Samson, a Type of Socialism
Through Pastor Russell, the Lord furnished us with the “keys” of understanding. Using these keys we can understand things which could not be understood 80 to 100 years ago because it was not the due time. In this treatise we will examine the manner of the burning of the tares, the fall of Babylon, and the role of natural Israel.
We are to watch that “that day” not catch us unaware (I Thessalonians 5:4). We want to avoid making the mistake of not being prepared for an important change, such as being caught unaware by the fall of communism.
Although the brethren expected the harvest would last only 40 years, it was prolonged. Early expectations were for a worldwide revolution which, in the end, was limited to Russia, and after 30 years extended to other east European countries. These revolutionary governments Pastor Russell referred to vaguely in Volume 4, expressing the view that both socialism and communism would later fall.
Nuclear arms is another factor. They have multiplied so rapidly that they now have the potential of destroying all life on earth many times over. Bro. Russell alluded to the armaments of his day having far greater destructive capacity than those of the French Revolution. What would he say of today’s weaponry? For the first time in history there is an arsenal that could fulfill Matthew 24:22: “unless those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved ” Though many brethren expect anarchy without the use of nuclear arms, this text implies the use of such weapons.
Also the modern spread of information and of commerce are important factors. Pastor Russell expected such developments would escalate the final conflict.
Another important development is the state of Israel. The foreword of Volume 4 says “prophecy requires an evidently larger number of wealthy Hebrews to be [in Israel] before the Armageddon crisis be reached” (page xvi, para. 1, regrettably this sentence is lacking in the Romanian translation). He was right. The time was extended, and since then the wealth of Israel has grown considerably. “Jacob’s trouble” will thus find the wealth mentioned in Ezekiel 38. All of these factors are elaborated on in the “keys,” the six volumes.
THE YEARS SINCE
The years since the death of Pastor Russell provoke many questions. What was the importance of 1914 and 1918? What has happened with world revolution? Was it limited to the eastern world? What role did the revolutionary government play? What is indicated by 1988 as the date for the fall of communism? What can we expect to follow the fall of that social system?
In addition to the six volumes, Bro. Russell gives a unique suggestion in the Photodrama, in which he titles one picture “Socialism Prefigured by Samson.” He did not explain these words, perhaps because he could not at the time elaborate more on this type. Beginning with this affirmation, and adding new factors, we obtain a picture that is still dim as it emerges. In the spirit of a sound mind, and with an eye to reality, let us examine this picture together.*
* In one article written in May 1914, R5458, Bro. Russell relates the giants of labor unionism and socialism to Samson. On pages 5612 and 4087 he relates Samson to spiritual lessons for the Church in the Gospel age. See also Beauties of the Truth, Vol. 8, No. 2, May 1997. In the years 1912-1916 Bro. Russell does write extensively about the perils of socialism.
In the days of Pastor Russell the world was separated into two antagonistic camps. On one side were the capitalists, so-called “Christian” exploiters, supported by the nominal church. (Here we view Babylon as an entire system of religious, political-military and economic domains.) In the second camp we find the exploited – the unhappy workers and farmers who, little by little, are rising from the darkness of superstition and ignorance and learning their rights, which were hidden for centuries by false religious systems. It was these systems, with the power of the clergy, that used the ignorance of the masses to exploit them.
Enmity between the exploited and the exploiters generated tension. Noticing this tension Bro. Russell deduced the possibility of future anarchy, threatening to undo the religious and political systems which were based on lies and unrighteousness. This is elaborated in Volume 4. Pastor Russell expected this great revolution to come in 1914, but partially put it off to 1918. In the article “The Harvest Not Yet Ended” (1916) he suggested the parallels of the ages might date from the final victory of the Romans over the Jews in AD 73, and extended the parallels to 1918. This date is not a mistake, and is, in fact, an important one.
After the fall revolution of 1917, Russia in the spring of 1918 formed a “revolutionary government” based on a constitution separating church from state. The workers movement that brought about this victory was named “socialism” In this way “the earthquake” of Revelation 16:18 was limited to the eastern world where the “Christian” czars pushed the world into an untenable situation. The worst of the persecution was felt by the Jews (who had just received divine favor 40 years earlier).
