Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 11, 1910

The Prophecies Now Fulfilled

THE Washington Post believes that The Hague tribunal has been a potential influence in preserving the peace among nations, and that—if the statesmanship of the entire world should discover the Christianity to agree to a universal convention reducing army and navy armaments to a minimum, the

nations would cease strife, and the prophecy would soon be fulfilled: “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” But that time is not yet come.

The Post mistakes the import of the prophecy which it quotes in part. The Scriptures do not say that the time will ever be reached in this earth’s history when the implements of war will be turned into implements of peace. It does say, however, that “many people shall come and say” this very thing. We hear many people saying it at the present time. Many there are who would have us believe that the world is on the eve of universal peace, but the Scriptures of truth plainly declare that the very opposite conditions exist. We have only to look at the situation as it actually is to become convinced that we are far from the popular idea of a peace millennium.

While the Lord says that many people will be predicting a time of peace, he plainly declares through his prophet, as recorded in the third chapter of Joel, that a marked sign of the last days will be the gathering of the nations together for warfare, and the turning of implements of peace into implements of war. Comparing this prophecy with the prophecy found in the second chapter of Isaiah, it will be seen that through Isaiah the Lord states that the people would be predicting certain things, while he, through his prophet Joel, declares the existence of the very opposite. Let us not confound these scriptures. Let us not be deceived by the siren song of peace and safety; but, recognizing the times in which we live, and seeing, in the gathering storm, omens of the last great conflict, let us make peace with Him who will be our Defense and Refuge in that evil day. In this only is our safety.