KING'S BUSINESS PROPHECY SECTION Edited by Dr. Charles L. Feinberg, Director Talbot Theological Seminary
IRM AG ED D O N The Conflict of the Ages
By Lehman Strauss S o m e subjects in the Bible are not easy to speak or to write about. It is much easier to bear the good news of salvation than to announce the coming of doom and destruction. No doctor delights to tell the sad news of prolonged suffering or coming death, and yet he can not escape the facts and evidences of a careful diagnosis. In all fairness the physician finds it necessary at times to reveal that the future is a dark one for certain of his patients. The writer has found much delight expounding the love and grace of God in the salvation offered through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, for indeed the future is bright with prospect for all who have trusted the Saviour. But there is a dark side to the future, marked with horri ble devastation and bloody death. Such awaits the world of unbelieving men and women who have not been bom again into the family of God. It will have its consum mation in a literal conflict on earth of unprecedented proportions. This mighty conflict is referred to as “ Arma geddon.” The word “ Armageddon” appears once in Scripture. John writes: “And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16). The word is sometimes rendered “Har-Megiddo.” “ Har” means mountain. “Megiddo” means slaughter. The two words together may be translated “The Mount of Slaughter.” In the eternal counsels of God there is a place, the Valley of Megiddo, where King Josiah, of the southern kingdom of Judah, was mortally wounded in the battle against Pharaoh-Necho (2 Chronicles 35:22- 24), where the most awful conflict of human history will take place. Human H isto ry Is W r itten in B lood Records prove that human history is written in the blood of millions who have died on the world’s battle fields, with millions more following to their death as the result of war’s horrible aftermath. Someone has esti mated that well over 600 million (600,000,000) deaths have occurred on the fields of battle, while millions more were left helplessly wounded to suffer disfigure
ment and to be left hopelessly crippled for life. Famine, pestilence, and suffering have followed every war. It was reported recently that one-fourth of the world’s population is facing starvation. Herbert Hoover, probably the greatest living authority on human ma terial needs and undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest experts in relief work, told our government that 800 millions of people are hungry and that 300 million face starvation. In some countries the proportion of tuber culosis among children reaches as high as 75 per cent. It is a matter of record that the destruction of the natural resources of the earth and of human life as the result of war has been followed by increased famine, suffering, pestilence, and death. Look into American history and you will find that our nation has averaged a war about every twenty-five years. Begin with the War of Independence in 1776, add to it the War of . 1812, the Mexican War of 1845, the Civil War of 1861-65, the Spanish-American War of 1898, World War I of 1914-18, World War II, and then the Korean conflict. There you have it. Scarcely a genera tion has passed in which this so-called Christian nation has not sent its young men into battle. And I am not unpatriotic nor disloyal when I tell you that I see no hope for peace in this land or other lands before the personal return of our Lord Jesus Christ to the earth. Human E fforts at Peace Have Failed Many sincere attempts have been made to put an end to wars. Many peace pacts have been made between na tions, but all have been set aside. Many committees and organizations were formed to establish peace on the earth, only to break up without success. Now there is something commendable about these men and their pro grams which contemplate a world order without war. Certainly they suggest to us that there is a craving for something higher than bloodshedding. But the idealism that dominates the thinking of such men is purely human rationalism apart from the plain teaching of God’s Word. There is something within each of us which wel comes with enthusiasm the very thoughts of world
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