p. 10 | Preparing for the End by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jun 27, 1912

Preparing for the End

By C. M. S.

WHILE the work of God does not depend upon war for its completion, yet the closing of God's work in the earth and the preparation for Armageddon are simultaneous. This is proved both from the divine Word and from present experience.

The last message committed to men for the world is now going to the world, while at the same time the spirit of war has breathed into the nostrils of every nation on the earth, and in the power of that breath they have stood up and begun to fashion the weapons of their master. It would seem that about all has been done that could be done to make ready the nations for that great and terrible event. In every nation on earth the fever of war is quickening the pulse of the people, and the trip-hammer has displaced the sledge in beating out the implements of death. Look where you will, the forges of Vulcan are in full blast, and war-ships are dragging anchor on the rising tide.

The culmination toward which these preparations look is no longer distant. In the language of the prophet, "The nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants; . . . and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." Rev. 11:18.

Now, war is entirely outside the purpose of God. He is "the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." He is the One who is to make "wars to cease unto the end of the earth." God's voice does not speak in the blare of the war-trumpets. His Spirit is not moving the engines of war. The hand that bears war's standard is not his. The eye that sights down the rifle barrel is not the eye nor the agent of him who has declared himself to be the God of love. "Peace, good will toward men," was the theme of the Redeemer's annunciation; and peace and reconciliation was the mission of the Son of man. But the world is filled with violence, and the cruelties of war are wringing the hearts of the people. God is planning peace for man, and for the earth upon which he placed him; and failure in that purpose can never be. His word will not return unto him void, but will accomplish that which is pleasing to him, and will prosper in the thing whereto it is sent. It is sent for peace, and the gospel of peace is the gospel of Christ.

The gospel of Christ stands for the effacement of self in the service of others; but the spirit of war is the spirit of federated selfishness. It is the weapon of the common enemy of God and man. It is Satan's answer to the second table of God's law. It is Satan's contradiction of all that God designed for man.

It was born in heaven in the envy and jealousy of him who has fostered it from then till now. It was born into the human family in the envy and jealousy of him who slew his brother without cause. And this scourge of the heavens and bane of the earth has become the science through which the ends of selfishness have ever been attained. It is not to be wondered at, then, that it should reach its culmination and should plan for its mightiest demonstration at the time when the work of God is reaching its culmination in the world, when the last sheaves of the Master's reaping are being gathered in the earth.

As we see what God is doing in the many nations of this world in raising up witnesses to his truth, and as we see how that from those witnesses the light is shining out to others, making them in turn new nuclei of dissemination; and then as we turn to the world and see what is being accomplished by the spirit of war, we are forced to exclaim, Surely the time is drawing near when God will give the promised reward to his servants, and "destroy them which destroy the earth."

With the culmination of the work of sin and of that work which is set against sin, there comes the long-promised reward of the tired hands that have wrought for God and the tired feet that have run to speed his message. The earth that has been marred by war and by sins of every kind will be purified and made new in God's refining fire (Mal. 4:1, 2; 2 Peter 3:10-13), and sin will be found no more in all the universe of God (Matt. 13:41-43). Then indeed "truth shall spring out of the earth" that once was cursed, and then will it be true that "righteousness and peace have kissed each other." War will no more return to wreck and ruin the earth, for "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth." Ps. 46:9. Even the dread of its memory shall pass away; for the righteous nation which "shall inherit the earth" shall "delight themselves in the abundance of peace." With war swept out of the universe, the conquest of love will be the science and the song of the redeemed. In anticipation of that glad fruition, the child of God has a right to be joyous and to be brave in spite of the ravages of sin and the devastations of war. We look for a world purified by fire and peopled with righteousness and peace, and for "a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." C. M. S.