diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:10:58 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:10:58 -0700 |
| commit | 6be47c9865903dc325499bc5a4306c4d99f5c08a (patch) | |
| tree | 59d1ae19ebec310573b97e5918ff00432b51a9dc /38721-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '38721-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 38721-h/38721-h.htm | 4483 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38721-h/images/illus002.jpg | bin | 0 -> 16514 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38721-h/images/illus003.jpg | bin | 0 -> 5445 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38721-h/images/illus023.jpg | bin | 0 -> 43818 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38721-h/images/illus039.jpg | bin | 0 -> 56704 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38721-h/images/illus049.jpg | bin | 0 -> 39019 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38721-h/images/illus061.jpg | bin | 0 -> 28824 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38721-h/images/illus097.jpg | bin | 0 -> 40961 bytes |
8 files changed, 4483 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/38721-h/38721-h.htm b/38721-h/38721-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..15cbb2b --- /dev/null +++ b/38721-h/38721-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4483 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Roman Empire in the Light of Prophecy, by W. E. Vine. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + margin: 3em auto 3em auto; + height: 0px; + border-width: 1px 0 0 0; + border-style: solid; + border-color: #dcdcdc; + width: 500px; + clear: both; +} + +hr.hr2 { + width: 250px; + margin: 3em auto 3em auto; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +table.toc { + margin: auto; + width: 50%; +} + +td.c1 { + text-align: right; + vertical-align: top; + padding-right: 1em; +} + +td.c2 { + text-align: left; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; + padding-right: 1em; + vertical-align: top; +} + +td.c3 { + text-align: right; + padding-left: 1em; + vertical-align: bottom; +} + +td { padding: 0em 1em; } +th { padding: 0em 1em; } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: #999; +} /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .gap { margin-top: 1em; } + +/* Images */ + .figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +p.caption { + margin-top: 0; + font-size: 70%; + text-align: left; +} + +p.caption2 { + margin-top: 0; + font-size: 70%; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Transcriber Notes */ +div.tn { + background-color: #EEE; + border: dashed 1px; + color: #000; + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + margin-top: 5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + padding: 1em; +} + +ul.corrections { + list-style-type: circle; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +div.fn { + background-color: #EEE; + border: dashed 1px; + color: #000; + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + margin-top: 5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + padding: 1em; +} + + .footnote { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em; +} + + .footnote .label { + position: absolute; + right: 84%; + text-align: right; +} + + .fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none; +} + + .signature { + text-align: right; + margin-right: 5%; +} + +/* INDEX */ +ul.index { list-style-type: none; + width: 20em; + margin: 2em auto; +} + +ul.index2 { list-style-type: none; } + +li.pad { padding-top: 2.0%; } + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Roman Empire in the Light of Prophecy, by W. E. Vine + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Roman Empire in the Light of Prophecy + The Rise, Progress, and End of the Fourth World-empire + +Author: W. E. Vine + +Release Date: January 31, 2012 [EBook #38721] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROMAN EMPIRE IN LIGHT OF PROPHECY *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Julia Neufeld and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"> </a></span></p> +<p class="center"> +THE<br /> +ROMAN<br /> +EMPIRE<br /> +IN<br /> +PROPHECY.<br /><br /><br /> + +W. E. VINE, M.A.</p> + +<p>"Regarded as an historical +manual it is of no little value, +and the author's summaries of +the rise and progress of Rome +are quite masterly in their way."</p> + +<p>—<i>Glasgow Citizen.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 186px;"> +<img src="images/illus002.jpg" width="186" height="250" alt="CÆSAR AUGUSTUS" title="CÆSAR AUGUSTUS" /> + +</div> + +<p>CÆSAR AUGUSTUS, first Roman Emperor, born 63 B.C. +Grand-nephew and heir of Julius Cæsar Octavianus. Obtained +supreme power over Roman dominions by victory over +Anthony at Actium, 31 B.C. Proclaimed Emperor, 27 B.C., +by the Roman Senate, which conferred on him the title +Augustus. Died 19th August, A.D. 14, in his 76th year.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"> </a></span></p> + + + + +<h1> +THE<br /> +ROMAN EMPIRE</h1> +<h3>IN THE LIGHT OF</h3> +<h1><span class="smcap">Prophecy</span></h1> +<h3> +—OR,—<br /> +<br /> +THE RISE, PROGRESS AND END OF<br /> +THE FOURTH WORLD-EMPIRE.</h3> + +<p class="center">BY</p> +<h2>W. E. VINE, M.A.,</h2> + +<p class="center"> +Author of "B.C. and A.D.; or, How the World was prepared for the<br /> +Gospel"; "The Scriptures and How to Use Them," etc.<br /> +</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/illus003.jpg" width="150" height="137" alt="Publisher's Mark" title="Publisher's Mark" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"> +PICKERING & INGLIS<br /> +<br /> +Printers and Publishers, 14 Paternoster Row, London, E.C.4<br /> +229 Bothwell Street, Glasgow; 75 Princes Street, Edinburgh<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"> </a></span></p> +<h2>OFFICES AND AGENTS.</h2> + + +<p> +<span class="smcap">London</span>: <span class="smcap">Pickering & Inglis</span>, 14 Paternoster Row, E.C.4.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Glasgow</span>: <span class="smcap">Pickering & Inglis</span>, 229 Bothwell Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Edinburgh</span>: <span class="smcap">Pickering & Inglis</span>, 75 Princes Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Manchester</span>: <span class="smcap">The Tract Society</span>, 135 Deansgate.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Liverpool</span>: <span class="smcap">Wm. T. Jaye</span>, 18 Slater Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Newcastle</span>: <span class="smcap">Northern Counties Depot</span>, 63a Blackett Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Birmingham</span>: <span class="smcap">P. H. Hulbert</span>, 315 Broad Street (Corner).<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bath</span>: H. W. & <span class="smcap">H. R. Griffiths</span>, 35 Milton Avenue.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>: <span class="smcap">W. B. W. Sarsfield</span>, 78 Park Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Weston-super-Mare</span>: <span class="smcap">Western Bible Depot</span>, 12 Waterloo Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cardiff</span>: <span class="smcap">H. J. Lear</span>, 17 Royal Arcade.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Dublin</span>: <span class="smcap">R. Stewart</span>, 10 D'Olier Street, and 2 Nassau Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Belfast</span>: <span class="smcap">R. M'Clay</span>, 44 Ann Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Dundee</span>: <span class="smcap">R. H. Lundie</span>, 35 Reform Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">New York</span>: <span class="smcap">Gospel Publishing House</span>, 318 West 39th Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chicago</span>: <span class="smcap">Wm. Norton</span>, Bible Institute Assoc., 826 North La Salle St.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Buffalo, N.Y.</span>: <span class="smcap">Sword and Shield Tract Society</span>, 1247 Niagara St.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Swengel, Pa.</span>: <span class="smcap">I. C. Herenden</span>, Bible Truth Depot.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Los Angeles, Cal.</span>: <span class="smcap">Geo. Ray</span>, 8508 So. Vermont Avenue.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Boston</span>: <span class="smcap">Hamilton Bros.</span>, 120 Tremont Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Philadelphia</span>: <span class="smcap">Glad Tidings Publishing Co.</span>, 5863 Christian St.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Dallas, Texas</span>: <span class="smcap">J. T. Dean</span>, 2613 Pennsylvania Avenue.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Windsor, Ont.</span>: <span class="smcap">C. J. Stowe</span>, 23 Martin Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Toronto</span>: <span class="smcap">Upper Canada Tract Society</span>, 2 Richmond Street, E.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Orillia, Ontario</span>: <span class="smcap">S. W. Benner</span>, Bible and Tract Depot.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Winnipeg</span>: <span class="smcap">N. W. Bible Depot</span>, 580 Main Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Buenos Aires</span>: <span class="smcap">W. C. K. Torre</span>, Casilla 5.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Melbourne</span>: <span class="smcap">E. W. Cole</span>, Book Arcade.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Sydney</span>: <span class="smcap">Bible, Book, and Tract Depot</span>, 373 Elizabeth Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Sydney</span>: <span class="smcap">Christian Workers Depot</span>, 170 Elizabeth Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Brisbane</span>: <span class="smcap">W. R. Smith & Co.</span>, Bible Repository, Albert Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Auckland, N.Z.</span>: <span class="smcap">H. L. Thatcher</span>, 135 Symonds Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Dunedin</span>: <span class="smcap">H. J. Bates</span>, Otago Bible House, 38 George Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Palmerston North</span>: <span class="smcap">James G. Harvey</span>, Main Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Christchurch</span>: <span class="smcap">G. W. Plimsoll</span>, 84 Manchester Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Belgaum, India</span>: <span class="smcap">W. C. Irvine</span>, Christian Literature Depot.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bangalore</span>: <span class="smcap">A. M'D. Redwood</span>, Frasertown Book Depot.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Switzerland</span>: <span class="smcap">Jas. Hunter</span>, Clarens.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cairo</span>: <span class="smcap">The Nile Press</span>, Bulag.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hong-Kong</span>: <span class="smcap">A. Young</span>, Bible Depot, 2 Wyndham Street.<br /> +<br /> +<i>And through most Booksellers, Colporteurs, and Tract Depots.</i><br /> +<br /> +Copyright—Pickering & Inglis.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"> </a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>The following pages are the outcome of +several conversations with inquirers +shortly after the outbreak of the great war, +in 1914, and of requests for notes of the views +expressed. The subject of these conversations +had occupied the earnest if intermittent +attention of the writer for over twenty years. +The notes were expanded into a series of +articles which appeared in <i>The Witness</i> +during 1915. These have been revised and +somewhat extended for the present volume, +especially the last chapter, much of which was +previously precluded by limitations of space.</p> + +<p>In regard to past history, the outlines of +events connected with the Roman and Turkish +Empires are given with the hope that the +records will prove helpful to those who read +the history of Nations in the light of Scripture.</p> + +<p>In regard to the future, while there are +many events which the Word of God has foretold +with absolute clearness, and upon these +we may speak unreservedly, yet there are +many circumstances concerning which definite +prediction has been designedly withheld, +and upon which prophecy is therefore +obscure. In such matters an effort has been +made to avoid dogmatism. Prophecy was +not given in order for us to prophesy.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the prophetic Scriptures +are not to be neglected. Difficulty in understanding +them is no reason for disregarding +them. They are part of that Word, the whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +of which is declared to be "profitable for +doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction +in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3. 16). +They therefore demand prayerful and patient +meditation.</p> + +<p>For a speaker to refer to the study of the +prophecies in a way which tends to minimise +their importance in the minds of his hearers +is to dishonour both the sacred Word and Him +who inspired it. It is significant that the +book of the Revelation opens with a promise +of blessing to him who reads (the reference is +especially to public reading) and to those who +"hear the words of the prophecy, and keep +the things which are written therein" (chap. +1. 3), and at the close repeats the blessing for +him who keeps its words (chap. 22. 7).</p> + +<p>The quotations in the present volume are +from the Revised Version, the comparatively +greater accuracy of its translations being +important for a correct understanding of +many of the passages considered.</p> + +<p>While the book is published at the request +of several friends, the author fulfils such +request with the earnest desire that in matters +of doctrine that only may be accepted which +can be confirmed from the Word of God +itself, and that the Lord may graciously own +what is in accordance with His mind for the +glory of His Name and the profit of the +reader.</p> + +<div class="signature">W. E. VINE.</div> +<p><span class="smcap">Bath, 1916.</span> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"> </a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align="center">CHAPTER I.</td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>The Times of the Gentiles</b>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Nebuchadnezzar's Dream,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Chaldean, Medo-Persian, Grecian Kingdoms,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Fourth Kingdom,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">CHAPTER II.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>The Roman Dominion</b>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Rise and Progress of the Roman Empire,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Eastward Extension,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Empire Completed,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Crushing of the Nations,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Twofold Division,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Tenfold Division,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> A Comparison of the Visions,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Testimony of Early Christian Writers,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Processes at Work Since the Twofold Division,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">CHAPTER III.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>The Overthrow in the West</b>—<span class="smcap">Germanic Invasions</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Disintegration of the Western Half,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Alaric and the Goths,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Attila and the Huns,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Genseric and the Vandals,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Northern Limits of the Empire,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Ten Kingdoms not Formed by Germanic Invasions,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">CHAPTER IV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>The Overthrow in the East</b>—<span class="smcap">Turkish Empire</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Mohammed and the Khaliphs,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Eastern Empire at End of 10th Century,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Appearance of the Turks,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Turks Embrace Mohammedanism,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Turks Enter Europe,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Constantinople Taken,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> A Comparison of the Two Divisions,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Decline of the Turkish Empire,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Coming Overthrow,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_54">54</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> A Blank in Prophecy,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Continuation of the Roman Government,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Roman Imperialism Continued,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">CHAPTER V.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>Coming Revival of the Roman Empire</b>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">1. <span class="smcap">Geographical Considerations</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Review of the Ancient Territories,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Divisions of the Greek Empire,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Other European Territories,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The British Empire,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_67">67</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">2. <span class="smcap">Political Standpoint</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> European Federation,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Sea Symbolic of National Unrest,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Revolutions and their Issues,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_74">74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Iron and the Clay,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_74">74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Unprecedented Political and Social Upheaval,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">3. <span class="smcap">The Religious Standpoint</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Papacy: Its Present Power,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> A Reunion of Christendom,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_80">80</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Doom of Religious Babylon,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Satanic Authority of the Emperor,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_82">82</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The "Superman,"</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_83">83</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Spiritism—The False Prophet,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Universal System of Commerce,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">CHAPTER VI.