The MASTER KEY to the World's Situation by John L. Shuler

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California, U.S.A. · Oct 21, 1930

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 57, No. 41.

The giant Dornier seaplane, as it appeared outside its hangar during tests that were made on Lake of Constance, Switzerland, following the installation of its American motors. The tests were declared entirely satisfactory. An attempt will soon be made to fly this great ship across the Atlantic. It cruises at a speed of 120 miles an hour.

The MASTER KEY to the World's Situation

By John L. Shuler

This is the first of a series of eight articles on acute world problems in the light of Bible prophecy and the second coming of Christ.

John L. Shuler

The swift march of events from day to day is a subject of overwhelming interest to all living. We need not only to watch these events in the current news, but we especially need to study what is now taking place in the light of what God's word declares will happen in the closing years of this age.

It has been said that “history repeats itself.” Solomon of old understood this fact. He declared, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done.” Ecclesiastes 1:9. This world of human affairs travels in a circle, even as our sphere itself does in the solar system. Hence we read, “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been.” Ecclesiastes 3:15.

In connection with the final movements in earth's career, past history will be repeated on a more extensive scale and at a far quicker pace, while old controversies will be revived with new power.

The first advent of Jesus Christ, terminating in His crucifixion and resurrection, marked a great climax and consummation in earth's program. The world was prepared through a long process for the coming of the Son of God. From Paradise lost to Bethlehem the centuries were preparing for the coming of the promised Seed. As the successive and progressive processes of creation on the different six working days in Genesis 1 prepared the earth for man, so all history prepared the way for the advent of the Son of man. The divine Hand was on the lever of circumstances, and all streams converged to one center. “When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman.” Galatians 4:4.

Calvary marked such a wonderful climax and crisis in the divine plan for this earth that many prophecies of centuries were then fulfilled in the space of one single day. There are at least twenty-four Old Testament prophecies bearing on the betrayal, trial, death, and burial of our Lord Jesus Christ, which were uttered by several different prophets at different times during the five centuries from about 1000 to about 500 B. C., which were all literally fulfilled within twenty-four hours on the day of His crucifixion. We list these briefly, giving the Scripture reference

of prophecy first, with the record of fulfillment following.

1. Zechariah 11:12. Sold for thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26:14, 15.

2. Psalm 55:12-14; 41:9. Betrayed by a friend. Matthew 26:49, 50.

3. Zechariah 11:13. The money cast to the potter. Matthew 27:5-7, 9, 10.

4. Zechariah 13:7. The disciples forsook Him. Matthew 26:31, 56.

5. Psalm 35:11. Accused by false witnesses. Matthew 26:59, 60.

6. Isaiah 50:6. Smitten and spit upon. Matthew 26:67.

7. Isaiah 53:7. Dumb before His accusers. Matthew 27:12, 14.

8. Isaiah 53:5. Wounded and bruised. Matthew 27:26, 29.

9. Psalm 22:16. Hands and feet pierced. Luke 23:33; John 20:25, 27.

10. Isaiah 53:12. Crucified with thieves. Mark 15:27, 28.

11. Isaiah 53:12. Prayed for His persecutors. Luke 23:34.

12. Psalm 109:25. People shook their heads. Matthew 27:39.

13. Psalm 22:8. People ridiculed Him. Matthew 27:41, 43.

14. Psalm 22:17. People astonished. Luke 23:35.

15. Psalm 22:18. Garments parted and lots cast. John 19:23, 24.

16. Psalm 22:1. His forsaken cry. Matthew 27:46.

17. Psalm 69:21. Gall and vinegar given Him. John 19:28, 29.

18. Psalm 31:5. Committed Himself to God. Luke 23:46.

19. Psalm 38:11. Friends stood afar off. Luke 23:49.

20. Psalm 84:20. Bones not broken. John 19:33, 36.

21. Psalm 22:14. Heart broken. John 19:34.

22. Zechariah 12:10. His side pierced. John 19:34.

23. Amos 8:9. Darkness over the land. Matthew 27:45.

24. Isaiah 53:9. Buried in a rich man's tomb. Matthew 27:57-60.

That was surely a great and decisive day, when things moved so rapidly that twenty-four prophecies of former centuries were fulfilled within the space of twenty-four hours.

But the second advent of Jesus Christ and its attending events will mark even a greater climax and consummation in God's program for this world than His first advent. In connection with that supreme crisis in earth's career, many ancient prophecies will be fulfilled in rapid succession. Prophecies of stupendous developments and gigantic changes will come to pass very quickly at that time; for centuries people have wondered if they would ever come true. God will cause every force to fall into line for the appointed, final shaping up of earthly affairs for the great consummation of His plan for man.

OUTSTANDING MOVEMENTS

There are certain outstanding movements of our day that are destined to be among the principal actors in the final scenes in earth's great drama. Among these we shall mention nine:

1. The great world peace movement, with its League of Nations, its World Court, its Disarmament Conferences, etc.

2. The superdevelopment of deadly and destructive war appliances,—the great war preparedness movement.

3. The renaissance of the nations of the Far East.

4. Zionism,—the plan to restore the national life of the Jewish people in Palestine.

5. The rapid growth of spiritualism.

6. The ascendancy of the papacy; the growing influence of the Catholic hierarchy among the nations.

7. The decadence of Turkey during the past one hundred fifty years; the decline of the political power of Islam.

8. Church federation,—the growing sentiment in favor of a union of churches.

9. The religio-political movement, the growing demand for religious legislation; the ascendancy of the church to civil power.

These movements or developments have come forth during recent decades, and are now numbered among the predominant features of this day. There are prophecies in the word of God that speak plainly and definitely concerning each of these nine movements. Prophecy shows that they will all soon come to a head in the setting of the stage for the final world crisis of this age.

POWERS WILL CONVERGE

Every element of power and every movement of humanity will all converge toward this great objective, as the spokes of a wheel to the hub. All these movements mentioned above, when understood in the light of God's prophetic word, will be found to be tending toward this one end. They may apparently seem so diverse and detached from one another in their nature and design that the majority of people will not recognize that they have any appropriate relation to one another. They will seem like the scattered pieces of a jig-saw puzzle when the child faces it for the first time. But with a little study, the child will find the right starting point, and then so lay each additional piece in its proper relation to those already placed that each piece will at last be found to fit into one scheme, forming the one complete figure of a horse or an elephant, as the case may be.

This is an illustration of what a proper understanding of Bible prophecy will do in reference to these nine movements. Every one will be found to fit into its proper place in God's outline of the final crisis.

The prophecies of the Bible contain light for our day. The sure word of prophecy furnishes a key to a correct interpretation of the times in which we live. So let all thoughtful men remember this: No one can really understand the unprecedented conditions of the times, find the right way out, and know how to relate himself rightly to the present situation, except by having a knowledge of the Bible prophecies that pertain to our day.

FUTURE PROGRAM REVEALED

How thankful we should be that God has not left His children to grope their way in darkness, without any knowledge of what is yet to come! Through a knowledge of the prophetic word, we may be informed of coming developments, and see the outcome of the present situation. It will be a matter of absorbing interest to trace out in future articles some of these wonderful prophecies of coming developments.

When Moses saw the burning bush in the desert, he said, “I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see,” God revealed Himself to Moses in a definite program for that hour for the relief of His oppressed nation. (Exodus 3.) So if we will turn aside to note what His word says to us to-day, we shall learn God's program for this time.