" Rev. 16:14.
Earnest-minded statesmen have lamented their helplessness to combat the
forces and influences pressing the world on toward conflict. In one of
his last speeches as premier of Great Britain, the late Marquis of
Salisbury was defending yet further calls for army and navy
appropriations. He said:
"For years public opinion was in favor of a pacific policy, but
now that state of opinion has passed away. The tide has turned,
and who am I, and who are we, that we should attempt to stem
the tide? If the tide has turned, we shall have to go with it.
We are in the presence of forces far larger than we can wield."
What those forces were, the aged statesman did not recognize, but the
prophecy tells us. The prophet was shown the evil spirits from Satan
going forth everywhere as the end nears, to stir up the whole world to
the last great conflict.
Sir Edward Grey, British foreign secretary, described these agencies
very accurately. Speaking in the House of Commons, Nov. 27, 1911, he
said:
"It is really as if in the atmosphere of the world there were
some mischievous influence at work, which troubles and excites
every part of it.
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