Current Events in the Light of the Bible

“Current Events,” as given in this volume, cover a period of about eight years. This must be kept in mind for it makes these events of startling interest. The tremendous armament of the nations, their preparations on sea, land and the air is repeatedly pointed out. In our comment on the European situation we showed that peace cannot be expected in the present age, but that all these preparations mean a coming great European conflict. This awful conflict has now passed into history. Of especial interest are the items on Russia, Turkey and the Balkan States. These and others will be helpful in the study of Prophecy.

The chapters on “Religious Apostasy” and “Modern Day Delusions” show the drift of things religiously. As every reader of the New Testament knows this age does not end with a universal acceptance of the faith delivered unto the Saints, but in a universal apostasy from that faith. Before the day of the Lord comes, before our Lord appears the second time there will be the falling away (2 Thess. ii:3). “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find the faith on the earth.’*” (Luke xviii:8). This predicted falling away has set in and is literally rushing forward to the great apostasy which comes after the true church has been caught up to meet the Lord. Doctrines of demons and of seducing spirits are therefore multiplying and attracting thousands who never received the love of the Truth. All this is pointed out in “Current Events.”

Of equal importance are the paragraphs found under “Social Conditions.” Rejection of the revealed truths of the Bible lead always to moral declension and corruption. Unrighteousness is increasing. The age is not advancing in righteousness.

Of special interest is the chapter on the Jews. They are the coming people. Their future is revealed in the Prophetic Word. The awakened national spirit, reaching out for the old home-land, their efforts to regain Palestine are of great significance at the present world-crisis.

At the end the reader will find a good Index by which he can locate the difi’erent items. We hope and pray that the volume may prove very helpful to preachers. Christian workers, teachers and all Christians who love His appearing. Surely the time of His Coming must be at hand. The study of the signs of the times will strengthen this conviction.

A. C. Gaebelein.

Peace, Peace; When There is No Peace. In the days of the weeping prophet, Jeremiah, the optimistic cry of priests and people was “Peace — Peace!” Yet there was no peace and as this awful self-deception of the people increased the clouds of divine judgment and wrath gathered over Jerusalem. In the midst of the backsliding and secure professing people of God stood Jeremiah with his God given message, that there was no peace. What he preached was the very opposite from the optimistic imaginations of an outwardly prosperous people. And how he had to suffer for his faithful witness.

In our days likewise the popular preaching is peace; peace, progress and prosperity; all is well. What God has to say in His infallible Word concerning coming judgments is ignored and in spite of the most ominous signs and warnings of impending troubles, the greater part of Christendom believes that the world is getting better, universal peace is in sight and great reform movements will bring in a greater righteousness.

But some great Statesmen take a very gloomy view of conditions. Ex-Premier Balfour of England made recently a prophecy in the presence of the assembled editors of the British Empire. He said that the nations would have to fight soon a great battle, most likely in the German Ocean. At the same time Lord Rosebery addressing this Imperial Press Congress also sounded a note of warning.

Lord Rosebery was particularly serious in his reference to the European situation, pointing out that whereas all the talk is of peace all the action is in preparation for war. He said he regarded the outlook as ominous, almost appalling. He had never seen the condition of things in Europe so remarkable and so menacing as at this moment.

There were features of this general preparation for war, he declared, which must cause special anxiety to the friends of the British Empire. One was forced to wonder where it was going to stop, whether it would merely bring Europe back into a state of barbarism or whether it would cause a catastrophe in which the workingmen of the world would say: **We will have no more of this madness and this foolery which is grinding us to powder.*’

This does not sound very optimistic. The Word of God predicts this very programme. A little while longer and the misguided Christian masses, misguided by their teachers, many of whom are alas! blind leaders of the blind, will have to lament and face trouble, disaster and judgment. “We look for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!” (Jerem. viii:15). “For when they shall say. Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thess. v:3).

Russia’s Threatening Attitude Toward Turkey. The leading Russian papers have of late assumed a very hostile attitude. The government organ, Novoye Vremya made recently the significant statement “that Turkey must be wiped off the map of Europe.”

For nearly a year past the belief has been held among usually well-informed statesmen that Russia and England have come to an understanding hostile to Turkey. They have adopted the policy which they agreed on in the summer of 1908 when King Edward met the Czar at Reval, a policy that was the immediate cause of the Turkish revolution in that its interference in the internal affairs of the Ottoman Empire offended enough politicomilitary sentiment in Turkey to enable the committee to overthrow Abdul Hamid.

That policy was left in abeyance until time should show whether the Young Turks and their constitutional parliamentary system could produce a decent administration. The verdict of the Russian and apparently of the British Government is hostile.

England has completely reversed her old time policy toward the Turkish Empire. Toward the end of his career the late Lord Salisbury said that in the Russo-Turkish problem England had put her money on the wrong horse. Now she has stopped even hedging on her stake and gone over to the Russian and the original Gladstonian policy that a Turk as a political administrator must get out of Europe bag and baggage. How soon, how easily and by what steps can this end be reached?

Presented graphically, the process now being applied resembles the upper and nether millstone at work and Constantinople being ground between them. Russia in the Macedonian north and England in the Arabian south are regarded as engaged deliberately in destroying the authority of the Turkish central Government at Constantinople.

The motive for the present inflexible hostility of the two Governments to the new Turkish regime is by no means based on altruistic sympathy with oppressed Christian nationalities nor even on treaty rights. It springs from the conviction held by Russia and England that Turkey is not to be trusted. Moreover they think that she is not to be feared.

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