Above forty years ago our attention was called to two pamphlets on the subject of Prophecy, written by Dr. A. H. Burton of London, England. They appeared separately under the respective titles, "The Future of Europe" and "Russia's Destiny." We are convinced that these two brief prophetic surveys rank among the very best that have appeared in print.
Three factors contribute to the value of these brochures and so warrant their reprinting: their brevity, their clarity, and their conservatism.
The past thirty years have witnessed the world's two greatest military struggles. The interval between these two titanic upheavals was but a truce during which nations girded themselves for the great decision of world supremacy. The present chaotic state of world politics leads many to ask, "Whither bound?". Only one Book in the world gives us a definite program of what lies ahead.
Dr. Burton devoted the good part of a lifetime to the study of the prophetic Scriptures. In the two following pamphlets Dr. Burton has assembled, assayed and set forth the basic outlines of God's prophetic program for the nations of the world. Either article can be conveniently read through in an hour. But to get the greatest benefit from them they should be carefully studied along with an open Bible.
The author has avoided the pitfall of so many writers on prophecy by refusing to make emphatic pronouncements about the current events of his day. Hence it is that, as we send the book to the press for its fifth edition, we find it necessary to make only minor deletions from the original edition of fifty years ago.
May we remember in reading prophecy that it is part of the inspired Word and is therefore "profitable." Let us seek reverently to get the blessing from it that our Lord intended when He gave us these portions.
C. H. Brown