Earth's Last War

by G. Prasher | Category: God's Ways With Men | Sept 1932

REMARKS ON THE CHART.

It will be well, before dealing with the final rebellion on earth, to give a few more explanatory words on the chart (issued December, 1929). The descending arrow at the commencement of the reign of Christ is to indicate the casting of the Beast and the False Prophet down to the Lake of Fire. The line parallel with this, and which then runs horizontally to the end of the section showing the kingdom of Christ, is to mark the period of the imprisonment of Satan, at the close of which his release will find him returning to the earth- hence the upward line. The semi-ellipses in black and red are designed to be the counterparts of the sections marked Adam and Noah, and that of Abraham. The black bespeaking the perfect Servant of Jehovah whose rule for God was not interrupted by disobedience, and the red reminding us of the many promises of God to that man of faith, Abraham, and of the "Yea" and the "Amen" which are in and through Jesus Christ (see 2 Corinthians 1. 19, 20). The remainder of the chart will be easily understood, the top arrow referring to Christ on the Great White Throne as Judge, and the bottom arrow indicating the casting down to the Lake of Fire of all who come under divine wrath in that great judgment day. The seven arrows signifying judgment on the chart are of much interest: (1), judgment on the antediluvian world; (2), on Egypt; (3), God's judgment on His Son when He bore the sin of the world; (4), the Son of Man's descent in judgment, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; (5), the judgment of the Beast and the False Prophet; (6), Christ on the Great White Throne as Judge; and (7), the final casting of the lost into the Lake of Fire.

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD.

"Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above" (John 19. 11), were the Lord's words to Pilate, and we judge one cannot read the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ without being impressed with the fact that this is so whether we consider man, the demons, or the Devil. A strong angel proclaimed with a loud voice (Revelation 5.), but when Satan is to be bound and cast into the abyss, the account is simply, "I saw an angel coming down out of heaven" (20. 1).

"But God is the Judge

He putteth down one, and lifteth up another."

The situation is always well in hand with God. He is never at a loss. Satan is indeed mighty, but God is Almighty. "He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou ?" (Daniel 4. 35). Thus the Devil is bound and unbound at the divine pleasure. On the other hand it is needful to remember well that the Devil is a great power-so great that even Michael the archangel durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said, the Lord rebuke thee (See Jude 9).

THE OLD SERPENT.

The thousand years in prison will not alter the nature of the Old Serpent; for, when he shall be loosed out of his prison, he shall come forth to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war (Revelation 20. 7, 8). What he engaged in when he imposed on Eve, and that which has occupied him all along the ages, he will re-commence on earth on his emerging from the abyss-the work of deceiving. The remembrance of this should tend to cause us fear, lest by any means, our minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. Let us be on our guard, beloved, to see to it that the streams of thought which flow through our minds day after day are such as come from the fountain head, from God Himself. Thus only can we secure this simplicity and purity Christ-ward. There is a story told of Sir Basil the knight, who had been out hunting with a falcon on his wrist. Tired with the chase he came to a stream which trickled down a rock, and releasing his falcon from his wrist, he stopped the mouth-piece of his bugle with a tuft of moss, and placed this extemporised cup beneath the dripping water. Drop by drop the water trickled until at last the cup was filled, but as he was about to drink, it is said, the falcon dashed the cup from his hand. This was repeated thrice, when the enraged knight took vengeance on the bird, which he struck and killed. Then looking up whence the water came he saw a great green serpent, coiled fold above fold, the venom from his mouth dripping into that from which his drinking vessel had been filled. What a merciful deliverance he had from death! and how sorry he would be for his hasty act that slew his faithful friend! The jaws of the Old Serpent, be it remembered, are dripping still his deadly poison, and every earthly stream, at which the myriads fill their cup, contains this soul-destroying fluid. The Holy Scriptures, on the other hand, lead us to the Rock of Ages, whence flow the pure streams of God. The wireless, one of man's clever inventions, and useful in -natural things, has become a channel for conveying many streams poisoned by the Devil. Let the child of God beware! "To the law and to the testimony" (Isaiah 8. 20), for this is the only place of safety! The skilfulness of Satan as the deceiver can he parried only by the Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

"Let thine heart retain My words

Keep My commandments and live" (Proverbs 4. 4), expresses the desire of God for every child of His.

