In these days of busy efforts of men to bring some tranquility to a disordered and disquieted world we are apt to forget the words of Scripture: "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand." Pro. 19:2121There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. (Proverbs 19:21).
In the end it will be found out that while men were responsible for their acts they were but carrying out the purposes of Him who said: "I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure." Isa. 46:9, 109Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Isaiah 46:9‑10).
The account of the recent meeting of the military strategists of tile Atlantic Pact Nations to develop a unified defense plan for Western Europe might well have been a page out of history. One of their major problems—whether to defend the West on the line of the Elbe or the Rhine rivers—was reminiscent of a similar one in the days of the old Roman Empire. Caesar Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, faced that question back in the year 16 B. C. Marcus Lollius the legate commanding the defenses on the Rhine was defeated by invaders at that time; thereupon Augustus entrusted to his stepson Drusus the task of advancing the Roman frontier from the Rhine to the Elbe but he died on his way back, in 9 B. C. Then the emperor's other stepson Tiberius was sent to complete the work.
The difficult task of bringing the tribes between the Rhine and the Elbe under Roman rule was completed in A. D. 5 when the troops reached the Elbe, and a fleet arrived at its mouth and sailed part way up. But the problem of the territory between those rivers remained, for in a few years Varus and his legions were defeated there. Again Tiberius was dispatched to the area, but devoted himself mostly to strengthening the defenses along the Rhine. By the year A. D. 17 a defensive policy was adopted embracing the Rhine and Danube rivers. Eight legions were placed on each to guard against further incursions from the north and east.
Today the descendants of those people face the same problem of saving Western and Southern Europe from an invader across the Elbe River, and the question remains, Can the territory between the rivers be secured? Surely history repeats itself.
Does not all this that is taking place awaken within us a consciousness of God's wisdom and directing power? For years the children of God who in the fear of God searched out prophecy saw that the Roman Empire was to be revived, with ten kingdoms under a federal head (Dan. 2:4141And 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. (Daniel 2:41).43; 7:24, 25), but this seemed remote. Germany was a powerful nation, with the balance of power in favor of Great Britain, while Russia was large but comparatively weak. Today all has changed: Germany is divided into two parts, and Russia is threatening from the north and east; the peoples of the old Roman Empire face the problem of how to defend the same old boundaries against greater odds.
As we have pointed out before, only the dire necessity of self-preservation could make the distinctly nationalistic countries of Western Europe willing to adopt a plan that would call for any sacrifice of their own sovereignty. But Russia's strength, and evident designs for world conquest, have made great changes in Western thinking in four short years.
Economic conditions in the various Western Nations are also having a part in bringing them closer together. There is a real necessity of breaking down trade barriers and of integrating commerce, finance, and military establishments. All this is but preparing the way for the appointment of a head for ten countries—"the beast," to whom Satan will give "his power, and his seat, and great authority" (Rev. 13:22And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. (Revelation 13:2)). His headquarters will be in Rome, where he will at first work in close cooperation with the Roman Church (Rev. 17:33So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3).7).
While we know that the revived Roman Empire need not have exactly the same geographical boundaries as those of Rome in its heyday, yet we see it shaping up just about that way on the north. And when we see the place the Danube had in their defense system in those days we may well wonder if Yugoslavia will not emerge as part of the Western confederacy, instead of being a Russian satellite.
Now when we see things shaping up so rapidly for the days to come after we are safe at home in the Father's house, does it not awaken within us a sense of expectation? Is there not something about all this that sparks a joyful excitement in our souls? Just think! the One who died for us said He will come back for us, and everything indicates that the actual moment when we shall see Him whom absent we love is almost here. Soon we shall hear His voice—that voice that in resurrection called Mary by her own name (John 20:1616Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. (John 20:16))—and see His blessed face. May a deep sense of the nearness of that blessed moment stir our hearts with longing response to His word, "Surely I come quickly" (Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)).
"We wait for Thee—Thou wilt arise
Whilst hope her watch is keeping;
Forgotten then, in glad surprise,
Shall be our years of weeping.
Our hearts beat high, the dawn is nigh
That ends our pilgrim story
In Thine eternal glory!"