(Continued: Chapter IV-The Signs of the Times)

These chariots are war chariots, because the Prophet is describing a siege and fall of Nineveh. Are these chariots literal? This interpretation is possible. Another interpretation is that the Prophet speaks of mechanized war equipment of the end time in terms of the equipment of his own day and that possibly what Nahum calls chariots is to be understood as modern tanks. This interpretation appears to be the correct one. For a similar case, see Joel 2:1-11. When automobiles were first manufactured, fifteen to twenty miles an hour was considered the speed limit. At the present time modern automobiles can move at a rate of more than 150 miles an hour.

Travel is indeed on the increase. Someone has tersely and aptly said that the present generation lives on wheels. With the passing of each year, travel is increasing. People are on the go.

In scientific circles, the aims and aspirations of men now seem to be focused on travel in outer space. The scientists are feverishly working to make such travel possible. Some scientists and statesmen today are laying plans and formulating national policies to govern in the age of space travel. To many thinkers much of the talk about travel in outer space is the wild fantastic dreamings of an overwrought imagination. The wise and prudent one, however, will hold himself in a modest reserve, awaiting developments before committing himself.

Without doubt travel is on the increase. People now travel by land—automobiles, busses, trains; by air—in planes of many different types; and by sea—on the surface and beneath the waters.

Daniel also states that knowledge will increase. Illiteracy has been characteristic of the masses of all nations throughout the centuries. Only the privileged few, the rich and influential, have had an opportunity, and have availed themselves of it, to acquire an education. But in the Twentieth Century literacy is increasing very rapidly all over the world. The people of all nations are on the march in their quest for knowledge and understanding—even though, figuratively speaking, they often stumble and fall. Though their forward march is slow, they are making gains all the time.

In the most highly intellectual and advanced nations, knowledge is increasing rapidly. Constantly the boundaries of the fields of knowledge are being pushed back, and new areas are all the time being added to their present possessions. The scientists and research workers in all fields are toiling feverishly and are making discoveries daily which startle the world. Each new discovery is a step forward toward new and better things—judged from the human standpoint. "But all that glitters is not gold." Nevertheless, we thank God for the blessings and advantages which the labors of the scientists have made possible.

When one considers the illiteracy and ignorance of Daniel's day in comparison with that of our own time, and when he understands Daniel's statement "knowledge shall increase," he is forced to the conclusion that Daniel was given, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, a vision of the last days. Without doubt, therefore, the running to and fro and the increase of knowledge are to be understood literally as referring to modern travel and man's unprecedented acquisition of knowledge.

But these predictions must be studied in the light of the immediate context in which they appear. As already noted, Daniel, in chapter 12, discusses the situation which will exist in the world during the latter half of the Tribulation—"a time, times, and a half": one year, two years, and a half year. As the Tribulation advances, the situation in the world deteriorates daily.

An examination of all the passages bearing upon the subject of soul-winning in connection with the Tribulation shows that the chief purpose of God's sending the Tribulation is to bring about the world-wide revival. Daniel, therefore, says, "And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" (Dan. 12:3). Since, in discussing the Tribulation, Daniel states that "they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever," he sees clearly that there will be those who show their wisdom by turning many to righteousness during the Tribulation. He sees many turning to righteousness—being saved. When Daniel 12:3,4 is studied in the light of Revelation, chapter 7, it is clear that both Daniel and John place the world-wide revival in the Tribulation. In Revelation, chapter 7, John is very specific as to its magnitude. "After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands" (Rev. 7:9). John is interested in this vast throng of saved people. When one of the elders asks him, "Who are they, and whence came they?" he in substance confesses that he does not know. Then this elder informs him that "these are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:14). This verse shows beyond a peradventure that this vast throng of people will come out of the great Tribulation. Daniel and John are, therefore, agreed that a great host of people will go into the Tribulation unsaved, will hear the message of the truth preached by those "that are wise" during the Tribulation, and will come out of the Tribulation having "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

