It was in the days of the fourth Gentile monarchy that the Lord Jesus Christ appeared in humiliation on the earth. Judea was then a Roman province, as was evinced by Caesar's image and superscription appearing on the coins. The power to inflict capital punishment seems to have resided in the Roman governor alone. Hence the Jews were unable, except by his consent, to achieve the death of the Holy and the Just One who delivered Himself, and was delivered of God into their hands.
The Roman Empire thus partook, with the Jewish people, in the awful guilt of rejecting and crucifying the Prince of life. And should it be urged by any that Pontius Pilate was only a subordinate agent and representative of the imperial power, the answer is evident: the imperial power itself afterward ratified most fully the deed of its representative by shedding torrents of Christian blood.
It is true that after centuries of persecution, the empire became nominally Christian.
Masterpiece of Deception
But this outward adoption of Christianity by the imperial power of the world only brought the latter into intimate combination with that “mystery of iniquity" which had even then been working for a long time in the bosom of Christianity itself. From this combination resulted that masterpiece of Satanic deception which is presented to us in the Apocalyptic vision—Babylon the Great, the corruptress of the nations. From this vast system of worldly Christianity, of a Christian profession adorned with the world's magnificence, enriched with its wealth, and supported by its power, the saints of God are called to withdraw. "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." The Lord grant to us both to understand and to heed the warning!
When the true Church has reached the end of its exile and pilgrimage on earth by being translated to its home and dwelling-place in heaven, the false professing body will still be found in unhallowed alliance with the wealth and greatness of this world. But even more, it claimed the place of undoubted supremacy over the world. "I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow" will even then be her haughty and scornful boast. But "therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.”
The earthly instruments of her downfall will be the imperial power itself, and the ten subordinate, confederate kingdoms, which will own fealty to the resuscitated Roman empire. "For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.”
Usurped Dominion
The fourth Gentile Empire, which in its unity as a consolidated whole and according to prophetic intimations has ceased to exist, is to reappear. To that empire thus revived, Satan, who will have been with his angels cast out of heaven, is to give his power and throne and great authority. Gentile power, originally of God, will thus in its last state be energized by Satan and identical with his usurped dominion as "the god" or "prince of this world.”
The eighth head of the fourth empire, when it reappears, will be sustained in his place by the dragon himself. Satanic miracles wrought by one who exercises all the power of "the beast" in his presence will be part of the means by which men will be induced to worship the beast and receive his mark. Death will be the penalty of refusal, and judicial delusion from God having fallen on the nations where the light of Christianity has shone, Satan's triumph will appear to be all but complete. "The beast" and the ten kings, having overthrown Babylon, will forthwith make war with the Lamb.
Open Revolt
Corruption, of which Babylon is the seat and center, will be exchanged for open, undisguised revolt on the part of the beast or imperial power of the earth. "Spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev. 16:1414For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16:14) "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army." Rev. 19:1919And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. (Revelation 19:19). REV 19:1919And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. (Revelation 19:19).
Of the issue of such a contest, who can entertain a doubt? Christ and His saints will come forth from heaven. The leaders of the confederacy against Christ, "the beast and the false prophet," more infatuated than Pharaoh when he rushed after the Israelites into the bed of the Red Sea, will be taken and cast alive into the lake of fire. Their armies will be slain with the sword of Him that sits upon the horse. The winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God will be trodden by the heavenly Conqueror, the King of kings and Lord of lords. This awful judgment will be quickly followed by others, upon one host of adversaries and another until "all things that offend, and them which do iniquity," shall have been gathered out of the kingdom of the Son of man. Satan being bound, the reign of Christ with His risen saints will continue for a thousand years. But in these closing scenes, Israel—the Jews—have an important and conspicuous part as well as in the millennial kingdom which succeeds.
W Trotter