Man's dream of "One world" where all the nations live in peace and harmony seems hopelessly and permanently broken; instead of "One" there are now "Two" worlds. The failure of the Foreign Ministers' Conference in London, December, 1947, has confirmed the fears of many that there is no possible way to reconcile the differences between the Eastern and Western powers. They are peparated farther than the poles through ideologies and aims.
The failure of the foreign ministers of the four great powers to come to an agreement on settled peace for Germany and Austria may well mark the beginning of the end for the "United Nations." The old "League of Nations" failed and so will its modern successor. When man-made peace and security fails, the Christian need not be discouraged, but heartily endorse the words written by Cowper in 1779:
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour."
God is behind the scenes and moving them all toward that eventful hour when the "Prince of Peace" shall reign and truly make it "one world." But in the meanwhile the world is hastening along, like the waters above Niagara, toward the precipice, to be plunged into the chaos of tribulation which must come before the Millennium.
Russia's contentious and bellicose manners will force the nations of western Europe to unite, and most likely with the American powers, who were peopled by western Europeans, in order to hold some balance of power against her; thus will spring into being what Scripture has long foretold—the revived Roman Empire. So great will the united might of this alliance be that people will say "Peace and safety," because they say "Who is like unto the beast (Roman Empire)? who is able to make war with him?" Rev. 13:44And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? (Revelation 13:4). But God also declares that then "sudden destruction cometh upon them,... and they shall not escape." 1 Thess. 5:33For 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 Thessalonians 5:3).
The present division of Europe into Russian and Western controlled spheres is very similar to the division that existed in the days of the old Roman Empire; that is, the part that has been kept outside of the "Iron Curtain" just about follows the line that marked the boundary of the Roman Empire in her glory. Surely the coming of the Lord is very near. Fellow-Christians, we may hear that shout at any hour.