HOLDING THE WINDS OF WAR.
By T.
There are very few days as they pass in which the newspaper despatches are not discussing the probabilities of war in some quarter of the globe. One day it is the United States and Spain that are going to fight. Another, it is Germany and China. Another, it is England and Russia, and so we might continue. In connection with this subject there is no more noticeable feature than the sudden and unexpected manner in which these international difficulties are hushed. Why do not the nations go to war, since they find so many things to quarrel about? Why are these great war clouds so soon blown away? Some are of the opinion that the “great Christian nations” are becoming too magnanimous and humane to resort to arms in settling their disputes. But while listening to the angry clamors of these nations, a person wonders what foundation there is for such a notion. Others are persuaded that the fully civilized and enlightened greatness of the diplomacy of our time is that which chains the dogs of war. But he who knows how little pity is in the hearts of the men who are willing to see untold thousands slain if only their bonds and stock or mercantile interest can be advanced thereby, will hardly be convinced that this solution is correct. Then there are those who quiet their fears by the hope that the modern implements of war are so terrible that the nations are afraid to meet each other on the battlefield. But there is much evidence to show the fallacy of such a delusive hope. None of these solutions of the problem being satisfactory, it is a consolation to turn to the Word of God and find a definite reason why the nations, tho “angry” and continually quarreling, do not go to war. The Word says: “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Rev. 7: 1-3. This scripture explicitly states that “four angels standing on the four corners of the earth,” and thus assuredly reaching every quarter of the globe, are “holding the four winds of the earth.” In these “winds of the earth” must be contained all the strife to be found among the nations in the last days, as foretold by prophecy. Then it is the angels of God that are “holding” the nations, in spite of themselves, from a universal and destructive war. And how true it is that it requires “holding” to keep back hostilities! For, according to all human observations, it would seem much of the time that war could not be averted. But an unseen power chains the demons of war, and, altho it would often seem that they were about to precipitate a general clash of arms, yet they are “held.” And they are held to allow God’s ambassadors to proclaim to every creature the glad tidings of the soon-coming Saviour. All who will accept the Gospel message are “sealed” as “the servants of our God.” And when that work is done, those who have disregarded the Word of God will be dismayed to find that this talked-of peace can never be realized, and instead the nations will be plunged into “the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”