A SEASON OF PROPHECY

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 23, 1901

“A SEASON OF PROPHECY.”

The editor of the San Francisco Examiner has this to say of the “New Century Prophecies,” many of which have appeared in his paper:—

“It is a season of prophecy. The scientists, the philosophers, the sociologists, and the whole array of learned pundits have been asked to signalize the arrival of the new century by forecasts of what it may be expected to give the world.”

After noting some of the material and fanciful things promised, he continues:—

“There is one prophecy that we miss from the accustomed list, and that is the promise of universal peace and good-will among men. It is nearly nineteen centuries since that rule of conduct was first preached, and still it seems as if the world was not yet ripe for its acceptance. At no time in the history of the race was the activity of the engineer of destruction so pronounced or so much in demand as to-day. He is sitting up nights inventing new and strange engines of death, and the nations are clamoring for every hateful, deadly device that his malign ingenuity can plan. The angel of death is abroad in the land. We can hear the beating of his wings. There is the rattle of musketry, the crackling flames of the homestead, the weeping of women and children. How long, O Lord, how long?”

“Nevertheless, we believe that there is a time coming when war shall be no more. Prophecy is futile. We shall not venture on a field so uncertain, but we may hazard a hope that the world is about to enter on a century of peace.”

Yes, that time will come, but not by men. Men may preach it, may dream it, may sing it, may wish it; but as long as human hearts are carnal, at enmity with God, they will fight, and the old strife will go on in increasing intensity.

And there is one Book of prophecy which tells us this, again and again,—thru royal prophet, and shepherd prophet, and priest prophet, and peasant prophet, is the same story of continued, increasing war told, till Christ, the King, shall take to Himself His great power, destroy the kingdoms of earth, and all their wickedness, and all who are identified with it, and begin His everlasting reign in an earth made new. Then will peace reign. But it will never reign on this earth till that time, save in the hearts of those submitted to Christ. Why not take and trust God’s prophecies?