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><b>The Everlasting Kingdom</b>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Jews,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Seventy Weeks,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Last "Week,"</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Fierce Persecution,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Armageddon and After,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Scene of the Conflict,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Epiphany of His Parousia,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Voice of the Lord,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Treading of the Winepress,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Overthrow of the Man of Sin,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_100">100</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Scene of Judgment,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The Jews in their Extremity,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Seismic Disturbances,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap"> The King Eternal</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><b>Index to Maps.</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Roman Empire in Apostolic Times</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Western Roman Empire Under Germanic Tribes</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Turkish Empire in the 16th Century</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Turkish Empire in 1914</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_54">54</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Palestine To Illustrate Psalm 29</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"> </a></span></p> +<h2>The Roman Empire in the<br /> +Light of Prophecy.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter I.</span></h2> + +<h3>THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES.</h3> + + +<p>The overthrow of the kingdom of Judah +recorded in 2 Kings 24 and 25, and in +the opening words of the book of Daniel, +was a remarkable crisis in the history of +the world. In judgment upon the people +of God for their long-continued iniquity, +sovereignty was removed from their hands, +king and people were led into captivity, +and Jerusalem was, in fulfilment of +Jeremiah's words, given into the hand of +Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon (Jer. +21. 10). The government of their land +was thus committed to the Gentiles, and +with the Gentiles it has remained from that +day till now. These events took place in +606 and 587 <small>B.C.</small></p> + + +<h4>The Times of the Gentiles.</h4> + +<p>But Gentile control is not to continue +indefinitely. This, which is plain from +many Scriptures, was intimated by Christ<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +to His disciples when He said of Jerusalem +that the city would "be trodden down of +the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles +be fulfilled" (Luke 21. 24). The phrase, +"the times of the Gentiles," calls for consideration, +and especially as it has to do +with Nebuchadnezzar's conquest just +mentioned.</p> + +<p>There are two words translated "times" +in the New Testament; one is <i>chronoi</i>, +which is invariably rendered "times;" the +other is <i>kairoi</i>, which, when the two are +found together, is rendered "seasons." +Thus Paul, in writing to the Thessalonian +Church, says, "But concerning the times +and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need +that aught be written unto you" (1 +Thess. 5. 1, <small>R.V.</small>; cp. Acts 1.7). We may +distinguish "seasons" from "times" in +the following way: "times" denotes mere +duration, lengths of time; "seasons" implies +that these lengths of time have certain +events or circumstances associated with +them by which they are characterised. +Thus the words almost exactly correspond +to the terms "periods" and "epochs." +Now the word <i>kairoi</i>, "seasons," is used +in the phrase translated "the times of the +Gentiles," which might accordingly be +rendered "the seasons of the Gentiles."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +We look, then, for some special characteristic +of the period or periods thus designated. +We have observed that Nebuchadnezzar's +overthrow of the kingdom of Judah involved +the transference of its sovereignty +from Jew to Gentile from that event onward. +"The times of the Gentiles," accordingly, +is that period, or succession of +periods, during which dominion over the +Jews and their land is committed to +Gentile Powers.</p> + + +<h4>Nebuchadnezzar's Dream.</h4> + +<p>Special significance attaches to the fact +that no sooner had the times of the Gentiles +begun than God made known the future +course of their authority over His people, +and the character and doom of that authority, +and made it known to the first +Gentile conqueror himself. It was in the +second year of his reign that Nebuchadnezzar +saw in a dream the great image by +means of which the purposes of God were +to be communicated to him. The description +of this, given by Daniel to the troubled +monarch, is as follows: "Thou, O king, +sawest, and behold a great image. This +image, which was mighty, and whose +brightness was excellent, stood before thee; +and the aspect thereof was terrible. As for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +this image, his head was of fine gold, his +breast and his arms of silver, his belly +and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, +his feet part of iron, and part of clay. Thou +sawest till that a stone was cut out without +hands, which smote the image upon his +feet that were of iron and clay, and brake +them in pieces. Then was the iron, the +clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, +broken in pieces together, and became like +the chaff of the summer threshing-floors: +and the wind carried them away, that no +place was found for them: and the stone +that smote the image became a great +mountain, and filled the whole earth" +(Dan. 2. 31-35).</p> + +<p>Interpreting this vision, the prophet +identified Nebuchadnezzar, the Chaldean +monarch, with the head of gold, and foretold +that his kingdom, or empire, would +be followed in succession by three others, +corresponding respectively to the different +parts of the remainder of the image and to +the nature of the metals composing them. +Of the four kingdoms the last is to engage +our chief attention in these papers. Passing +from the first, the <b>Chaldean</b>, as +specified in Daniel's words to the king, +"Thou art this head of gold" (v. 38), we +are shown that the second kingdom was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +that of the <b>Medes and Persians</b> by the +prophet's record of the doom of Nebuchadnezzar's +successor, Belshazzar: "In that +night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was +slain. And Darius the Mede received the +kingdom" (Dan. 5. 30, 31; cp. v. 28). +That the third kingdom was the <b>Grecian</b> +we find in the interpretation of part of a +vision recorded in the eighth chapter: +"The ram which thou sawest that had the +two horns, they are the kings of Media +and Persia. And the rough he-goat [who +was seen to destroy the ram, v. 8] is the +king of Greece" (vv. 20, 21; cp. chap. +10. 20).</p> + + +<h4>The Fourth Kingdom.</h4> + +<p>The name of the fourth kingdom is not +mentioned in the Old Testament, but the +prediction given in the ninth chapter of +Daniel's prophecies sufficiently identifies +it. Messiah, it was said, would be cut off, +and the people of a coming prince would +destroy the city and the sanctuary. Now +we know that the perpetrators of this were +the Romans. We know, too, that by +them the Grecian empire was conquered. +The world-wide rule of the first <b>Roman</b> +Emperor is indicated in the words of +Luke's introduction to his record of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +birth of Christ: "Now it came to pass in +those days, there went out a decree from +Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should +be enrolled" (Luke 2. 1).</p> + +<p>It is important to note that this fourth +kingdom will, in its final condition, be in +world-wide authority at the close of the +times of the Gentiles, that is, that the +Roman power, though in a divided state, +will not be finally destroyed until it meets +its doom at the hands of the Son of God. +This fact, which will receive fuller treatment +later, and is borne out by several +Scriptures, is plainly indicated in the +passage which describes the last state of +the fourth kingdom and its destruction. +Immediately after showing that it would be +a divided kingdom, and describing the +nature of that division (vv. 41-43), the +prophet says: "And in the days of those +kings shall the God of Heaven set up a +kingdom, which shall never be destroyed, +nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to +another people; but it shall break in pieces +and consume all these kingdoms, and it +shall stand for ever" (v. 44). Now this +indestructible kingdom cannot be other +than that of Christ, and by His kingdom +the fourth is to be broken in pieces and consumed, +thus involving the overthrow of all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +forms of Gentile authority. Obviously +no form of world government will exist +between that of the fourth kingdom, in +its condition described in verses 42, 43, +and the kingdom of Christ which destroys it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter II.</span></h2> + +<h3>THE ROMAN DOMINION.</h3> + + +<p>An understanding of the Scriptures does +not depend upon access to other books, +or reference to historical records outside +the limits of the Bible. The Word of +God is its own interpreter, and all that is +needed for our establishment in the faith +is contained in its pages. On the other +hand, the Bible throws light upon history +not recorded therein, and it is with that +in view that we give certain historical +outlines in dealing with our subject.</p> + +<p>The first part of the prophet's description +of the fourth kingdom is as follows: +"The fourth kingdom shall be strong as +iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces +and subdueth all things: and as iron that +crusheth all these, shall it break in pieces +and crush" (v. 40). A similar description +is given in his account of a subsequent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +vision, in which he saw four great beasts +coming up from the sea. In this vision +the Roman kingdom again was undoubtedly +symbolised by the fourth beast. This +beast he describes as "terrible and powerful, +and strong exceedingly; and it had great +iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, +and stamped the residue with his feet" +(7. 7). So, again, in the words of the interpretation: +"The fourth beast shall be a +fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be +diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall +devour the whole earth, and shall tread it +down, and break it in pieces" (v. 23). +Now all this exactly depicts the Roman +power in its subjugation and control of +the nations which eventually composed +its empire. In the light, then, of these +prophecies we give a brief sketch of its +rise and conquests.</p> + + +<h4>The Rise and Progress of the Roman +Empire.</h4> + +<p>The Romans, who early in the third +century <small>B.C.</small> had become masters of all +Italy, save in the extreme north, were +drawn into a course of conquest beyond +the limits of their own country by the +rivalry of the rapidly advancing power of +Carthage in North Africa. Carthage, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +city founded some centuries earlier by +Phœnician colonists from Tyre and Sidon, +had at length become the capital of a great +North African empire, stretching from +Tripoli to the Atlantic Ocean, and embracing +settlements elsewhere in countries +and islands of the Mediterranean. These +settlements included the greater part of +Sicily, and that island, situated between +the rival nations, became the first bone of +contention between them. The precise +cause of the struggle must not occupy us +here, but the circumstances which decided +the Roman Government, in 264 <small>B.C.</small>, upon +an invasion of Sicily were of the deepest +significance in the history of the world. +By the year 242 Sicily was subdued. In +the following year the island was ceded by +Carthage, and the extension of Roman +dominion beyond Italy was begun. The +war continued intermittently, with many +vicissitudes, for a century, but eventually +the Carthagians were overwhelmingly defeated +by land and sea. "Think you that +Carthage or that Rome will be content, +after the victory, with its own country and +Sicily?" said a Greek orator, while the +issues of the struggle in its earliest stage +were yet in the balance. Rome's vast +ambition, and her abundant means of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +gratifying it, justified the orator's fears. +The islands of Sardinia and Corsica were +shortly afterwards seized.</p> + +<p>Defeated in Sicily, Carthage extended +her dominions in Spain and made that +country a base for marching through Gaul +to attack the Romans from the north. +Though their renowned leader Hannibal +met with success, their effort was doomed +to failure. Meanwhile Roman armies had +pushed into Spain. After a fierce struggle +of thirteen years the Carthagians were completely +overcome there, and Spain soon +became a Roman province. By the decisive +battle of Zama, in North Africa, in 202, +Carthage and its territories became tributary, +and thus all the western Mediterranean +passed under the supremacy of +Rome. Eventually in 146, as a result of +a final war, Carthage was razed to the +ground, and its North African kingdom +was constituted a Roman province under +the name of Africa. War with the Celts +in North Italy, commencing the next year, +resulted in the extension of the boundary to +the Alps, and countries beyond began to +feel the terror of the Roman name.</p> + + +<h4>Eastward Extension.</h4> + +<p>The second century <small>B.C.</small> witnessed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +spread of the iron rule eastward. The +Grecian Empire of Alexander the Great, +the third mentioned in Daniel's interpretation, +had embraced all the countries +surrounding the eastern half of the Mediterranean +and had stretched far beyond +the Euphrates. The disintegration of +Alexander's empire after his death +prepared the way for the Romans. Macedonia, +the former seat of that empire, was +their first great objective. A pretext for +war was soon forthcoming, and war was +actually declared in 200 <small>B.C.</small> A series +of struggles ensued, and Macedonia was +not finally subdued for over thirty years. +Meanwhile matters had developed in +Greece and Asia Minor. In the latter +country Antiochus III., the Great, who had +also conquered Syria and Palestine, was +seeking to extend his dominions. Cities and +states of Asia Minor, however, groaning +under the tyranny of Antiochus, appealed to +Rome for aid. The Romans declared war +against him in 192 <small>B.C.</small> The first conflict +occurred in Greece, which was largely under +his influence. An early victory secured the +submission of the Greek states. Antiochus +retreated into Asia Minor, and was finally +crushed at Magnesia in 190. The whole +of Asia Minor was then surrendered to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +Rome. Actual possession was postponed +and local government was largely granted +both there and in Greece. But that +policy proved impracticable, and the +force of circumstances compelled a forward +movement to universal empire. There +was no such thing as the balance of power +in the ancient world. Once a country +became predominant there was nothing +for it but the subjugation of its neighbours. +The extension of Rome's dominions eastward +was a fulfilment of a destiny beyond +its own control. The reverent student of +Scripture sees in the course of these events +the unfolding of God's plans and the +fulfilment of His Word.</p> + +<p>The final campaign against the Macedonians +was opened in 169 <small>B.C.</small>, and in the +next year they were overwhelmed at the +decisive battle of Pydna. Macedonia and +the adjacent state of Illyria became tributary, +and eventually were reduced to Roman +provinces.</p> + +<p>The Romans then felt the necessity +of definitely annexing Greece. Seventy +towns in that country were plundered +and 150,000 inhabitants were sold into +slavery. Antiochus IV., Epiphanes, was +now king of Syria and Palestine, and +had possessed himself of almost the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +whole of Egypt. Such was the effect of +the battle of Pydna, however, that he +was at once compelled to hand over +Egypt to the conquerors, and that country +became a Roman protectorate. Syria +passed under Roman control at the death +of Antiochus Epiphanes, in 164, and by +the end of a few decades all the states of +Asia Minor had been incorporated.</p> + +<p>Thus by the middle of this century +the Republic of Rome had gained +ascendancy east and west. Its senate was +recognised by the civilised world as "the +supreme tribunal for kings and nations." +Early in the next century Dalmatia +and Thrace were subdued, and the latter +was incorporated in the province of Macedonia. +Wars with Mithradates, King of +Pontus, Cappadocia and Armenia, resulted +in the conquest of all his territories, +and provinces were formed out of the states +from thence westward to the Ægean sea.</p> + + +<h4>Palestine Annexed.</h4> + +<p>This century saw the actual interference +of Rome in the affairs of Judæa. Syria +had been made a province in 65 <small>B.C.</small> by +the Roman General Pompey, and from +thence he intervened in a strife which had +for some time been raging amongst the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +leaders of the Jews. In 63 he marched an +army into Judæa and took Jerusalem. At +the final assault upon the Temple 12,000 +Jews perished. Judæa thus passed under +the iron heel.</p> + +<p>As a result of the wars of Cæsar in north-western +Europe, in 58-51 <small>B.C.</small>, what are +now Switzerland, France, and Belgium +were subdued and Britain was invaded. +By Cæsar also Roman authority in Africa +was consolidated across the entire length +of the north of the continent. The conquests +of Rome as a Republic were +complete. The Mediterranean had become +a "Roman lake."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/illus023.jpg" width="500" height="340" alt="THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN APOSTOLIC TIMES." title="THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN APOSTOLIC TIMES." /> +</div> + + +<h4>The Empire Completed.</h4> + +<p>In 27 <small>B.C.</small> the purely Republican form +of constitution was abolished, and the +government of the Roman world was concentrated +in the hands of an Emperor, the +Cæsar Augustus of Luke 2.1. In his reign +were fulfilled the prophecies foretelling the +Birth of Christ. When the Prince of Peace +was born in Bethlehem the din of strife +was hushed throughout the empire, and +Rome, under the restraining hand of God, +ceased for a time its warring. By Augustus +the northern territories of the empire were +extended to practically the entire length<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +of the Danube. The greater part of Britain +became a province under Claudius. A +later Emperor, Trajan, added, at the beginning +of the second century <small>A.D.</small>, the +province of Dacia, covering what are +now Transylvania and most of Roumania. +Under Marcus Aurelius (161-180) +a large part of Mesopotamia was finally +annexed.</p> + +<p>This completes the actual conquests of +the Romans. We will now note certain +characteristics of their method of subjugation, +viewed in the light of Daniel's +prophecy concerning the fourth kingdom, +that, like iron, it would "break in pieces +and crush."</p> + + +<h4>The Crushing of the Nations.