Gentile Government and Its End

From: The Approaching End as God Has Foretold It By: George Cutting

• 13 min. read • grade level: 8

There is a vast difference between lawmaking and governing. Law expresses a ruler's will; government demands observance.

Without government, wickedness would be allowed a free hand and the world be made unbearable. Before the Flood there was no government, and the earth was filled with violence, grieving God at His heart (Gen. 6:5-13⁵And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ⁶And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. ⁷And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. ⁸But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. ⁹These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. ¹⁰And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. ¹¹The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. ¹²And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. ¹³And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (Genesis 6:5‑13)).

After the Flood God instituted government; violence must now be restrained, and human life respected. "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed" (Gen. 9:6⁶Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:6)). Inquisition for blood was placed in man's hand, and God supported him in it; hence, probably, the expression so widely known, 'Murder will out' (see Acts 28:4⁴And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. (Acts 28:4)).

The Necessity for Government

The necessity for government points to its use-the restraint of lawlessness and the support of well-doing. "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well" (1 Peter 2:13,14¹³Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; ¹⁴Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. (1 Peter 2:13‑14)).

In order to rightly appreciate God's present use of government, we must bear in mind that it is only a temporary provision until the scepter is given to "the Prince of Peace." "Of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:33³³And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (Luke 1:33)). In the meantime, God has two objects of interest on the earth-ISRAEL and the CHURCH. Take a simple illustration. A farmer has seed in his granary. Though making no present use of it, he will, on no consideration, part with it. He intends to sow it in a certain field, and only waits for the harvesting of another crop, one of very peculiar interest, growing in the same field. He has a stake in both, and both will he preserve. But it is the growing crop that engages his special attention for the time being.

So with the concerns of the Great Husbandman. The natural seed of Abraham must wait until the Church is gathered home. The apostle of the Gentiles could say, "The Lord... will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom" (2 Tim. 4:18¹⁸And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18)). But a remnant of the Jewish nation will be preserved for the earthly kingdom.

Notwithstanding all the enemy has done to spoil it, the presence of the Church on earth is a precious reality to Christ. God's eternal purposes are connected with it. When the due season comes, it will be taken to heaven suddenly, and the field cleared by judgment of every noxious weed. This done, He will cause the preserved of Jacob to "take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit" (Rom. 9:29²⁹And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. (Romans 9:29); Isa. 27:6⁶He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. (Isaiah 27:6)).

On account of these two objects of interest, and until His designs for both are accomplished, God will have the world kept in a measure of order: though, if He sees it necessary, He may, "as the eagle stirreth up her nest," permit persecutions, or national conflicts, or commercial upheavals, to prevent their settling down, for they are neither yet in their destined position. Israel's place is Canaan; the Church's home is heaven; and God is behind the scenes acting for both. He could use Claudius Caesar to disturb the Jewish "nest" at Rome, in order to find suitable lodgings for a heavenly stranger at Corinth (see Acts 18:1,2¹After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; ²And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. (Acts 18:1‑2)).

God's Ideal in Government

God's ideal in government is to have all power placed in the hands of ONE MAN-the one only HEAD (Eph. 1:10¹⁰That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10); Psa. 2:6-8⁶Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. ⁷I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. ⁸Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (Psalm 2:6‑8)).

He gave Nebuchadnezzar absolute control. But instead of using it for God's glory and man's blessing, he used it for his own glory and man's destruction. In a little while absolute dominion shall be given to another Man-CHRIST. Then the whole earth will be filled with God's glory; God's will shall "be done in earth as it is in heaven;" and "men shall be blessed in him" (Psa. 72:17,19¹⁷His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. (Psalm 72:17)
¹⁹And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. (Psalm 72:19)). With this before us, let us consider the significance of the IMAGE IN NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM.

In New Testament language it is thus expressed, "The powers that be are ordained of God" (Rom. 13:1¹Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (Romans 13:1)).

