BY ROGER B. EAMES
The Roman Empire. "The inevitable prophetic line-up of European nations continues to develop apace. The League of Nations is to be reformed and built upon more solid principles. Mussolini has never approved of the League because it has been too flabby, lacking teeth. He wants to see something more forceful evolve in Europe. A new League is certain to develop, a union like that pictured in the prophecies. According to Daniel and Revelation, Europe's last League will be made up of ten nations within the territory of the old Roman Empire"-(Defender). the city of Rome is undergoing vast changes. Mussolini is endeavoring to restore the city to its old-time prestige among the nations. In three years of intensive effort the heart of Papal Rome has been torn out to build the processional avenue known as the Imperial Way, and the buildings of the Caesars have emerged from their graves, where they have lain buried for at least a thousand years, to be restored to their rightful place in the splendid fabric of old Rome. This is one of the oldest cities in the world.
The ancient city gave place to the Rome of the middle ages, and now the third and greatest Rome is springing up in all directions. Mussolini's forecast will be fully realized in the not-distant future. "A city spread over the hills and to the shores of the sea.. .a city vast, well ordered and powerful as it was in the time of Augustus …. a Rome that must appear marvelous to all the peoples of the world"- (The Daily Mail).
This great city will become the capital of the League of Nations when it is restored to life according to the prophetic Word. It will be recalled that Andrew Carnegie built the first "Peace Palace" at The Hague in 1910. From thence the location of these international peace parleys was transferred to Geneva, in Switzerland; and from Geneva they will move another step southward, to Rome, where the leader, the "Super-man," called in Scripture the "Beast," will have his seat of authority.
The ruler of the empire will be this Super-man for whom the world is now waiting. If we have read the signs of the times aright, the time is nearly ripe for his advent. He will represent the acme of the ambition of the nations to centralize power in the hands of one man. The present effort to make government and business one great national corporation that will control everything is apparent in both Italy and Germany, with the United States following closely on similar lines. If, as under the N. R. A. code, all business is under Government supervision and control, how simple it is to understand the power which this super-man, the ''Beast" of Revelation 13; 1-10, will wield. He will be the political head of the revived Roman Empire. His number is 666. He, with the second Beast of this chapter (ver. 11), who ,is the antichrist and ecclesiastical head, will work together for the subjection of mankind to their authority. The antichrist will make an image to the "super-man" and will demand that all worship him and his image.
The Austro-German conflict is attracting world-wide attention. Germany seeks to bring Austria into the Nazi fold, but Austria is wary. Being largely Catholic, Austria cannot approve Hitler's attempt to bring Catholics and Protestants together under his authority. Nor have the Protestants of Germany any thought of uniting with the Catholics to form a national church. This effort of Hitler shows dense ignorance of vital Christianity as well as of Church history. The blood of martyrs flowed too freely in the 15th and 16th centuries to be lightly forgotten merely to gratify the lust for power of one who knows not God. France and Italy are opposed to Hitler's ambitions concerning Austria, and it is more than doubtful that he will achieve his purpose. Austria belongs rather to the Roman Empire, as it was a part of it in the past.
War in Europe is imminent according to some observers. Scripture teaches that the age will end with the greatest cataclysm of history. The Lord taught that there would be wars and rumors of wars all down the stream of time. These have occurred. The next war of world magnitude will be at the opening of the second seal, we believe, when the red horse rider appears, taking peace from the earth (Rev. 6:4).This war will be the greatest calamity that has, up to that time, befallen the world. There may be other wars fought before this war of prophecy comes, for instance, a war between Japan and Russia would surprise no one.
We do not believe the civilization of Europe could survive another world-war until that under the second seal. This may be short, but it will be awful in its consequences. It will be followed in a few years by another, at the end of the Jewish age. This last war of the nations will reach its climax at Armageddon, in Palestine, just before the public manifestation of Christ.
Palestine, with its adjacent lands, the cradle of the human race, and geographical center of the earth, forgotten for many centuries, is again becoming of first importance in the eyes of the nations. The wealth of the world is flowing into it, and its natural resources are being discovered and exploited as never before. Much has been written of the vast chemical deposits in the Dead Sea, and this wealth is being tapped by the Palestine Potash Company, with its factory near the mouth of the Jordan, where hundreds of men are employed.
This deposit has accumulated because the Sea has no outlet. The Jordan and other streams, flowing into it from the beginning of time, have brought down the various minerals from the soil and rocks, and this may become a source of fabulous wealth to the country. Potash and bromine are being exported, and other chemicals will, in due time, be extracted from the waters.
From the great oil-fields of Mesopotamia, in the vicinity of Mosul, oil is being piped to the Mediterranean for shipment. One pipe-line, 600 miles long, now nearly completed, runs to Haifa, on the sea-coast near Mount Carmel. Another line will reach the coast further north, at Tripoli, a port in Syria. When completed, they will transport 30,000,000 barrels of oil annually from the fields to the sea.
These natural resources, together with the wealth being brought in by the Jews from other lands, will tempt the cupidity of the nations in the end times, and it is this fabulous wealth that will bring Gog (Russia) from the north parts to "take a spoil.. .to carry away silver and gold.. .cattle and goods" (Ezek. 38:12,13).
Tel-Aviv in 1919 was a town of 2,000 population, now it has 75,000. It is located on the Mediterranean, and is almost entirely a Jewish city. Its phenomenal growth is a marvel to observers.
Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv and Haifa are the three large cities of the land. Haifa has a new harbor, recently opened to commerce with fitting ceremonies.