In the 1960s I had a friendship with an old gentleman who had served as a Senate aide during those years in the latter part of the 1930s decade when Hitler was flexing his muscles as the typical tyrant does. My old friend passed away in the spring of 1970, just a few months before his required thirty years of silence on internal government issues would have expired, but one thing he did share with me stands out in these days of “agreement-seeking.”
As an aide he traveled to Europe in 1939 with a contingent of Senators and other high-level government officials where they met with others to learn from Adolf Hitler what his intentions were in regard to other European nations. My friend told me that they were assured by Hitler that he had no aggressive interests in expanding German control anywhere.
The American party was half-way back across the Atlantic—travel by sea was the method then—when a wire came over the air waves that Hitler had invaded Poland! Perhaps that meeting was also attended by Chamberlain of Britain, who is remembered for his miscalculation of Germany’s true intentions, but my friend did not say. The point of that incident is that any tyrant who has demonstrated his true character already cannot be trusted to keep any kind of an agreement. Never! The Scriptures tell us this:
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil” (Jeremiah 13:23).
Of course, there is the possibility of repentance, but that means turning entirely from one direction and fully toward the opposite way. And may I say that few tyrants have been willing to do so, if any.
Now let’s go further back in history to the time of Muhammad’s early development of the Islamic faith when he and his followers were aggressively plundering cities of non-Muslims, to the year of 629 A.D. Mohammad had left Mecca, the city of his early years, and gone to Medina where he had acquired considerable following. Now he desired to make a pilgrimage back to Mecca, but that city’s leaders met him outside its border and forbade his entry. What resulted was a humiliating treaty known as the Treaty of Hudaybiyya. [1]
Making lemonade out of lemon juice, so to speak, Mohammad declared the treaty really a victory, and a few years later, as he and his followers grew in number and in resentment of that “victory,” they returned to Mecca and took the city. Without regard to the terms of the treaty that was to endure for ten years, Mohammad broke the agreement without hesitation, for his intentions, apparently, had never changed.
Deception seems to be the one major characteristic that rules the mentality of those who have a hidden agenda and operate according to the premise that “the end justifies the means.” The obvious origin of that concept and motive is shown in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15:
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
Bringing this issue forward to current times, we should not be surprised to find out that deceit is a very operative principle with those who would oppose what is true and right—actually, what is of God and the gospel of Jesus, the Christ. In prior articles I have quoted and referenced spokesmen who have acknowledged a hidden agenda that is, in reality, truly antichrist. I have termed this the “Tower of Babel Syndrome” because it reflects the attitude and motivation of those who were involved in that experiment recorded in Genesis 11. It was a move to deny God and create their own plan for mankind. Here is another revealing statement with that theme evident:
“The real rulers in Washington are invisible and exercise their power from behind the scenes.” — Justice Felix Frankfurter, U.S. Supreme Court, 1939-1962.
There is another broken agreement episode told about in Daniel 9:27 that is still future, but it holds great significance in the wrap-up of human history and God’s enduring plan for the ages:
“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.”
Other issues are apparent in the passage, but the making of a covenant or agreement, and then aborting it at the midpoint is the point of reference here. The agreement made with many parties allows the Jews to rebuild their temple and reinstate their religious activities there, for those things are stopped when the leading contender for the covenant decides to break its terms. Will the enactment of that agreement result in that cry of “peace and safety” that Paul wrote of in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3? If it does, then the coming of one like a “thief in the night” with sudden destruction is clearly included in that scenario.
With the deceit and lack of transparency in the activities of governmental agencies in these days, one might wonder how such scandals and irregularities match up with promises that were made beforehand. Those who have paid attention to the roll-out of the headlines and news articles over these last several years may recall these, for example:
· “This administration will be the most transparent of all.”
· “George Bush’s $9 trillion national debt is unpatriotic.”
· “We have to pass the Act before we can know what’s in it.”
· “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.”
· “…And four men died, ‘what difference does it make!’”
· “I have done nothing wrong; I have broken no laws; I take the 5thAmendment!”
Like a swarm of hornets these and many other false claims and statements have clouded this present administration like no other. The direction of its policies and administration have been directly opposite the promises made in the pre-election campaigns, yet a majority of the popular vote, apparently, means that Americans are pleased with it. There is a proverbial conclusion laid out in the Scriptures, however:
“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11).
“Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after” (1 Timothy 5:24).
“But if you do not do so [obey], then take note, you have sinned against theLord; and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).
It is a universal truth that one cannot escape the scrutiny of God, as the above Scriptures testify. “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” says Proverbs 9:10; that is, acknowledging and respecting His justice and judgment for truth is the smartest thing a person can do before all else! All things are open before Him with whom we have to do, but fortunately, there is forgiveness from God if we turn away from evil and to Him.