An image does not set itself up. It stands just where it is placed-a silent witness of the power and will of another. The thing formed cannot dispute with the will that formed it (Rom. 9:20²⁰Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? (Romans 9:20)).

In this image we get a glance at the whole scope of Gentile government as God foresaw it to its end. Four great kingdoms or monarchies comprise the whole. These four imperial powers are represented in this image by the four chief materials that form it (Dan. 2:38-43³⁸And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. ³⁹And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. ⁴⁰And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. ⁴¹And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. ⁴²And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. ⁴³And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. (Daniel 2:38‑43)). The head is of fine gold, the breast and arms of silver, the belly and thighs of brass, the legs of iron, with a combination of "potters' clay" at the lowest extremity-"the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay" (v. 42).

The whole is a graphic picture of the steady decline of imperial power. Nebuchadnezzar's power was absolute. Fine gold represents it (Dan. 2:38;5:18,19³⁸And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. (Daniel 2:38)
¹⁸O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor: ¹⁹And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. (Daniel 5:18‑19)). "Thou art this head of gold." Succeeding powers are said to be more and more "inferior," down to the toes. For example, the second in order, the Medo-Persian, is represented by silver; that is, "inferior to thee"-the Babylonian (v. 39). It is important to take note of this, for we can only gauge the present whereabouts of Gentile government in the light of THE REAL SECRET OF ITS DECLINE.

It is said of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, "Whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive" (chap. 5: 19). But Darius the Medo-Persian could maintain no such supreme authority. He tried his utmost to deliver Daniel from death in the lion's den, but failed. What was the secret? It was the intrusion of other wills. A few princes and presidents had put their heads together to make a law that would serve their own ends, and then got the king to sign it. That principle has been gradually developing ever since; until today it is not a few wills backed up by royal assent, but millions of wills-wills strong and weak (iron and clay), wills combining and making their voice heard by representation, to make laws that suit themselves, and to which the king is expected to put his seal! When subjects rule and kings are expected to submit, we are approaching the very antipodes of God's ideal, and, according to the image, the end of Gentile government.

But pause here a moment to notice one thing. The figure of "potters' clay" is associated in Scripture with the supremacy of God's will over man's. "Hath not the potter power over the clay? Who hath resisted his will?" GOD will have the last word, let men do what they may. He who set up Gentile government will, in His own time, set it aside forever. It is when the utmost extremity of the "image" is reached that the "STONE cut out without hands" (that is, not of man's framing) will smite "the feet... of iron and clay," and completely destroy the whole image, and the atoms will be carried away as the chaff is driven from the summer threshing-floor.

This will end Gentile government. "The times of the Gentiles," as the Lord speaks of it, will be over. But it will not be the end of Gentile blessing. In the day of Messiah's reign something brighter and better than was ever known on earth is in the mind of the blessed God for the Gentile nations brought to bow to His beneficent sway. (See Isa. 66:19,¹⁹And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. (Isaiah 66:19) and Psa. 96:10-13¹⁰Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. ¹¹Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. ¹²Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice ¹³Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. (Psalm 96:10‑13).) Happy day! Then will the "King of kings" make manifest to all created intelligences, that God's perfect will and man's truest happiness are bound up together.

THE STONE THAT SMITES THE IMAGE will fill the whole earth. Does the reader ask, What is the significance of this "STONE"? Four inspired witnesses agree in their testimony: David, in the Psalms (Psa. 118:22²²The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. (Psalm 118:22)), Isaiah (Isa. 8:14,15¹⁴And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ¹⁵And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. (Isaiah 8:14‑15)), the Apostles Peter (Acts 4:11,12¹¹This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. ¹²Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:11‑12)) and Paul (Rom. 9:33³³As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 9:33)), all declare that the "STONE" IS CHRIST. And this is confirmed by the Lord Himself (Luke 20:17,18¹⁷And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? ¹⁸Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. (Luke 20:17‑18)). Speaking of His rejection and its solemn consequences, He says, "On whomsoever it [the Stone] shall fall, it will grind him to powder." If, therefore, to have part with both the "image" and the descending

"Stone" will be an utter impossibility then, why try it now? To spend your best on that which is certain to be demolished is not true wisdom, and can only diminish your interest in the Kingdom which God has "set up" and "which shall never be destroyed" (Dan. 2:44⁴⁴And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Daniel 2:44))-"a kingdom which cannot be moved" (Heb. 12:28²⁸Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Hebrews 12:28)). How much better to take the blessed Savior's advice, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33³³But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)). One great help toward this is to see the import of DANIEL'S DREAM (Dan. 7).