Since knowledge will have increased and will have largely banished illiteracy from the face of the earth, and since every means of transportation will be available, "they that are wise," who turn many to righteousness, will, from one standpoint, have a promising situation confronting them—promising, in the sense that all things will be most favorable for the proclamation and triumph of the gospel. "When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness" (Isa. 26:9b). The terrific judgments of the Tribulation may be thought of as rain which, coming in sufficient quantities, moistens the dry ground and makes vegetation spring forth. As the rain melts the hard clods, the judgments will melt the hard hearts of myriads upon myriads of people who under no other condition would think of spiritual things and of salvation. Truly "Man's extremity is God's opportunity." Thus God will work out all things for the good of those who really will accept salvation—even though they are driven to do so by the unparalleled suffering and distress of the times. The bulk of people in that day will be in a state of spiritual stupor, caused by indifference to spiritual matters, godlessness, and lawlessness. Only such judgments as God will send upon the world at that time can arouse the bulk of humanity out of this diabolical stupor.

The judgments of that time will affect all men alike except the servants of God, the 144,000 Jewish Evangelists, who will be sealed against any injury and all hindrances.

7 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow on the earth, or on the sea, or upon any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them that were sealed, a hundred and forty and four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel (Rev. 7:1-4).

That the purpose of the sealing is to protect those thus sealed from dangers confronting them is seen by a careful study of a similar situation recorded in Ezekiel, chapter 9. That all humanity will suffer alike under the devastating judgments of God is asserted in the following passage: "And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him" (Isa. 24:2).

In the light of all the facts connected with the increase of travel and knowledge herein discussed, it is clear that God providentially will rule and make all events contribute to the advancement of His purpose of the ages and to the blessing of everyone who will let God have His way in his life.

4 But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer (I Tim. 4:1-5).

According to verse 1 of this quotation, the Spirit of God emphasizes that in the last days evil spirits will be very active. The spirits to which reference is made are the demons who are under Satan. They are called seducing spirits because they seduce or lead people away from the truth and into error. From the very beginning, Satan, who is their master and king, adopted the plan of deception in order to accomplish his nefarious design; thus he planted doubt in the mind of Eve regarding God and His goodness. Many people will be led away from the faith by the "doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men, that speak lies ..." This statement seems to point to systems of doctrines inspired by demons and spoken—as well as written—by hypocritical people who have little or no regard for truth, for they are "branded in their own conscious as with the hot iron." Beware of cults!

The men through whom these demons speak will forbid people to marry. It seems that they oppose the God-ordained institution of holy matrimony and the home, because they are animated by the demonic teaching of free love.

These hypocritical and demonically inspired teachers will also command that men abstain from eating meats, which God added to man's diet after the flood (Genesis, chapter 9). All food which God provides for man ought to be eaten with thanksgiving.

According to the Lord Jesus, the type of civilization which existed prior to the flood will be dominant in the end of the age (Matt. 24:37-39):

37 And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. 38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39 and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.

A very clear picture of the antediluvian civilization is found in Genesis 6:1-4:

6 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born unto them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all that they chose. 3 And Jehovah said, My Spirit shall not strive with man for ever, for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be a hundred and twenty years. 4 The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them: the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.

Who are the sons of God? Likewise who are these daughters of men? Some exegetes believe the sons of God are the descendants of Seth, the godly line that descended from Adam. Other expositors are of the firm conviction that the Sons of God of this passage are fallen angels. Though we dare not be dogmatic on this point, the preponderance of evidence supports the latter position. Nowhere are good and righteous men of the Old Testament called sons of God. In Job 38:7 the angels are called sons of God. Moreover, we are told that the Nephilim were in the earth in those days. The word Nephilim means "fallen ones." These fallen ones took unto themselves wives of the daughters of men. From these unions sprang a race of giants, "the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown." These facts support the interpretation that the sons of God are fallen angels. Further confirmation is found in Jude 6 and 7:

6 And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

The angels of whom Jude is speaking kept not their principality, but left their proper habitation. In doing so, they did as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah who gave themselves over to fornication and went after strange flesh—flesh that was not human, but animal—an abomination in the sight of God (Deut. 27:21). In going after strange flesh, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were acting as the fallen angels had done in going after flesh strange to them.

