The role assigned to America, of summoning the nations to international peace, has as yet, however, been only partially played, and Baha'is are awaiting with interest the developments which the future has in store.( 41) The Great War Both Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha on many occasions foretold with surprising accuracy the coming of the Great War of 1914-1918.

At Sacramento, California, on October 26, 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha said:--"Today the European continent is like an arsenal.

It is a storehouse of explosives, ready for just a spark, and one spark could set aflame the whole of Europe, particularly at this time, when the Balkan question is before the world." In many of His addresses in America and Europe He gave similar warning.

In another address in California in October 1912 He said:-- We are on the eve of the Battle of Armageddon referred to in the sixteenth chapter of Revelation.

The time is two years hence, when only a spark will set aflame the whole of Europe.
The social unrest in all countries, the growing religious scepticism antecedent to the millennium, and already here, will set aflame the whole of Europe as is prophesied in the Book of Daniel and in the Book (Revelation) of John.
By 1917 kingdoms will fall and cataclysms will rock the earth.
(Reported by Mrs.Corinne True in The North Shore Review, September 26, 1914, Chicago, U.S.A.) On the eve of the great conflict He said:-- A great melee of the civilized nations is in sight.