The Peace-War Paradox by LeRoy Edwin Froom

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 19, 1916

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 43, No. 37.

The Peace-War Paradox

By LeRoy Edwin Froom

ACCORDING to press dispatches, Secretary of the Navy Daniels recently made this statement:

"When this war ends, I hope that this republic can invite all the secretaries of war and navy and state, and other officials of the big navy nations, to a conference to try to find some plan by which all will agree to stop this competitive navy building."

Such pacific sentiments are indeed attractive and commendable; but, though the statesmen may have such conferences, the nations will not disarm, nor will they stop the competitive manufacture of slaughter weapons. We rest not upon appearances nor human authority for this statement, but upon the word of the living God. It is impossible for Him to be mistaken, and He has declared that these last days would witness a unique peace-talk-war-preparation paradox.

In proof of this assertion, we submit two scriptures. The first is this: "And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Micah 4: 2, 3.

Here we are specifically told what the nations will be talking, or saying. They will propose to call a halt to this insane competitive armament of the nations. They will say, Let us turn this energy into agricultural and commercial activities. And now on every hand, we hear this peace talk ringing. The word of our God, penned twenty-five centuries ago, is verified to-day.

Next read God's statement of what the nations will be doing at the same time they are talking peace. This is what will be going on "among the nations": "Prepare war; stir 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." See Joel 3: 9-14, A. R. V.

Talking peace, yet piling up their implements of warfare for Armageddon, and earth's climactic crisis—such is God's forestatement. And such is and will be the actual condition of the nations to-day. L. E. F.