The Revival Of The Roman Empire

by G. E. HORNE | Category: General | Oct 1944

There is much being said to-day about a "new world." Leaders of men in various countries are designing to bring about a Utopia when the present world war ends. Many are fighting to destroy the forces of oppression and cruelty with the vision of such an ideal state before them. No doubt they are quite sincere in their aims. Much was heard on similar lines during the last war. What an awakening there has been since! Present hopes of ideal results are also doomed to disappointment. Those who understand what God has said in the Scriptures about these matters are not so deluded. These aspirations ignore the vital fact that the rightful King was rejected over nineteen hundred years ago. He, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Prince of Peace, and He alone can establish lasting righteousness and peace upon earth. Until He comes conditions here will not improve. The Scriptures tell us that "evil men and imposters shall wax worse and worse" (2 Timothy 3.18). The world is not improving; it is ripening for judgement. One of the signs of the coming of the Lord Jesus to reign is, "ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars" (Matthew 24.6).

In the Scriptures God has told us very plainly what will happen in the future. Daniel has been used by the Spirit of God to prophesy of many coming events. Chapter 2. of that book states plainly that between the time when Daniel wrote his prophecy and the. coming millennial kingdom of Christ, there were to be four great world empires, and four only. The first of these Babylon-was then in power, and was to be followed successively by Medo-Persia; Greece and Rome. Much foretold in this portion is now history. But note that it is written that "in the days of these things shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people " (Daniel 2.44). Daniel 7. again brings these four empires before us, and it is clear that the last king of the fourth empire (Rome) and that empire shall be destroyed when the Son of Man comes to set up His kingdom (Daniel 2.85, 44, 45; Revelation 19. 20). We must therefore conclude that the Roman Empire will be revived. Mussolini sought to bring about this revival, but the last Roman Emperor will not gain his throne by conquest. He will "come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries" (Daniel 11.21). It will be noted that special mention is made of the toes of the image seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream, in Daniel 2. The fourth beast of chapter 7. had ten horns. Both of these symbols represent ten kings, and in such a confederation the Roman empire will be revived. These ten kings will agree to "give their power and authority unto the beast" (Revelation 17.18). He is variously referred to in Scripture as "the antichrist," "the man of sin, "the son of perdition." In Revelation 13. he is seen coming up out of the sea, a symbol of unrest (Isaiah 57.20). Out of the turbulence of th6se days he will arise, having the characteristics of the four above-named empires, as seen. in the

leopard, the bear, the lion and a beast terrible and powerful (see Daniel 7.4-7).

The rise of the beast will not take place until after the Lord Jesus has come for His Church. We believe that the coming of the Lord to the air is very near. We know of nothing which will necessarily happen before His advent. Our attitude should be one of waiting for God's Son from heaven (1 Thessalonians 1. 10). After" the Rapture" of the Church the beast will make a covenant with' many for seven years, known to students of prophecy as "Daniel's seventieth week" (see Daniel 9.24-27).

Revelation 13. makes clear that he will receive his power and his throne from the Dragon, one of Satan's names. These were offered to, and refused by, the Lord Jesus, when tempted by the Devil in the wilderness. The beast will accept them, and will pay the price - a price which was asked from the Lord- " fall down and worship me" (Matthew 4.9).

How sad to think that this world which rejected Christ, God's King, and

crucified Him, will receive with acclamation Satan's king, the beast! "The whole earth wondered after the beast." Their joy at his rise will be expressed in such words as" Who is like unto the beast? and who is able to war with him?" (Revelation 13. 3, 4). Does not this plainly shew the character of the world in which we live? It is at enmity against God; it " lieth in the evil one" (1 John 5.19).

Great men of the world are talking of a renewed League of Nations. The League failed to accomplish its purpose in the past for lack of power to enforce its decrees, but now the idea is to form an international army to see that these are carried out.

When the beast arises, and the ten kings agree to serve him, it is evident that men will think they have attained their object; that peace is at last established upon earth; that war is impossible (Revelation 13.4). But lasting peace will not come through man's efforts, for" when they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them " (1 Thessalonians 5.3). Then shall the Stone cut out of the mountain without hands smite the image upon his feet, and the iron, clay, brass, silver and gold shall be broken in pieces (Daniel 2.45). This foretells the return of the Lord Jesus to earth, and of the utter destruction by Him of the great concourse of armies of the kings of the whole world, gathered to make war with Him at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19.19-21). "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision," as He looks down upon man's puny and futile efforts to break the bands and cast away the cords of the LORD and His anointed (Psalm 2.). No, this earth belongs to God (Psalm 24.1), and He has His King ready to take the throne when the times comes (Psalm 2.6). When Christ's Kingdom is established, then, and only then, men "shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn

war any more "(Isaiah 2.4).

G. E. HORNE | Oct 1944
General