There is a deep-seated conviction today in the hearts of many people that the cure for the world’s disorder, dissension, strife, anarchy, and lawlessness would be the formation of a universal Christian empire. In their inmost souls men feel that the world will never be right and peace will never be secure until all the peoples and nations of the world are united under the sway of a Christian world state.
This was the dominant idea back of the sway of the Holy Roman Empire over Western Europe during the Middle Ages. This alliance between the princes and rulers of Western Europe and “the leader of Roman Christendom in the West,” was one of the most eventful coalitions in the history of Europe. It was the event upon which all medieval history turned. . . . For centuries, it affected every institution in Western Europe.”
A WORLD STATE ADVOCATED
Since the downfall of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, many men have felt the necessity for a world state in Europe. “There must be,” said Napoleon, “one code, one court of appeal, and one coinage for Europe; the states of Europe must be united into one nation.” The pressure has only grown with the passage of the years. “The federation of Europe,” said Lord Salisbury shortly before he died, “is the embryo of the only possible structure of Europe which can save civilization.”
Prophecy makes it plain that just prior to the end, the world will be captivated by the grand and inspiring idea of a universal Christian empire. This idea will come to a head in the formation of that last-hour religio-political world confederacy, as predicted in Revelation 13 and 17. As the formation of the Holy Roman Empire was the pivot upon which all medieval history turned, so the formation of this coming religio-political confederacy will be the pivot upon which will turn the fast-moving events that mark the end of human history, and the introduction by the coming of Jesus Christ of the millennial age of Revelation 20. It will be the most eventful coalition of all history. It will be the marvel of marvels,—the superwonder of history. Thus prophecy declares that the whole world will wonder after it. Revelation 13:3; 17:8.
Twenty-seven hundred years ago Isaiah, in holy vision, declared that “in the latter days,” “the mountain of Jehovah’s house” shall be “established on the top of the mountains,” “and all nations shall flow unto it.” Isaiah 2:2, A. R. V.
The term “mountain” is used in prophecy to symbolize some form of government or seat of government. In Jeremiah 51:25 ancient Babylon is called a destroying mountain. The city of Jerusalem is called God’s “holy mountain.” Daniel 9:16.
A WORLD RELIGION PRE-EMINENT
The largest coast defense gun in the United States, located at Aberdeen, Maryland. With a charge of 702 pounds, this gun can fire a 2,100-pound projectile to a range of about thirty miles at a rate of approximately one round a minute.
“The house of the Lord,” or “Jehovah’s house,” plainly refers to the church. Therefore, this prophecy that “the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established at the head of the mountains” (Isaiah 2:1, A. R. V., margin) is a forecast of a time when the government and laws of the church shall be recognized as superior to all earthly governments, large and small, mountains and hills.
Prophecy indicates that the time is soon coming when a world religion will mount the saddle of a world state. The professed church will be placed on the highest pinnacle of fame and popularity. The church will receive her support, defense, and strength from the governments of earth.
When religious forms become popular under the sanction and support of civil authority, the result is just what the prophecy asserts,—“All nations shall flow unto it.” Under the strong arm of the law the people will flow (down grade, of course) into the church. Any union of the church and state is an illicit union, and that means corruption at work beforehand, and worse corruption afterwards.
A RELIGIO-POLITICAL CONFEDERACY
We have already entered the era forecast in the prophecy. Note how popular the churches are with the world. Mark how the superficial form of godliness—the mere acceptance of church forms, or outward profession—passes for Christianity. See how the churches are seeking to ally themselves with the civil power.
The church is no longer a despised little sect ignored by the world; it has become a dominant force in world affairs, “established” among the nations, wielding a controlling and growing influence. It is “exalted” in politics, business, society, through the press and onSeventhe public platform. Nominal Christianity is coming to the exalted position of world leadership, prepared to do its part in the final drama, as pictured in prophecy.
Notice now in the prophecy how this new hope in coming days—the hope of a world state with a world religion, with Jerusalem the capital of the world—will captivate “many people.” “Many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, . . . for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Isaiah 2:3. The law of the Lord as interpreted and enforced by this world religion will be the constitution of the world.
Please observe again what these “many people” say about further war after thus establishing this religio-political world confederacy. “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.” Isaiah 2:4.
