A number of great world Powers -
These world forces,
are not merely conflicting, but incompatible. Behind the clash of arms is the clash of ideas
deeply rooted in the human soul. What happens in
"We
are at the dawn of a grave new world," says John Kampfner, political Editor of the New Statesman:
"There are only a few events in anyone’s lifetime
that have the potential to change the world in ways that it is impossible to
predict. … That is
where we find ourselves - at an epoch-making moment in history, as significant
as any in the past 40 years. We simply
do not know what the world will look like in five years time. No region will remain untouched. The most vulnerable is the
... The contours of the future have yet to be defined but
there seems no way back." (Daily Express,
March 12th, 2003.)
In the European world of thought
and morals, confusion reigns supreme. Old
standards have been swept away, and new ones have been acquired. As for religion, a large percentage of the
population is frankly and openly atheistic. The average man no longer believes in a
personal God. Moreover, in many cases, his unbelief is not passive, but
aggressively militant and intolerant.
Within God’s churches there is an
open disbelief in a Millennial Age, and the idea of a Second Advent of Christ
as the only hope for
lasting world peace, is hostile to the spirit of anti-millennialism - now a
prominent feature within the churches of God. They are full, it is true, but this is not, of
necessity, an indication of their spirituality or piety. There are many who maintain only an outward
reconciliation. In
Down through the ages, Christian
saints have proclaimed the divine message of deliverance, incarnated in Christ,
and set forth all the
teachings of Scripture. Why has not this message, announced for 2,000 years,
been more effective? Why are the leaders
within God’s churches silent regarding responsibility truths and conditional
promises? The answer is, I believe, that
the Church, like the world, is sick.
Someone will ask: ‘But are there
not Protestant churches on the Continent?’ Certainly there are, mainly Lutheran and
Reformed. Many missionary societies, also carry on work there. Bible Societies, have carried the Bible
throughout
DR. NICHOLAS MURRAY BUTLER,
President of Columbia University, once said: "The
most menacing fact in the international situation is the complete lack of
confidence that prevails all over the world. Neither between governments nor in the realms
of business and finance do people trust each other. This really means the complete breakdown of
morals. People do not seem to think it
their duty or interest to keep their word. Violators of treaties, pacts, conventions, are
defended on the ground that they are done in the interests of the State, and
are therefore acts of Sovereignty. But
no State sovereignty can justify the violation of moral law, for morals alone
are sovereign. This breakdown of the
moral law in international affairs I regard as the fundamental weakness, the
cause of our disasters and of our failures to restore peace on earth and amity
among men." In many parts of
It becomes clearer that the chief
aim of War among the nations, and what will be its
chief ultimate, though possibly not immediate, fruit, is a
This is the horror we face. ‘Democracy’ in
the world today is living, and will continue to live, in a fool’s paradise. "Spiritual
sanctions are in abeyance for the majority, and morality is a matter of opinion
to be decided by self-interest. Not only
morality but reason is dethroned, for the mass-man is not concerned with reason
or truth. He is a realist, and the sole
question for him is whether he is strong enough to make his opinions prevail. It is here that totalitarianism in any of its
forms threatens civilization. Dictators [and
politicians] are all alike in that each is the common
mass-man of his country writ large, concerned neither with justice nor truth
but only with the imposition of his will, deriving his strength from the common
mass-mind, which he shapes at his pleasure, denying the means of forming any
true and impartial opinion."
If Europe is to be saved from
falling back into the Dark Ages, if false gods are not to triumph over the
true, if the pagan cross is not to replace that of
Disarmament experts are kindly
doctors for ever blundering through a wrong diagnosis. The powder is in the heart before it is in the
missile or gun, and it remains in the heart after the missile and gun are destroyed. Prominent politicians, however moral and excellent their policies,
in their way, are per se no more
than the last desperate effort of civilization to save itself. The only answer is Christ's ‘Way of Peace’ - yes; a thousand times yes (Rev. 20: 4-6),
if it is really Christ's, (Matt. 5: 43-48). That ‘way’
begins with the Holy Spirit dwelling in the individual heart and life. Without
this consummation, nothing will stop war save a second advent of Christ.
Thus we confront the present
crisis. Officers are required for the
administration of Christ’s millennial kingdom: He has deliberately interposed a
prolonged period between the two advents, that our Lord might be enabled so to
test His servants, in His absence, as to discover which are fitted and properly
qualified for positions of responsibility and trust at His return. The Nobleman, before He departed, laid plans
for the selection of faithful officers to aid Him in the administration of His
Kingdom; He devised a plan for bringing to light who those officers are on His
return; this plan is in operation at the present moment, purposely so contrived
as to reveal individual capacity for office, and personal fitness for trust;
and - most impressive of all - the Long Journey is now almost over and soon His
investigation will begin.
We look forward, NOT to a ‘democracy’, but to the THEOCRACY of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who alone, has Himself
qualified to rule this world in righteousness and peace, (Isa. 9: 7; Rev.
11: 15.) He will give the crown to none but to those amongst His
redeemed people who are worthy to rule with Him And are we fit for the crown, before we
have overcome trials and temptations? Or
for the prize, before we have won the race? Or to be rulers of ten cities, before we have
achieved our ten talents? Or to enter
into the coming glory of our Lord, before we have well done, as good and
faithful servants? God will not alter
the course of justice to give you the promised “Rest”
(Heb. 4: 8-11), during that “DAY” (2 Pet. 1: 19; 3: 8) before you have laboured; nor
the crown of glory till you have overcome, (Rev. 3:
11, 21). Let us press on,
remembering that all who have made a deep impression on the world and have
shone most brightly have been the men and women who have lived in a dark day: "In this world you [disciples] will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16: 33).
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