IN these days of political upheaval it is very difficult for the
student of prophecy to get a true perspective of the mighty events which are rushing
toward us. In the immediate foreground of the picture, out of all proportion to their
importance, is the papacy and the Roman empire and the United States. The only
safe standpoint for the student is the sacred site of Jerusalem. There he sees
not only the Romish communion, but the Greek and the Armenian and is reminded of the
Nestorian. The pope of Rome dwindles down to a heretical bishop of the catholic church.
Our native country is far away on the horizon. We are occupied with the land of Israel and
the people of promise. This is the proper center of the prophetic stage from which
all may be viewed aright.
There seems to be no question but that the nations of the earth are grouping themselves
to play the final act in the great tragedy of human misrule. Many are the wild guesses as
to the part each one plays in the time of the end. If we have a clear conception of that
which God has revealed we will be strengthened in faith and sit with serene satisfaction
as we see the shifting scenes before us, even if some movements seem to be in the wrong
direction. But if we have a confused view there will be continual interest, it is true,
but it will be accompanied by much turmoil and unrest.
As we have already hinted, it is absolutely necessary that we orient ourselves. Then
the things which seem to fill our vision will dwindle out of sight. Besides, we will need
to be more careful in scanning the sacred records, and believe them implicitly. It is
usual that the two most prominent figures in present day prophetic study are the papacy
and the Roman empire. There is not a single direct reference to the Roman
hierarchy in the Scriptures, and I am convinced that it plays a very minor role
in the end time. It never appears apart from corrupt Christianity as a whole. This has
been a great relief to many, and has enabled them to give Israel the center of the stage,
which is their right.
The idea that the Roman empire was a world kingdom like Babylon,
Medo-Persia, and the realm of Alexander, is utterly without foundation.
Alexander sighed for other worlds to conquer but Rome cried because she could not conquer
them. The Scots, the Germans, the Far East--these and others made the Roman empire a
military camp beyond whose borders was a world over which the Imperial standards never
held sway. If the kingdom of the end time is to be the Roman empire revived, then it will
not include a tithe of the earth's surface and only a small fraction of its population,
whereas we are distinctly informed that it will embrace the whole world.
Of course, Rome claimed to rule all, and issued an edict to enroll all. But the
fulfillment of prophecy is not a blatant proclamation, but the actual situation. It did
not fulfill the words of Daniel, any more than did the later conquests of Genghis Khan or
Napoleon. If we will wipe out papal and imperial Rome from our prophetic, view our vision
will be greatly clarified.
Not only Caesar, but Satan claimed to rule the world in the days of our Lord. And
Satan's was no idle boast, or our Lord would have rejected his words. Moreover, he made it
plain that, whoever would rule over the next universal kingdom must get the authority from
him. And so will it be. Only a worshiper of Satan can attain the sovereignty of all the
earth.
Instead of looking for a revived Roman empire we should be watching
the rise of the four wild beasts of Daniel's prophecy. Anyone who will examine the
Unveiling closely will see that this figure of speech is used, not in connection with the throne,
but with the tabernacle. The organizations are religious, rather than political.
This makes matters much easier, for there are many nations on earth. It is impossible to
select four to fit the prophecy. But there are only four great religions, apart from
Judaism--"Christians," Buddhists, Brahmans, and Mohammedans, the first two with
about half a billion each, and the last two with about a quarter. The point of greatest
interest in these days is the union of Christendom, the Mohammedan and eastern alliances,
and their attitude toward the so-called "Christian" nations.
We may look for more and more domination over the East by western nations, until the
great Nondescript has devoured them all. . . . .
The vision of the wild beasts in Daniel seven was not given until after the days of
Nebuchadnezzar, who was represented by the head of gold, so they cannot correspond to the
great image of his previous vision. From the Hebrew we see that the fourth nondescript,
with the ten horns, is west of (not merely before) the others. It is
"Christendom." And is not this a terribly appropriate picture of the so-called
"Christian" nations of today? Claws of copper and teeth of iron! No other
religious section can compare with the monstrous military might of the west. The action
indicated is a conquest of the east by the west. Already a large part of the population of
eastern lands is under western rule.
So far Daniel takes us. In the Unveiling there is only one wild beast, a composite of
the previous four. In other words, the whole world will unite in the worship of the
Antichrist. The military might of the western wild beast is still figured by the ten
horns. There are the ten western nations of special fighting power. They will, it seems,
include England, the United States, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Germany, and perhaps
three other European powers, most of which have had some serious practice among themselves
and are experts in the art of destruction.
But the ten horns are singled out, not so much on account of their part in the conquest
of the East, as for their relation to the Jews. At this point the two visions of Daniel
come together-- ten toes and ten horns. The ten toes, we are told, are part of iron and
part of clay. So Israel has been mixed with western mankind, and has weakened the steel of
the nations, inasmuch as they are not of them, yet take their wealth from them. And it is
these horns who especially hate the apostate Jews, who, under the figure of a woman who
has been unfaithful to Jehovah, set up their monetary capital in Babylon and have
financial control over the kingdoms of the earth.
. . . .
There will soon be a close connection between Jerusalem and Babylon. I
look to see a great influx of wealthy Jews into the holy land. But they will not remain
there. As foretold in the vision of the ephah (Zech.5:5- 11), they will entrain for the
land of Shinar, and there, once more, will be a universal kingdom over the kings of
the earth. The clay will dominate the iron. The apostate Jew will dictate to the world,
which will work for him and worship his wealth. This financial despotism will be destroyed
by the ten horns when they devastate the city and its inhabitants and pay their debts with
a sword of steel instead of a wedge of gold.
Politically, a great conqueror will come. But that will not be in our days. We know now
that such a man would easily win the dictatorship of the world. Enough experience has been
given the peoples, so that they are heartily sick of democracy and will gladly hand over
the steering of the ship of state to a hand in which they have confidence. But it is in
the religious sphere that the signs are clearest, and the situation advanced almost to its
culmination. But we must not let small disturbances, such as the present [1933] conflict
between China and Japan, confuse us. The ten horns waged a far more deadly conflict among
themselves not long since. That will not hinder a confederation for offensive warfare
against the East and for the destruction of Babylon, when the time is ripe.
. . . .
But we do not await events--we look for the Lord from heaven,
Who will save us from the terrible times to which all signs point. We are not appointed to
wrath, but to the procuring of salvation. The whole world is apostate, and deserves God's
indignation. So long as we are here He cannot wage war with the world. When we, His
ambassadors, are withdrawn, then the thunders and the lightnings will break loose and the
kingdoms of this world will be prepared to become the kingdom of our Lord and of His
Christ. Let us look for Him. His coming is not dependent on events. He may come at
any time. And it seems impossible that there should be much more delay, for the stage is
almost set for the next act in the world's great tragedy. Let our hearts cry,
"Come!"