</h4> + +<p>The crushing process was evidenced in +many ways, and especially by the establishment +of a general system of slavery, +which almost everywhere supplanted free +labour. Slave-hunting and slave-dealing +became a profession. To such an extent +were they carried on at one period that certain +provinces were well nigh depopulated. +We are told that at the great slave-market +in the island of Delos, off +Greece, as many as ten thousand slaves +were disembarked in the morning and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +bought up before the evening of the same +day. Chained gangs worked under overseers +and were confined in prison at night. +To take an instance of the extreme rigour +of the laws regulating the traffic, it is recorded +by the historian Tacitus, that once, +when the Prefect of Rome had been killed +by one of his slaves, of whom he owned a +vast number, the whole of his slaves, many +of them women and children, were executed +together, in accordance with an ancient +law. That event took place about the +time, apparently, at which the Apostle +Paul arrived at Rome.</p> + +<p>But not only were the nations ground +down by slavery, the pages of Roman +history abound in records of wholesale +massacre and butchery. We may note, +for instance, Luke's statement of Pilate's +slaughter of Galilæans while they were +sacrificing (Luke 13. 1). Records abound, +too, of grossly burdensome taxation and +financial exactions, in which the Romans +outdid all tyrants that had preceded them. +Usury flourished in the last century +as it had never done before. Four per cent. +per month was an ordinary exaction +for a loan to a community. On one +occasion a Roman banker, who had a claim +on the municipality of Salamis, in Cyprus,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +kept its council blockaded until five of its +members died of hunger.</p> + +<p>By these methods the provinces of the +empire were at one period reduced to a +condition of unsurpassed misery. Nothing +could more vividly describe the course of +such a kingdom and the control exercised +by it than the words of Daniel quoted above.</p> + + +<h4>The Twofold Division.</h4> + +<p>This fourth kingdom was destined to be +divided; and in two respects, territorial +and constitutional. The territorial division +was indicated by the symbolism of the legs +and feet of the image of Nebuchadnezzar's +vision; the constitutional division was +declared in Daniel's interpretation concerning +the iron and clay (v. 40). The +former of these divisions claims our consideration +first. Territorially the kingdom +would be first divided into two parts +corresponding with the legs of the image. +This actually took place in the fourth +century of the present era.</p> + +<p>The Roman Empire had continued in a +more or less united condition for over three +centuries after the accession of its first +Emperor, Augustus, in 27 <small>B.C.</small>, though +various signs of a coming division manifested +themselves. It was not unusual,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +for instance, for an emperor to appoint an +associate with himself in the imperial +rank, and on one occasion Maximian, who +thus became associated with Diocletian +in <small>A.D.</small> 288, actually established his seat +of government at Nicomedia, in Asia Minor. +Constantine (323-337) united the empire +under his sole rule, but paved the way for +the final separation of east from west by +founding, in 328, the city of Constantinople +as a second Rome, after his own name, +and establishing it as an eastern centre of +government with its own legislative institutions. +This arrangement was favoured +by several conditions, national and otherwise, +which characterised the countries of +the eastern half as distinct from those of +the western.</p> + +<p>At the death of Constantine, in 337, +his dominions were divided among his +three sons, a division, however, which +lasted but a brief time. The empire was +in 353 again united under Constantius, the +survivor of the three. The long impending +division into two parts took place under +Valentinian I., in the year of his accession, +364. Yielding to the wish of his soldiers +that he should associate a colleague with +himself, he placed his brother Valens in +power in the east, with headquarters at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +Constantinople, he himself retaining control +over the west.</p> + + +<h4>The Tenfold Division.</h4> + +<p>Prophetic Scriptures show that the +Roman Empire would be further divided. +Now while the ten toes of the image in +Nebuchadnezzar's dream have not improperly +been regarded as indicative of a +tenfold division, the fact that the image +had ten toes would be insufficient of itself +to signify this, for the toes are naturally +essential to a complete human figure. +Moreover, the hands and their fingers, +equally essential parts, have no territorial +significance attached to them. The conclusion +regarding the toes is, however, +justified when we find the tenfold division +abundantly confirmed by other Scriptures.</p> + +<p>Thus the fourth beast in the vision in +chapter 7, which, as we have seen, likewise +symbolised the Roman kingdom, is +described as having <i>ten horns</i> (v. 7). The +interpretation clearly tells us what these +are: "And as for the ten horns, out of the +kingdom (the fourth) shall <i>ten kings</i> +arise" (v. 24). The Apocalypse gives us +further information regarding this division, +unfolding with increasing clearness the +details connected with it. In one of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +visions given to the apostle John, he sees +"a great red dragon, having seven heads +and <i>ten horns</i>" (Rev. 12. 3). The meaning +of the ten horns is not there explained. +We are told that the great dragon is "the +old serpent, he that is called the Devil and +Satan, the deceiver of the whole world" +(v. 9). Turning now to the next chapter, +we find another vision recorded, giving a +fresh view of the same subject. A beast +was seen "coming up out of the sea, having +<i>ten horns</i> and seven heads, and on his +horns ten diadems, and upon his heads +names of blasphemy" (chap. 13. 1). +Again an explanation of the ten horns is +withheld, but that they are identical with +those of the twelfth chapter is undeniable. +The Apostle receives, however, a further +vision, recorded in chapter 17: "I saw a +woman sitting upon a scarlet-coloured +beast, full of names of blasphemy, having +seven heads and <i>ten horns</i>" (chap. 17. 3). +And now the symbolism of the horns is +explained: "the ten horns that thou +sawest are <i>ten kings</i>, which have received +no kingdom as yet; but they receive +authority as kings, with the beast, for one +hour. These have one mind, and they +give their power and authority unto the +beast" (vv. 12, 13).</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>We are now concerned, of course, +solely with the tenfold division of the +empire; other details of the visions just +referred to remain for later consideration. +We cannot fail to see that what is symbolised +by the ten toes of the image, and +by the ten horns of the fourth beast as +revealed to Daniel, is identical with what +is symbolised by the ten horns of the +dragon and of the beast seen by John, +namely, the Roman kingdom in its ultimately +divided condition.</p> + + +<h4>A Comparison of the Visions.</h4> + +<p>The following points are noteworthy +in comparing these visions relatively to the +tenfold division. First, there is a parallelism +in the order of the revelations +given to the two seers, Daniel and John. +A preliminary vision is given to each—more +than one in the case of John—in +which, in the matter of this territorial +partition, symbols occur without explanation. +Each then receives a further +vision, in the interpretation of which the +eventual division into ten kingdoms is +plainly disclosed. To Daniel it is said: +"As for the ten horns, out of the kingdom +shall ten kings arise;" and to John: "The +ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, ...<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +which receive authority as kings with the +beast for one hour."</p> + +<p>Second, the ten kingdoms are seen to be +contemporaneous, as is indicated by the +co-existence of the ten horns of the beast, +and further, by the fact that the ten kings +mutually agree to a certain line of policy +in handing over their authority to a supreme +potentate (Rev. 17. 12, 13).</p> + +<p>Third, it is evident that the fourth +kingdom is the last of the Gentile world-powers, +and that it will exist in its tenfold +state at the end of the times of the +Gentiles. We observed this above in the +case of the image, from the fact that the +stone, symbolising the kingdom of Christ, +smote the image upon its toes. So now, in +the vision of the four beasts, it is the fourth +beast that is slain, his body destroyed, and +given to be burned (Dan. 7. 11). The +Personal Agent of this destruction is here +made known: "I saw in the night visions, +and, behold, there came with the clouds +of Heaven One like unto a son of man, and +He came even to the Ancient of Days, ... +and there was given Him dominion, and +glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, +nations, and languages should serve Him: +His dominion is an everlasting dominion, +which shall not pass away, and His kingdom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +that which shall not be destroyed" +(vv. 13, 14). The finality of the fourth +kingdom is clearer still from the interpretation +given in the remainder of the +chapter. The final world-ruler is, of +course, prominent in this vision; in his +destruction is involved the destruction of +his kingdom; his power and aggression are +terminated when the Ancient of Days +comes (v. 22); then it is that "the judgment +shall sit, and they shall take away +his dominion, to consume and to destroy +it unto the end. And the kingdom and the +dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms +under the whole heaven, shall be +given to the people of the saints of the Most +High: His kingdom is an everlasting +kingdom, and all dominions shall serve +and obey Him" (vv. 26, 27). Similarly, +again, in Revelation 13 and 17, in the +corresponding visions of the beast and its +ten horns, the ten kings and their federal +head, ruling at the time of the end, "shall +war against the Lamb, and the Lamb +shall overcome them, for He is Lord of +lords, and King of kings; and they <i>also +shall overcome</i> that are with Him, called +and chosen and faithful" (Rev. 17. 14).</p> + +<p>The crushing of the image by the stone, +the slaying of the fourth beast before the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +Ancient of Days, and the conquest of the +ten kings and their chief by the Lamb, are +therefore different views of the same +event. The tenfold division of the fourth +kingdom is obviously still future, and +marks the condition of the world-government +at the close of the times of the +Gentiles, and immediately prior to the +kingdom of Christ.</p> + + +<h4>The Testimony of Early Christian +Writers.</h4> + +<p>That the Roman Empire would in its +final form be divided into ten kingdoms +was held by Christian writers of the +earliest post-apostolic times. Their +opinions are here given, not as forming any +basis of exposition, but as expressions +of early Christian conception of the +Scriptures under consideration.</p> + +<p>What is known as "<i>The Epistle of +Barnabas</i>," probably written early in +the second century <small>A.D.</small>, quotes from +Daniel concerning the ten kingdoms to +show that they would exist at the consummation +of the present age. <i>Irenæus</i> +(circa <small>A.D.</small> 120-202), a disciple of Polycarp, +who had been a companion of the +apostle John, observes that "the ten toes +are ten kings, among whom the kingdom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +will be divided." <i>Tertullian</i>, a contemporary +of Irenæus, remarks that "the +disintegration and dispersion of the Roman +State among the ten kings will produce +Antichrist, and then shall be revealed +that Wicked One, whom the Lord Jesus +shall slay with the breath of His mouth +and destroy by the brightness of His +manifestation." <i>Hippolytus</i>, who was a +follower of Irenæus, and flourished in the +first half of the third century, makes +similar reference to the ultimate division. +<i>Lactantius</i>, of the latter half of the third +and the early part of the fourth centuries, +writes as follows: "The Empire will be +sub-divided, and the powers of government, +after being frittered away and +shared among many, will be undermined. +Civil discords will then ensue, nor will +there be respite from destructive wars, +until ten kings arise at once, who will +divide the world among themselves to +consume rather than to govern it." <i>Cyril</i> +(circa 315-386), who became bishop of +Jerusalem in 350, quoting from Daniel, +and speaking of the Empire and its future +division, implies that teaching on the +subject was customary in the churches. +<i>Jerome</i> (342-420) observes that "at the +end of the world, when the kingdom of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +Romans is to be destroyed, there will be +ten kings to divide the Roman world +among themselves." Similarly writes +<i>Theodoret</i> in the fifth century, and others +of that time make more or less direct +reference to the subject. While the views +of these writers differ considerably on +other points of detail, all are unanimous +as to the eventual division of the Empire +among ten contemporaneous potentates.</p> + + +<h4>Processes at Work Since the +Twofold Division.</h4> + +<p>The mediæval and modern history of +the lands originally constituting the +Roman Empire is a history of the formation +of independent states in such a way +as to point to the eventual revival of the +Empire in the tenfold division we have +been considering. The process has been a +long and involved one, for the counsels +of God have had a far wider range than +the mere shaping of national destiny. It +has been the Divine pleasure, for instance, +that the Gospel should be spread among +all nations for the purpose of taking out +from among them a people for the Name +of Christ, and for the formation thereby +of His Church. In contradistinction to +this, and from the standpoint of the world<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +itself, which, though under God's control, +remains in alienation from Him, there +has been a gradual development of the +political, social, and religious principles +which are ultimately to permeate the +nations.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter III.</span></h2> + +<h3>THE OVERTHROW IN THE WEST: +GERMANIC INVASIONS.</h3> + + +<p>In the interpretation of his vision of the +beast, John is told of its rise, temporary +removal, and reappearance: "The beast +that thou sawest was, and is not; and is +about to come up out of the abyss, and to +go into perdition" (Rev. 17. 8). Here the +Roman world-power, the imperial dominion, +is in view. In verse 11 the final +king himself is similarly described. The +symbol of the beast is thus employed +to describe first the dominion and then +its imperial head. This symbolic association +of locality and ruler is found elsewhere +in Scripture, and is illustrated in this very +chapter. The seven heads of the beast, for +example, are interpreted in both ways: +"The seven heads are seven mountains, ... +and they are seven kings" (v. 9, <small>R.V.</small> ) +The distinction between verses 8 and 11<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +may be observed in this way: in the first +part of the chapter, verses 1-8, the beast +is viewed as a whole, indicating world-wide +government; in verse 11 the scope of +the symbol is limited, the beast is a +person, and is identified with one of +the seven heads, or kings, he is "himself +also an eighth, and is of the seven." With +this individual we shall be occupied later.</p> + +<p>A striking illustration of the symbolic +use of the word "beast" to denote both a +kingdom and the ruler over it is to be +found in Dan. 7, where the following +statements are made: "These great beasts, +which are four, are four kings" (v. 17), +and "The fourth beast shall be the fourth +kingdom" (v. 23).</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 446px;"> +<img src="images/illus039.jpg" width="446" height="500" alt="THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE UNDER GERMANIC TRIBES" title="THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE UNDER GERMANIC TRIBES" /> +</div> + +<p>The statement of verse 8 seems, then, +undoubtedly to refer to the Empire; it did +exist, it ceased to be, and it will reappear. +The assertion that it "is not" must not be +taken to mean that the beast had ceased to +exist in John's time. The present tense is +to be regarded as prophetic. The verb +"to be" often has the force of continuance +of existence. The whole statement +implies a past existence, a discontinuance +of that existence, a future reappearance. +In the vision recorded in the thirteenth +chapter, John saw one of the heads of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +beast "as though it had been smitten unto +death." If, as seems probable, this head is +imperialism, then the overthrow of imperial +Rome is likewise indicated in that +passage.</p> + +<p>In the light, then, of the words: "The +beast that thou sawest was, and is not," +we may now consider how the Roman +Empire was overthrown.</p> + + +<h4>Disintegration of the Western Half.</h4> + +<p>We have seen that, at the accession of +the Emperor Valentinian I. in <small>A.D.</small> 364, +the Empire was divided into two parts. +The succeeding century witnessed the +disintegration of the western half. The +cause was primarily from within. Augustus, +the first Emperor, had instituted a policy +of settling colonies of "barbarians" from +northern Europe within the frontiers of the +Empire. Later Emperors adopted the +policy more generally. The significance +of this lies in the fact that by the barbarians +who had already been thus established +in the Empire, the attacks were +commenced which resulted in the dismemberment +of its western provinces.</p> + + +<h4>Alaric and the Goths.</h4> + +<p>At the close of the fourth century hordes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +of Gothic tribes from north-eastern and +eastern Germany set out, under Alaric +their chief, in quest of new lands. Settlements +of these very Goths had already +been established south of the Danube by +the Imperial Government as allies of the +Romans. After an excursion into Italy, +in which they were temporarily checked, +they poured, in 406, into defenceless Gaul. +From thence Alaric returned to invade +Italy, and three times in three years besieged +Rome (408-410), eventually sacking +the city. After his death, in 410, the +Goths retired from Italy, entered Gaul, +and permanently occupied the southern +part of that country and a large part of +Spain, where they were known as <b>Visigoths</b> +(<i>i.e.</i>, Western Goths).</p> + +<p>Other Germanic tribes also streamed +into Gaul. Of these, the <b>Franks</b> (whence +the name France) issued from districts +around the middle and lower Rhine and +occupied northern Gaul; the <b>Suevi</b>, from +north and north-west Germany, passed +through into Spain; the <b>Alani</b>, formerly +from eastern Europe, settled in west +France and Spain; the <b>Burgundians</b>, +from eastern Germany, seized that part of +Gaul which eventually was named after +them, Burgundy. The <b>Vandals</b>, from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +northern and central Germany, after being +defeated by the Franks, crossed into +Spain under their leader Genseric, and +from thence established themselves in +the province of Africa, in 429. This +occupation of Gaul and Spain was soon +perforce recognised by the Emperor at +Rome. At the death of the Emperor +Honorius, in 423, Rome exercised little +more than a nominal authority over the +greater part of the west.