p. 10 | THE BIBLE AND WAR by J. L. Shuler

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Aug 16, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 33.

THE BIBLE AND WAR.

By J. L. Shuler

BY J. L. SHULER.

NEARLY all Biblical students recognize the fact that the outcome of the Russo-Japanese War was foretold in the Bible. But while the sure word of prophecy pointed out the defeat of Russia in this present war, it also points out another great war which will soon take place. This war will involve all nations, and they are all unconsciously preparing for this great struggle.

But there is another feature of our times which is not to be passed by unnoticed. Many people are already beginning to say that this present war will be the last great war, and that we are now assured of peace for a long time to come. Now in connection with this thought let us read the following from the prophecy of Isaiah: "And it shall come to pass in the last days . . . many people shall go and say, Come ye, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; . . . And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Isa. 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3.

The prophet distinctly says that in the last days "many people" shall say that nation shall not lift up sword against nation, and there will be no more war. Are the people fulfilling this prophecy? How about the world's peace conference called in 1899? And what should we say of all the peace conferences the nations are still calling? How about the $1,500,000 that a certain rich man offered for the express purpose of building a peace palace? People say there will be no more war, for all disputes will be settled by arbitration. Such things as these indeed fulfil the prophecy, and it of itself is a sign that we are in the last days.

Now, after reading what the people are to say, let us read what God Himself says will take place among the nations: "Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears, let the weak say, I am

strong." Joel 3:9, 10. "And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars." Matt. 24:6.

Are the nations preparing for war as the prophet Joel said they would?—"There never was a time when so much ingenuity, wealth, and skill were employed in the invention and construction of appliances for war."—Gen. N. A. Miles.

About seventy-five per cent. of all revenues of all countries is expended in warlike preparations. Workingmen are taxed to the last extremity to support large standing armies. Among all nations the cry is, "Let us have a large army and a strong navy." The United States spent $100,000,000 for the improvement of the navy last year. Congress appropriated $200,000,000 for the coming year. This is just double the appropriation of last year. The war-ships of the world, placed one to the mile, would cover a line from New York to Liverpool. The combined armies of the world in 1869 amounted to about 6,000,000 men. In the next twenty-three years this increased to almost 21,000,000; and in the next six years another addition of 5,500,000 was made. A further significant fact is that 2,434,000 of these were added in one year, 1897 to 1898. How true the words of the prophet: "Prepare war" and "let all the men of war draw near." The prophet Jeremiah saw all these war preparations and was pained at his very heart because he knew of the great destruction they would bring. Jer. 4:19-21.

The prophet Joel says the heathen are to be awakened. Joel 3:12. Look, for instance, at the heathen nation of Japan. Sixty years ago Japan was asleep. She refused to carry on any commerce with other nations, and they had none of the modern inventions and improvements. Thirty years ago Japan was unknown as a world-power. But to-day we behold that she has been awakened, and she is now one of the foremost of the world's great powers, and has carried on a very successful war with the mighty nation of Russia. Thus the heathen are being awakened. This is a sure indication that the end of the world is near (Joel 3:14), and this anger among the nations is another sign that God is about to pour out His wrath upon the world (Rev. 11:18.).

Among the nations there is distress, perplexity and anxiety because of the various international questions which are constantly arising. Men's hearts fail them for fear as they view the conditions that exist. This, according to the prophecy, shows that the end is near, and that the next great event will be the appearance of the Son of Man "coming in a cloud with power and great glory." Luke 21:25-27.

Yet with all this preparation for war, all the mutterings and threatenings, a semblance of peace in general continues; for another prophecy says that the winds of strife must be held till the servants of God are sealed. Rev. 7:1-3.

Those who are crying peace now are crying "peace, when there is no peace" (Jer. 6:14), because God says directly the opposite. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." "Sudden destruction cometh upon them, . . . and they shall not escape." 2 Tim. 3:13; 1 Thess. 5:3.

If the men who are at the head of the different governments in the world understood these prophecies they would see that peace congresses would not bring peace. And, then, how illogical to prepare for war and at the same time be crying "Peace, peace." But God, foreknowing the future as the past, foreknowing what the people would say and do, has told us plainly in His Word. To question the fulfilment of prophecy is to question God's foreknowledge. What they are doing in these days fits exactly what God declared they would do.

By these war preparations all nations are getting ready to be gathered together to the battle of that great day of God Almighty—that of Armageddon. Rev. 16:14-16. Then there will be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. Dan. 12:1. Evil will go forth from nation to nation, and the nations will rush like the rushing of many waters, but God will rebuke them. Jer. 25:32; Isa. 17:13. When the nations gather on that occasion, God will open the armory of heaven, and bring forth the weapons of His indignation. Jer. 50:25. These weapons will be the treasures of hail, which he has reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war. Job 38:22, 23. Each hailstone will be the weight of a talent, about fifty-seven pounds. Rev. 16:21. "A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth, for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, He will plead with all flesh; He will give them that are wicked to the sword. . . . And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth, even to the other end of the earth." Jer. 25:31-33. How are we going to stand in that great day? May we so live now that we may "be accounted worthy to escape all these things and to stand before the Son of Man." "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." "To-day if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart." "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near." Now is the time to prepare to meet our God, so that when He comes we can say: "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."

"We are living, we are dwelling, In a grand and awful time, In an age on ages telling, To be living is sublime. Hark! the waking up of nations, Gog and Magog to the fray; Hark! What soundeth! Is creation Groaning for her latter day?"

Farmington, Ill.