The Danger of Universal War by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 2, 1910

The Danger of Universal War

By F. M. W.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS are sometimes called alarmists because they see, in the conditions in the world around them, indications of the Lord's speedy return. They base their belief on the prophecies of the Word of God, which are meeting with a rapid and marked fulfilment to-day. Many of these conditions, however, are becoming so pronounced that men of the world, men possessing no knowledge of the prophecies for these last days, regard them with ominous forebodings.

Everywhere to-day, as men view the outlook on the political horizon, the wide-changing conditions in the natural world, the honeycombing of society by the forces of evil, and the undermining of the family relationship, together with the great moral declension and indifference which exist in the professed church, they are asking, What do these things mean? What will be the outcome of this great retrograde movement, which seems to affect the political, the social, and the moral world?

On the other hand there are those who seek to quiet these fears; and these voices, it must be confessed, come largely from the pulpit and the religious press. As voicing the concern which many are feeling at the present time, the remarks of Mr. John W. Foster, ex-secretary, of state, in a recent address at the commencement exercises of the Auburn Theological Seminary, are to the point:—

He stated that there never was a time in the history of mankind when there was so much danger of universal war. His principal reason in support of this alarming conclusion seems to be found in the fact that the European nations have about reached the limit of the burden they are able to bear in maintaining immense armaments, and are in danger of yielding to the temptation to fight out their differences with their neighbors before these burdens bring about complete exhaustion. Germany keeps constantly under arms about one million men, and has on a war footing four million, with the necessary preparation to put them in the field on short notice. France, Austria, Russia, and Italy maintain armies and navies on a scarcely less formidable basis. Russia is trying to reinstate herself in the position held before the Russo-Japanese war; and our own country, says Mr. Foster, since it has attained the position of a world power, has become inflated with the mania. He completes the picture with a glance at the other side of the globe. Japan has shown the world that every able-bodied male is a fighting man, ready to obey the mikado, and its large navy is still being increased. The Chinese minister to Germany has hastened home to assume the duty of putting China on a war footing. Mr. Foster expressed the opinion that we have reached a time in the world's affairs when intelligent men are ignoring the principles of right and justice, and are inclined to rest on brute force.

The United Presbyterian of May 19, from which the foregoing quotation is made, in the contemplation of this situation as portrayed by Mr. Foster, finds solace in the fact that while there is great preparation for war, at the same time there is a world-wide interest in the maintenance of peace. It says:—

There is another side to this question. If it is true that the world has never known such extensive preparation for war, has never seen weapons so deadly, or armies and navies so carefully equipped or organized so effectively, it is also true that there has never been so wide an interest in the maintenance of peace, or so great a willingness on the part of the nations to hold international conferences, and establish international machinery for the maintenance of peace. If in the present state of civilization war seems inevitable, that condition is growing constantly more intolerable to the conscience of mankind.

But even while the Presbyterian draws some comfort from the quickened public conscience which it thinks has been created, it nevertheless feels some concern over the situation; for it asks:—

Conscience will ultimately control, but will it be before or after a world-wide war?

The conditions pointed out by Mr. Foster were prophesied long ago by the prophet Joel. He says: “Proclaim ye

this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.” We learn from the verses following that this call to the nations to prepare for war comes in the closing days of earth's history; and that the end thereof will be the great battle of Armageddon, which will be followed by the coming of the Lord, and the destruction of the wicked nations. That we are rapidly nearing this time, does not require a student of prophecy to recognize to-day.

But the Word of God also clearly indicates that when this time should be reached, when the nations should be actively engaged in this work of preparing for the struggle for supremacy, there would be sounding in the world the cry of peace and safety. Says the prophet Isaiah, speaking of this same time in the history of the world: “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

This peace-and-safety cry is heard on every hand to-day. The signs which God has hung out on every side to warn the world of its impending doom are discounted, and that oftentimes by the professed students of his Word and ministers of the gospel. The doctrine of the world's conversion has been proclaimed far and near. Employing the logic that the best way to maintain the peace of the world is to increase the armaments of the nations, the multitudes have allowed themselves to be deceived after the carnal desires of their own hearts by the siren song of security. But neither the platitudes of the popular pulpit nor the peace deliberations at The Hague will prevent the nations from plunging into the vortex of universal conflict, as unerringly pointed out in the Word of God.

Says the apostle Paul, speaking of this time: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them; . . . and they shall not escape.” But addressing the church of God, those who regard the times and the seasons, he says: “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief,”

Let us be awake to the times in which we live, and be swift to sound the warning cry, that our fellows may escape the destruction that is coming upon the earth, and be able to stand before the Son of man at his coming. When he shall come, and his glorious reign shall be established over the nations of men, then it is that conscience will bear sway, and the scepter of peace rule over heart and life. For that glad time let us live and labor. F. M. W.