</p> + +<p>From Britain the Roman troops were +withdrawn by Honorius, in 409, though +the final abandonment of the island province +did not take place till 436. Teutonic +tribes from North Europe were soon engaged +in invading this part of the Empire. +The <b>Jutes</b>, from Jutland, landed in 449, +the <b>Saxons</b> in 477, and about the same +time the <b>Angles</b>.</p> + + +<h4>Attila and the Huns.</h4> + +<p>Toward the close of the reign of Valentinian +III. (433-455), Gaul and Italy were +invaded by the <b>Huns</b> under Attila. The +Huns originally inhabited a large part of +central and northern Asia. In the latter +part of the fourth century they moved +west into Scythia and Germany, driving +the Goths before them. Attila's dominions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +thereafter extended over a vast area of +eastern, central, and northern Europe, +and he was regarded as of equal standing +with the Emperors at Constantinople and +Rome. After a gigantic but futile incursion +into Gaul, in 451, the Huns rushed +into Italy, ravaging its northern plains. +An embassy from Rome and an immense +ransom saved the situation. Attila died +in 453, and Italy was evacuated. The +Huns eventually settled in south-eastern +Europe, and their dominion dwindled +away. A trace of their name may be +found in the word Hungary.</p> + + +<h4>Genseric and the Vandals.</h4> + +<p>In North Africa Genseric the Vandal +established a powerful dominion, and set +about preparing an invasion of Italy by +sea. In 455 (the last year of the reign of +Valentinian III.) his army of Vandals and +Moors attacked Rome, which was again +given over to pillage. Its wealth and +treasures were transported to Carthage, +and with them the vessels of the temple +at Jerusalem; these had been brought to +Rome in <small>A.D.</small> 70 by Titus, the conqueror +of Jerusalem. For twenty years after +Genseric's achievement Roman Emperors +existed in little else than name, the real<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +power being in the hands of a barbarian +officer. In 476 the last Emperor was deposed +by Odoacer, the king of the Heruli, +a tribe which, issuing from the shores of +the Baltic, made successful inroads into +Italy and occupied much of the country. +Odoacer was, at the request of the Roman +Senate, given the reins of government by +the eastern Emperor Zeno, and news was +despatched to the court at Constantinople +that no longer was there an Emperor of the +west. Subsequently, in 493, Odoacer was +slain by Theodoric, the king of the <b>Ostrogoths</b>, +who then became predominant in +the Italian peninsula. The Ostrogoths +(<i>i.e.</i>, Eastern Goths) had broken off from +the main body of their nation, and after +settling south of the Danube moved into +the province of Dalmatia.</p> + + +<h4>Northern Limits of the Empire.</h4> + +<p>Other Germanic tribes, in addition to +those named above, firmly established +themselves within the northern limits of +the Empire. Of these, two are worthy of +mention, the <b>Alemanni</b>, who occupied +most of what is now Switzerland and districts +northward, and the <b>Lombards</b>, who +settled in north Italy and the territory +north-east of it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>The Ten Kingdoms not Formed by the +Germanic Invasions.</h4> + +<p>There have been various attempts to +identify with the ten prophetic kingdoms +the states formed from the western half of +the Roman Empire by the Germanic tribes +from the north. Such attempts fail from +the standpoints both of history and of +prophecy. To group the tribes so as to +make ten kingdoms out of them is, of +course, possible in several ways, for there +were at least eighteen such tribes. +Accordingly lists put forward differ +considerably. But such grouping is +manifestly arbitrary. Again, since these +invading nations occupied only the western +half of the Empire, the above allocation +of the ten kingdoms necessarily leaves the +eastern half out of consideration, and +therefore excludes the land of Palestine +from this stage of the prophetic forecast.</p> + +<p>Now the prophecies concerning the times +of the Gentiles are invariably focussed upon +the Jews and their land. The dealings of +God with the Jews form the pivot of His +dealings with other nations. Thus no +scheme of prophetic exposition relative +to this subject is to be regarded as Scriptural +which excludes Palestine from its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +scope. To endeavour to make the Word +of God square with facts of history is +to tamper with Scripture and to run the +risk of obscuring its meaning and force.</p> + +<p>The idea that the formation of the ten +kingdoms took place in the fifth century +fails to stand the test of Scripture in other +respects. Of the ten kings prophecy foretells +that "they receive authority as kings +with the beast for one hour," that they +"have one mind, and they give their power +and authority unto the beast" (Rev. 17. +13, 14). No such tenfold confederacy has +existed in Europe; it certainly never +existed among the chieftains of the Germanic +tribes which invaded the west of +the Roman Empire in the fifth century, +neither is there any record of such an +agreement among them. Nor, again, can +it be said that they made war with the +Lamb and were overcome by Him (v. 14). +These prophecies still await fulfilment. +Similar considerations apply to the passage +in Daniel 7 in reference to the fourth +kingdom. The ten kings, it is said, would +arise out of that kingdom, and after them +another king who would make war with the +saints and prevail against them until the +Ancient of Days came (vv. 21, 22, 24).</p> + +<p>Again, since the persecution under the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +king who arises after the others continues +until the Ancient of Days comes (v. 22), +his war against the saints must have lasted +from the fifth century until the present +time, if he arose in that century. Moreover, +as he was said to be going to subdue +three kingdoms (v. 24), the seven kingdoms +not so subdued must likewise have continued. +This has obviously not been the +case. From every point of view it is +impossible to assign the tenfold division +to any time in the past.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/illus049.jpg" width="500" height="273" alt="The Turkish Empire in the 16th Century." title="The Turkish Empire in the 16th Century." /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter IV.</span></h2> + +<h3>THE OVERTHROW IN THE EAST: +THE TURKISH EMPIRE.</h3> + + +<p>Having narrated the disintegration of +the western half of the Empire, we will +now recount the events which involved +the overthrow of the eastern half. The +impoverishment of the imperial power +at Rome, and the weakening effect of the +Germanic attacks upon it, tended to enhance +the power of the Emperor at Constantinople. +Indeed the eastern Empire +was soon regarded as the more important +of the two, and for some time after the +barbarian invasions in Italy the Emperors<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +at Constantinople claimed supremacy over +the west.</p> + + +<h4>Mohammed and the Khaliphs.</h4> + +<p>The seventh century saw the ascendency +of Mohammed (born <small>A.D.</small> 570) in Arabia, +to which country his personal power, +temporal and religious, was limited. Upon +his death, in 632, his followers determined +on the invasion of Persia and the Asiatic +dominions of the Emperor at Constantinople. +Mohammed's successor, Abubekr, +the first of the Khaliphs (<i>i.e.</i>, "representatives" +of the prophet), at once waged war +in both directions. Persia speedily succumbed; +Syria and Palestine were subjugated +after seven years by the Khaliph +Omar. The reduction of Egypt followed, and +during the remainder of this century the +Saracens, the name by which the followers +of Mohammed became termed in Christendom, +extended their territory across the +entire length of North Africa, and shortly +afterwards even into Spain, where they +overpowered the then disunited Visigoths.</p> + +<p>The Saracen power in Western Asia was +distracted during the next century by civil +war, and was further weakened by unsuccessful +wars against the Greeks. At +length, in 750, the seat of government was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +moved from Damascus to Bagdad. From +the eighth century onward, though the +religion of Mohammed gained ground, and +continues to do so to-day, the empire +established by his followers dwindled +rapidly, one province after another shaking +off its allegiance until at the end of the +tenth century its shattered dominions lay +open to the nearest invader. The foe appeared +in the shape of the formidable Turk.</p> + + +<h4>Eastern Empire at End of 10th Century.</h4> + +<p>In view of the entrance of this new +enemy we may note the extent of the +territory belonging at this time to the +eastern branch of the old Roman world, +the Byzantine Empire, as it is termed (from +Byzantium, the ancient name of Constantinople). +The Eastern Emperors had +recovered some of their lost ground in +Asia, and at the close of the tenth century +they held all Asia Minor, Armenia, a part +of Syria, a considerable portion of Italy, +and all the Balkan Peninsula.</p> + + +<h4>The Appearance of the Turks.</h4> + +<p>Beyond the north-eastern border of +the Saracen dominions lay the country of +Turkestan, inhabited by the Turks, a +branch of the warlike nation of the Tartars<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +of Central Asia. With them the Saracens, +after the establishment of their Government +at Bagdad, waged successful warfare +for a time, taking numbers of Turks +captive and dispersing them over the +Empire. This only facilitated the eventual +downfall of the Saracen sovereignty. The +Turks in Western Asia grew in influence, +and at length the Turkish troops, breaking +into open revolt, assumed control over the +Khaliphate, deposing and nominating the +Khaliphs at their will.</p> + + +<h4>The Turks Embrace Mohammedanism.</h4> + +<p>Early in the eleventh century the bulk +of the Turkish nation, under its leader +Tongrol Bek, moving out from Turkestan, +swept down upon Persia. The +Khaliphate at Bagdad was, however, permitted +to remain, and not only so, but +Tongrol Bek and all his tribes embraced +the Mohammedan religion. The invaders +then marched west in vast numbers to +make an attack upon Christendom, and in +the course of time subdued Armenia and +most of Asia Minor. Europe became +alarmed, and the Byzantine Emperors +eagerly sought the assistance of the nations +of the west. Hence arose the Crusades, +which had as their chief object the deliverance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +of Palestine from both Saracens +and Turks, and which served to retard, +though not to prevent, the advance of the +Turkish power in Europe.</p> + + +<h4>The Turks Enter Europe.</h4> + +<p>Early in the thirteenth century a mighty +movement of Mongols south-west from +Central Asia, involving the immediate destruction +of the Khaliphate at Bagdad, +exerted an important influence upon the +Turks, in driving those Turkish tribes +which had remained east of Armenia westward +into Asia Minor. This resulted in the +establishment of various Turkish dynasties +in that country. At the close of the +thirteenth century the paramount power +over these was exercised by Osman (or +Othman, whence the name Ottoman), +who seized all that remained of the ancient +Roman world in Asia, and thus practically +founded the Ottoman Empire. In the +middle of the fourteenth century the way +was opened for the Ottomans to advance +into Europe. They were invited by one +of the rival factions at Constantinople to +undertake their cause. The Turks accordingly +crossed the Hellespont and +seized Gallipoli and the territory in the +vicinity of the capital. Constantinople<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +itself was left unattacked for the time. +Under Murad I., the grandson of Osman, +Roumania and several kingdoms south +of the Danube, including Bulgaria, were +subdued. The kings of Hungary, Bosnia +and Serbia rose against the invader, but +were severely defeated, and by the decisive +victory of Kosovo, in 1389, Serbia and +Bosnia were annexed.</p> + + +<h4>Constantinople Taken.</h4> + +<p>Constantinople was temporarily saved +by another advance of the Mongol Tartars +upon the Turkish dominions in Asia, where, +in 1402, the Ottomans suffered a severe +defeat. From this check they recovered, +and during the first part of the fifteenth +century were at war with the Hungarians +and neighbouring races, whom they eventually +overthrew. In 1451 Mohammed II. +ascended the Ottoman throne, and in +1453 led an immense army against Constantinople. +The city was taken by storm, +the last of the Roman Emperors of the +east died fighting, and Mohammed II. +rode in triumph to the cathedral of St. +Sophia, where he established the Moslem +worship.</p> + +<p>For over a hundred years after this the +Turkish Empire continued to extend.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +Egypt was annexed in 1517, and in the +middle of this century Tripoli and Algeria +were added, as well as considerable districts +in Europe and Asia. The Turks were now +at the zenith of their power.</p> + + +<h4>A Comparison of the Two Divisions.</h4> + +<p>Recapitulating, we may compare the +two divisions of the Roman Empire +since their overthrow, from the <i>prophetic</i>, +<i>religious</i> and <i>political</i> standpoints. From +the <i>prophetic</i> point of view our interest in +the west has thus far centred in the fact +that the ten kingdoms were not formed by +the fifth century invasions; our interest in +the east centres chiefly in the land of +Palestine, wrenched, as we have seen, from +the eastern Emperor by the Saracens, and +then occupied by the Turks, who still +possess it. From the <i>religious</i> standpoint, +the Germanic tribes in the west accepted +Roman Catholicism, hence its progress +in that part of Europe; in the east the +Turks had accepted Mohammedanism when +invading the Empire of the Khaliphs, hence +the establishment of Islamism throughout +the Turkish dominions. <i>Politically</i>, the +western invasion in the fifth century, and +the consequent amalgamation of the Teutonic +tribes with the peoples formerly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +under Roman control, led eventually to +the formation of the various mediaeval +monarchies of Western Europe which are +to-day either kingdoms or republics. +Affairs in the eastern half of the Roman +world have moved more slowly in this +respect, owing to the prolonged existence +of the Ottoman Empire. The slow decay +of the Turkish power from the middle of +the sixteenth century onward has already +resulted in the formation of some Eastern +States, and the process still continues.</p> + + +<h4>The Decline of the Turkish Empire.</h4> + +<p>The decline of the power of the Turks +set in during the latter half of the sixteenth +century, when their dominions passed under +incapable rulers. In the reign of Selim II. +(1566-1574) occurred the first conflict between +the Turks and Russians, the former +being driven back from Astrakkan. In +1593, during a war between Turkey and +Austria, the provinces of Transylvania, +Moldavia, and Wallachia rose in revolt. +As the result of intermittent wars in the +latter half of the seventeenth century +Austria acquired almost the whole of +<i>Hungary</i>. In 1770 Russia occupied <i>Moldavia</i> +and <i>Wallachia</i>, which though nominally +for a time under Turkey were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +practically Russian protectorates. During +the next few years Russia regained the +Crimea and all the neighbouring district +north of the Black Sea. At the commencement +of the nineteenth century the Ottoman +Empire was in a perilous condition. +Napoleon had plans for its partition. Provincial +governors were everywhere acting +independently of the Sultan. In 1804 +<i>Serbia</i> revolted, and after a few years of +persistent struggle obtained its autonomy. +<i>Greece</i> revolted in 1820, and, though subdued +for a time, gained its independence +in 1829 through the intervention of +England, France, and Russia, and chiefly +as the result of the naval battle of Navarino, +in which the Turco-Egyptian fleet was +annihilated. In the same year <i>Algeria</i> +was annexed by the French. European +rivalries prevented for a time any rapid +diminution of the Empire.</p> + +<p>The Crimean War of 1854-5 had important +consequences for the Balkan peoples. It +gave them, under the slackening grasp of the +Porte, twenty years of comparatively quiet +national development. In 1860 Wallachia +and Moldavia formed themselves into the +single state of <i>Roumania</i>. In 1866 the +Pasha of Egypt assumed the title of +Khedive (<i>i.e.</i>, king), thereby securing a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +measure of independence for the country. +In 1875 the misrule of the Sultan led to +the insurrection of Bosnia, Herzegovina, +and Bulgaria. Serbia and Montenegro +then took up arms. In 1877 a war with +Russia saw Turkey without an ally. A +complete Russian victory in 1878 issued +in the treaties first of San Stefano and then +of Berlin, by which Turkey yielded to +Russia the state of <i>Bessarabia</i> and districts +south of the Caucasus, the independence +of <i>Serbia</i>, <i>Montenegro</i>, and <i>Roumania</i> were +recognised by the Porte, <i>Bulgaria</i> was +constituted an autonomous state, <i>Bosnia</i> +and <i>Herzegovina</i> were ceded to Austria, +<i>Thessaly</i> to Greece, and <i>Cyprus</i> to Britain. +In 1885, as the result of a revolution, +Eastern <i>Roumelia</i> became united to Bulgaria. +Shortly after that date German +influence began to gain ascendancy at the +court of the Sultan, and, among other +affairs, largely dominated the granting of +railway concessions in Western Asia. +The effects of that influence have been +evidenced in the present war. In 1912 +Italy annexed <i>Tripoli</i> after a brief war. +In 1913 a short but sanguinary war with +the Balkan States deprived Turkey of +all her European dominions save for a +small piece of territory in the vicinity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +of Constantinople. <i>Egypt</i>, which has +been chiefly under British control for a +considerable period, has in 1915 been +practically annexed by Britain as a protectorate, +the Khedive being deposed and +a nominee of the British Government +being placed in authority. Britain has +likewise annexed a district north of the +Persian Gulf.</p> + + +<h4>The Coming Overthrow.</h4> + +<p>The continual decrease of the Turkish +Empire, and more especially during the +past hundred years, affords ground, apart +from other considerations, for the expectation +of its overthrow and the +eventual cession of Palestine to the Jews, +perhaps by a general agreement among the +European Powers, events which seem not +far distant. National jealousies would not +permit the permanent annexation of Palestine +by any one of these Powers, in whatever +way the remaining Asiatic Turkish +dominions may be divided. A proposal +has already been put forward for its +annexation to Egypt. Such an arrangement +would in any case be merely temporary. +To the Jews the land belongs, +and by Divine decree the Jews are to possess +it again.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/illus061.jpg" width="500" height="277" alt="The Turkish Empire in 1914." title="The Turkish Empire in 1914." /> + +</div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<h4>A Blank in Prophecy.