The following are some of my impressions from this book.
The problems of the world are clearly urgent enough to move national representatives to gather together and strive for a workable 'world order.' The UN is an obvious example. Although coming together is generally viewed as positive, a less publicized issue is where these representatives are coming from. The diversity of history is wide, as are concepts of what world order ought to be. To put it another way, this present system of things is hardly a system.
Certain nations proclaim their ideals of democracy, and so on, but these concepts do not always resonate strongly in other nations. This creates the situation where, despite the proclaimed ideals, challenges are often dealt with by force.
The accumulation of nuclear weapons highlights the dilemma. As the author indicates, a nation may declare itself a champion of human rights, democracy, respecting the will of the people. If the leaders of an authoritarian regime war against them, obviously the ultimate instrument of retaliation is nuclear weapons, designed to destroy the very population whose rights they claim deserve respect.
He raises the question, What will the greater powers do in these days of nuclear proliferation if nuclear war breaks out between two smaller nations? Is there a plan? Apparently not. He suggests such a predicament leaves the nations vulnerable to a complete loss of control similar to, but of course much worse than, the loss of control in 1914.
In summary, the book details the world's disorder and dramatizes the rapidly accelerating urgency of our times. In reading a book like this it helps to have the perspective of the Scriptures and the knowledge that our Creator will indeed intervene at the exactly right time. (Daniel 2:44)
"Let there be light."
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