I—Prophecy
“Coming events cast their shadows before.” Today the shadows are falling heavily upon all Europe and indicate events of the gravest character, clearly foretold in the Word of God.
We are not left to mere speculation to read the signs of the times. The Bible speaks in certain and unmistakable language of the future of this world.
How very important, therefore, to consider its teachings. No one can afford to neglect the voice of prophecy, “to which ye do well taking heed, as to a lamp shining in an obscure place, until the day dawn.” 2 Peter 1:19. N. T.).
The Word of God has revealed beforehand the very things that were to take place, with such accuracy that in some instances even the names of the men whom He was to use were given, though they themselves had not yet been born. Josiah is mentioned 350 years (1 Kings 13:2) and Cyrus 100 years (Isa. 44:28) before they lived. “Prophecy was not ever uttered by the will of man, but holy men of God spake under the power of the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21, N. T.). So we need not doubt or wonder at what God has said of the future, since “He declares the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’” (Isa. 46:10). “God is not a man that He should lie, neither a son of man that He should repent. Shall He say and not do it, and shall He speak and not make it good?” (Num. 23:19, N. T.).
II—The Lord’s Coming
Before matters proceed to any great length as to the principal developments in the crisis of the world, there will occur a very great event for which every believer in Christ is waiting. It has no relation with old testament prophecy, which is connected with the earth only. This event will be to the child of God the eternal realization of his every hope and blessing which “God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 2).
The Lord Jesus will return for His redeemed. Previous to His leaving the world and going back to the Father, He said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you; and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am there ye may be also.” (John 14:2,3). “Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear to those who look for Him the second time without sin for salvation.” (Heb. 9:28 N. T.)
“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:16, 17).
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed.” (1 Cor. 15:52).
When the Lord Jesus was glorified at God’s right hand after His ascension, He, according to His promise, sent down the Holy Spirit into the world that hated and crucified Him. He has been dwelling in every believer in Christ until now. But when the true church is taken to glory, at Christ’s coming, the Holy Spirit will go with it, and the unsaved, who have heard the gospel and have turned the deaf ear to it, shall be left behind for certain judgment.
“And they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” (Matt. 25:10). Solemn fact; shut! This leaves out all who have refused to be cleansed by the blood of Christ, to bear God’s wrath and judgment. No more mercy will be shown to those who have heard the gospel of God’s grace and rejected it, “only a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation.” (Heb. 10:27).
III—The Nations of Western Europe
The Spirit’s presence is what now restrains evil, “For the mystery of lawlessness already works; only there is He who restrains now until He be gone, and then the lawless one shall be revealed.” (2 Thess. 2:7, 8, N. T.) The events which are now taking place among the nations of Europe are but the beginning of a transformation which shall take place in their form of government.
God chose the Jews as His earthly people and gave them His holy law that they might know what He expected of them. Yet their sins and idolatry exceeded that of the heathen God bore with them “until there was no remedy.” For this cause He permitted them to be taken captive by the Gentiles. Ten tribes were carried away by the Assyrians and are lost to history. The other two, Judah and Benjamin, were taken in the year 586 B. C. by Nebuchadnezzar. For seventy years they were captives in Babylonia and from that day to the present the government has been in the hands of Gentiles and shall remain there until Christ comes to take the government upon His shoulder. (Isa. 9:6). Then He will reign in righteousness for a thousand years. This has been foretold in the prophetic Word by “Daniel the prophet,” and Revelation 20:4-6.
Daniel in his vision sees four beasts—explained as four kings which were to arise out of the earth. These represent the four great empires that succeeded one another upon the earth in their respective order—Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian (Macedonian) and Roman Empires.
The Roman Empire is symbolized by a ten-horned beast. The ten horns are ten kings “which shall arise.” This beast is described in Revelation 13 and 17. In thee latter chapter it is said the ten kings “have received no kingdom as yet,” nor have they to this days There has never been a time in history when the Roman Empire had ten kings or governors subject to one.
Since the year 500 A. D. it has ceased to exist as the Roman Empire. Revelation 17:8 shows it is to reappear. The beast “that was, and is not, shall be present”; what is now taking place in Europe is paving the way for the revival of the Roman Empire.
Already there have been references made in newspaper articles to the “United States of Europe.” A Washington dispatch to the Chicago Herald says: “The secret understanding on which Italy joined the allies involves remaking not only the map of Europe, but regrouping all the nations on the continent.” When God deals directly with the government of the earth, He will cause His purposes to be quickly carried out.
After the ascension of the church, terrible judgments shall fall upon the earth. According to Revelation 6, peace shall be restored by a “rider on a white horse” or very likely “the beast,” the head of the Roman Empire, who conquers without bloodshed. This cannot last, however, for “when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them... and they shall not escape.” (1 Thess. 5:3). Fearful slaughter shall again take place. Anarchy shall break out “to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another.” (Rev. 6:4, N. T.). The result will be famine, pestilence and death.
Anarchy will reign universally, and because of providential judgments men will think the great day of the wrath of God has come and will hide themselves in dens and in the rocks of the mountains and say to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” (Rev. 6:16). But instead of repenting of their evil deeds, they will blaspheme the God of heaven. (Rev. 16:11).
As to the head of this vast and mighty empire, Scripture is explicit in describing his character and personality. Arising as he will, in his Satanic character, after the formation of the ten kingdoms, he will subdue three of them. He will speak great words against the Most High (God). In his mad impiety, he will also dare to take the ground of open defiance and blaspheme the name of God. (Rev. 13:5). Men are now calling for this mighty leader or head of the future confederacy of nations of Western Europe. We quote from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 29, 1915, part of a speech delivered in the House of Commons, London: “What we want in this country more than money and shells is a leader. For God’s sake, give us a man who will lead, without fear of the consequences. Believe me, the whole world from Vladivostok to San Francisco is looking to see if we can develop a leader who can lead, and can shape into line with the new conditions.”
The question may arise, “Why are these empires or their representatives called ‘beasts’?” The answer undoubtedly is found in Psalm 49:20, “Man that is in honor and understandeth not is like the beasts that perish.”
In Daniel, 9th chapter, a Prince is referred to in both the 25th and 26th verses, but they are two distinct persons. In the 25th verse the term Messiah the Prince refers to the Lord Jesus, while in the 26th verse “The prince that shall come” is the beast or head of the revived Roman Empire.
The Roman Empire of the future shall, in its greatness and grandeur, surpass everything of its kind known to history. “All the world wondered after the beast.... and they worshiped the beast, saying,.... ‘Who is able to make war with him?’” (Rev. 13:3,4). But what shall be the end of this mighty empire which arrays itself against the God of heaven in blasphemous arrogancy? Let the Word of God answer, “And I saw the heaven opened and behold, a white horse, and one sitting on it, called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head many diadems, having a name written which no one knows but Himself; and He is clothed with a garment dipped in blood; and His name is called the ‘Word of God,’ 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 the false prophet (antichrist) that was with him... Alive were both cast into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.” (Rev. 19:11, 12, 13, 19, 20, N. T.).
How solemn! This time is fast approaching. It is difficult to realize that such shall soon be the doom of the rulers of these western lands. They shall be found gathered together for battle near Jerusalem. Such is the crisis which, as God shows plainly in His Word, awaits the world.
“Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” (Psa. 2:11, 12).
(To be continued)