</h4> + +<p>It should be observed, in passing, that +Scripture is apparently silent concerning +the occupation of Palestine by the +Saracens and Turks. Such silence is +noticeable when we remember how definitely +the occupation by the other Gentile +powers, the Chaldean, Medo-Persian, +Greek, and Roman, and the order and +character of their rule, were predicted. +The cause of the silence is not difficult to +ascertain. The four Gentile powers just +mentioned had to do with the Jews as the +recognised possessors of Palestine, either by +way of removing them from their country +or restoring them to it, or during such +time as they were permitted to remain +in it with liberty to continue their temple +worship and sacrifice. The Chaldeans +removed the Jews from the land, the Medo-Persians +repatriated them, the Greeks +permitted their continuance in it, the +Romans did so too, until <small>A.D.</small> 70, when +they crushed them. When, however, the +Saracens and the Turks seized the land +the Jews had been scattered, nor have +they received national recognition while +under them. Gentile occupation of Palestine +during such times as the Jews remain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +in their present condition seems therefore +to receive no direct notice in prophecy.</p> + +<p>The restoration of Palestine to the Jews +is closely connected with the revival of the +Roman Empire in its tenfold form. Prior +to considering the manner of this revival we +must notice how during the period between +the overthrow of that Empire and its +coming resuscitation, its dominions and +their government have remained Roman in +character, thus affording a further proof +that the coming and final world-power will +not be entirely a new one, but will be a +revival of the ancient Roman or fourth +empire indicated in the prophecies of Daniel.</p> + + +<h4>The Continuation of Roman Government +and Influence.</h4> + +<p>Such was the prestige of the Roman +name and authority that the chieftains of +the Germanic tribes which in the fifth +century subdued the western half of the +Empire governed the conquered territories, +not so much as tribal chiefs, but as +successors to, and in continuation of, the +imperial rule; they introduced no radical +changes in the provincial and municipal +forms of government of their predecessors. +Civil organisation remained distinctly +Roman, and has continued so; upon it are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +based some of the chief municipal institutions +of modern life. Indeed Roman +civil law still remains the foundation of +modern jurisprudence.</p> + +<p>In south-eastern Europe, too, countries +which were for centuries under the +power of the Turk retained, in their +municipal institutions and organisation, +the impress of Roman authority. It +should be remembered that though the +eastern or Byzantine portion of the ancient +Roman Empire was distinct from the +western, its emperors being designated as +Grecian in contrast to the Roman, yet its +legislative foundations were laid in the +Roman Empire prior to the division of the +east from the west. Byzantine imperialism +was therefore really Roman under an +eastern title. According as the states in +the east have become freed from the Turkish +yoke, so the character of their government +and legislation has conformed in a large +degree to those of the west. The further +diminution of the Turkish Empire will +doubtless see a corresponding revival of +western conditions and methods.</p> + + +<h4>Roman Imperialism Continued.</h4> + +<p>It is important also to observe that notwithstanding +the passing away of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +Roman Empire as such, the principle of +imperialism remained, and, amidst the +vicissitudes of national government in +Europe, has continued to the present time. +The imperial power in the west was not +abolished when in 476 the last Roman +Emperor was deposed. On the contrary, +there was a kind of reunion imperially of +the west with the east. For a considerable +time the tribal kings of the west received +recognition from the eastern emperors, and +were regarded as their associates in imperial +control. This was the case even with +the Saxon kings in Britain, and on Saxon +coins may be seen to-day the same title, +<i>basileus</i> (<i>i.e.</i>, king), as was borne by the +emperors at Constantinople. Italy itself +was wrested from the Teutons by the +eastern Emperor Justinian in the sixth +century, and remained under the Byzantine +Caesars till 731.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Roman Senate continued +to exercise its authority, and in 800 chose +the Frankish king Charlemagne as their +sovereign. He was already ruling over the +greater part of Western Europe, and was +now crowned as Emperor at Rome by the +Pope. Though his empire fell to pieces +after his death, his dominions retained, and +have since retained, their Roman character.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>Consideration of space forbids our tracing +here the further continuance of imperialism +as a factor in European politics. Recent +history and present-day events indicate +how rapidly we are approaching its final +development at the close of the times of +the Gentiles. The coming confederacy of +European states will not result in the formation +of a new empire, but will be the +revival of the Roman in an altered form.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter V.</span></h2> + +<h3>THE COMING REVIVAL OF THE +ROMAN EMPIRE.</h3> + + +<p class="center">(1) <i>The Geographical Standpoint.</i></p> + +<p>The coming revival of the Roman +Empire will for our present purpose +be best considered from the geographical, +political, and religious standpoints.</p> + + +<h4>Geographical Considerations.</h4> + +<p>Any forecast of the exact delimitations +of the ten kingdoms constituting the reconstructed +Empire must necessarily be +largely conjectural. That their aggregate +area will precisely conform to that of the +ancient Roman Empire does not necessarily +follow from the fact of its revival,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +and cannot be definitely concluded from +Scripture. An extension of the territories +of the Empire in its resuscitated form +would be quite consistent with the retention +of its identity. Moreover, if Roman +imperialism may be considered to have continued +in the hands of Teutonic monarchs +after the fall of the western part of the +Empire in 476, if, for instance, Charles the +Great, of whom we have spoken (p. 58), +ruled as a Roman Emperor, despite the +passing away of the actual Empire itself, +then the dominions which were under the +rule of these later monarchs may yet be +found incorporated in the Empire, and so +form parts of the ten kingdoms. In that +case Germany and Holland would be included. +Possibly, too, the Empire will +embrace all the territories which belonged +to the three which preceded it, the Grecian, +Medo-Persian, and Chaldean. Certainly +when the stone fell on the toes of the image, +the whole image, representing these former +three as well as the fourth, was demolished. +Suggestive also in this respect is the fact +that the beast in the vision recorded in +Revelation 13. 2 was possessed of features +of the leopard, the bear, and the lion, the +same beasts which represented in Daniel's +vision the Grecian, Medo-Persian, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +Chaldean kingdoms (Dan. 7. 4-6), the +order in Revelation 13 being inverted. +While political characteristics are doubtless +chiefly in view in these symbols, there may +at the same time be an indication of the +eventual incorporation of the first three +empires in the fourth. It must be remembered, +too, that the authority of the +federal head of the ten kingdoms is to be +world-wide: "There was given to him +authority over every tribe and people and +tongue and nation" (Rev. 13. 7). It is +probable, therefore, that while the ten +kingdoms will occupy a well defined area, +their dependencies and the countries which +are allied with them will embrace practically +the remainder of the world.</p> + +<p>If, on the other hand, the Roman Empire +is to be reconstructed in exact conformity +territorially with its ancient boundaries—such +a reconstruction is, of course, +not inconceivable—we must consider what +period of the conquests of the ancient +Empire to take, whether under the first +emperor, Augustus, or during the Apostolic +Age, or later. We may, perhaps, be +helped by the facts already mentioned, +that prophecy relating to Gentile dominion +is focussed upon the Jews and Palestine, +and has especially in view the presence of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +the nation in their land. Now, shortly +after their overthrow, in <small>A.D.</small> 70, their +national recognition as possessors of the +land ceased. This period, moreover, corresponds +broadly to the close of the Apostolic +Age. The dispersion of the Jews +among the nations was completed by +Adrian in the next century. He desolated +the whole of Palestine, expelling all the +remaining Jewish inhabitants.</p> + + +<h4>A Review of the Ancient Territories.</h4> + +<p>We will therefore now review the limits +of the Empire and of some of its provinces at +that time, noticing certain circumstances +of past and present history suggestive of +future issues. In doing so we are not predicting +that the boundaries of the revived +Empire will be those of the ancient.</p> + +<p>Commencing with North Africa, it will +be observed, on referring to the map, that +practically the same strip of territory +which belonged to the Roman Empire in +the times of the apostles has passed directly +under the government of countries which +were themselves then within the Empire. +For Spain rules over Morocco, France over +Algeria and Tunis, Italy recently seized +Tripoli, and Britain has, since Turkey's +entrance into the great war, virtually<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +taken possession of Egypt. It seems not +a little significant that no country which +was outside the limits of the Empire +at the time under consideration has been +permitted by God to annex these North +African territories since the Saracens and +the Turks were dispossessed of them.</p> + +<p>Passing now to Asia, the territory in +that continent which belonged to Rome in +the first century is approximately what +remained to Turkey immediately prior to +the present war. Mesopotamia and most +of Armenia were included. The war has +already seen Turkey dispossessed of portions +of these. The downfall of the Turkish +Empire would almost certainly involve +territorial rearrangements of deepest import +in the light of prophecy, especially +as regards Palestine.</p> + + +<h4>Divisions of the Greek Empire: A +Possible Renewal.</h4> + +<p>The 8th chapter of Daniel apparently +indicates that the Asiatic territories of the +Empire will be divided much as they were +under the Greeks after the death of Alexander +the Great. He was obviously symbolised +by the great horn (v. 22). The +four horns which came up in its place (v. +8) are clearly, too, the four generals who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +succeeded Alexander, and among whom +his dominions were divided, Cassander +ruling over Macedonia and Greece, Lysimachus +over part of Asia Minor and +Thrace (the extent of the latter province +was almost exactly what now belongs to +Turkey in Europe), Seleucus over most of +Syria, Palestine, Mesopotamia, and the +east, and Ptolemy over Egypt. Next +follows a prediction carrying us to events +which are evidently yet future. It is said, +for instance, that these events will take +place "in the latter time of their kingdom +(not, it will be observed, in the time of the +four kings themselves who succeeded +Alexander, but of the kingdoms over +which they ruled), when the transgressors +are come to the full" (v. 23). The expressions +in this chapter, "the time of the +end" (v. 17), "the latter time of the indignation," +"the appointed time of the +end" (v. 19), and "the latter time of their +kingdom" (v. 23), all point to a period still +future, namely, to the close of the present +age. Again, in reference to the "king of +fierce countenance," while much of the +prophecy can be applied to Antiochus +Epiphanes in the second century <small>B.C.</small>, yet +no man has hitherto arisen whose character +and acts have been precisely those related in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +verses 9-12 and 23-25. We may also compare +what is said of "the transgression +that maketh desolate" (v. 13) with the +Lord's prophecy concerning the abomination +of desolation (Matt. 24. 15-22), a +prophecy which also manifestly awaits +fulfilment.</p> + +<p>Possibly, therefore, these Asiatic territories +will be similarly divided in the +coming time. In regard to the first of the +above-mentioned four divisions, the recent +extension of Greece to include the ancient +province of Macedonia is remarkable. This +was an outcome of the Balkan War of 1912. +The boundaries of Greece are now approximately +what they were under Cassander +in the time of the Grecian Empire, what +they were also later as the provinces of +Macedonia and Achaia in the Roman +Empire. There has lately, therefore, been +a significant reversion to ancient conditions +in this respect.</p> + + +<h4>Other European Territories.</h4> + +<p>Coming now to the dual-monarchy of +Austria-Hungary, reference to the map of +the Roman Empire in the Apostolic Age +will show that what are now Hungary, +Transylvania, Bessarabia, and other states +of the present monarchy were without the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +Roman boundaries, while Pannonia, or +what is now Austria west of the Danube, +was within; even when in the next century +Dacia (now Transylvania, Bessarabia, &c.) +was annexed, the two parts of the present +dual kingdom were separate. The separation +of Hungary from Austria has for +a considerable time been a practical +question of European politics, and may be +hastened by present events.</p> + +<p>The northern and north-eastern boundaries +of Italy embraced the Trentino and +the peninsula of Istria. Noticeable, therefore, +are the present efforts of Italy to +acquire these very districts, efforts which +seem likely to achieve success. Roman +states north of Italy covered what are now +Baden, Wurtemberg, Luxemberg, and a +large part of Bavaria. The possibility +of an eventual severance of these from +Prussian domination has been much discussed +of late.</p> + +<p>The Rhenish provinces of Alsace and +Lorraine, originally portions of the Roman +province of Gallia (now France), were +snatched from France by Germany in the +Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. Their +recovery is a supreme object of the efforts +of the French in the present war, and not +without hope of success.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>The British Empire.</h4> + +<p>As to Britain, at the time under consideration +the greater part of the island +was definitely included in the Roman +Empire. Ireland and most of Scotland +were never conquered by the Romans. +Should Britain form one of the ten kingdoms, +there is nothing to show that Ireland +or any other part of the British Empire +must of necessity be absolutely separated +from it. Self-government may yet be +possessed by those territories which have +not yet received it, and it is significant +that Ireland has now practically obtained +it. That the lands which are linked with +Britain as dependencies, or as in possession +of self-government, should remain as integral +parts of the Empire is but consistent +with the coming world-wide authority of +the potentate who will be the federal head +of the ten kingdoms. And that each state +in the British Empire should have its own +local government is, on the other hand, +consistent with the establishment of a +closer and complete confederacy of ten +kingdoms, the area of which may correspond +largely to that of the ancient Roman +Empire. In contrast to the self-government +of the other countries of the world at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +the coming period, the ten united kingdoms +will eventually be absolutely under +the control of the final emperor just +mentioned, for the ten kings over these +states, who receive authority as kings +with him, will be of one mind to give their +power and authority and their kingdom +to him (Rev. 17. 12, 13, 17).</p> + +<p>What has been said of the British +Empire may be true also of others of the +ten kingdoms which have colonies or dependencies, +and thus, while the ten kingdoms +will themselves constitute an Empire, +their alliances and treaties with other +countries of the world will apparently +involve an extension of the authority of +the controlling despot "over every tribe +and people and tongue and nation" (Rev. +13. 7). If, for instance, the United States +of America were at that time in alliance +with Britain (quite a possible contingency), +their joint influence would probably extend +to the whole of the American continents, +which would thereby acknowledge his +authority.</p> + +<p>We may observe, too, the way in which +the continent of Africa has come under +certain European influences in modern +times. The mention of this is simply +suggestive. That the Scripture will be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +absolutely fulfilled is beyond doubt; the +exact mode of its accomplishment is known +to God.</p> + + +<p class="center">(2) <i>The Political Standpoint.</i></p> + + +<h4>European Federation.</h4> + +<p>Agencies are already at work for the +establishment of a confederacy of European +States—not the least significant of the many +signs that the end of the age is approaching. +The movement towards confederacy is +doubtless receiving an impetus from the +great upheaval in Europe. A circular +issued in December, 1914, and distributed +far and wide, announced the formation of +a committee of influential men with the +object of promoting a "European Federation." +The circular says: "In sight of the +present situation of ruin it ought to be the +general opinion that a firmer economical +and political tie is of utmost importance +for all nations without exception, and that +particularly for Europe the narrower bond +of a federation, based on equality and interior +independence of all partaking states, +is of urgent necessity, which public opinion +ought to demand."</p> + +<p>A pamphlet published by the Committee +recommends that the union of states shall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +be economical, political, and legal, with +an international army as a common +guarantee, and that European Federation +should become the principal and most +urgent political battle-cry for the masses +of all European nations, and declares that +"when the Governments are willing, when +the public opinion of all peoples forces +them to be willing, there is no doubt but +that a reasonable and practical union of +nations will prove to be as possible and +natural as is at present a union of provinces, +cantons, territories, whose populations +often show more difference of race and +character than those of nations now at +hostilities." The Committee calls upon +the peoples of Europe to suffer the diplomatists +no longer to dispose of them like +slaves and by militarism to lash them +to fury against each other. It calls upon +them to see to it that never and nowhere +should a member of any body or Government +be elected who is not an advocate +of the Federation, and that the trade +union, society, or club to which any individual +belongs should express sympathy +with the movement in meetings and in +votes. "The people," it is said, "have it +now in their power, more than ever before, +to control the Powers."