p. 14 | Hastening to Armageddon

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 30, 1910

Hastening to Armageddon

WITH feverish excitement the nations of earth are vying with one another to-day in the increase of their army and navy equipment. During 1908 Great Britain spent upon her army and navy nearly three hundred fifty million dollars, Germany spent approximately two hundred forty million, and other European nations in like proportion. We have not at hand the figures for 1909, but they will show a material increase over those given. All this means an increase of national debt, and greatly increased burdens of taxation, which fall with double weight upon the poorer classes. In consequence a condition of unrest and discontent is created, which of itself, even without other predisposing causes, in order to afford relief to the overburdened people, tends to precipitate war. Says the Washington Post:—

Russia is resolved to expend $1,000,000,000 for the army and navy as fast as the work can be accomplished. Of course that means that Japan must prepare to strengthen her army and navy correspondingly, as must Germany and Austria and also England and France; and thus does every laborer of Europe have a soldier or a sailor on his back.

The Post argues that if these great armies could be disbanded, and the rank and file return to their homes, and engage in commercial and industrial pursuits, the cost of living, the world around, would be decreased one half. In view of the situation confronting us, the editor suggests: “Maybe Armageddon is just ahead of us.” In this he suggests only that which the prophet of the Bible declares to be true, and which the political situation confronting the world requires us to believe. We have reached a time in this earth’s history when the nations are angry. This also is the time when the dead are being judged, and the wrath of God is about to be poured upon a guilty world. The symbolic stone of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, which was cut out without hands, is soon to smite the nations of gold, and silver, and iron, and clay, and they are to be broken in pieces, and become like the chaff of the summer threshing-floor; but the stone is to become a great mountain, and fill the whole earth. These are the thrilling times in which we live to-day. From the strife of men and the war of nations may we turn our minds to the eternal kingdom of peace.