66 The prophecy shews us likewise, that Antichrist will not rise into any degree of prominence until this division of the Empire has taken place; for Daniel expressly states, that when he "considered the horns," i.e., " the ten horns," or, ten kingdoms, into which the Empire had then become divided, "behold, there came up among them another little horn." In opening out the prophecies relating to the four Empires, in this Chapter, which are therein represented as "four great beasts coming up out of the sea," we saw that to require it; but also because of her deep national ingratitude to God, and of her persistent and long-continued rebellion against Him: but as I do not profess to be a "prophet," I do not of course predict it. Mr. B. W. Newton has noticed the following flagrant acts, as evidences of England's national apostacy from God-In the Crimea, during the Russian war, a tent was erected for the idolatrous worship of the Mass-In Cyprus the English flag was not raised until it had been incensed by Greek priests In India Sir Richard Temple honoured the Hindoo festival of Gunputti, which is the worship of an abominable idol, a being with a pot belly riding upon a rat with an elephant's head-On St. Mark's day, 1876, the Archbishop inaugurated Keble College, the members of which are the exact opposite of the Reformers! In addition to which, I would mention, that when the English army entered Cairo, a general order was issued for a parade of the troops, at the feast of the procession of the sacred carpet for Mecca! a salute of 21 guns was ordered to be fired, and the soldiers were commanded to present arms three times as the carpet was carried round the Place Mahmoudieh !— That the Govenor of Ceylon has lately officially recognized Buddha's supposed birthday as a Public Holiday! which has given such an impetus to this false religion, that "the whole island put on a garb of rejoicing never before seen since the European advent;" and that "never for the last 300 years has there been so much religious activity" amongst the Buddhists who are now, in conjunction with the Theosophists, "trying to wile away children from the Mission Schools!"—The formal presentation by the Queen to the Pope of Rome of a massive basin and ewer of gold, which he used in his Jubilee Mass !—The re-establishment of diplomatic relations by the English Government with the Papacy; and the consequent handing over to the Pope of a share in the Government of Malta! While the iniquitous immoralities of trade could not have been more thoroughly exemplified, than by the devices of some Manchester manufacturers: who according to "The Christian," had some of their goods, which they sent out to India, stamped with idolatrous emblems; in order that they might obtain a more ready sale for them amongst the Hindoos! But upon this subject generally, the reader is referred more particularly to Section 2 of Chapter vii. supra. 1 Dan. vii. 8. -a that sea represented the nations bordering on the Mediterranean for it was not until each Empire commanded the Mediterranean, the Nile and the Euphrates, that it attained to supremacy in the earth. Accordingly we find the Antichrist, when first mentioned in the Book of the Revelation, described exactly as these four Empires are described in Daniel, as "a beast rising up out of the sea "—a prediction which not only proves him to be a Gentile, but also points to a certain period in his history, i.e., to a time subsequent to his having "plucked up" "three of the first horns by the roots." These horns or kingdoms, no doubt stood in his way to universal supremacy in the earth; and would, therefore, be kingdoms bordering on the Mediterranean; and as we find "at the time of the end" that "the king of the south," i.e., Egypt, will "push at him," and "the king of the North," i.e., that kingdom which will answer to ancient Syria will "come against him like a whirlwind," kings of these kingdoms will most likely be two of the three kingdoms referred to in the prophecy. But be that as it may, it is quite clear that he will either subsequently replace these kings in their kingdoms, under himself, or substitute others in their room: as the ten kingdoms will be found still in existence at the close of the Dispensation. And having now, therefore, opened out the subject, we will consider more particularly the character and career of Antichrist himself. Many thoughtless persons, in reading the Word of God, make great mistakes, unconsciously to themselves, by supposing that when God describes things on earth, as He views them, and as they must, therefore, of necessity be in themselves, that they must be regarded in the same light also by man. For instance, when they read, that "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:"2 it would not follow, as they unconsciously suppose, that the men of those days, or even the men of these days, would have so judged. On the contrary, as the arts and sciences, undoubtedly, then greatly flourished,' the women of the period were beautiful and attractive, and the seductions of the world and of the flesh were so great, as even to draw the professing people of God under their baskanizing influence, the exact opposite would of course be the truth: for our Lord Himself has said, that "that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." So again, when they read of God's description of the four great world powers, as four "great beasts," fierce, cruel, despotic, and