How Peace Will Come by W. A. Spicer

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 7, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 39.

How Peace Will Come

By W. A. Spicer

By W. A. Spicer

To encourage the preaching of sermons on peace and arbitration among the nations, the Lake Mohawk (New York) Conference on International Arbitration has offered prizes for the best sermons submitted. The first prize for this year was awarded Dr. Rutherford Waddell, of New Zealand, for a sermon that closed with these words:

“The world everywhere seems to be drawing further and further away from such a conception [the way of self-sacrifice]. It is disowning the Lordship of Christ, and is compelled thereon to trust more and more to the lordship and security of fleets and armies. Well, wait a while, and what then?—Then Armageddon. Then what Christ calls the fulfilment of the times of the nations. What does that mean?—It means the end of the present Gentile dispensation. The end of the Jewish nation came with the overthrow and sack of Jerusalem. And Christ says that is a type. It is a type of how the Gentile times shall be fulfilled and closed. It is a terrifying prophecy; but he would be a bold man who would deny that the signs of to-day are pointing ominously to this dread issue. Peace shall come; Christ is pledged to that. And it seems that it may come as the summer earth has won it, through flame and storm, through agonies and overthrows.”— The “Expositor,” June, 1913.

The speaker surely reads the tendency of the times aright, and the sure word of prophecy points clearly to just such an overthrow of all the kingdoms of this world before there can come the new earth and the reign of peace. When this Armageddon comes, human probation will have closed, and the judgments of God will be falling upon an unbelieving world. Rev. 16:16-21. That is why the gospel message for these last days is a message of preparation for the coming of the Lord. Peace and arbitration societies and efforts of statesmen may be used of God in holding back and delaying the final clashing of the elements of strife; but the storm is sure to break upon the world in this generation. Christ’s description of the last days should be read again, along with the words from this prize sermon on peace:

“And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 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: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. . . . Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.” Luke 21:24-32.

Peace among the nations will never come in this present world. Now the message is for every soul to make peace with God individually, and be ready to meet the Saviour. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”