The nations will be dazzled with the idea that they will surely reform themselves by religion. World councils of nations and religions will decree the destruction of the implements of war and the outlawing of war forever as the greatest boon of mankind. This will be man’s supreme effort to bring about the conversion of the world, the establishment of universal, lasting peace, and the making of Christ this world’s king.
But the agreement to disarm, and the plan thus to win the world for Christ, is as far as they will ever get, because they are impotent to put these desires into practice. They will be captivated by this most pleasing dream—but a dream is all it will ever be, it will never see materialization. Thus scripture speaks, “It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against Mount Zion.” Isaiah 29:8.
A LITERAL RETURN OF JESUS
While the Bible prophecies plainly and unequivocally teach that the second coming of Christ will be a literal, personal, visible, and universal appearing for the purpose of gathering the righteous to heaven and destroying the wicked, many religionists have attempted to spiritualize these prophecies, and have led many to expect a spiritual coming of Jesus to Jerusalem, to be crowned king, and usher in an era of world peace and righteousness. They will urge the establishment of this religio-political confederacy with its world capital at Jerusalem, believing that God has ordained such a movement, and that in this way the Lord Jesus is to establish His kingdom at Jerusalem, in this present world, and usher in the golden age. But in reality it will be Satan’s last effort under this present order to establish his empire over all the world.
While the Bible plainly declares that the Jewish nation will not be restored in Palestine (Jeremiah 19:1, 10, 11; Ezekiel 16:53-55; 21:25-27), nevertheless the sentiment among many Christians for the restoration of the Jews to Palestine has become an obsession. The idea prevails to a large extent that the Hebrew race will have to be rehabilitated in their ancient homeland before the millennium of peace can come to the earth.
The new meeting place of the League of Nations, the Palais Electoral at Geneva, Switzerland. No matter how hard the nations try to secure peace and safety at any cost, the venture is a futile one. The most promising arrangements always meet a tragic dénouement.
In democracy the voice of the people is the voice of the state, but in the field of religious truth the voice of the people is not the voice of God. He is not the one who calls the nations to this movement. No human federation, Christian or non-Christian, can save the world. Man cannot establish the millennium in this world. The greatest plan he will ever devise for the world’s salvation will only hasten its destruction.
WORLD CONFEDERACY AN APOSTASY
This last-hour world confederacy at the close of the career of Babylon will be a repetition on a larger scale of that confederacy against God under the leadership of Nimrod at the beginning of the career of Babylon. (Genesis 10:8-10; 11:1-9.) That confederacy at Babel marked the establishment of the first organized form of apostasy that the world has ever known. This confederacy of the beast and the false prophet at Armageddon will mark the last organized form of apostasy the world will ever know under this present order, and the downfall of Babylon to rise no more. (Revelation 18:21.)
The Lord has expressly warned us not to fasten our hopes on any human federation. His word is: “Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.” “Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.” Isaiah 8:12, 9, 10.
When men are centering their hopes in human federations, the Lord calls His children away from these great human combinations, to look directly to Him and His word. (Isaiah 8:13, 20.) People to-day are trusting too little in what the Lord has said in His word, and too much to what erring man says. Man has ever tried in vain to save himself in his own way, instead of following God’s way.
We cannot trust in any human organization for salvation, not even in a membership in a church that is exactly in harmony with the Bible. Our hope must be in a personal experience in conversion and sanctification by the indwelling of Christ in our individual heart by the blessed Holy Spirit.
CALVARY THE WORLD’S ONLY HOPE
Instead of men’s looking for world righteousness to be established by a world state under a world church, God bids them look at that time for the personal and visible return of Jesus Christ as the only means of establishing the reign of righteousness in a renovated earth. Hence we read, “I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for Him.” Isaiah 8:17.
We must never forget that in spite of all the good that may be accomplished by human plans and federations, the one true hope8
A Universal Christian Empire?
Continued from page 7
of this world is Calvary at the first advent for the regeneration of the soul; the second advent of the Son of God for the redemption of the body and immortality; the third coming of Christ at the end of the millennium for the rebirth of the world, free from sin and sinners, for the establishment of the universal rule of Him to whom alone universal power can be intrusted, and the only One who will not abuse such power.
After this setting forth of what prophecy indicates will come just prior to the end, in the formation of a great religio-political federation, our next step will be to note, in next week’s paper, if there is a drift to-day toward such a confederacy.
