Endless Wars by Uriah Smith

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 21, 1871

“Endless Wars.”

By Uriah Smith

As FACE answers to face in a perfect mirror, so the general aspect of our times, answers to the delineations of the prophetic pencil, which describe the state the world will be in when the Son of Man shall come. The political situation of Europe is well set forth in the following paragraph from the Christian Union:—

“Looking at Europe, the horizon appears dark with the threat of endless wars still to come. Between the different peoples there is hate and jealousy and dread. On every government the question of national armament presses as of first consequence. If France ever grows strong, she has a debt of vengeance to pay to Germany. The neighbors of the new Empire are full of suspicion as to her intentions. She may prove moderate and forbearing, but no nation dares trust to that. Men do not believe that Russia ever gives up the hope of winning Constantinople. England is sensitive and sore at her loss of influence on the Continent. Italy does not feel secure against an attempt to re-instate the pope should a turn of the wheel establish a French government under clerical influence. The great wars of the last decade have made an appeal to the sword a familiar idea to all. Perhaps at the present moment the best guarantee of peace

is the general fear of Germany’s strength. To light the flames again it is not even necessary for Germany to be aggressive. Let her neighbors believe that she is so, and combine against her, or let Russia and Germany jostle, and the crash would come. No one of these events appears improbable.”

There were to be wars and rumors of wars, and angry nations, and political perplexity, in the last days, according to the Bible. There are, as the leading papers of to-day testify, “threats of endless wars still to come;” “hate and jealousy and dread,” among the nations; “national armament” the first question with every government; “vengeance” the first debt which some desire to pay; one government “full of suspicion;” another “sensitive and sore;” another pervaded with a sense of insecurity; and all wrought up to such a sensitive point, that let two of them “jostle, and the crash would come.” And the crash will come, a different crash from that which many expect, and sooner than many think. “He whose right it is” is soon to take the kingdom, and dash to atoms those who have so long held it under usurped control. Let the church of Christ now robe herself for the marriage supper of the Lamb. U. S.