America had its 9/11. Now, Australia has had its 10/12. The “lucky country” has been forced to deal with the same sobering issues, the same haunting questions: Why us? What did we ever do to them?
Ever since its independence from the Dutch in 1949, Indonesia has been wrought with internal strife and bloodshed. From Aceh in the west to Papua in the east, violence thrives. Much of the hatred stems from anti-West, anti-Christian sentiment.
But Bali was not this way. Bali was an oasis in a desert of destruction. It was considered an ideal vacation spot by Westerners in the region, particularly Australians.
That’s why the October attack on Bali, though in Indonesia, had little to do with the issues being violently disputed throughout the archipelago. Though the bombing did have dreadful effects on Indonesia—shock waves of which were felt throughout Asia—the attack was aimed at the West because of its current campaign against terror. The majority of the fatalities were Australian citizens—nearly 90 out of the over 190 killed in the blast. A small handful of Americans also died.
After 9/11, the question of what provoked the attack was answered in a way that kept the U.S. looking totally innocent: There are terrible, evil people out there who cannot stand that we Americans give all our people freedom to vote and to choose the way they want to live and dress.
The “good blokes” of Australia justify their dark day the same way: There are evildoers out there who want nothing but to harm us “fundamentally good-willed, good-hearted people,” as Paul Gallagher put it—a man who lost six friends in the Bali attack (International Herald Tribune, Oct. 18). The same article stated, “For Australians, Saturday has become the day of innocence lost. It is a popular saying here that Australians have been in 19 wars, but started none of them. The idea of being a quiet but dependable ally appeals to the national image ….”
Innocence lost? Islamic extremists wouldn’t think so. Australians are certainly that “dependable ally” to the current war on terror—the war that aims to extinguish Islamic extremism from the world.
In fact, U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld called them a “steadfast ally” in an October 29 press conference. Australia, according to Rumsfeld, was one of the first countries to join the alliance, and it fought alongside U.S. forces as they uprooted the Taliban from Afghanistan. Australia “has demonstrated a clear commitment to combating the evils of terrorism,” Rumsfeld said. American ties to Australia “have never been stronger.”
Though always strong allies with America, Australia began an even deeper embrace of the U.S. after 9/11. The 2002 white paper on foreign affairs issued by the Australian government ranked the U.S. as its number-one ally.
Fact is, Australia needs the U.S. It is in a uniquely awkward position as a primarily British-Irish-populated island neighboring Southeast Asia. What’s more, Australia has approximately the same population as the state of New York, yet it is spread out over an area as big as the United States. So when it comes to exploiting its rich resources and defending its wide open coastal borders on all sides, it dangerously lacks the capital and manpower.
Last month, the U.S. and Australia opened negotiations on a free trade agreement which would bring the two economies closer. Australian authorities have described the bid as “the most significant national initiative” in more than 50 years (Australian Financial Review, Nov. 13).
The argument in Australia seems to be now over the conundrum, do we engage with Asia more to battle terrorism in the region, or do we pull further away? Whatever the answer to that, Canberra already feels it needs a strong bond with America—even though this puts Australia at odds with its neighbors. As was evident at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (asean) summit this November, Australian-Asian relations are at an all-time low due to Australia’s travel warnings and armed raids on a few Muslim homes in Australia. Several Asian countries resent Australia, perceiving it as America’s little lapdog that can throw its weight around in the region.
So what is the solution for Australia? Where can it turn to diffuse further terrorist threats? The answers to these questions lie in the real reason why terror has struck the “lucky country.”
Why Terror Down Under?
Australia makes up part of the end-time nations of biblical Israel (write for your free copy of The United States and Britain in Prophecy). The patriarch Israel’s heritage would primarily be recognized through his grandsons Manasseh—who was prophesied to become a great nation, the United States—and Ephraim, who was to become a company of nations (see Genesis 48:16, 19), a perfect description of the British Empire. God also identifies the migration of Ephraim as being to the north and west of Jerusalem in certain isles (Isa. 49:12). This same scripture also discusses those of the “land of Sinim”—translated in the Vulgate as “Australi,” or “Australia.”
Yes, Australians are among those Westerners associated with the British Crown (New Zealand, South Africa and Canada as well) who make up this major, prophetically significant tribe of Israel that is mentioned frequently in end-time prophecy.
In one of these prophecies, God discusses the many blessings that would come upon the nations of Israel if they obeyed Him (Lev. 26:3-13). But, if they turned away, God said, “I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it” (v. 16).
The U.S. was first to fall victim to this so dramatically in September 2001. But Australia came next on the list with the deadly Bali attack in October this year. God has appointed terror over the nations of Israel—not just the U.S., but Australia too! “And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you” (v. 17).
It’s not just because Australia is an American-sympathizer and a Western-oriented country that it is a victim of terrorism. It’s because it is being cursed by God!
Australians need to understand that the solution to their vulnerability in the Asian neighborhood, and in a world increasingly unsafe from terrorism, is not deeper friendship with the U.S., or greater coordination with other Asian governments to stop terror in the region, but rather a stronger relationship with Almighty God!
In World War ii, U.S. troops under General Douglas MacArthur helped save Australia from certain defeat (when Australia was ready to concede the northern two thirds of its continent to the Japanese). But ultimately, the U.S. will not be able to bail out its brothers. God has clearly prophesied that the nations of modern Israel will fall because of their disobedience to Him.
God is bringing these curses to awaken Australia! The attack on Bali is only a small beginning of what will plague this once-great nation in the near future. More terror will strike—and within the borders of this vast, vulnerable island continent.
Not only is the Bali attack a prime example of God’s curses on Australia, it is also an example of the deepening civilizational divide on the geopolitical scene—between Anglo-America, radical Islam, Europe and Asia (see article, p. 19). As Islam rises in global strength and influence, as Europe rises quickly to superpower status, and as Asia modernizes economically and militarily, we see these battle lines being drawn.
When a major terrorist attack like 9/11 or 10/12 strikes, it brings this reality home: In the mind of the terrorists, Anglo-America is lumped together as one enemy. Whether it is U.S. support of Jewish Israel, or Australian support of Christianized East Timor, the lines are being drawn. God will allow this, as He plans to use the collective downfall of the Anglo-American peoples to bring about end-time Israel’s repentance.
Yet, if we repent individually, we will not have to suffer the same fate as the Anglo-American world. God will see to it that we are counted among His grouping of faithful, loyal followers—and He will protect us from the coming atrocities soon to grip this world!