It was not by chance that Russia rose and punished the corrupt “Christian” systems, putting the clergy into prison. At the same time, in 1918, as a result of losing the war, the great monarchies fell. They had been the heirs of the Roman Empire, the last emperors anointed by the Pope in Rome. Then also the Ottoman Empire fell, which had ruled Palestine and been an obstacle to the founding of the new Jewish state. Since then Jerusalem has no longer been “put down” by pagan empires. All this focuses on the year 1918.
After the First World War the workers movement intensified and gave birth to “the revolutionary governments.” These were extended after 1948 to the east European countries. In the end, the capitalist world succeeded in stopping the extension of communism. Two methods were used for this. (1) Through different social democratic policies, Christianity put an end to its exploitation, thus in large measure diminishing popular dissatisfaction. (2) The western nations obtained an advantage in the arms race during the cold war.
SAMSON
Though we might look at many aspects of the communist movement, we will focus on the danger which Samson (socialism) represents for the Philistines (”Christiana” capitalism). Do the dissatisfied masses continue to constitute the principle danger to Babylon? Although the capitalist world halted the extension of communism, communism continues to present an imposing danger.
The new revolutionary governments became the principle enemy of the capitalist world. The tension which existed in the days of Pastor Russell between different social strata has been transformed into a tension between world powers: East and West. This tension produced both opposing ideologies and imperial ambitions. Both Moscow and Washington guarded these interests using ideology. The West, America and NATO, guarded the nominally Christian world, and the East, the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, sought a victory for communism.
In this we see Samson representing the communist systems, the evolution of the workers’ movements. Some may find it difficult to see a man of God represent an atheist system. However in Joel the Lord’s great army is composed of unhappy people, blind with anger, which God sends against corrupt Christianity. In a similar way God may take revenge through Samson for the iniquities done in his name for many centuries by Christendom, the Philistines, a nation far from God. Christendom is also represented in other pictures by pagan cities such as Babylon and Tyre (Isaiah 23).
Thus we think it logical to consider Samson a picture of communism, and the Philistines a picture of Christendom. This view is strengthened by viewing the last events of Samson’s life and death. We will now examine only that part of Samson’s life concerning Delilah and her search for the secret of his power. We will not present a meaning for every detail, but only compare the decline of communism with some of the more important events of this part of Samson’s life.
THE APPLICATIONS
In 1948 Communism extended over eastern Europe. The West (Philistines) succeeded in stopping it, using the general dissatisfaction of the masses with the Socialist dictatorships. Through the church systems of the different countries (the Philistine women) they fomented a counter revolution against Communism. In this process there were three great trials three trials of the blinding of Samson.
(1) In 1956 in Hungary
(2) In 1968 in Czechoslovakia
(3) In 1980-81 in Poland (the Solidarity movement)
In 1988 there was a fourth trial in Moscow, the very center of the communist ideological world – a most sensitive spot for Samson. The betrayal was brought about by Mikhail Gorbachev, a communist reformer, through ” Perestroika ” Gorbachev’s first step was the liberation of the church system from their 70-year captivity, and the “forgotten harlot” began to sing again. In the spring of 1988, for the first time since the spring of 1918 when Lenin by decree separated church from state, a religious service was held in the Kremlin – exactly 70 years later (Isaiah 23). Even those older communists who did not regret the disappearance of the communist ideology and the failure of the “communist cause” felt a great loss of dignity in their loss of “super power” status.
After so many years of the cold war, communism was conquered. Samson was bound. Political and military powers were reduced. Samson’s hair was cut by the abolition of the Warsaw Pact. No prospect exists for economic stabilization. Samson is blind.
At the same time, NATO is growing. The Philistines rejoice. But Samson!s hair is also growing. This is manifest by the fact that, especially in Russia, the communist party is gradually rising to power by democratic methods. Conservative forces have a growing influence, even seeking collaborators from extreme nationalist forces. The voice of nostalgia for a resurgence of the Soviet Union as a great world power is being heard more and more.