Since, according to Jesus, the civilization of the end time is to be like that which preceded the flood, and since demon activity characterized that period, there is perfect harmony between the statement of Jesus and that of Paul regarding demon activity of the end time.

During the first part of the Tribulation, demon activity will reach its highest point, as is set forth in Revelation, chapter 9. The special activity of demons which begins before the Tribulation, and which is one of the signs of the times, will reach its culmination in the Tribulation.

The message of eternal redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ was first spoken by Him and was confirmed to the generation succeeding the apostles by those who heard Him personally.

2 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them. For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard; 4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will (Heb. 2:1-4).

Jesus selected the Apostles, whom he thoroughly trained to carry on the work of proclaiming the truth after His departure. In one of His quiet talks with them just before His arrest, He promised that the Holy Spirit would come and guide them into all the truth.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. 8 And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; 11 of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you. 15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you. 16 A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me (John 16:7-16).

God gave the Scriptures for the guidance of His people. Each of the sixty-six books of Holy Writ was given for a definite specific purpose. If any portion of the Word is neglected or rejected, the one acting thus does so to his own spiritual detriment—he is the loser for both time and eternity. "16 Every scripture¹ inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (II Tim. 3:16,17). The revelation of God has been completely given to His people, as Jude declares: "Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (v.3).

The Word of God which we have in the form of the Bible is forever settled in heaven. "For ever, O Jehovah, Thy word is settled in heaven" (Ps. 119:89). It cannot be changed one iota, for the Lord Jesus declares: "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matt. 5:17). According to Jeremiah 1:11,12, God watches over His Word to perform it—to fulfill every promise and to carry out every threat. "11 Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond-tree. 12 Then said Jehovah unto me. Thou hast well seen: for I watch² over my word to perform it."

God warns the people of Israel neither to add to nor to diminish from the Word which He has delivered to them. "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of Jehovah your God which I command you" (Deut. 4:2). In the same tenor and for the same purpose the Lord, in concluding His revelation, warns men neither to add to nor to take from the words of the Book of Revelation. But this admonition applies to all the Books of the Bible. For the same reason all of them are equally inspired and are settled in heaven. Man, therefore, dare not attempt to alter or change any portion of the Scriptures.

Notwithstanding the truths and facts stated in this section, many people pay little or no attention to these solemn warnings. In these last days this indifference is especially evident, and it is becoming more so with the passing of time. The spirit of rationalism is dominating more and more the thinking of the educated classes and is causing them to doubt the Biblical verities. This deadly virus, like an epidemic, is spreading everywhere.

A spirit of laxity, lightness, and levity is settling down on the entire Christian world—with few and notable exceptions. All too often men do not ask, "What saith the Lord?" but, "What do we want?" The Apostle Paul foresees the nominal church of these days and warns, saying,

4 I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables. 5 But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry (II Tim. 4:1-5).

In II Thessalonians 2:1-4, the Apostle Paul again, by the Spirit, mentions the falling away from the faith:

2 Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together unto  him; 2 to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand; 3 let no man beguile you in any wise:  for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, 4 he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.

According to verse 3 of this quotation, the Tribulation will not be, except the apostasy from the faith come first. The apostasy is a deliberate abandonment of the faith. Its real character may be seen in the light of I John 2:18,19:

18 Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us.

The Apostle Peter foresees the same departure from the faith and foretells it in the following passage:

2 But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of (II Pet. 2:1,2).

These false teachers bring in destructive heresies, or, according to the marginal reading, "sects of perdition." Since they are sects of heresies, it is clear that these groups are unsaved people, even though they make a profession of Christianity. Moreover they deny Jesus Christ, "the Master that bought them." In their thinking, they reduce Him to the stature of mere man.

