppressor, as seen in verses 9 to 17. The Lord God omnipotent reigns, and the godly can be thankful that, when He arises to shake terribly the earth, none of His true people will be lost. Whatever hardships and sorrows they may experience in this life, each one of them shall be kept by grace and will yet be “openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgement and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity” (Shorter Catechism, Ans 38). AWM
DIY Abortion
In March 2020, just before the national lockdown began, the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, said that there were no proposals to change the abortion rules as a result of Covid-19. In addition, the Health Minister, Lord Bethel, told the House of Lords, “We do not agree that women should be able to take both treatments for medical abortion at home. We believe that it is an essential safeguard that a woman attends a clinic, to ensure that she has an opportunity to be seen alone; and to ensure that there are no issues. . . . It is not right to rush through this type of change in a sensitive area such as abortion, without adequate parliamentary scrutiny.”
Just a few days later, despite all the previous assurances, emergency legislation was introduced to allow women to abort their child at home. The legislation was to be effective for two years, until the end of March 2022. These so-called “DIY abortions” are intended for women seeking an abortion prior to 10-weeks gestation. They consist of two pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, only the second of which was sanctioned for home use prior to the pandemic. Mifepristone is designed to kill the developing baby, whereas misoprostol induces a miscarriage to expel the unborn child from the womb. Pro-life campaigners warned of the risks of medical complications and of coerced abortions, and NHS figures show that almost 6% of women who use abortion pills are subsequently treated in hospital for complications.
Now that the two-year period has expired, the UK and Scottish Governments have taken the decision to return to pre-pandemic rules, but to extend the DIY abortions until the end of August 2022. Supporters of the DIY regime argue that a return to old requirements will dilute women’s rights. Claire Murphy, Chief Executive of the ‘pro-choice’ British Pregnancy Advice Service, said that the decision to return to pre-pandemic rules was “a decision devoid of both evidence or justice”.
As you would expect, opponents of “at-home” abortion disagree. Michael Robinson, of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said, “The DIY-abortion scheme was inflicting untold damage to countless mothers and their unborn babies”.
The Welsh Government has sadly determined to maintain the at-home abortion regulations, with the minister responsible saying the decision was “progressive”. In 2020, the number of abortions carried out in the UK was 209 917, the highest on record since the practice was legalised in 1967. Research published in The British Medical Journal concluded that abortion is very likely to have increased worldwide during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Christian Institute report that, “according to pro-abortion groups, more than 125 000 women have ordered the pills remotely between April 2020 and February 2022. A Freedom of Information request last year found that at least 10 000 women have reportedly attended hospital suffering from serious side effects.” Two former presidents of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow have said, “Every clinician has a duty of care towards their patient and we do not believe this duty is best fulfilled by removing in-person clinician-patient contact for significant medical procedures”.
Any form of abortion is the killing of an unborn child in the womb, but this unsupervised, unmonitored, on-demand, DIY abortion is particularly reprehensible. That the UK and Scottish governments have chosen to extend the scheme for several more months, and the Welsh Assembly to retain it long term, is a terrible indictment of this nation. We should pray that the Scottish and Westminster governments do not do another about turn and follow the example of the Welsh Assembly.
FRD