p. 4 | A UNIVERSAL WAR by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 26, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 21.

A UNIVERSAL WAR.

By T.

The Bible plainly predicts that there is to be a universal war. The inspired statement reads as follows:—

“And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16:12–14.

Here is a very definite statement,—“The kings of the earth and of the whole world” are to be gathered “to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Then there is to be a battle at the time of “that great day,” and the “whole world” will be gathered to engage in it. Such is the plain language of the Word of God. And when the time of that “great day” is approaching, the most marked evidence of this universal battle must of necessity begin to appear. Indeed, one of the signs by which we may tell that the end is at hand, will be movements among all the nations that will show that they are marshaling for this last great strife. And as the work is going on, a conviction sent home to every heart by God’s Spirit will make the deep and solemn impression that something dreadful is hovering over

the world. Men will laugh at it, and mockingly say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” but nevertheless there the deep conviction remains. It is the voice of God speaking through His fulfilling Word, calling men to the shelter from the impending ruin.

And to show completely that God has nothing whatever to do with this gathering of earth in angry battle array, the Word states that it is “the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Then do not lose the force of this scripture. It is “the spirits of devils” and not the Prince of Peace, as some would have us believe, that are stirring up the passions for that universal war against the “great day.” Then, just as we would avoid any other evil or great calamity, we should keep ourselves out of this terrible vortex of strife. For we know full well that “the spirits of devils” can lead men to nothing else but destruction.

“Gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16:14.

Observe also the quarter from which this strife is coming: “The sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared.” Verse 12. Then there is to be some marked movement among the “kings of the East” in the preparation for this final and universal war. Some of the “kings of the East” for hundreds of years have swayed their scepters over vast nations, and yet those nations have been largely shut away from the rest of the world. They have had insurrections and barbarous wars among themselves, but have been locked away from international strife. But when “the battle of that great day” is fought, “the whole world” is to engage in it. And so the way of “the kings of the East” must be “prepared.”

Any one who has followed the marching of events for the last half century has noted with interest how the “Eastern Question” has been gradually extending, until we now have fully before us the “Far Eastern Question.”

And especially during the last seven or eight months how suddenly has this “Far Eastern Question” been forced into absorbing prominence! China, with her four hundred millions of people, who have been so long shut up from the rest of the world, becomes the bone of contention. And she must either train herself to the modern methods of fighting, and overthrow her enemies, or else allow her heathen dominions to be divided among the “great Christian powers” of the West.

The United States has been the only great nation of the whole earth that has not been involved in this “Far Eastern Question.” And statesmen here have been congratulating themselves over the thought that this country would not have to be mixed up in the general quarrel. But how suddenly do things shift in these days! War starts up with Spain, and almost immediately does the United States find herself, at least temporarily, in possession of the Philippine Islands, and she becomes therefore involved, along with the rest, in the Eastern difficulties.

There are none to-day who can be indifferent to these great questions that are pressing in upon the world. And from myriads of lips do we hear the anxious inquiries: “Is all the world going to war? Is the whole face of the earth to be a camp? And are all nations to rush into one great battle-field to try the chances of war? And if so, what will be the awful results?”

These are momentous questions. And each one should answer them for himself, and be sure that his answer is right. And since we have a Guide-book among us that has told the world hundreds of years in advance just what these things mean, may we not safely trust in that inspired volume?

This world has over 26,000,000 men in her armies and navies to-day, all drilled and ready for the onset. And every man is subject to being drafted at a moment’s notice. Military men whose lives have been devoted to arms are growing pale before the situation. They say that such immense and also terrible preparations for war are not to be found in all the pages of history. And, notwithstanding the boasts of the nineteenth-century enlightenment, among all the barbarous nations of the past there is not to be found such awful preparations for the wholesale slaughtering of mankind. Who can doubt that even now this wonderful prophecy of Revelation is being fulfilled? And whose eyes are so dim that they do not behold the gathering of the nations for the last great conflict?

But while the “spirits of devils” are gathering all the world for this final battle, it must not be overlooked that our God has a work in the earth at the same time; for the prophet who foretells this working of the evil spirits at the time of “that great day,” also tells of the special message of salvation that is given to the world when the “hour of judgment” is come. He says, “I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.” Rev. 14:6, 7.

Then when “that great day” is imminent, God is doing a work to save men, while evil spirits are working for their destruction. Which side will you be on? The “battle of that great day” is not quite here. God will hold it in check until His message of mercy has an opportunity of reaching every soul that can possibly be induced to receive a Father’s love. Now is our time to take our stand with God. Every indication shows that it will soon be forever too late. Jesus has provided you a shelter; will you accept His love and mercy?