</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>Two Possible Ways of Federation.</h4> + +<p>The formation of ten federated states, +covering at least the area of the ancient +Empire at the end of the first century of +the present era, may be effected in two +ways, either by the peaceful methods of +arbitration and treaty, or as a result of +strife and confusion. That the present +European War will be succeeded by +efforts for the creation of permanent international +harmony and universal peace is +probable, as is also some attempt at such a +federation as is proposed by the above-mentioned +Committee. On the other hand, +sinister indications abound to-day which +point to industrial strife and revolution +rather than peace. The condition of the +industrial world presents a gloomy prospect +indeed. There are ominous signs of +keener conflict than ever between capital +and labour. The forces of Socialism, +Syndicalism, Communism, &c., are rapidly +increasing in power and in international +activity, and their avowed aims presage +anything but peace in the near future. We +may take, for example, the declared objects +of "The Alliance of the Social Democracy"—now +incorporated in the International +Working Men's Association—"To destroy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +all States and all Churches with all their +institutions and laws, religious, political, +juridical, financial, magisterial, academical, +economical, and social, and to establish +in their place industrial co-operation +and collective ownership of land and +capital." All this sounds very pretentious, +and would probably fail of complete accomplishment, +but the agencies at work for it +are strong. Attempts on a large scale +would certainly lead to unprecedented +disorder and chaos.</p> + + +<h4>The Sea Symbolic of National +Unrest.</h4> + +<p>Not improbably the ten kingdoms of +the reconstructed Roman Empire will +arise as a result of political and social confusion. +Thus it was in the case of the +French Revolution and the consequent +uprising of Napoleon. A repetition of +such events on a far wider scale in the +future is quite conceivable. In the prophetic +vision given to the Apostle John, +the beast was seen "coming up out of the +sea" (Rev. 13. 1). Now the sea is in +Scripture used figuratively of the nations, +its characteristic restlessness symbolising +their commotion and strife. Compare the +words of Isaiah: "Ah, the uproar of many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +peoples, which roar like the roaring of the +seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush +like the rushing of many waters! The nations +shall rush like the rushing of many waters: +but He shall rebuke them" (Isa. 17. 12, 13; +see also Psa. 65. 7; and Ezek. 26. 3). To +national unrest the Lord Jesus applied +similar language when He foretold to the +disciples that there would be "upon the +earth distress of nations, in perplexity for +the roaring of the sea and the billows; men +fainting for fear, and for expectation of the +things which are coming on the world" +(Luke 21. 25, 26). So also the waters +which John had seen in his vision are described +by the angel as "peoples, and +multitudes, and nations, and tongues" +(Rev. 17. 15). Daniel, too, saw the four +great beasts come up from the sea as a +result of the breaking forth of the four +winds of the Heaven upon it, an undoubted +representation of a condition of national +disturbance (Dan. 7. 2, 3). That the beast +of Revelation 13. 1 was seen coming up out of +the sea points, therefore, to the probability +that the ten kings who will have brief +authority over the revived Empire will +be raised to their kingdom, not by +constitutional methods, but as the +result of revolutions and the collapse of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +present-day governments and institutions.</p> + + +<h4>Revolutions and their Issues.</h4> + +<p>Should any great measure of success +attend the syndicalist and communist +movements of the day, and especially if +they are internationalised, the inevitable +revolutions and disorder would almost +certainly issue, as revolutions have so +frequently issued, in despotism and autocracy, +and perhaps in this way the ten +kings would arise. The overthrow of the +governments in the countries involved +would remove what has certainly been the +great restraint upon lawlessness<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> from the +times of the apostles until now. Everything +would be ripe for the appearance of a +universal potentate. The cry would arise +for "a man," a controlling organiser to +bring order out of chaos. The unstable +character of the rule of the ten kings, and +the impoverishment of their kingdoms, +would lead them, as a matter of diplomacy, +to hand over their authority to him.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> See "The Epistles to the Thessalonians, with Notes +Exegetical and Expository," by C. F. Hogg and W. E. Vine, +note <i>c.</i> pp. 259, 260. (Glasgow: Pickering & Inglis. 3/9, p.f.)</p></div> + + +<h4>The Iron and the Clay.</h4> + +<p>The political constitution of the successive +empires during "the time of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +Gentiles" was indicated in the image of +Nebuchadnezzar's vision by the various +substances of which the parts of the image +were composed. While the regular deterioration +in the relative value of these +substances is noticeable, we are concerned +now with those of the legs and feet. The +legs were of iron, and the feet part of iron +and part of potter's clay, not moist or +miry clay, but "earthenware" (Dan. 2. +41, <small>R.V.</small>, margin), and consequently +brittle (v. 42, margin).</p> + +<p>That the iron symbolised militarism +seems clear from what is said of the fourth +kingdom, that "as iron breaketh in pieces +and subdueth all things: and as iron that +crusheth all these, shall it break in pieces +and crush" (v. 40). Nations are broken +and crushed by military power, and thus +the nations were treated by the Romans. +This was further signified by the iron +teeth of the fourth beast, as is definitely +stated in Daniel 7. 19, 23: "And shall +devour the whole earth, and shall tread it +down, and break it in pieces."</p> + +<p>The supposition that the clay represents +democracy is gratuitous and arbitrary. +The early Roman Empire, symbolised by +the legs of the image, was built up under +democratic rule. When republicanism<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +was superseded by imperialism, democratic +principles still prevailed. Democracy, +therefore, played its part from the very +commencement of the fourth kingdom, +and had it been symbolised by the clay, +not only the feet and toes but the legs +themselves would have consisted of mingled +iron and clay. Moreover, democracy in +the generally accepted sense of the term +has not always been found to be of an +unstable or brittle character; witness the +republicanism of the United States. Democracies, +too, may be established on +strictly constitutional principles.</p> + +<p>Another explanation, therefore, of the +symbolism of the clay must be sought, +and it is not unlikely to be found in those +revolutionary principles to which we have +already referred, which were evidenced at +the time of the French Revolution, and +are finding expression, though in greater +variety to-day, in such projects as those +of the International Working Men's Association. +Certainly the masses of the +people of Europe are being permeated +both by militarism and by the revolutionary +doctrines of which we have spoken. +Should these principles spread among the +civil services and forces, everything would +be in a complete state of preparedness for</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> +<h4>Unprecedented Political and Social +Upheaval</h4> + +<p>which would effect the overthrow of present +forms of government. From the world's +point of view the situation would require +a consummate genius with powers of world-wide +organisation. Doubtless Satan's +masterpiece of infidel ingenuity would be +at hand for the occasion.</p> + +<p>We are not predicting that this is to be +the manner of the revival of the Empire +and of the advent of its imperial head. +We have merely suggested possible circumstances +in the light of Scripture and +present-day movements. The actual circumstances +attending the rise of the ten +kings and their Emperor must for the time +remain conjectural. Certainly these kings +will receive authority with him for one +hour (Rev. 17. 12), a phrase which may be +translated "at the same time;" and +certainly they will agree to give their +power and authority to him (v. 13).</p> + + +<p class="center">(3) <i>The Religious Standpoint.</i></p> + +<p>We will now note the religious conditions +which are to prevail for a time +upon the resuscitation of the Empire. +These are plainly indicated for us in +Revelation 17. The apostle sees a woman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +sitting on the seven-headed and ten-horned +beast. The woman is gorgeously +arrayed, holds in her hand a golden cup +full of abominations, and is drunken with +the blood of the saints. Her name, written +on her forehead, is</p> + + +<h4>"Mystery, Babylon the Great,"</h4> + +<p>"the mother of the harlots and of the +abominations of the earth" (vv. 3-6). +The woman is symbolically described as +the city of Rome (v. 18), and that leads +on to a second mention of Babylon, in +chapter 18, and a new description. Now +to the description of the woman in chapter +17 nothing more closely corresponds than +the Papacy. But if the Babylon of chapter +17 is to be identified with that of chapter 18, +the Papacy answers to the whole description +only to a limited extent. While, +however, there is much in common in the +two descriptions in these chapters, yet the +two Babylons are possibly to be distinguished. +The Babylon of chapter 17 is +a "mystery," not so that of chapter 18. +Again, the destruction of the one is different +from that of the other. The first will be +destroyed by the ten kings and their +emperor (17. 16), the second by the direct +judgment of God (18. 5, 8, 20); the first as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +the result of human antagonism, the +second by famine, fire and earthquake. +We are perhaps, therefore, justified in +taking the more limited view in connection +with the circumstances of chapter 17. +Even so the woman may be regarded as +representing the apostate sacerdotal systems +which have sprung from the Papacy +as well as that system itself.</p> + +<p>The position of the woman indicates an +exercise of power which is voluntarily +supported by the beast. That she sits upon +the waters implies her religious dominion +over the nations; that she is carried by the +beast, who rules over the nations politically, +implies that there will be a complete +alliance between her and the ten kings +with their chief, and that the sphere of her +influence will be co-extensive with the +dominions of the beast.</p> + + +<h4>The Papacy: Its Present Power.</h4> + +<p>Now though the Papacy lost its temporal +power in 1870, it is far from having lost its +political influence. Ecclesiastically, too, +though it has received various set-backs, it +is manifestly gaining power. This is +especially observable, for example, in +Britain, the overthrow of which as a +Protestant Power is undoubtedly the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +object of the persistent aggressiveness of +Romanism. This aggressiveness is manifest +in all the dominions of the British +Empire, as well as in other lands.</p> + +<p>Again, while certain governments have of +late shaken off the ecclesiastical yoke, and +infidelity has spread among the people of +Roman Catholic lands, the number of +Roman Catholics has increased with great +rapidity. They were estimated at somewhat +over 200,000,000 twenty years ago, +they are now said to number about +300,000,000.</p> + +<p>Indications are not wanting of a tendency +towards</p> + + +<h4>A Reunion of Christendom,</h4> + +<p>which would be facilitated by a willingness +on the part of the Papacy to adapt itself +to the impulse of the time.</p> + +<p>Present events, therefore, point to a +great renewal of Papal power involving +the fulfilment of the prophecy relating +to the woman and the beast that carries +her. This renewed alliance between the +political and the ecclesiastical powers +will, however, be of brief duration. +The successful efforts of governments in +recent times to liberate themselves from +Papal authority, as in the case of France<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +and Portugal, are but foreshadowings of +the eventual entire destruction of ecclesiasticism +and sacerdotalism under the +revived Roman Empire. "The ten horns +... and the beast, these shall hate the +harlot, and shall make her desolate and +naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall +burn her utterly with fire" (Rev. 17. 16). +Thus it would seem that, when at the +very zenith of its power and ambition, +the Papacy, at the head of amalgamated +Christendom, will suddenly meet +its doom.</p> + + +<h4>The Doom of Religious Babylon.</h4> + +<p>Its accumulated wealth would probably +be an incentive in determining the ten +kings to take this step, owing possibly to +the impoverishment of their kingdoms as a +result of wars and political and social +upheavals. An additional cause will +doubtless be the widespread spirit of +antagonism against all religion.</p> + +<p>Submission to the Papal yoke has invariably +had an aftermath of infidelity; +similarly the temporary subservience of +the beast to the woman will issue in the +casting off of all religious restraint and in +the universal acknowledgment of the +presumptuous claims of the world-ruler.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>Satanic Authority of the Emperor.</h4> + +<p>The authority of this final emperor of +the Roman kingdom will be Satanic. "The +dragon gave him his power, and his throne, +and great authority" (Rev. 13. 2); "the +beast ... was, and is not; and is about +to come up out of the abyss, and to go into +perdition" (Rev. 17. 8). This implies that +he has been on the earth in the past. The +same thing is indicated in the interpretation +of the seven heads. Topographically they +are described as seven mountains, personally +as seven kings (v. 9). Of these, +five had fallen, the sixth was in power in +John's time, the seventh had not then +come (v. 10). The beast (clearly here +symbolising, not a kingdom, but a person) +would be an eighth, and yet would be of the +seven (v. 11). These heads have been regarded +by some as forms of government, by +others as empires, or again, as emperors. +There seems to be no reason why they are +not to be regarded as emperors, though +doubtless their empires are in view, as +being associated with them. Accordingly, +the fact that the eighth is also one of the +seven indicates his reappearance on the +scene. Various suggestions have been +made as to his identification, but this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +must remain uncertain until his advent. +With him the ten kings for a time receive +authority (v. 12), subsequently handing it +over to him with their kingdom (v. 17), +but not before they have together with him +crushed the great religious system symbolised +by the woman (v. 16). His +stupendous power and brilliant abilities, +the evidence of his superhuman origin, +his phenomenal capacity for organisation, +and the consolidation of the empire under +his absolute control will cause the whole +world to marvel at him (Rev. 13. 3; 17. 8). +To the world, in its divinely inflicted and +therefore retributive delusion, he will +appear like a god who has come to deliver +from woe, and to introduce the long-looked-for +age of peace and prosperity. Wonder +will be succeeded by worship, both of the +man and of Satan. "They worshipped the +dragon, because he gave his authority unto +the beast; and they worshipped the beast, +saying, Who is like unto the beast? and +who is able to war with him?" (13. 4).</p> + +<p>The world is now in course of rapid +preparation for all this:</p> + + +<h4>The "Superman"</h4> + +<p>has of late become a much discussed topic +in various classes of society and in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +press, and the idea is supported by the +theories of evolution which are receiving +increasingly wide acceptance. A spirit +of expectancy is being thus aroused which +will undoubtedly facilitate the recognition +of the man himself at his advent, and the +acknowledgment of his claims to divine +honour. But this will involve the worship +of Satan, and to this end the effective +agency of</p> + + +<h4>Spiritism</h4> + +<p>has been long at work. Spiritism leads to +devil worship. It must do so; its energising +power is Satan himself. Both spiritism +and theosophy, and similar forms of error, +all of which are rapidly on the increase +to-day, are paving the way for world-wide +worship of the dragon.</p> + +<p>The imperial power and worship of this +emperor will be promoted by another +potentate similarly energised by Satan. +This latter is the second beast, described +in Revelation 13. 11-end. Later on in the +book he is called</p> + + +<h4>The False Prophet</h4> + +<p>(Rev. 16. 13; 19. 20; 20. 10), indicating +that his activities are chiefly of a religious +character, and perhaps that he will be +more closely connected with Jewish affairs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +He will make "the earth and them that +dwell therein worship the beast," the +emperor of the ten kingdoms (13. 11), +deceiving the world by supernatural signs +wrought in the presence of the first beast +(v. 12), and enforcing the worship of his +image (v. 15), the abomination of desolation +set up in the temple at Jerusalem +(Matt. 24. 15). With the worship of an +image the times of the Gentiles began +(Dan. 3. 1), and with similar idolatry +they will end. In the days of the early +Roman emperors their deification was +celebrated by the adoration of their images. +Then, as formerly under Nebuchadnezzar, +those who refused to worship suffered +death. So will it be under the final +emperor and his colleague.</p> + +<p>Various opinions are held regarding these +two beasts of Revelation 13, as to which is +the Man of Sin spoken of by Paul in 2 +Thessalonians 2, which the Antichrist +mentioned in John's Epistles, and which of +the two is the wilful king described in +Daniel 11. Limitations of space preclude +our entering into the subject in detail here. +The present writer holds the view that all +three are the same person, and that they +are also the same as the horn in Daniel +7. 8, 11, and as the first beast of Revelation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +13, and that these are all different +descriptions of the final head of the +revived Empire. The Old Testament +passages somewhat briefly announce the +arising of this world-wide ruler; the New +Testament passages unfold and expand the +preceding predictions concerning him, +among the additional details given in the +New Testament being the fact that he is to +have a prophet who will assiduously support +his claim to deity and his administration. +It is the world-emperor, and not his +prophet, who is to be worshipped, and who +therefore proclaims himself as God (2 +Thess. 2. 4). His prophet, the second +beast of Revelation 13, in the exercise of +all the power of the first, will cause the +world to worship him (13. 12). As his +prophet and prime minister he would not +himself endeavour to usurp the position +of him whose avowed deity he seeks to +support.</p> + +<p>The similarity of the details in the above-mentioned +passages indicates that the same +person is in view in each case. His blasphemies, +for instance, and his assumption +of deity are mentioned in Daniel 7. 