The prophet Isaiah said “Rejoice not thou, whole Philistia [Christendom] because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent’s root (pagan power, or more precisely the pagan Roman empire, Revelation 12:7) shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent … thou whole Philistia, are dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times” (Isaiah 14:29, 31). Verse 32 confirms that this is speaking about the last days of the age.
Though we cannot predict exactly the course of future events, we can observe that in Russia the situation is ripe for a dictatorship. As after the French Revolution, when Napoleon made order from a country torn by politics and put an end to the headless state, so with present Russia. Possibly a Slovak Napoleon, as a “head” (“Gog” in Hebrew means “roof’ or “head”) will rise through demagoguery and win public opinion with deceiving promises.
Being unable to resolve the great economic problems he may look for an outside enemy, a scapegoat, and follow an imperialist, expansionist policy. At first he might revive the atmosphere of the cold war and blame the West for the disastrous state of the economy. He will remain as blind as Samson.
Just as Samson never recovered his previous position, never judged Israel again, and could never fight in an open way with the Philistines, neither will communism regain its position of the past 70 years (40 years in Eastern Europe). Economic and political stability will not be possible with the revival of communism but it will have sufficient military force to rise from its humiliation and oppose the West which had previously humbled and blinded it by a Catholic-Protestant alliance (western Europe and the United States).
If so, we would expect one revolt by which more loss will be created than in the past when it was a world power. So it was with Samson. He killed more Philistines in his death than in his life. It is important to keep in mind that the antitype concerns systems, not individuals. Thus by the revival of communism and its revolt Christendom will be destroyed – but communism will also fall.
THE ARMY OF GOG
From this perspective it is easy to see Samson as a type of communism. Even more interesting is the connection between communism and the army of Gog in Ezekiel 38. Verse 15 says this army comes from “the uttermost parts of the north” Drawing a vertical line on a map from Israel to the north leads to Moscow.
If we accept this interpretation we have a tool we can use two ways: (1) the army will punish Christendom, (2) in Jacob’s trouble it will humble the pride of the Jewish people. There Gog, “surpassingly proud” (Leeser translation) will fall (Habakkuk 1:11) because he should not have raised his hand against that which is God’s. “Woe to thee that spoilest, and wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! When thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled” (Isaiah 33:1).
We cannot disallow the possible use of nuclear arms in this struggle. Satan has always wanted to cause the greatest damage to God’s work, and specially now, knowing he has but a little time. It is a sign of his loss of control. The Lord will hinder his intentions, but he may permit a limited use of nuclear weapons.
The consequences of the battle will be traumatic. Anarchy will follow the war and survival will be difficult. Men will react as animals, motivated by fear, hunger, radiation and death. Such anarchy will be like that described in Jerusalem in AD 70 by Flavius Josephus, when starvation among the Jews was so severe women ate their own children. This condition must be halted if people will survive (Matthew 24:22).
The entire earth will receive this divine protection. Though Gog enters the Middle East, they will not send in rockets because they will have relegated troops to the region. What will the red army look for when they “come to take a spoil” (Ezekiel 38:13)? Gog will seek wealth. Perhaps it will be the oil in the Middle East, thus cutting off the source of fuel to the West.
Then may be fulfilled the text, “I will not cure your ills, for in my house is neither food nor clothing: do not make me a ruler of the people” (Isaiah 3:7). No one will have the courage to govern. This will prepare the way for the Messianic government from Jerusalem through the patriarchs and prophets. The first to receive these blessings will be the living remnant, and then those resurrected by Messiah.
This is only a possible scenario. The last events could occur very rapidly and be a surprise to all the world, especially for those not watching. If we were surprised by the fall of communism, we should not be surprised if it returns to bring about the final collapse when it rallies its strength once again.
Whatever method Divine Providence chooses to clean the earth to become the “footstool of God ‘ ” we should watch and pray to be counted worthy to escape these things, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36). We should seek to be prepared as New Creatures so that, with the Lord’s approval and by his power, we will be part of the glorified Messiah to bless the world.
– Andras Ortel (Romania)