Light breaks through – and is swallowed again. Thus, the cosmic tug-of-war runs through history: Islam as light in the Middle Ages, later hijacked by darkness. Rome, Hitler, Zionism, Israel, and new alliances in the Orient – ​​all fit into the prophetic panorama of Revelation. By Kai Mester

Reading time: 7 minutes

I once witnessed a full moon emerge from behind a wall of clouds, only to be swallowed up again shortly thereafter. For minutes, it was a gripping spectacle—light versus darkness. In the end, the moon prevailed.

This is precisely what we see in world history: light breaks through – only to be cast into shadow again. First Paradise, then the Flood. Light at Sinai, darkness in Gibeah. Hope through David and Solomon, disintegration into a divided kingdom, and finally Babylonian exile. Dawn through Jesus, followed by the persecution of Christians and the Dark Ages. What a tremendous tug-of-war!

The Fifth Trumpet – a Culture War

The fifth trumpet is often interpreted as referring to the first centuries of Islam: as God's rod of discipline for the West with its decadent Roman state church. But the actual blow against Rome was not military – it was the smoke from the abyss (Revelation 9) that obscured the light of the papacy: a spiritual culture war. It shook Rome more than the Arab and Persian warriors. Science, freedom, and tolerance from the Orient made their way into the hearts of Europeans, igniting reformations and revolutions that continue to shape the face of the West today – and propelling the United States to the position of the leading world power.

Hijacked Islam

As liberal, progressive, and anti-Roman as the original impulse from the Arabian desert was, fundamentalist Islam later proved to be cruel and medieval. A pattern becomes clear here: Time and again, dark forces hijack those movements that God once awakened as a counterweight to evil.

Islam was once the greatest threat to Rome—and at the same time a ray of light in the dark Middle Ages. When Rome received its "mortal wound" and the Adventist movement gained strength in 1840, its biblical mandate from the fifth and sixth trumpets seemed fulfilled.

New threat to the Jews

For centuries, Jews had enjoyed more freedom and protection in Muslim territories than in Europe. Now, Rome's mortal wound also gave European Jews a sigh of relief. But then an enemy arose, even more cruel than Rome: Adolf Hitler. Millions of Jews were wiped out—and this by a man who, although he no longer attended Mass, had never formally left the Catholic Church. The darkness remained inventive—and always found new forms to continue its destructive work.

Zionism and new conflicts

Zionism ultimately led many Jews back to the land of their fathers. With the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, Islam suddenly had a new enemy on its doorstep: a people that had just emerged from the Holocaust with an indomitable will to live and tremendous energy. The Muslim world fought back – Israel struck back. And thus, almost overnight, Israel became the archenemy of the Islamic countries.

Camouflage artists of darkness

History shows that darkness is a master of disguise. Time and again, it takes on the form of those forces that could pose a threat to it—only to attack them at their root and render them harmless:

• At first, it acted in a “Christian” manner, burying the Gospel under traditions and Latin formulas, and persecuting dissidents.
• Then she presented herself as “enlightened” and “revolutionary” – in order to drive Rome’s critics into atheism and ban the Bible.
• Later, it disguised itself as a Protestant, interdenominational church, emotionalized the gospel in a charismatic way, and abused it politically.
• Ultimately, it led Islam into its own cruel “Middle Ages.”

Or to put it another way: When the gospel could no longer be stopped and penetrated every corner of the world, the enemy conquered Christianity from within. When the spirit of Islam incited Europeans against Rome, darkness ensured that, in their desire for freedom, they threw the Bible and God overboard. When Protestants found a home in the New World and emerged as a world power, dark forces had already infiltrated their project, and Revelation predicts: The USA will lead Rome to its final glory (Revelation 13).

Revival or appropriation?

Could it be that darkness seeks to immediately take over every genuine revival, every return to God? Be it the Adventist Church in the 19th century through totalitarian tendencies within its own ranks, or in the 20th century through alliances in the education, health, and welfare sectors? Always contrary to the recommendations of the prophetic voice of Ellen White, of course.

Could the revival movement we see in the Republican camp in the US perhaps also be a coexistence? On the one hand, there are people who honestly listen to God's Word and allow themselves to be led a little further toward the biblical Jesus and the merciful God he has shown us. On the other hand, there are representatives of darkness who spread hatred and violence.

This requires the gift of discernment. Otherwise, one quickly starts thinking in stereotypes, gets distracted by straw men, and allows one's orientation to become clouded.

We probably wouldn’t expect another trick from the enemy if the biblical prophecy didn’t hint at it:

A new alliance on the horizon?

The Book of Revelation announces that the last world power will rise again from the "depths"—the abyss of the (Arabian) desert of sand and stone (Revelation 17:8). Will Arab leaders ultimately join forces with the papacy in their struggle for peace? The first signs are visible: In Abu Dhabi, the Abrahamic Family House – Symbol of an alliance that prophetically raises more questions than it answers.

Trump's approach to Arab royal families to form a peace council that would lead the world to a golden future could also point in this direction. But time will tell how things develop.


Hope from the East

It is noteworthy that the Bible connects the last great revival—the latter rain and the loud cry—with the Orient. Isaiah (60:1-7) describes it as having particular resonance in lands from which camels, gold, and frankincense come: Midian, Ephah, Sheba, Kedar, and Nebaioth—descendants of Abraham, who are referred to in the Bible as sons of the East—are to proclaim the praises of the Lord. In Revelation (7:2), the sealing angel ascends from the east. Ezekiel (43:2) and John (Revelation 18:1) see God's glory coming from the east, "roaring like many waters, and the earth was greatly lighted by his glory... and the earth was illuminated by his brightness" (Ezekiel 43:2; Revelation 18:1).

Even then, the wind that parted the Red Sea, the Queen of Sheba, the liberation by King Cyrus, and the orphans all came from the East. Jesus' return is also portrayed as coming from the East (Matthew 24:27). But in between, the preparation for his coming will also take place in the same way as the rising of the morning star in our hearts (2 Peter 1:19), namely from the East. What exactly does that mean? Time will tell.

Reason to shine

Biblical prophecy reveals all these developments to us—not to frighten us, but to give us guidance. So that we can trust God in this turmoil, absorb his essence, and radiate it.

So we may shine like stars in the midst of darkness:

"Many will be purified, refined, and tested, but the wicked will act wickedly. All the wicked will not understand, but the prudent will understand. The prudent will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and they will guide many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever." (Daniel 12:10, 3) We may belong to the "remnant"—and at the same time be open to recognizing the remnant that God has in all revival movements. We may include them in our hearts and our prayers. For God is at work—and his light will ultimately prevail.

End of the series of articles

Back to Part 1: Tug of war in the cosmos: When God stepped back – and Lucifer briefly made progress