BY THE REV. JOHN R. MACKAY, M.A., INVERNESS.
EVERYBODY instinctively feels that the present European War is something out of the ordinary course of things—something even out of the ordinary course of wars. For my own part—although I should like to say it with great submission and deference—I feel strongly persuaded that this is none other than that War of Armageddon, concerning which, in substantially the same sense, prophets under the Old Testament and apostles under the New Testament have forewarned us, and to which the directest reference is made in Revelation xvi. 16. My reasons for this conclusion are such as the following:—
(1) I reckon that history has gone far to establish the reliability of that method of interpreting the Book of Revelation which commended itself to such writers in the past as Mede, Durham, Newton (Sir Isaac), Elliott, and Wylie—a method which proceeds on the supposition that in the Book of Revelation the events which touch upon Christ’s mediatorial reign over the kingdoms of this world—from the days of the Apostles down to the end of the world—are referred to in order.
(2) The latest expositors of this school, notably Elliott and Wylie, satisfy me in the reasons they have given for identifying the drying up of the Euphrates (Rev. xvi. 12) with the drying up of the Turkish power, especially in Europe.
(3) The process of drying up the Euphrates—in the sense now explained—having been almost finished, the next ostensible event in the Biblical representation is Armageddon.
(4) The present European War answers the description given in Revelation of Armageddon in these two essential circumstances, that is, first, in respect of the contending parties; and, second, in respect of the manner in which the great trouble should be introduced. As to the former circumstance, has there not been, like Armageddon, a gathering of the kings of the earth—even of the whole world—to this war? As to the latter circumstance, may we not, in the surprising suddenness with which this war has broken out and enveloped all Europe, see those words of Rev. xvi. 15—“Behold, I come as a thief”—fulfilled?
If this conclusion is correct, we may, or rather must, say that in this war we see the wrath of the Lamb. Any other view-point is wholly defective as an explanation. God made Jesus both Lord and Christ, but both Churches and States in Europe have failed to acknowledge Jesus in this capacity. Therefore the wrath which was threatened (Psalm ii. 12) has now been revealed. One hears much nowadays about prayer. That is, so far, good. But prayer without repentance is but mockery. Let us pray that we ourselves, and our beloved native country—yea, and the whole of Europe—may speedily be brought to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father; and from this let there be a going on to renounce every system of priestcraft whereby the unique glory of the One High Priest is obscured; to renounce every system of doctrine that calls in question the truth of Christ’s testimony to the divine authorship of Holy Scripture; and to denounce every way that tends to dethrone Christ from His place of dominion, whether as He is Head of the Church or Head over all things for the benefit of His Church. Then, and not till then, may we expect a realisation of the good things spoken of in Zephaniah iii. 9: “For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.”