We are told that history repeats itself and that it runs in cycles. The facts seem to bear out these generalizations. In the earliest times, civilization was headed up at Babel in the plains of Shinar (Gen. 11:1-9). The type of culture that was built up was godless. With it, the Lord was displeased, as is seen in His judgment which fell upon it—the confounding of the speech of the people and their being scattered abroad to the four winds. From the historical record, one may logically conclude that the people of Babel were not only godless, but were rebellious in their spirit toward God and seemed to defy the Almighty and to challenge His prerogatives.

Because of the present trend of our time a number of students of the prophetic Word are convinced that the world civilization of the end time will be headed up in Babylon in the plains of Shinar. Historians have been in the habit of speaking of the unchanging East. For the last few decades—since World War I—the unchanging East is changing. A new day is dawning for it. The countless throngs of Asiatics have bestirred themselves and are now on the march. They are demanding that their voices be heard in the councils of the nations. Some modern historians see that the center of world political gravity, which has been located in western Europe for centuries, has in recent times been shifting eastward. Professor Toynbee is said to be among those who recognize this fact and is bold in expressing his opinion that Old Babylonia is probably the place to which world dominion will move within the near future. If history repeats itself at this time, Babylon will rise from its grave, in which it has been lying for centuries, and will become dominant among the nations.

It is indeed informative to study present world trends in the light of the infallibly inspired prophetic Word. According to Isaiah, chapter 13, "Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans pride" will be destroyed in the day of Jehovah, the Tribulation. In order that this prophecy may be fulfilled Babylon must be rebuilt on the magnificent scale set forth in this prediction. It will then be the glory of kingdoms. Jeremiah, in chapters 50 and 51, likewise sees the great city of Babylon—literal Babylon—standing as the dominant power of the end time. In Revelation, chapter 18, John the Apostle sees Babylon as the commercial center of the world, which will be destroyed at the very end of the Tribulation.

This conclusion is confirmed by the basic teaching of Daniel, chapter 7. The Prophet sees in vision the great sea, the waters of which are agitated by the four winds of heaven. Then emerges from it a lion like beast, which comes upon the land and is dominant over all that it surveys. Again the waters are troubled by the blowing of the winds. This time a bear like beast emerges from the troubled waters, comes upon the land, and is likewise master of all that it surveys. A third time the waters are agitated in like manner. Then a leopard like beast comes forth that takes the place of the second one. For a fourth and final time, the waters are agitated. There emerges a nondescript beast, "terrible and powerful, and strong exceedingly; ... It devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it ..." (v. 7).

Are these beasts literal, or are they symbolic? Daniel is disturbed about this vision until an angelic being explains the situation, saying, "These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth" (Dan. 7:17). From this statement it is clear that these four beasts are symbols signifying kings. But according to Daniel 7:23, "The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces." According to these two verses, these beasts signify kings and the kingdoms over which they reign. Figuratively speaking, in verse 17 Daniel uses the spotlight of prophecy, focusing light upon the ruler especially. But in verse 23, no longer using the spotlight but the floodlight, Daniel sees illuminated the entire realm over which the king rules. Thus a beast used symbolically signifies both the ruler and the realm over which he reigns. The facts of each context must point to the special meaning intended in each case.

To conservative scholars the lion like beast symbolizes the Babylonian Empire; the bear like beast, the Medo-Persian; the leopard like beast, the Grecian; and the nondescript beast, the Roman.

Has Rome ever devoured the residue (of the nations)? The answer is, No. If Rome is signified by the fourth beast and is destined to devour the rest of the nations, according to verses 7 and 23, it must do so in the future. But did not Rome play her part in the historic drama and pass off the stage of human existence and activity? If so, how can this prophecy be fulfilled? The Roman Empire arose and succeeded the Grecian Empire, as indicated by Daniel's prophecy. But did it not pass out of existence in A.D. 476? This question is answered both affirmatively and negatively, according to the theory held. Daniel, however, answered it in the negative—the Roman Empire has not passed out of existence.

