UNIVERSAL PEACE AT LAST by A. Smith

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, January 22, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 4

UNIVERSAL PEACE AT LAST.

By A. Smith

HOW THIS PEACE WILL BE BROUGHT ABOUT.

BY A. SMITH.

In an old number of Harper’s Weekly is a series of pictures representing the progress of the art of war from the most primitive pugilistic demonstrations, and the earliest use of arms by Cain in slaying his brother, down through the centuries to the beginning of 1900. In each scene the devil is represented as an interested and often gleesome spectator. The sword, pistol, musket, cannon, and needle-gun are superseded by the fan-gun, the electric organ-gun, and the steam-gun; and these, in turn, by an asphyxiating bomb, whereby both contending armies are annihilated in three minutes. The crowning tableau represents a reign of perfect calm, the opposing armies lying in ranks, a la Sennacherib’s host, and the prince of hell striding in mid-air over the battle field, holding in one hand an olive branch, and in the other a coronet of laurel.

Such an ending would doubtless be the legitimate consequence of the present progress of the art of war, should not the God of Heaven anticipate the result by destroying the wicked of the earth by the brightness of his coming. Then will be fulfilled the prophetic declaration: “When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, . . . and they shall not escape.” 1 Thess. 5:3.