Personal
from Herbert W. Armstrong
FORTY years ago I attended the entire San Francisco Conference for the drafting and signing of the Charter for the United Nations.
On June 23 to 26 of this current year, the 40th anniversary of that Conference was held in San Francisco.
So far as I know, I was one of only four or so in attendance at this Anniversary Conference who had attended the Conference 40 years ago. Three were official representatives of nations and signed the Charter. I attended as a press representative, representing The Plain Truth. Although not political or official, at this 40th Anniversary Conference I was seated at the head speaker’s table at dinners and some conferences. One hundred thirty-one people, including ambassadors representing about 100 nations, were present.
At the founding Conference 40 years ago, I heard loud and serious oratory in plenary sessions, saying solemnly that this United Nations they were forming was the world’s LAST HOPE to avoid final doom! At this Anniversary Conference I heard mostly apologetic speeches for failure and limited praise for real accomplishment in minor areas. World War I was to have been the war to end all wars. World War II was billed likewise, and, at its close, the U.N. was to keep the peace. Yet more than 150 local wars have occurred since and no peace is remotely in sight now. Instead a new kind of violence to upset world peace is the current problem – TERRORISM!
WHY HAS THE UNITED NATIONS SO UTTERLY FAILED?
At the Conference 40 years ago, I attended a Pontifical High Mass at a Roman Catholic cathedral, attended largely by delegates to the Conference, officiated by Bishop Hunt of Salt Lake City. The bishop’s loud voice rang out a stirring warning to the delegates, quoting from the Bible, “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” It was abundantly evident the Eternal was having no part in building this house that was to be humanity’s LAST HOPE for the survival of mankind!
I could have quoted more warnings from the sure Word of God. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” – and it seems no two nations were or are in agreement. Also, “A house … divided against itself … cannot stand.” And the United Nations is a house fatally divided against itself, but a sounding board for Soviet propaganda, ironically financed so largely by the United States.
Out of the United Nations 40 years ago emerged two major military powers, the United States and the Soviet Union. Between them was Europe. This “humanity’s last chance” for human survival and world peace split Europe down the middle. We have had a divided Europe now for 40 years.
The term 40 years has a significant biblical connotation. Moses was 40 years being prepared as a prince in the palace of Egypt’s Pharaoh. Then he was 40 years an outcast. At age 80 he led the Israelites 40 years in the wilderness after their deliverance and prior to the entry into the promised land. David and Solomon each reigned for 40 years. Is Europe to be united after 40 years?
Germany has been the leading most go-ahead nation in Europe. Under Hitler they were going to be the “master race,” ruling the world for a thousand years. Hitler’s slogan was Deutschland über alles.
For 40 years now Germany has been a divided nation. Nazism promoted nationalism – a patriotic national pride. For 40 years West Germany has been suffering from the accusation of instigating World War II and the infamous Holocaust. But East Germans, though not enjoying prosperity under Communist rule, nevertheless are still, very much GERMANS – proud of being Germans, with the national spirit. They are still “more German” than the West Germans.
The Germans on both sides want to be united once again. There is now a dynamic movement toward a united EUROPE – a resurrection of the medieval Holy Roman Empire. Europeans know a house divided cannot stand. Eastern Europe is more Roman Catholic today than Western Europe. Religious liberalism has been spreading throughout Western Europe. But the religious persecution of the Soviets under the teaching that “religion is the opium of the people” has served to cause many Eastern Europeans to be more loyally Roman Catholic than before.
The present Pope is vigorously encouraging reunion under Roman Catholic domination. The Catholic world calls the Pope “vicar of Christ,” which literally means “in place of Christ.” They also call him “the Holy Father.”
Recalling the prophetic words of Bishop Hunt, 40 years ago, “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it,” Europeans will consider that a new united Europe headed by the Pope and Catholic Church, is, indeed, a house built by the Lord.
The European Parliament meets in Brussels, in Strasbourg, France, and in Luxembourg, with a staff working vigorously for a reunited Europe, and working out a constitution for this coming third super world power. At the European Community’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, a very large staff are working for a single united European currency, one united military force and one economic structure.
Do not discount the possibility that this resurrection of the medieval Holy Roman Empire may start by some arrangement to reunite East and West Germany first. Before World War II, a mutual accord had been made between Germany and Russia. History often repeats itself.
The prophecies of Revelation 13 and 17 and Daniel 2 and 7 show definitely that such a reunited Europe is coming – AND SOON! That of Daniel 2:33 shows half of this united Europe will consist of Eastern European nations, and half of Western. They comprise the toes and feet of Nebuchadnezzar’s great dream image, to be destroyed by Christ’s coming again to earth in supreme supernatural power and glory to rule all nations and bring us world peace!
This reunification of Europe is in the sure word of prophecy. But the union will not cleave together, even as the iron and clay of Daniel 2:33 could not cleave together. But when it does come into fulfillment, very soon now, it will quickly be replaced by a REAL world peace that shall last for the next thousand years. And that will be for the happiness and good of all nations, the Russians, all other Europeans, the Americas and all Africans and Asians.
Europeans are saying that 40 years is long enough to be divided. This 40th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations may trigger events to bring on the world’s last colossal world violence and trouble, and usher in at last, after 6,000 years of human trial and error and woes and sufferings, a UNITED ONE WORLD, AND WORLD PEACE AT LAST – a world truly to be built by the LORD Eternal.