In this dream the same four powers are brought before us, but this time under the figure of four beasts. We read, "These great beasts... are four kings." "The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom." It is clear, therefore, that a "beast" is God's symbol of earthly government; but the figure is not intended as any personal slight upon the king himself, for God says, "Honor the king" (1 Peter 2:17¹⁷Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (1 Peter 2:17)). The first three powers are definitely named: Babylonian, MedoPersian, and Grecian. The fourth and last-the Roman Empire-is named in the New Testament (Luke 2:1¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (Luke 2:1)). This power is by far the most important to us, not only because it is in existence today, but because it held sway during the lifetime of the Lord and His apostles, when God's Kingdom in the hearts of men began to be set up (compare Dan. 2:44,⁴⁴And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Daniel 2:44) Luke 17:21,²¹Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:21) John 3:5⁵Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)). So that the way the Lord and His apostles acted towards Gentile government is definite light for the Church now, and will be to the end.

It was set up shortly before Christ's first appearing, and will be ended by His second. As to territory under Roman sway, speaking generally, it included all the countries touched by the Mediterranean, together with their dependencies, of which Great. Britain was one. This great Empire has since been divided into many kingdoms, but it will again be united under one political head, spoken

of in Rev. 13 as a beast rising out of the "sea," graphic figure of a state of things that can be neither satisfied nor pacified (Eccl. 1:7⁷All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (Ecclesiastes 1:7); Isa. 57:21²¹There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. (Isaiah 57:21)). This crafty political upstart will endeavor both to satisfy and to pacify; and in those given over to the "strong delusion" will for a season succeed. He will be the devil's masterpiece of deceit and iniquity, and be endued with power from beneath. The "DRAGON" will give him his "power, and throne, and authority," and the mass will gladly hail his advent as the very man they have been looking for!

The Beasts.

In the "image," as already noticed, the prominent idea seems to be the sovereignty of God's will in earthly government. In the "beasts," it is more the ravaging of man's will. The symbol is a simple one. With the exception of the fourth, they are all beasts of prey; unclean, but with conquering power.

Now, a beast naturally follows the bent of its own will, without any reference to God, or even to man save for its own protection. But, all unknown to itself, you can make use of a beast's will for the accomplishment of yours. Take an illustration. A sheep-dog, being of a wolfish nature, takes delight in pursuing sheep. The shepherd knows how to make good use of this ravening beast; and what it imagines it is doing for its own pleasure is really for the welfare of the flock. But the shepherd keeps a keen eye; and should the dog be inclined to bite or harass, he instantly and energetically overrules.

The Lord Himself provides us with a key for the understanding of this figure of a "beast." The unjust judge in the parable "neither feared God, nor regarded man;" and a judge is clearly the representative of governing power. As a matter of justice, this judge disregarded the widow's appeal. It was only when her trouble gave him trouble that he interfered for her. As to motive, he served himself; in result, he served her. So with God's symbol.

Men in power may think they have hit upon some splendid stroke of policy, by which their own ends and their party's will be served. But they forget that, long before their scheme was thought of, God had secret designs of His own to further. By a hidden link with theirs, He can give effect to His own. The cat is no doubt gratified by the free access the farmer gives her to his granary. Devouring vermin suits her admirably, but allowing her to pursue her tastes serves the farmer's interests equally well. If governing powers will not by choice carry out God's will consciously, they shall, by the very force of their own wills, carry it out unconsciously.