Leading Statesmen See the Conflict Coming — The Prophets Have Foretold It and Given Its Meaning — Important that We Be Ready for It
By T. E. BOWEN
AFTER the door of the ark was closed, with Noah and his family shut in, and a rebellious world shut out, time went on as usual, and several days passed before the actual Flood began to come on. Noah's faith was tried severely as a world outside rejoiced at his apparent deception.
But their rejoicing was indeed short. On the eighth day, the storm Noah had so faithfully told them of for one hundred and twenty years broke upon the unsheltered heads of those sinners of old. Then their mirth was quickly turned into the despairing wail of the lost.
WHEN TURKEY IS FORCED FROM EUROPE, WHAT THEN?
When Turkey is forced to make Palestine its seat of government, what then? In actual fact, the familiar proverb will become literally true, that she has "jumped out of the frying pan into the fire." Do you ask, Why so? — Because the world's religions will then be touched. Nominal Christianity of the west, holding this territory as very sacred ground, and the heathen east, among whom are hordes of Moslems, who take delight in showing their disregard and contempt for that which to the Christian nations seems very sacred, are very likely to come into conflict right away when the Turk makes Jerusalem, or this "Holy Land" territory, his governmental seat.
That events are shaping rapidly for this more general world division, the undercurrent of which is quite possible to be a very strong religious one, is shown by the following scriptures and statements of eminent men.
THE WAY PREPARED FOR THE KINGS OF THE EAST
Among the judgments to fall on the earth during the day of God's fierce anger, John speaks of a way being prepared for the nations of the east to become involved in the general world strife: "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev. 16: 12-14.
THE WHOLE WORLD INVOLVED
To use plain terms, we here have decadent Protestantism and Roman and Greek Catholicism of the west, and Mohammedanism and the heathenism of the east, brought in array one against the other, led on under the cult of spiritualism by Satan himself. And this scripture says that not only the kings of the earth are involved in this mobilization, but the people of the whole world as well will be involved. It does not need a prophet's eye, friend, to see plenty of trouble and anguish and distress in this commingling of worldly powers, led on by strong religious sentiments.
THE OCCIDENT AND ORIENT ALIGNMENT
That this array between the nations making up the east and the west, permeated by religious sentiments, is not a fancy sketch, as one looks out upon the world to-day, let us read a few statements. In the Literary Digest of March 5, 1910, appeared this significant statement: "A league of influential Japanese and Hindus to consolidate the Asiatic people against the domination of Europe is attracting notice and concern. High officials at the court of the Mikado and chiefs of the Japanese aristocracy are at the head of it; and the constitution is from the pen of Count Okuma. On the other side there are many of the most influential people of India enrolled among its members."
GATEWAY TO TOKIO IMPERIAL UNIVERSITY
Here is another, as reported by the London Daily Express of April 25, 1905, regarding a statement having been made in the Japanese House of Peers, which throws some light upon the real object in the minds of those of the east entering into the above mentioned league:
"The sacred [notice the term] duty is incumbent upon us as the leading state of Asiatic progress to stretch a helping hand to China, India, Korea, to all Asiatics who have confidence in us, and who are capable of civilization. As their more powerful friend, we desire them all to be free from the yoke which Europe has placed upon them, and that they may thereby prove to the world that the Orient is capable of measuring swords with the Occident on any field of battle."
PREPARING TO MEASURE SWORDS
These statements are very significant indeed, indicating clearly that the Orient is rising to that place where it shall not fear to "measure swords with the Occident on any field of battle."
And that powerful nations of the west are not ignorant of what is brewing across the seas, we cite an extract from a recent speech in the House of Representatives, at Washington, D. C., by Representative Mann, as reported in the Literary Digest of October 17, 1914:
" 'Close to Japan, lying like a sleeping child of the world, is China, with her vast territory, with her immense population, and that which was going on in Japan a few years ago is now going on in China. The awakening of China is more marvelous, perhaps, than was the awakening of Japan; and as these great people in China arise to the civilization of our modern days, and engage in the manufacture of products, we will enter on a series of competitive efforts with the far east which have never yet been equaled in this world. . . .'
" 'And we who are now legislating, if we do not bear in mind possibilities not merely of to-day or to-morrow or one hundred years from now, of the inevitable conflict, commercial or otherwise, which we will meet in the far east, have forgotten the principles which ought to actuate us.'"
"The speaker then emphatically affirmed his belief that 'it is as certain as the sun will rise to-morrow that a conflict will come between the far east and the far west across the Pacific Ocean. All that has taken place in the world during the history of the races up to now teaches us that avoidance of this conflict is impossible.'"
" 'I hope that it may be only a commercial conflict. I hope that war may not come. I hope there will be no conflict of arms, but I have little faith that in this world of ours people and races are able to meet in competition for a long period without armed conflict. A fight for commercial supremacy leads in the end to a fight with arms, because that is the final arbiter between nations.'"
While Mr. Mann hopes this may be only the strife of commercial activities, we are led to conclude, in view of what John the revelator points out, that the antagonism engendered by conflict of religions will play the greater part in this terrific struggle for world supremacy, which culminates in Armageddon immediately prior to the personal appearing of Jesus in great glory. And proof is not lacking that that power which once ruled the world, the papacy, is gaining political power to the extent that she will play no small part in this final struggle.
The Bible does not leave us ignorant of the outcome. This titanic struggle, involving as it will the790whole world, is ended by the personal appearance of Jesus Christ Himself leading the armies of heaven.
He is "called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns." An angel was heard to say to the fowls: "Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men." "The beast [the papacy] was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him [understood to mean false Protestantism], with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire." Rev. 19: 11-20.
"And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him [Jesus] that sitteth upon the throne [only one throne now], and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" Rev. 6: 14-17. "And then shall that wicked [or lawless one] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming." 2 Thess. 2: 8.
HE WILL SAVE HIS OWN
From God's word, dear reader, we may believe that the events so rapidly and thrillingly taking place in the world to-day unerringly portend that the end is right upon us. We should not defer seeking, through humble prayer and the study of God's word, for that preparation of heart and life necessary to be like our Lord in character. The test is upon all alike. It is only in becoming like Jesus that any soul shall escape these things coming upon the world, and to be able to stand at His appearing.
He is not here: for He is risen.
The true child of God will not put his trust in any forms of ritual service, but rather by faith accept the righteousness of Christ's life in place of his own. A remnant shall be saved. Christ comes as the deliverer of every one whose name is found written in His book of life. No soul that humbly trusts in the merits of that one perfect life, shall be left to perish. Christ will separate the wheat from the chaff in that day. Not a kernel will fall to the earth ungarnered.
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord harkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not." Mal. 3: 16-18.
Is your name in His book? Are you a commandment keeper? Are you in character like Jesus? To have these questions settled, and settled right, assures you an entrance into that kingdom which Christ is soon to receive of His Father.
