Micah and Joel on the War.
Both of these prophets speak of war, and it is evident that both refer to our times. See Micah iv, and Joel iii, 9–16. Micah speaks of the implements of warfare being turned into utensils of agriculture; and those looking for a temporal millennium suppose that God by the prophet really declares that this shall be, and that the nations are to cease to learn war. But what shall be done with Joel? He speaks of utensils of agriculture being turned into implements of war, and that the men of war are to be aroused. Before admitting that those two prophets contradict each other, let us examine their testimony more closely. "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 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: and nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Chap. iv, 1–3. Read also Isa. ii, 2–4. Here we learn that it is not God who had spoken peace; but "many nations" join in the prophecy that in the last days implements of warfare are to be turned into agricultural utensils, and that men are to cease to learn war. It is evident that Micah prophesies of the wide-spread, deep-rooted, delusive doctrine, so popular among Christian nations, that the gospel is to triumph over all forms of error, and all nations of the earth be so brought under its influence, that the soldier will engage in tilling the soil, and military schools be closed for ever. And let it be borne in mind that this doctrine of peace and prosperity,—this false prophecy so popular among many nations—goes forth in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, or when the religion of the meek and lowly Jesus is, through worldly policy, exalted to the pinnacles of worldly governments. The prophets describe the last days as dreadful in the extreme. Jesus declares them like those of Noah and of Lot. Paul says they will be perilous, and that in them many will depart from the faith. The doctrine of human progress to a state of perfection and holiness, as held all the way from the most prudent, down to the extravagant Spiritualist—that the golden age is soon to open—we regard as Satan's master-piece to bring the mind of the Christian world into an unprepared state to meet the impending dreadful crisis, described by the prophet Joel. By this prophet the Lord speaks as follows:— "Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plow-shares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about, thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." Chap. iii, 9–14. The preparations for war, both in expenditure, and dreadful engines of slaughter, never equaled the present time. The men of war are awake. Armies are mustering and moving to the battle fields. Hundreds of thousands are leaving agricultural pursuits and are taking up arms. Our nation is not alone. All Europe is getting ready for the general slaughter. The Lord by the prophet Joel describes the close of the present dispensation as it will be witnessed in dreadful reality. By the prophet Micah he foretells the delusive hopes of popular religionists, of peace and prosperity, while standing at the threshold of the day of slaughter. Hence Micah is not against Joel, nor Joel against Micah.