For the sake of clarity, let us think of Daniel as being at a moving-picture show. There are two screens—an upper and a lower. On the lower one, the visions of the four beasts are thrown. As just stated, Rome succeeded Greece. Daniel sits very observant of what he sees on the screen. He informs us that the fourth beast succeeds the third, taking its place. As the drama of this fourth beast unfolds before his enrapt vision, he declares, "I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire" (Dan. 7:9). From the time that the fourth beast appears on the screen, Daniel focuses his eyes on it. Then he declares, "I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit. ..." Note the words, "I beheld till thrones were placed ..." In other words, Daniel continues to look at the picture of the fourth beast on the lower screen from the time that it is first thrown until another picture is projected on the upper screen. This latter picture thrown on the upper screen is of the Almighty's entering the courtroom of heaven and of his pronouncing Judgment against the world dictator of the end time. Since the fourth beast remains on the lower screen from the time it is first shown and continues there until the Almighty pronounces judgment upon the world dictator at the end of the age, it is certain that Rome as a world power succeeds Greece and remains there until the end of the age. Thus we can be certain that Rome did not pass away.

On the other hand, if Rome passed out of existence in A.D. 476, how could Daniel say that he continued to look at the fourth beast, the symbol of Rome, from the time it succeeded Greece until the judgment scene at the end of the Tribulation? Under those conditions, he would have had to say that he looked at the beast from the time that it arose to the time that it disappeared from the historic scene.

Has Rome continued in existence through the Christian centuries from the time that it arose, following the Grecian Empire, to the present time? And will it continue until the end of the Tribulation? To these questions I answer in the affirmative.

Additional light is thrown upon this situation by Daniel, chapter 2. The four world empires which are shown under the symbolism of the four beasts of Daniel, chapter 7, as we have just seen, are presented under the symbolism of the metallic image of chapter 2. The head of gold signifies the Babylonian Empire; the chest and arms of silver, the Medo-Persian Empire; the belly of brass, the Grecian Empire; and the legs of iron and feet and toes of iron and miry clay, the Roman Empire. On these points most conservative, believing scholars agree. Each of these metals signifies a different type of government—a literal civil government.

Rome, the fourth empire of the series, is a divided kingdom, as indicated by the legs which join to the torso and continue all the way to the feet and toes. When this vision was shown to Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel, they doubtless concluded that this fourth kingdom, somewhere in the early stages of its career, would be divided into two sections, both of which would continue throughout its existence. But they doubtless concluded that, in the very end of the Empire, it would be subdivided into ten sections, as shown by the toes.

When the toe stage of this kingdom is reached, the God of heaven sets up "a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever" (Dan. 2:44).

As indicated by the legs, Emperor Diocletian in A.D. 285 divided the Empire into two sections—the western division, headed up at Rome; and the eastern, at Byzantium on the Bosporus. The western section of the Empire collapsed under the sledge-hammer blows of the Germanic tribes which invaded the country in A.D. 476. On Christmas Day, A.D. 800, Charles the Great was crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the West. There were added to his territory the fragments of the destroyed Empire. Thus the center of political gravity shifted from Italian soil to French territory. In A.D. 962 Otto I of Germany crossed the Rhine, overthrew the Holy Roman Empire of the Frankish nation, and annexed the conquered territory to his realm. The center of political gravity of the western section of the Roman Empire was shifted from Frankish territory to Germanic soil and became known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation. The rulers of the empire called themselves Kaisers—Caesar spelled in German.


Footnotes:

¹ The word scripture is derived from the Latin word meaning "to write." In the Graeco-Roman world of the first century any writing was known as scripture. In this passage Paul states that only those writings that are God-breathed are profitable for spiritual guidance.

² The word which Jeremiah used in explaining to the Lord what he had seen in vision is the Hebrew term shaked and which means the watcher-tree. In reply to Jeremiah the Lord said, "Thou hast well seen: For I watch (shoked) over my word to perform it."

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