25; +11. 36, 37; 2 Thessalonians 2. 3, 4, and +Revelation 13. 5, 6, and his war with the +saints in Daniel 7. 21, 25 and Revelation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +13. 7. Further, the blasphemous proclamation +of himself as God is consistent +with what is said in John's Epistles concerning +the Antichrist. For in his self-deification +he is directly "antagonistic to +Christ," he denies that Jesus is the Christ, +and therefore denies the Father and the +Son (1 John 2. 22).</p> + +<p>The two potentates will establish not +only a universal religion, but also a</p> + + +<h4>Universal System of Commerce.</h4> + +<p>The second beast "causeth all, the small +and the great, and the rich and the poor, +and the free and the bond, that there be +given them a mark on their hand, or upon +their forehead; and that no man should be +able to buy or to sell, save he that hath +the mark, even the name of the beast or the +number of his name" (Rev. 13. 16, 17). +This indicates a world-wide protectionist +system, such a system as, for instance, +might conceivably be established under +some form of syndicalism. Undeniably, +circumstances in the industrial world to-day +manifest an increasing tendency in +this direction. The principles previously +mentioned, as now making for industrial +and international revolution, and the +present stupendous movements towards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +amalgamation, are clearly preparing for +the fulfilment of this prophecy by facilitating +the eventual establishment of the unrighteous +commercial system of the reconstituted +Empire.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/illus097.jpg" width="310" height="550" alt="Palestine, to illustrate Psalm 29." title="Palestine" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter VI.</span></h2> + +<h3>THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM.</h3> + + +<p>We have now to consider the dealings of +the two beasts, the final Roman emperor +and his false prophet, with</p> + + +<h4>The Jews.</h4> + +<p>With the Romans the Jews joined in the +death of Christ, and with the rulers of +this fourth empire they will be in agreement +for a time at the close of their +long course of apostasy. This was especially +made known to Daniel in the prophecy +of</p> + + +<h4>The Seventy Weeks</h4> + +<p>(Dan. 9). These weeks (lit., <i>hebdomads</i>, or +periods of seven, <i>i.e.</i>, seven years each) +had been divinely decreed (or "cut off," +<i>i.e.</i>, from the period of "the times of the +Gentiles") upon his people and his city. +From the going forth of the commandment +to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +Anointed One (the Messiah), the Prince, +would be seven weeks and threescore and +two weeks. After this the Anointed One +would be cut off, and would have nothing +(Dan. 9. 24-26). This period is 69 times 7, +or 483 years, and to the very day this was +the period commencing with the command +of Artaxerxes Longimanus, King of Persia, +for the restoration of Jerusalem (Neh. +2. 1-9), and ending with the triumphal +entry of Christ into the city (Matt. 21. +1-11).<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a> Four days later He was crucified, +"the Anointed One was cut off and had +nothing," <i>i.e.</i>, He did not enter then upon +His Messianic kingdom. The prophecy +predicted that the people of the prince (lit., +"a prince") that would come would destroy +the city and the sanctuary. That +took place in <small>A.D.</small> 70, under Titus Vespasianus. +But Titus is not "the prince +that shall come." This, apart from other +considerations, is clear from what follows: +"And his (the prince's) end shall be with a +flood (or rather, 'in the overflowing,' <i>i.e.</i>, +of the wrath of God)," a prediction at once +inapplicable to Titus. The mention of</p> + + +<h4>The Last "Week"</h4> + +<p>is deferred, indicating an interval between<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +the sixty-ninth and the seventieth. +Now the events predicted for the seventieth +had no historical fulfilment immediately +after the sixty-ninth. The one, therefore, +did not follow the other consecutively. +At the commencement of the intervening +period the Jews were scattered from their +land. At the seventieth they will have +been restored, and the events of that week +concern "the prince that shall come," the +last world-emperor, and his dealings with +them. "He shall make a firm covenant +with many (lit., 'the many,' <i>i.e.</i>, the +great majority of the nation) for one +week" (v. 27). This covenant is described +in Isaiah's prophecies as a "covenant with +death" and an "agreement with Hell." +The covenant, he says, "shall be disannulled," +and the agreement "shall not +stand; when the overflowing scourge shall +pass through, then ye shall be trodden +down by it" (Isa. 28. 18). That this +refers to a time yet future and not to past +Israelitic history may be gathered from +verse 22, where the theme and the language +are similar to those of the passage in Daniel +now under consideration. Daniel tells us +the mode of the disannulling. "In the +midst of the week (<small>R.V.</small>, margin) he shall +cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +Accordingly after three and a half years the +Antichrist, manifesting his real character, +will prove himself a traitor and break the +covenant, and thus Isaiah's prediction will +be fulfilled.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> See "The Coming Prince," by Sir Robert Anderson. Price, 5/.</p></div> + +<p>Apparently at the very time when he +thus breaks his league with the Jews the +Antichrist will determine upon his public +deification and the establishment of his +worship in the Temple. For he it is who +"opposeth and exalteth himself above all +that is called God, or that is worshipped; +so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of +God, showing himself that he is God" +(2 Thess. 2. 4). This, with the setting up +of his image, will doubtless be the fulfilment +of the prophecies recorded by Daniel, +that "upon the wing (or pinnacle) of +abominations shall come one that maketh +desolate" (Dan. 9. 27, cp. 11. 31 and 12. 11), +and "they shall profane the sanctuary, even +the fortress, and shall take away the continual +burnt offering, and they shall set up +the abomination that maketh desolate" +(11. 31, cp. 12. 11); a fulfilment also of +the Lord's prediction that "the abomination +of desolation, which was spoken of +by Daniel the prophet," will "stand in +the holy place" (Matt. 24. 15). In the +establishment of this blasphemous worship<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +of the emperor, the false prophet will play +a prominent part, as we have seen from +the latter part of Revelation 13.</p> + +<p>The many references to the desolator +and the desolations are indicative of the</p> + + +<h4>Fierce Persecution</h4> + +<p>which will follow. This will be at first +directed against "the remnant," the large +numbers of Jews who will repudiate +allegiance to the beast and to the false +prophet, many doubtless having been converted +to their coming Messiah through +the testimony of two witnesses who will +be sent from God to the nation. "They shall +prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore +days, clothed in sackcloth" (Rev. +11. 3-13). The success of their ministry +will apparently arouse the bitter antagonism +of Satan and his human instruments. +The breaking of the covenant with the +people as a whole indicates that an effort +will also be made to crush the entire nation. +Thus the latter half of the seventieth week +will be the time of "Jacob's trouble," +"a time of trouble, such as never was +since there was a nation even to that same +time" (Dan. 12. 1), though the unprecedented +tribulation will not be confined +to the Jews only.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>Armageddon and After.</h4> + +<p>The bitter antagonism of the man of +sin, and his colleague, the false +prophet, against God and His people +will culminate in the gathering together +of all the forces of the Empire in Palestine +in final conflict for the complete domination +of the world. This tremendous event is +thus indicated by the apostle John: "And +I saw coming out of the mouth of the +dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, +and out of the mouth of the false prophet, +three unclean spirits, as it were frogs: +for they are the spirits of devils (correctly, +"demons"), working signs; which go forth +unto the kings of the whole world, to gather +them together unto the war of the great +day of God, the Almighty" (Rev. 16. +13, 14).</p> + +<p>In reality the issue at stake will be the +supremacy of Christ or of Satan in the +earth. The objective will be neither +territorial conquest nor naval supremacy, +nor commercial predominance. The war +of the beast and the ten kings under +him is against the Lamb (Rev. 17. 14). +This the second Psalm had foretold: "Why +do the nations rage, and the peoples +imagine a vain thing? The kings of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +earth set themselves, and the rulers take +counsel together against the Lord, and +against His Anointed, saying, Let us +break their bands asunder, and cast away +their cords from us." The issue is not +uncertain: "He that sitteth in the +Heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have +them in derision."</p> + + +<h4>The Scene of the Conflict</h4> + +<p>is Har-Magedon, commonly known as +Armageddon (Rev. 16. 16). The name, which +is associated with Megiddo, a locality famed +in Old Testament history for its decisive +battles (Judges 5. 19; 2 Kings 23), doubtless +stands here for a wider area, stretching, as +we shall see, from the north to the south +of the land.</p> + +<p>The combatants, the conflict and its +conclusion, are described by John in vivid +language of terrible grandeur in Revelation +19. 11-21: "And I saw the Heaven opened; +and behold, a white horse, and He that sat +thereon, called Faithful and True; and in +righteousness He doth judge and make war. +And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon +his head are many diadems; and He hath a +name written, which no one knoweth but +He Himself. And He is arrayed in a garment +sprinkled with blood: and His name<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +is called the Word of God. And the armies +which are in Heaven followed Him upon +white horses, clothed in fine linen, white +and pure. And out of His mouth proceedeth +a sharp sword, that with it He +should smite the nations: and He shall rule +them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the +winepress of the fierceness of the wrath +of Almighty God. And He hath on His +garment and on His thigh a name written, +<span class="smcap">King of Kings, and Lord of Lords</span>.</p> + +<p>"And I saw an angel standing in the +sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying +to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, +Come and be gathered together unto the great +supper of God; that ye may eat the flesh of +kings, and the flesh of captains, and the +flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses +and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh +of all men, both free and bond, and small +and great.</p> + +<p>"And I saw the beast, and the kings of +the earth, and their armies, gathered together +to make war against Him that sat +upon the horse, and against His army. +And the beast was taken, and with him the +false prophet that wrought the signs in his +sight, wherewith he deceived them that had +received the mark of the beast, and them +that worshipped his image: they twain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +were cast alive into the lake of fire that +burneth with brimstone: and the rest were +killed with the sword of Him that sat upon +the horse, even the sword which came forth +out of His mouth: and all the birds were +filled with their flesh" (Rev. 19. 11-21). +Ezekiel similarly describes the scene in his +prophecy in chapter 30. 17-21.</p> + +<p>Thus it is that the climax of the world's +rebellion against God is to meet its doom. +This is the manner of the overthrow of the +ten-kingdomed empire, the fourth of +Daniel's visions. Accordingly, what we +have now read from Revelation 19 is +identical with (1) the falling of the stone +upon the feet of the image in Nebuchadnezzar's +vision, the annihilation of all +Gentile government (Dan. 2. 45); (2) the +consuming of the dominion of the fourth +beast in Daniel's subsequent vision (Dan. +7. 26); (3) the pouring out of God's +wrath upon the Antichrist, the desolator +(Dan. 9. 27); and (4) the coming of the +Son of Man on the clouds of Heaven with +power and great glory (Matt. 24. 30). +The great emperor, the man of sin, is to +be crushed by the Lord Jesus, "with the +breath of His mouth," and brought to +nought "by the manifestation of His +coming" (2 Thess. 2. 8).</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>Now this "manifestation of His coming" +is, to transliterate the Greek words,</p> + + +<h4>The Epiphany of His Parousia.</h4> + +<p>An epiphany is, literally, the 'shining +forth' of that which has been hidden; and +the word Parousia is, literally, 'presence' +(see margin of <small>R.V.</small> and Phil. 2. 12). +This latter word is used of the coming of +Christ to the air for His saints, 'to receive +them unto Himself,' and of their consequent +presence with Him (1 Thess. +2. 19). They are thus to be "ever with the +Lord" (1 Thess. 4. 17), and with Him they +will come when He descends at His revelation +"from Heaven with the angels of His +power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance +to them that know not God, and to them +that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus" +(2 Thess. 1. 7, 8). The sudden bursting +forth of His glory thus "to execute judgment" +(Jude 15) will be the 'Epiphany, +or shining forth, of His Parousia,' and by +it the Man of Sin is to be brought to nought +and his empire demolished. He and his +false prophet will be "cast alive into the +lake of fire," and his armies will perish +(Rev. 19. 20, 21).</p> + +<p>This is to be the issue of the world's +attempts to establish a millennium of its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +own by schemes of federation and amalgamation. +This is the upshot of its fancied +progress and improvement without God +and His Christ.</p> + +<p>We must now see what other Scriptures +have to say concerning this scene. The +instrument which the Lord uses for the +destruction of His foes is a sword which +proceeds <i>out of His mouth</i>; the destruction +is described as the treading of the +winepress.</p> + + +<h4>The Voice of the Lord.</h4> + +<p>First, as to the instrument. The sword +is symbolic of the utterance of the Lord's +voice. No material instrument is needed, +a word is enough. This is clear from many +passages. In the second Psalm the overthrow +of the foe is thus described: "Then +shall He <i>speak</i> unto them in His wrath, and +vex them in His sore displeasure" (v. 5). +Joel prophesies of the same event: "The +sun and the moon are darkened, and the +stars withdraw their shining: and the +Lord <i>uttereth His voice</i> before His army; +for His camp is very great; for He is strong +that executeth His word: for the day of the +Lord is great and very terrible; and who +can abide it?" (Joel 2. 10, 11; and see +3. 16. With this compare Isa. 11. 4 and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +30. 30-33.) The same voice of judgment is +implied in Paul's prediction of the doom +of the lawless one, that "the Lord Jesus +will slay him <i>with the breath of His +mouth</i>" (2 Thess. 2. 8). In the same connection +we are doubtless to read Psalm +29, the Psalm which describes the terrible +majesty and effect of the <i>voice of the Lord</i>.</p> + +<p>We must presently dwell more fully +upon this Psalm in order to observe its +application to the circumstances under +consideration, and its connection with the +passages which describe the judgment of +the foe as</p> + + +<h4>The Treading of the Winepress.</h4> + +<p>These passages are Isaiah 63. 1-6; Joel 9. +16; Revelation 14. 17-20, and the one +already quoted in Revelation 19. It is +observable, too, that in the first of these +the voice of the Lord is mentioned again, +for the Deliverer describes Himself as +"I that <i>speak in righteousness</i>."</p> + +<p>We shall first refer to Revelation 14. +17-20. Two angels appear coming forth, +the one from the temple in Heaven with +a sickle in his hand, the other from the +altar. The latter calls to the one with the +sickle to gather "the clusters of the vine of +the earth," symbolic of the Man of Sin and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +his gathered armies. The angel then casts +his sickle into the earth, gathers the vintage, +and casts it into the winepress of +the wrath of God. The winepress is +"trodden without the city," and "there +came out blood from the winepress, even +unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a +thousand and six hundred furlongs" (<i>i.e.</i>, +200 miles). The great emperor and his +prophet, and their vast forces, will thus +be gathered in dense battle array throughout +the length of Palestine, Jerusalem +being their objective. Joel calls the scene +of the battle "the Valley of Decision." +"Come, tread ye," says the prophet, "for +the winepress is full, the fats overflow; for +their wickedness is great. Multitudes, +multitudes in the valley of decision! for +the day of the Lord is near in the valley of +decision" (Joel 3. 13, 14). The multitudes +are the forces of the Man of Sin.</p> + +<p>The first six verses of Isaiah 63 narrate +in the form of a dialogue</p> + + +<h4>The Overthrow of the Man of Sin</h4> + +<p>and his forces. The dialogue is between +Messiah the Deliverer and the Jews. +Having just overthrown the foe in the +treading of the winepress, and the armies +of the Empire being destroyed throughout<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +the battle line from the north of +the land to the south, the Messiah, in +the fruits of His victory, reveals Himself +to His astonished earthly people. +In wondering admiration they exclaim: +"Who is this that cometh from Edom, +with dyed garments from Bozrah? this +that is glorious, marching in the greatness +of His strength?" To this their +Deliverer answers, "I that <i>speak in +righteousness</i>, mighty to save." The significance +of this is at once apparent to the +reader who calls to mind the various +passages mentioned above in reference to +the voice of the Lord. "I that speak in +righteousness"—this is the voice uttered +before His army (Joel 2. 10), "the sword +that proceedeth out of His mouth" (Rev. +19. 15); the "breath of His mouth," by +which the Man of Sin is crushed (2 Thess. +2. 8), and the "voice" of Psalm 29.</p> + +<p>The people, struck by the appearance of +the Victor, next ask: "Wherefore art Thou +red in Thine apparel, and Thy garments +like him that treadeth in the winefat?" +The language is doubtless symbolic. Messiah +explains in reply how the threatening +foes have been crushed: "I have trodden the +winepress alone; and of the peoples there +was no man with Me: yea, I trod them in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +Mine anger, and trampled them in My +fury; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon +My garments, and I have stained all My +raiment. For the day of vengeance was +in Mine heart, and the year of My redeemed +is come. And I looked, and there +was none to help; and I wondered that there +was none to uphold: therefore Mine own +arm brought salvation unto Me; and My +fury, it upheld Me. And I trod down the +peoples in Mine anger, and made them +drunk in My fury, and I poured out their +lifeblood on the earth" (vv. 3-6). The +words of a previous prophecy express the +joyful recognition of the delivered nation: +"And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this +is our God; we have waited for Him, and +He will save us: this is the Lord; we have +waited for Him, we will be glad and +rejoice in His salvation" (Isa. 25. 