Unrest and Peace by W. W. P.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 1, 1912

Unrest and Peace

By W. W. P.

The prophecies concerning the last days are both full and definite. Almost every condition, political, religious, social, and economic, is portrayed in clear language. With such minute delineation of the events occurring in the last generation, there is little excuse for being ignorant of the time.

Prominent among the latter-day signs are these enumerated in our Lord's great prophecy:—

“And there shall be signs in the sun,

and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” Luke 21: 25, 26.

In apparent contradiction of this description of a wide-spread condition of unrest, and of evil forebodings, is the prophecy describing the last-day peace movement. This is expressed in these words:—

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. For ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thess. 5: 1-6.

It is only necessary to call attention to current history in order that the fulfilment of both these conditions may be plainly seen. In an article in the Literary Digest of January 13, entitled “A Year of Unrest,” we find extracts from various papers in which an attempt is made to analyze the record of the year 1911. The opening sentence of this article runs thus:—

Looking back over 1911 all the editorial commentators seem to agree that its salient characteristic was a wide-spread and profound unrest.

In support of this statement, quotations are made from various papers, among them the Nashville Tennessean, whose summary of the disturbances of the year we quote in full:—

China emerged from three hundred years of Manchu bondage and astounded the universe.

Diaz fell, and disclosed to the world the fact that what was popularly supposed to be a formidable government, well guarded and defended, was merely an empty shell.

All Europe has been in a turmoil over Morocco.

By grabbing Tripoli Italy provoked a war with Turkey which promises to be of long duration.

Honduras and several of the other Central American states have been in constant guerrilla warfare.

Portugal has undergone a political upheaval which at times threatened the new republic and resulted in actual fighting in the northern part of the country.

Persia clashed with Russia, and is threatened with dismemberment.

And all this in the face of the great peace movement fathered by Andrew Carnegie and backed by many of the world's greatest leaders.

Yet, in spite of the fact that one third of the world's population has been involved in actual wars, the chaotic and unsettled conditions in the other countries have been more ominous and disturbing, perhaps, than the real war.

The fight in the United States against business combinations and the great industrial war in England are far-reaching in their effect.

In American elections, the spirit of protest against machine control was manifested everywhere. Socialist candidates polled unprecedented votes.

Women were enfranchised in California in spite of the opposition of a railway machine, and all over the nation there was evidence of unwillingness to have public officials dominated by trusts.

The shocking confession by the McNamaras that they were responsible for the destruction of the Los Angeles Times plant probably created a greater sensation than any other single event of the year in the United States.

All the world was horrified that such a crime should be committed by men who claimed to be advancing the interests of organized labor.

Discord marked both national and international affairs the world over in 1911, and 1912 can scarcely duplicate such a record of bloodshed and strife.

This summary is not the product of a fevered brain or of a disordered imagination. It is simply a matter-of-fact statement of facts so well known that they require no proof, being easily called to mind by the average man. It is very significant, however, that the prophecy which foretold these conditions is being so unmistakably fulfilled that the student of current history, although not a student of prophecy, in writing an outline of some of the most striking occurrences of 1911, fills in the details of the picture outlined in a few master-strokes in the prophetic view given by our Lord. Any unprejudiced person ought to admit without hesitation that the time foreseen and foretold is now here. The facts meet the specifications of the prophecy.

During this same year of “wide-spread and profound unrest” there has been a wide-spread peace movement. A donation of ten million dollars has been made by one of the American captains of industry, the income of which is to be used in promoting peace among the nations. Various gatherings have been held at which men of wide influence have spoken in favor of universal peace. The President of the United States is now urging the Senate to ratify arbitration treaties with two of the leading nations of the world, the purpose of which is to foster a permanent condition of peace, and silver-tongued orators are foretelling in beautiful, flowing sentences a time not far off when all differences between the nations will be settled by arbitration, and the civilized world will be at peace. Surely there is heard the cry of peace and safety.

These are only two of the large number of predictions setting forth conditions in the last days, but these two are quite striking in view of the apparent contradiction involved in them. No false prophet would have predicted a situation which, judging from a human standpoint, would be so unlikely to exist. The clear fulfilment, therefore, of these two predictions is striking testimony to the fact that we are living in the last days.

The only thing which will bring permanent peace to a world groaning under the weight of sin and so terribly disturbed by the elements of strife and commotion is the coming of the Prince of Peace. And his coming hasteth.

W. W. P.