EDITORIAL by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 3, 1914

EDITORIAL

By Editor

Approaching Armageddon

Rapidly Culminating Events in the World's History

THE events of the last few days indicate how rapidly we are approaching the final conflict,—the Armageddon foretold in the Scriptures. It was beyond the dream of the wildest imagination six months ago that at the present time the world could be engaged in such a Titanic struggle as is now being carried on in the Eastern Hemisphere. Wars for many decades have been localized in their scope. We have thought little of one or two of the nations of earth engaging in conflict; but what can be said of a war which involves four of the great powers of Europe, together with several of the smaller states and the leading power of the Orient? The whole world is affected and forced to pay tribute to the carrying forward of this deadly conflict so destructive to peace, prosperity, and human existence.

This indicates how rapidly the closing events of earth's history may shape. It indicates how soon may come that great day toward which all these events point,—the day of the Lord. We need to be admonished by this situation before us. We are too greatly inclined to permit the truth for this generation to become a mere theory in our experience. We have believed for a number of years that the Lord is coming, that many signs unmistakably indicate the near approach of the end; but in the general peace and prosperity which have existed on every side, in the absence of startling phenomena in the natural world, and in the prosperity which has attended even the work of God in the earth, we have rested in settled security. We have unconsciously been led to feel that the coming of the Lord was a matter not of months or even several years, but of a long, long period. We have felt that things must take their natural course. Unable to recognize the elements working beneath the surface,—the powerful impulses stirring the forces of evil on one hand, and the mighty influences of the Spirit of God stirring the hearts of men on the other,—we have been unable correctly to estimate the situation.

Pertinent at this time are the words of the servant of the Lord, found in “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, page 11:—

We are living in the time of the end. The fast-fulfilling signs of the times declare that the coming of Christ is near at hand. The days in which we live are solemn and important. The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawn from the earth. Plagues and judgments are already falling upon the despisers of the grace of God. The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude.

The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.

The condition of things in the world shows that troublous times are right upon us. The daily papers are full of indications of a terrible conflict in the near future. Bold robberies are of frequent occurrence. Strikes are common. Thefts and murders are committed on every hand. Men possessed of demons are taking the lives of men, women, and little children. Men have become infatuated with vice, and every species of evil prevails.

Side by side with this prediction of the servant of the Lord we place a striking statement made by the editor of the London Daily Telegraph in the issue of that paper for Aug. 1, 1914. Speaking of the rapidity with which events have shaped in bringing about the present European situation, he declares:—

As we look back over a week which has been full of the keenest excitement and the most feverish anxiety, we cannot fail to be struck with the extraordinary rapidity with which this present crisis has developed. It was only on Thursday, July 23, that the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum was sent to the Servian government, and it was allowed forty-eight hours in which to reply. The next day saw the holding of a cabinet council in Russia. On July 25, exactly a week ago, the Austrian minister, with the legation staff, left Belgrade, because the Servian answer was held by Vienna to be inadequate and unsatisfactory. On Monday last, Sir Edward Grey announced his design for a conference of the four powers,—Germany, France, Italy, and ourselves,—a proposal which had to be abandoned owing to the criticism of Berlin, and the doubts expressed as to the advisability of such a conference. On Tuesday war was declared by Austria-Hungary, and the news came that some Servian vessels had been seized on the Danube. A partial mobilization of the Russian troops on the Austrian frontier was reported on Thursday last, followed by a protracted sitting of a war council in Berlin. Late on Thursday night we learned the news that Germany had asked the northern empire for explanations of her mobilization; while from the actual seat of war came the intelligence that Belgrade had been bombarded, and probably been occupied. Yesterday brought the worst news of all, announced by the prime minister himself, that Germany held herself forced to respond to the Russian challenge by putting her army on a war footing.

Thus practically within the compass of a single week, we have had to watch the evolution of a crisis absolutely unparalleled in the memory of the present generation,—perhaps in the history of the world,—and have discovered to our astonishment and dismay that we stand on the brink, not of a mere localized conflict in the east of Europe, but of an appalling European war. It is this alarming violence, this remorseless haste, as of a tornado tearing its way with resistless force across peaceful lands, which takes away our breath and paralyzes our thoughts. Before we have had time to guess whither events were leading us, we find ourselves in the center of the storm; and every man in every capital looks with feverish anticipation for what the next few hours may bring forth. Human imagination is stunned by so sudden, so tremendous, and so unexpected a catastrophe.

We have italicized for the sake of emphasis several striking statements in this quotation.

We cannot limit the mighty working of God's power. We know not the extent to which men's hearts have been stirred by the presentation of the truth for this generation. God is about to accomplish a short work in the earth. A second Pentecost would accomplish in the proclamation of this message what the Pentecost of the first century did at that time.

We do not know what will be the outcome of this present war. It is probable that, like all the wars of the past, it will come to an end and some basis of peace be arranged. It may be prolonged indefinitely. It surely stands as the precursor of Armageddon. It is the nearest approach to that last great conflict that the world has ever seen.

We have come to a time of crisis in the history of the world and in the history of the work of God. The call of God to his people today is a call to consecration. Let every believer in this message humble himself under the mighty hand of God. Let sin be eliminated from the camp of Israel, and from the heart of every individual. Let us consecrate to God anew our property, our sons, our daughters, and our lives, for sacrifice or service, as Providence shall indicate.

The nations of the world have been called to their respective colors. They

have poured out their choicest treasures of gold and human life. No relationship is considered too sacred for this great sacrifice. Fathers and mothers are surrendering their sons, wives their husbands; and all for the cause of national patriotism,—for love of fatherland. If men today can do and dare so much for human interests, what should not we dare and do for God? He calls us to rally under the banner of Prince Immanuel, to acquit ourselves like men. The armies of Europe today are engaged in strife for human glory, for fame, for selfish aggrandizement, for national honor. One motive only, and that is our love for Christ and for our fellow men, must prompt us as followers of the Master.

This is the hour of the world's great need, the hour of our great opportunity. It should be our hour of importunity as well. We need to work; but O, before that we need to pray! We need a believing faith,—a faith that will sober us in this hour of peril, that will make us humble but fearless, that will make us brave for the right, loyal to the truth, and unswerving for principle. Let us be true to the trust committed to us, and sound abroad earnestly and zealously and consistently the message of warning for this generation.

F. M. W.