Is there not an abundance of evidence points to world unity today?  Surely the wars and rumors of
wars are the birth pangs to bring forth the world government of anti-christ.  Today the world is more united
than ever before.  The space program has contributed immensely to this end.  How small the earth really is.
One would be inclined to take the perspective of Miss Barbara Ward in her book, "Spaceship Earth," the
whole earth is but a giant spaceship hurling through space and the human race is its crew.  A divided crew is
bound for trouble, we need to cooperate and live in peace together.  How futile to imagine war when it is
possible to encircle the earth with the "big bomb" which can be triggered momentarily and directed to any
part of the earth.  With the vast system of communications we have learned the need for one world
language, one metrical system and the like.  We must recognize that nationalism is a thing of the past.  The
nations that have great wealth must give to those that have not, racial distinctions must be eradicated, we
must all learn to see each other not as white, or black, or yellow, but as the human race.  Besides this,
capitalism, communism, and socialism are but systems of economics.  Capitalism is one extreme and
Communism is another.  Socialism seems to be a common denominator which may well fill the world's
needs in this great anti-christian government.  Government spending determines prosperity or recession.
Even in communistic countries more incentives are being given for individual initiative, the farmers that
produce much are given more in return.  It is obvious today that American capitalism is going more in the
direction of a controlled economy (communism) and communism is going  in the direction of more free
enterprise (capitalism).  The United Nations is a powerful force working in this direction of world
government.  All this indicates that the establishment of the world kingdom is very near.

 One wonders how governments ever gain such power.  After all a world government can be
accomplished only through the removal of strict nationalism.  the clue to understanding this is given to us in
Rev. 13 where the second beast comes forth out of the earth, which had the power to give life unto the
image of the first beast (the world government)"  Rev 13:15.  This second beast includes such things as
science, education, and religion.  The unique point of the anti-christian rule is this, the people will gladly
give authority to the world government.  This will not be forced upon people, they will readily accept it.

 This will be accomplished by two means.

 The first is that government gives to the people what they want. Certainly one has to be blind not
to see that government here in America is controlling more and more of our lives.  It reaches into the sphere
of economics by controlling business large and small through antitrust laws, taxation, and the like.
Government controls education, the schools, universities, and more and more the public media of
communication:  radio, press, television, etc.  Government subsidizes science foundations, teacher grants,
and such like.  Government has programs to care for the poor, provide medical care under social security,
and many benefits to dependent children.

 The average citizen doesn't consider that the money for these programs comes from his pocket, he
credits the beneficent "Uncle Sam."  With open arms he gladly gives more and more power to government.
What a secure feeling to think that all our financial worries are really the government's, all our unforeseen
emergencies are to be handled by someone bigger.  Today we see with our own eyes how the people gladly
give control to the government.  With almost unlimited resources the government is busy expanding its
scope of power.  Taking the perspective of the world, government may soon tell us just how we may spend
our money or how many children we may have so that the world won't be overpopulated.  Under the
benevolent direction of government, scientists pursue the course of human eugenics to design the
"super-race."  these things must happen in order to usher in the anti-christian world government.

 With this the "church" plays an important roll.  This is the second factor that brings the
anti-christian world government to the fore.  No state could ever succeed in history without the blessings of
the church.  The final world government of anti-christ cannot succeed without the blessing of the nominally
christian church.  This is after all the real thrust of modern ecumenism.  A world government cannot be
realized without a world church to add its blessing.  the World Council is such a medium.  This false church
organization isn't interested in the preaching of the gospel of the Word of God.  Rather its forte is social
improvement.  Repeatedly it has to flirt with government, leading its membership to walk openly in
agreement with the principles of anti-christ.  How many decisions of the World Council deal with
maintaining the truth of the Word of God in an apostate generation?  The list includes instead, civil rights,
distribution of wealth, and all the social issues of our day.  Surely this false religion gives the biggest thrust
to the world government to bring it to realization.

 The ecumenical movement isn't going to be satisfied with unifying Protestantism, it must include
Roman Catholicism not only, but all the religions of the world.  Christianity isn't the only good religion,
there are good points in Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Islam as well.  We have to be able to
recognize this and then we will be able to live at peace as a successful crew upon spaceship earth.  The
human race must and will succeed.  This is the gospel of the false church today.  It proves to us that the end
is very near.  The final sign of our Lord's return lies in the sphere of the true church.  Even as we mentioned
before, it will suffer persecutions.  Because the faithful church refuses to recognize the anti-christian beast
and will not receive its mark (Rev. 13:16-18), she suffers persecution, she cannot buy or sell for there is no
place in such a godless society for her.  She will not be allowed to preach from the pulpit, the radio will be
out of bounds, and every meeting place will be controlled.  The faithful will have difficulty providing
Christian education for their children, they will not be able to keep up with the demanded ideals of
government.  Yea, she will flee to the hills and find refuge in seclusion.  Matt. 24:9-28.

Our Attitude

 That day is not far away.  Anyone who reads with discernment the current events will attest that
these things are developing speedily.  It is almost breathtaking.

 Shall we fear?  The faithful would be so inclined.  It is not a pleasant prospect to consider that our
unbelieving neighbor will have luxurious living, a short work week, fringe benefits, protection of all kinds
of insurance, the best medical care and all the rest.  But the faithful will be struggling to stay alive, suffering
for Christ's sake.

 Yet, what a glorious future.  As things become increasingly difficult, the nearness of the end is all
the more imminent.  We wait not for a kingdom here on earth, that would be disappointing.  We seek the
kingdom of Heaven where we will be at home with Christ and all the saints to take our places in the
glorified creation and praise God perfectly forever.

 Let's cry out joyfully, "Even so, come Lord Jesus, come quickly."
 
 

Quote for Contemplation

"Be not afraid, therefore!  These things must surely come to pass.  they will come ever more forcefully and
plainly.  And in them all you may see the judgment that is coming upon the world and the answer to your
own prayers."  "Be not afraid!  For even though by these judgments you will undoubtedly be touched as far
your present existence and life in the world is concerned, the spiritual kingdom of Christ is invulnerable and
immune from the spiritual point of view.  In the midst of these times as they are pictured in the text, the
people of God are sealed securely;  that is, spiritually they shall surely conquer.  And finally they shall
through all these things enter into the economy of things where God shall spread His tabernacle over them,
and they shall serve Him in His temple day and night forever."

Rev. Herman Hoeksema commenting on Rev. 8:7-12, Behold He Cometh, p. 309.