9).</p> + +<p>Turning now to Psalm 29 we find</p> + + +<h4>The Scene of Judgment</h4> + +<p>strikingly depicted; the very length of the +battle line is indicated, in agreement with +the later and clearer description in Revelation +20. 14. Indeed, the passages which +foretell the events of this coming terrible +day afford a remarkable illustration of the +progressive character of the revelations of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +Scripture. The Psalm is divided into three +parts: (1) The first three verses are a call +to the saints in Heaven, the "sons of the +mighty," to worship the Lord in view of +the judgment He is just about to execute +for the deliverance of His people the Jews, +their land and their city. (2) The second +part, verses 3-9, describes the actual +judgment by means of "the voice of the +Lord." The psalmist was doubtless thinking +of a thunderstorm. The Spirit of God +was giving prophetic utterance concerning +a more terrible scene, and the geographical +limitations of the Psalm are of prophetic +import. The first place mentioned is +Lebanon, in the north, with its mountain-spur +Sirion (vv. 5, 6). The last place is +the wilderness of Kadesh, in the south, the +centre of which is Bozrah, in Edom (v. 8), +a point of connection with Isaiah 63. 1. +Now the distance from Sirion to Bozrah, +in the wilderness of Kadesh, is 200 miles, +and this is the 1600 furlongs of Revelation +14.20. Here, then, in one fell stroke +of divine wrath the Man of Sin and his +forces are overthrown, and the Jews are +delivered. The later revelations of Scripture +thus enable us to pass from the natural +and physical setting of the Psalm to the +veiled reality. Thus this portion of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +Psalm is to be read in connection with the +passage from Revelation 19 quoted above. +(3) The last two verses describe the results +of the conquest.</p> + + +<h4>The Jews in their Extremity</h4> + +<p>were threatened with annihilation. But +man's extremity is God's opportunity. +The people now see their Deliverer in +person, they "look on Him whom they +pierced." They realise that their enemies +were destroyed because "the Lord sat as +King at the flood." And now "the Lord +sitteth as King for ever." He whose right +it is to reign has come to Zion. Hence the +psalmist can next say: "The Lord will +give strength unto His people; the Lord +will bless His people with peace." Armageddon +is over, the winepress of God's +wrath has been trodden, and the war +against the Lamb is ended. Psalm 30 +follows on with the people's song of praise +for deliverance.</p> + +<p>The judgments of God in the earth +will be accompanied by</p> + + +<h4>Seismic Disturbances,</h4> + +<p>including "a great earthquake such as was +not since there were men upon the earth," +the overthrow of the cities of the nations,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +and the displacement of islands and mountains +(Rev. 16. 18-21). Then doubtless +will be fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah, +that in the day when the Lord goes forth +to fight against the nations that are +gathered against Jerusalem, His feet will +stand upon the Mount of Olives, and +the mountain will be divided, leaving a +very great valley east of the city (Zech. +14. 1-5).</p> + + +<h4>The Everlasting Kingdom.</h4> + +<p>In this tremendous intervention in the +affairs of the world for the termination of +Gentile dominion the Son of God will be +accompanied by all His saints. He will +come "to be glorified in His saints, and to +be marvelled at in all them that believed" +(2 Thess. 1. 10). So from earliest times +Enoch had prophesied: "Behold, the +Lord came with His holy myriads, to +execute judgment upon all" (Jude 14, +15, margin). And Zechariah: "The Lord +my God shall come, and all the saints with +Thee" (14. 5). They are to take an active +part in the inauguration of His Kingdom, +and in its government. For "the saints +of the Most High shall receive the Kingdom, +and possess the Kingdom for ever, +even for ever and ever" (Dan. 7. 18). "The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +Kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness +of the Kingdoms under the whole +Heaven, shall be given to the people of the +saints of the Most High" (v. 27).</p> + +<p>Then shall the Lord "be King over all +the earth" (Zech. 14. 9). God's claims +will be vindicated. His Christ will reign +as King of Righteousness, and King of +Peace, the centre of His government being +the very place where once He was despised +and rejected, and men cast Him out and +crucified Him. Of the increase of His +government and of peace there shall be no +end, upon the throne of David, and upon +His Kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold +it with judgment and with righteousness +from henceforth even for ever. The +zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this +(Isa. 9. 7). His saints "shall be priests +of God and of Christ, and shall reign with +Him a thousand years" (Rev. 20. 6). +Then will be fulfilled the words of the +Lord, "I am returned unto Zion, and will +dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and +Jerusalem shall be called the city of truth; +and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the +holy mountain" (Zech. 8. 3). The days +of Israel's mourning will be ended, the +nation will be a "crown of beauty in +the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +in the hand of her God," and Jerusalem +will be a praise in the earth (Isa. 60. 30; +62. 3, 7). "The Heavens shall rejoice +and the earth be glad," and "the earth +shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, +as the waters cover the sea" (Psa. 96. 11; +Isa. 11. 9). According to God's Eternal +Counsel the despised Nazarene will yet be +manifested and acknowledged by all as +King of Kings and Lord of Lords.</p> + +<p class="center"> +"To Him be glory for ever and ever,<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Amen</span>."<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"> </a></span></p> +<h2>INDEX.</h2> + + + + + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">PAGE</span><br /> +<br /> +Adrian, <a href="#Page_62">62</a><br /> +<br /> +Alaric, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a><br /> +<br /> +Alexander the Great, <a href="#Page_19">19</a><br /> +<br /> +Alliance of Social Democracy, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a><br /> +<br /> +Alsace and Lorraine, <a href="#Page_66">66</a><br /> +<br /> +Antichrist, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a><br /> +<br /> +Antiochus Epiphanes, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a><br /> +<br /> +Antiochus the Great, <a href="#Page_19">19</a><br /> +<br /> +Armageddon, <a href="#Page_93">93</a><br /> +<br /> +Attila, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Babylon, <a href="#Page_73">73</a><br /> +<br /> +Bagdad, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a><br /> +<br /> +Balkan Peninsula, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a><br /> +<br /> +Barnabas, Epistle of, <a href="#Page_32">32</a><br /> +<br /> +Beast, Twofold Symbolism of, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a><br /> +<br /> +Britain, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a><br /> +<br /> +British Empire, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a><br /> +<br /> +Bulgaria, <a href="#Page_53">53</a><br /> +<br /> +Byzantine Empire, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Cæsar Augustus, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a><br /> +<br /> +Carthage, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a><br /> +<br /> +Chaldean Empire, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a><br /> +<br /> +Charlemagne, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a><br /> +<br /> +Christendom, Reunion of, <a href="#Page_80">80</a><br /> +<br /> +Commercial System, <a href="#Page_87">87</a><br /> +<br /> +Comparisons of Symbols in Daniel and Revelation, <a href="#Page_29">29</a><br /> +<br /> +Constantine, <a href="#Page_26">26</a><br /> +<br /> +Constantinople, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a><br /> +<br /> +Crimean War, <a href="#Page_52">52</a><br /> +<br /> +Crusades, <a href="#Page_47">47</a><br /> +<br /> +Cyprus, <a href="#Page_53">53</a><br /> +<br /> +Cyril, <a href="#Page_33">33</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Democracy, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a><br /> +<br /> +Diocletian, <a href="#Page_26">26</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Early Christian Writers, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>-<a href="#Page_34">34</a><br /> +<br /> +Eastern Half of Empire Overthrown, <a href="#Page_44">44</a><br /> +<br /> +European Federation, <a href="#Page_69">69</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +False Prophet, <a href="#Page_84">84</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Genseric, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a><br /> +<br /> +German Influence, <a href="#Page_53">53</a><br /> +<br /> +Germanic Tribes, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>-<a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a><br /> +<br /> +Grecian Empire, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a><br /> +<br /> +Grecian Empire Divided, <a href="#Page_64">64</a><br /> +<br /> +Greece, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Hannibal, <a href="#Page_18">18</a><br /> +<br /> +Hippolytus, <a href="#Page_33">33</a><br /> +<br /> +Hungary, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a><br /> +<br /> +Huns, <a href="#Page_39">39</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +International Working Men's Association, <a href="#Page_71">71</a><br /> +<br /> +Ireland, <a href="#Page_67">67</a><br /> +<br /> +Irenæus, <a href="#Page_32">32</a><br /> +<br /> +Iron and Clay, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Jerome, <a href="#Page_33">33</a><br /> +<br /> +Jews, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a><br /> +<br /> +Judæa Subdued by Romans, <a href="#Page_23">23</a><br /> +<br /> +Julius Cæsar, <a href="#Page_22">22</a><br /> +<br /> +Justinian, <a href="#Page_58">58</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Khaliphs, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a><br /> +<br /> +Kosovo, Battle of, <a href="#Page_49">49</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Lactantius, <a href="#Page_33">33</a><br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span><br /> +Magnesia, Battle of, <a href="#Page_19">19</a><br /> +<br /> +Man of Sin, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a><br /> +<br /> +Medes and Persians, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a><br /> +<br /> +Megiddo, <a href="#Page_94">94</a><br /> +<br /> +Mithradates, <a href="#Page_21">21</a><br /> +<br /> +Mohammed, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a><br /> +<br /> +Mohammed II., <a href="#Page_49">49</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Napoleon, <a href="#Page_72">72</a><br /> +<br /> +Navarino, Battle of, <a href="#Page_52">52</a><br /> +<br /> +Nebuchadnezzar, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a><br /> +<br /> +Northern Limits of Empire, <a href="#Page_41">41</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Odoacer, <a href="#Page_41">41</a><br /> +<br /> +Omar, <a href="#Page_45">45</a><br /> +<br /> +Osman, <a href="#Page_48">48</a><br /> +<br /> +Ottoman Empire, <a href="#Page_48">48</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Palestine, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a><br /> +<br /> +Papacy, <a href="#Page_79">79</a><br /> +<br /> +Parousia, The Epiphany of, <a href="#Page_97">97</a><br /> +<br /> +Psalm 29, <a href="#Page_102">102</a><br /> +<br /> +Pydna, Battle of, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Roman Emperor, The Final, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a><br /> +<br /> +Roman Empire—Decline of, <a href="#Page_51">51</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Extended in Final Form, <a href="#Page_60">60</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Final Destruction of, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Still in Power at Close of Present Age, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tenfold Division of, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>-<a href="#Page_34">34</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Twofold Division of, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Roman Influence Continued, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>-<a href="#Page_58">58</a><br /> +<br /> +Roumania, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +San Stefano Treaty, <a href="#Page_53">53</a><br /> +<br /> +Saracens, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a><br /> +<br /> +Scotland, <a href="#Page_67">67</a><br /> +<br /> +Sea Symbolic of National Unrest, <a href="#Page_72">72</a><br /> +<br /> +Serbia, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a><br /> +<br /> +Seventy Weeks, <a href="#Page_88">88</a><br /> +<br /> +Slavery Under the Romans, <a href="#Page_23">23</a><br /> +<br /> +Spiritism, <a href="#Page_84">84</a><br /> +<br /> +Superman, <a href="#Page_83">83</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ten Kingdoms Foretold, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>-<a href="#Page_34">34</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Not Formed in West, <a href="#Page_42">42</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Tertullian, <a href="#Page_33">33</a><br /> +<br /> +Theodoret, <a href="#Page_34">34</a><br /> +<br /> +Times and Seasons, <a href="#Page_10">10</a><br /> +<br /> +Titus, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a><br /> +<br /> +Tongrol Bek, <a href="#Page_47">47</a><br /> +<br /> +Trajan, <a href="#Page_23">23</a><br /> +<br /> +Trentino, <a href="#Page_66">66</a><br /> +<br /> +Tribulation, The, <a href="#Page_92">92</a><br /> +<br /> +Tripoli, <a href="#Page_53">53</a><br /> +<br /> +Turkish Empire, <a href="#Page_44">44</a><br /> +<br /> +Turkish Empire, Downfall of, <a href="#Page_63">63</a><br /> +<br /> +Turks, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a><br /> +<br /> +Turks and Mohammedanism, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +United States, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Valens, <a href="#Page_26">26</a><br /> +<br /> +Vandals, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a><br /> +<br /> +Valentinian, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a><br /> +<br /> +Voice of the Lord, The, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Western Half of Empire Overthrown, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>-<a href="#Page_41">41</a><br /> +<br /> +Winepress, The, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Zama, Battle of, <a href="#Page_18">18</a><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"> </a></span></p> +<p class="center">Demy 8vo, 308 pages clear type, strong dark cloth,<br /> +gold title, 4/ net (4/6, or $1.12, post free).</p> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Epistles</span></h3> +<p class="center">to the</p> +<h3>Thessalonians</h3> + +<p class="center"><b>With Notes Exegetical and Expository.</b><br /> + +By C. F. HOGG and W. E. VINE, M.A.<br /> + +With Index to Subjects, Texts, and Greek Words.</p> +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p class="center"><i>A few out of very many favourable notices:</i></p> + +<p>"The authors have seen clearly the great difference +between the <i>parousia</i> and the <i>epiphaneia</i>, +and thus set forth, so much and so clearly, the +great Hope of the Church."—Lord <span class="smcap">Blythswood</span>.</p> + +<p>"I greatly value such a book for the definiteness +and prominence with which it unfolds the +great truth of the Lord's return as a present hope—not +a theory, nor yet a mere doctrine, but a +blessed and glorious hope."—Sir <span class="smcap">Robert +Anderson</span>, K.C.B., LL.D., London.</p> + +<p>"The notes are brief, clear, full, and suggestive. +It supplies a felt want between such +volumes as the International Critical and the +ordinary devotional expositions."—<span class="smcap">Jas. F. +Arthur</span>, Theological Tutor, B.T.I., Glasgow.</p> + +<p>"These notes are admirable. The authors disclaim +having written for scholars, but as scholars, +I may say, they write for Christians, but for +Christians as Bible students and serious ones."—<span class="smcap">Geo. +F. Trench</span>, B.A., Dublin.</p> + +<p>"The book is one of such permanent value and +wide scholarship. I hope it will be the first and +not the last."—<span class="smcap">H. M. Bleby</span>, B.A., Dudley.</p> + +<p>"Should certainly find a place in the library +of all Christians who desire to study this portion +of God's Word."—<span class="smcap">L. W. G. Alexander.</span></p> + + +<p class="center">PICKERING & INGLIS, 14 Paternoster Row, London, E.C.4.<br /> + +229 Bothwell Street, Glasgow; 75 Princes Street, Edinburgh.<br /> + +And through most Booksellers.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="tn"><h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> +<p>1. The footnote at the end of page 74 reads: <br /><br /> + +See "The Epistles to the Thessalonians, with Notes Exegetical and +Expository," by C. F. Hogg and W. E. Vine, note <i>c.</i> pp. 259, 260. +(Glasgow: Pickering & Inglis. 3/9, p.f.)</p> + +<p>The <i>c.</i> is unclear</p> + + +<p>2. The footnote at the end of page 89 reads:<br /><br /> + +See "The Coming Prince," by Sir Robert Anderson. Price, 5/.</p> + +<p>The 5 in 5/ is unclear.</p> + +<p>3. Spelling, hyphenation and punctuation are left as in the original.</p> + + +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Roman Empire in the Light of +Prophecy, by W. E. Vine + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROMAN EMPIRE IN LIGHT OF PROPHECY *** + +***** This file should be named 38721-h.htm or 38721-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/7/2/38721/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Julia Neufeld and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/38721-h/images/illus002.jpg b/38721-h/images/illus002.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cd31cd2 --- /dev/null +++ b/38721-h/images/illus002.jpg diff --git a/38721-h/images/illus003.jpg b/38721-h/images/illus003.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cbe6624 --- /dev/null +++ b/38721-h/images/illus003.jpg diff --git a/38721-h/images/illus023.jpg b/38721-h/images/illus023.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7623965 --- /dev/null +++ b/38721-h/images/illus023.jpg diff --git a/38721-h/images/illus039.jpg b/38721-h/images/illus039.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a7c4897 --- /dev/null +++ b/38721-h/images/illus039.jpg diff --git a/38721-h/images/illus049.jpg b/38721-h/images/illus049.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..49fe611 --- /dev/null +++ b/38721-h/images/illus049.jpg diff --git a/38721-h/images/illus061.jpg b/38721-h/images/illus061.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d062479 --- /dev/null +++ b/38721-h/images/illus061.jpg diff --git a/38721-h/images/illus097.jpg b/38721-h/images/illus097.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cb22e27 --- /dev/null +++ b/38721-h/images/illus097.jpg |