GOG AND MAGOG GATHERED.

It is somewhat startling to read that Satan will get so large a following, "the number of whom is as the sand of the sea," and the question arises with the thoughtful render, How can men turn so quickly from Him whose reign is marked by blessing unsurpassed, and prosperity unequalled? Doubtless the answer to this is found in the fact that the heart of the natural man is fertile soil for the seed which the enemy sows. The Scriptures indicate that there will he feigned obedience on the part of some men, even while all the earth shall worship Him, and sing His praise (Psalm 66. 3, 4, R.V.M.); so these will be ready to respond to the will of the Devil on his return from the abyss. It seems likely that the Old Serpent's influence may turn many away from the LORD who could not be called His enemies during the thousand years reign, at least so it seems to the writer; and the work of JeroboaM with the congregation of Israel, as he led them to complain of the grievous service and heavy yoke of Solomon, may illustrate the line of attack which the Devil will pursue when he turns the masses from allegiance to the LORD. He will blind them to the truth in regard to the many blessings which the LORD'S rule secured ; and, creating discontent of heart, he will soon lead them to regard the service of the LORD as irksome. His rod of iron will he too heavy and too strong for such as listen to the Devil's lie, and they will gladly join the pretender's ranks. What a testimony against the human family! And what a voice to us who seek to serve the LORD in our day and time! We. too, have hearts that are prone to sin, and which the wily adversary finds to be fruitful fields for his industrious sowings. Hence the note of warning:

"Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God: But exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3, 12, 13). To the deceitfulness of the Devil, and that of sin, we have to add that of the heart, which is "deceit above all things" (Jeremiah 17. 9); so that within and without we are encompassed by misleading powers, which can be held in check alone by God, and by the Word of His grace. Should we find the LORD'S work becoming irksome, or His Word becoming stale, let us at once attend to the apostolic injunction, "Try your own selves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves " (2 Corinthians 13. 5). "Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you." "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof." "hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him, whereinsoever our heart condemn us"-that is, if we love in deed and truth (see 1 John 3. 18-20).

I ask thee for the daily strength,

To none that ask denied,

A mind to blend with outward life

While keeping at Thy side

Content to fill a little space,

If Christ he glorified.

And if some things I do not ask

Among my blessings be,

I'd have my spirit filled the more

With grateful love to Thee;

More careful not to serve Thee much,

But please Thee perfectly.

REBELLION QUELLED FOR EVER.

The camp of the saints, and the beloved city (Jerusalem) will be the object of the enemy's attack in that sad day. The camp might suggest the militant aspect of the people of God, and the city the place where God and His people dwell together. He who has so often prevailed against the army in the field, and the city with its dwelling, will again try the weight of his army to thwart divine purpose, and blast that wherein God takes pleasure. But fire out of heaven will devour the Devil's forces, and he will again be taken. Faithful to the Noah covenant God will not resort to water as the instrument of judgment-fire will do the destructive work. Unlike that time when the Man of Sorrows trod this earth, and James and John desired to command fire to come down and destroy those Samaritans who refused to receive their Master, now the righteous vengeance of God will do its work. We think of the words:-

"For a fire is kindled in Mine anger, And burneth unto the lowest Sheol

Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would consider their latter end!" (Deuteronomy 32. 22, 29.)

ETERNAL PUNISHMENT, NOT ANNIHILATION.

"Depart from Me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the Devil and his angels" (Matthew 25. 41). These words show us for whom this awful place had been prepare; and with the overthrow of the Devil, at the beloved city, he is consigned to the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. It is worthy of attention that the beast and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire prior to the millennium, so that at least one thousand years will have passed between their consignment to that dreadful place, and the arrival of the Devil there. Yet, although this is so, Satan's king and his false prophet will still be in existence in the lake of fire. One thousand years therein will not have resulted in their annihilation. The Holy Spirit's words can be relied upon, and these are, "where are also the beast and the false prophet" (Revelation 20. 10). How precious for all who love the Lord Jesus Christ to know that He delivers from the wrath to come every believing one!

Jehovah is our strength,

And He shall be our song;

We shall o'ercome at length,

Although our foes be strong;

In vain doth Satan then oppose,

For God is stronger than His foes.

G. Prasher | Sept 1932
God's Ways With Men