What is the New World Order?
Politicians have long promised a "new world order" — a world finally united, peaceful and safe. Commentators writing from Scripture take that hope seriously enough to ask two questions of it: what will man's version actually become, and where is the real one to be found?
The Program Men Announce
The ambition is not vague. One writer lists the specific items the plan always contains:
A. J. PollockThe great cry today is for a new World Order. To this end arrangements will be made with the aim of preventing war, of seeing that small nations get their rights, of getting rid of the need for armies and navies, of freeing the nations from the crushing taxation that the present state of things makes necessary, and of setting up an international force strong enough to keep the whole world in order and bring in a peaceful millennium. This all sounds very delightful.
The Turn From Chaos to a Strong Hand
The same writer adds that such a league "could easily become despotic, and in the end bring in a far worse tyranny than the one it is meant to end." Others describe how that turn happens — disorder makes people willing to accept anything:
William KellyNo doubt, just before, there had been a state of anarchy and confusion, and out of it the beast arises and becomes an object of wonder and worship to men who are weary of all their previous turmoil, strife and insecurity... A strong hand takes the reins... And what happened on a small scale, in one country only, will happen across all the western powers of Europe... but it will not be the hand of man merely, it will be the dragon's power. Thus will be accomplished those desires of men that have so far proved only idle dreams, or at best failed attempts.
Order Reaching Into Ordinary Life
Scripture describes this rule touching what people buy and sell. In Revelation, a mark is required "so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name." One commentary draws out what that means for daily life:
Edward DennettHe will form a vast organisation, and outside it no one will be allowed to buy or sell. Every member of it must carry the mark of loyalty to the beast in order to have the freedom to trade. Under the mask of the good of the empire, all will be subjected to this dreadful tyranny, on pain of losing the most ordinary liberty of the individual. Early shadows of this frightful abuse of authority are often seen even in this tolerant age — a plain enough warning to those whose eyes are open that the most absolute despotism can often be cloaked under a profession of the most liberal ideas.
The Root Problem
Why can the project not succeed? Not because the goals are wrong, but because of what drives it:
J. N. DarbyThe settled will of man is to have the world without God. This is what man wants... Man's great abilities will be developed far more in the day that is now approaching than they ever have been, in trying to make the world run thoroughly well without God. When was there ever a time of such unity among nations as now, or such drawing out of resources? The cry is "Peace, peace" — by the energies and working of man's will without God.
The Real One, and Who Brings It
Commentators do not deny that a united, peaceful world is coming. They locate it elsewhere:
A. J. PollockThey are talking of "a new world order," but it cannot come until the Prince of Peace comes to reign, the true King of Salem.
The same writer places it after the judgments described in Revelation, when the Lord "will take His place in this world, and set up the true New World Order of righteousness, security and peace."
Where It Can Be Seen Now
Something of it is meant to be visible already, in a company that crosses every line the nations argue over:
A. J. PollockIt takes no notice of borders or languages, or of the colour of the skin. The writer remembers sitting down at the Lord's supper in the United States. Present were Americans, English, Scots, Irish, German, French, Swedish, Russian and Jewish believers. What but divine power could bring men of different nationalities together, giving them one spirit and one mind, so that all distinctions of class and race are lost in their worship of their common Lord? Here we see the secret of the New World Order that politicians are clamouring for.
Meanwhile the counsel to believers is to keep clear of the schemes themselves — to walk apart from "those plans or confederations which undertake to make the world what God can accept," since "anything that proposes to set the world in order before judgment has cleared it is of the god of this world and not of heaven" (J. G. Bellett).
Summary
- Cry — The demand is for a world order that ends war, protects small nations, disarms the powers and polices the whole earth. It sounds delightful.
- Counterfeit — Weariness with anarchy prepares men to welcome a strong hand, and that hand will be backed by satanic power, not merely human ambition.
- Control — The order arrives as tyranny over buying and selling; commentators warn that absolute despotism often wears liberal language.
- Cause — The whole project runs on one settled will: to make the world work well without God, crying "Peace, peace" while He is left out.
- Christ — The true new world order waits for the Prince of Peace to reign; until then its secret is displayed wherever believers of every nation are made one in Him.