The Prophecy on War
by Robert Rosskopf
Published in 1832, and given as a voice of warning to the entire world, The Prophecy on War stands as a singular monument to prophecy and the foreknowledge of God. It isn't just a speculation of some political pundit about troubling times or prospects of war. It opens with "Thus saith the Lord". One can search long and hard, but there are no greater prophecies of modern wars, including both the Civil War and the World Wars, than that of Joseph Smith.
"VERILY, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass..."
It is 1832 and God is warning the world of coming wars through the prophet Joseph Smith.
"...beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina"
It was in fact the South Carolina militia that attacked and took over Fort Sumter, South Carolina. That started the US Civil War. That is a very specific prophecy, fulfilled to the letter.
"...which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls;"
In retrospect, half a million is definitely "many souls".
"For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States..."
That is how history played out...
"and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain..."
Which they did.
"and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations... "
Great Britain did call upon other nations to defend themselves against other nations. They called on Ireland and the US to defend themselves against Germany and her allies.
"...and then war shall be poured out upon all nations."
War had never been "poured out on all nations" before. Joseph Smith, as messenger of God, is warning the people of the earth of a new and unprecedented phase of warfare. The question is worth asking, Who is pouring out war? According to Nephi, a prophet of the Book of Mormon, men are commanded not to contend with one another. When Jesus Christ appeared to the Nephites, he explained that "he that hath the spirit of is not of me, but is of the , who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another."(3 Nephi 11:29) How does the devil stir up "the hearts of men", if not with propaganda? He is constantly trying to persuade people to hate other people.
"And it shall come to pass also that the remnants who are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation."
General Custer's war with the nations of Native Americans was yet to come. It is no surprise that Native Americans were "exceedingly angry".
This prophecy is so accurate, that it could have been written after these events in history played out, yet it was written well before.
"And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn;"
Millions were killed in the 1st world war.
"...and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God..."
There was famine in both the US Civil war and the 1st World war. After the 2nd world war, a famine relief effort was spearheaded by the LDS church to save Europe from starvation.
The 1918 Spanish Flu was a plague that killed millions of people, as if the war wasn't enough.
Modern warfare is characterized by the thunder of heaven, fierce winds, and vivid lightning. Certainly God did not start the war, but he didn't stop it either. He had warned the world through his prophet Joseph Smith, and the world had rejected his warning.
"until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations;"
That is basically how the prophecy ends. I don't know how war could lead to the end of all nations, unless were are talking about nuclear war. That could certainly lead to chaos. This prophecy, with the exception of that last statement, has been fulfilled completely, and it is chilling in its detail and accuracy. No one else gave any prophecy that even came close. So where did the prophecy come from? Did it come from God? Was it Satan who wanted to warn the world? Was Joseph Smith just smarter than every other pundit in the entire world? I just don't know how critics are going to explain it. This is the power of the God of Israel.