devouring;3 they again unconsciously, in their own minds at the time, ignore the fact, that to the eyes of the worldling, they would have appeared in a very different light indeed! For man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh upon the heart!" For "this great Babylon, that I have built," said Nebuchadnezzar, "for the house of the Kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty," was "the golden city." "the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency"! And we read in the Book of Esther, that "in the days of Ahasuerus," who reigned from India to Ethiopia, over 127 provinces; that when "the King" "sat on the throne of his Kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him when he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days" !8 In like manner, although in Scripture, the Grecian Empire is described as a compound "beast with four heads," and we know that the Greeks themselves were voluptuous to a degree; yet their men were magnificently 1 See Gen. iv. 21, 22: and the period above spoken of was more than 1,000 years afterwards. 3 Dan. vii. 'Luke xvi. 15. 6 Isaiah xiv. 4. 7 Isaiah xiii. 19. 4 1 Sam. xvi. 7. 5 Dan. iv. 30. 9 Dan. vii. 6. formed, and their women beautiful in the extreme; while their philosophers and poets were highly intellectual; and their architecture and sculpture have never been surpassed, and have formed models for all subsequent times. While the power, authority, magnificence and far-reaching influence of the Roman Empire, which is pourtrayed in the Divine Word as a "beast, dreadful and terrible," is powerfully affecting every nation upon the platform of the Roman earth, aye, and beyond it, to this hour. Hence in reading in the Word of God of the character of Antichrist, as therein pourtrayed, as in God's sight, as a scarlet coloured beast full of names of blasphemy ; such readers make the same mistake with respect to him, as they do in the other cases before mentioned; and suppose that he must, therefore, of necessity be hideous in appearance, and dreadful to look upon; than which nothing can be more false or misleading. For although, like Absalom of old, (who was one of the types of Antichrist), he will be black as hell in heart; yet, like him also, in person there will be "none to be so much praised as he "for his beauty:" for "from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there" will be "no blemish in him; "3 and by "good words and fair speeches," and seducing flatteries, he will, as Absalom did in the first instance, deceive the simple," and "steal the hearts "5 of the men of this world, and mould them to his sovereign and imperious will. Moreover, as he will be unequalled in majesty of bearing and character, in commanding power of intellect, in quickness and subtlety of apprehension, and in the unlimited exercise and sway of absolute dominion and power; and will have all the power and might of Satan himself to back him, he will not only be irresistible to the men of this world; but likewise be the very one, whom they would now hail with delight; and whom indeed they are looking for! Indeed the whole description of the 1 Dan. vii. 7. 2 Rev. xvii. 3. 3 2 Sam. xiv. 25. 4 Rom. xvi. 18. 5 2 Sam. xv. 6. Prince of Tyrus in the 28th Chapter of the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, which primarily refers to Satan himself, and which I have commented upon at some length in my first Volume of "Outlines," applies secondarily to Antichrist; who will then be indwelt of Satan, and who will restore the ancient glories of those regions. For thus is he described in the Divine Word. He is to arise out of one of the four divisions of Alexander's Empire, and as this is not to take place until "the time of the end," "in the last end of the indignation," i.e., against Israel as a nation for their sins,' and "in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full," i.e., when the nations, as such, have cast off all allegiance to Jehovah and His Christ; this shews, not only that these four divisions of that Empire will then be in existence, as such, and have a recognized head, in some form or another; but also that, to this extent, Antichrist will likewise be a Grecian. This is confirmed by Rev. xiii. 2, which tells us that "the beast" "was like unto a leopard," which was a symbol of the Grecian Empire; and which shews also that Antichrist will, not only be like that animal in cunning and swiftness, but will also exhibit in himself the beauty of form, elegance, and outward refinement, as well as possess the intellect and tastes, of that wonderful nation. It is also to be noted, in this connection, that "Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Palestine," are charged by Jehovah just before His "sitting to judge all the Gentiles" "in the valley of Jehoshaphat," with "selling" "the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem ""unto the Grecians; that" they "might remove them far from their own borders."4 While in the day of Jehovah's appearing for Israel, He promises to "bend Judah," and "fill the bow with Ephraim," and "raise up the Sons of Zion," "as the sword of a mighty man," against "the sons of Greece "-passages of Scripture, 1 Dan. ix. 26, "with a flood," literally "in the overflowing." Compare Isaiah xxviii. 18. 2 Dan. viii. 17, 19, 23. 3 Dan. vii. 6. Joel iii. 6, 12, 14. See also in this connexion Zech. xiv. 2, "half of the city shall go forth into captivity.” 5 Zech. ix. 11-16. |