HERE is a strong tension among the nations, and constantly we are being apprised of new rumors of war.
As an instance, on April 19 the news was flashed around the world that Italy had ordered a squadron of eleven war-ships to proceed to Turkish waters to make a "demonstration" against the Sultan. And, as remarked by the San Francisco "Chronicle" recently, these "demonstrations" are "the international way of saying, 'I can lick you hands down and have a good notion to do it.'"
The trouble between the two governments is caused by the refusal of the Sultan to permit the king of Italy to establish Italian post-offices thruout Turkey, the same as other powers are allowed to do. The Italians have come to feel that Turkey is acting in a high-handed manner because she thinks Italy will not do anything, and so all this great "demonstration" is set on foot.
But the next day after the despatches had told of what Italy had decided upon, and also how that the "powers" of Europe had approved her course, the reports said that Turkey had yielded, and that the "demonstration" has been abandoned.
Incidents of this kind show that there is an ever-readiness for war, but for some reason the nations do not begin the struggle. The war-cloud may be hovering around Italy and Turkey to-day, while yesterday it was the question of how soon Japan and China would be called to arms. To-morrow it may be two or more other nations in some other quarter of the globe. The constant commotion is going on, and there is the ever-present feeling among all the nations of earth that sooner or later a great war will break out to involve the whole world. But as the calamity has been stayed in a wonderful manner, many persons have come to the conclusion that we are to have no more wars. They tell us that the battles of the future must be among the diplomats, and not between soldiers and marines.
This comforting and soothing dream of a world-wide peace may be very pleasant to contemplate, but will it be a realization, or will it be only a dream after all?
The prophecies of the Bible, as we have set forth in these pages again and again, show that the very closing days of time will be marked by the "war of the great day of God, the Almighty." But the prophetic scriptures also tell of a message of warning that will be given to the world, showing to all that the great day is at hand and giving to each one an opportunity to repent and enter the haven of security and safety that the Lord has provided against the evil hour. And while this message of warning, entreaty, and salvation is being given to the world the winds of strife and war are held in check so that men may have the opportunity in comparative peace to study and accept the salvation of God before His day of visitation and destruction breaks forth. The words of this latter prophecy are:
"After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow on the earth, or on the sea, or upon any tree. And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a great 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 shall have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." Rev. 7:1-3.
"Winds" in this symbolic prophecy, as in other prophecies of a like nature, indicate commotions and strifes among the people. The wording of this prophecy itself will show that to any mind who thinks of it closely. This holding of the strifes and warfares of earth comes at a time when God has commissioned His messengers to set His seal upon all His servants in all the earth. There is something special indicated in this sealing. It is not the ordinary work of converting people to the acceptance of the Gospel, a work that has been going on all thru the ages. It includes the acceptance of the everlasting Gospel, it is true, but it is in a time of great threatened strife and commotion, hence there are special difficulties and trials to overcome; and this seal of God that is set upon the individual is the Lord's mark of acceptance of the successful attainments of the individual in the face of the fiercest conflict.
King Victor Immanuel III of Italy.
But while prolonged and disastrous wars are held in check until this sealing work is done, they will not always be so held. For the angels are commissioned to hold the winds only for a certain time, and then they will be directed to fulfil the other part of their commission; namely, "to hurt the earth and the sea." War by sea and land is being restrained now. How numerous are the instances wherein the whole world seems to be on the verge of being drawn into a struggle to the death! How often do we hear it said that war can not be averted! But soon the storm blows over and all is calm again.
The Sultan of Turkey.
We should clearly see thru this prophecy and thru the shaping of events that God is powerfully holding back the great storm of strife and war that is hovering about the world. But we should not be lulled into a false security. We should see the real facts and the real issues, and get ready for what is before the world. The storm will break by and by, and when it does, the threshold of eternity will be reached, and the opening heavens will reveal the Son of Man in His glorious second advent. No one can afford to be mixed up with the strifes and broils and angry wars of earth in that day.
