The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

closely connected with the fulfillment of the first trumpet symbols. In our exposition of the
first trumpet we noted that the great storm of hail, etc., which was the symbol employed
under that trumpet, fitted perfectly with the disturbances and commotions associated with
the efforts to overthrow the pagan religion (not the empire) in the second and third
centuries and the early part of the fourth.
We inquire next, Was there, in connection with the gradual passing away of the influence
of Paganism over the people of the Roman Empire, a great kingdom or empire that
through wars and commotions was gradually overthrown soon after? Was the overthrow
of that kingdom an event of great significance in the fulfilling of other inspired prophecies
of "holy men of old"? If so, was it of special importance in connection with the
development of the "little flock" of joint-heirs of the coming Kingdom?
Without doubt the answer is that there was such a kingdom overthrown which met all
these conditions. This kingdom was one whose rise and fall occupied a very large place in
the prophecies of Daniel. It was the one symbolized by the "legs of iron" of the great
metalic image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Dan. 2), and is described much more in detail
in Daniel's vision. (Dan. 7.) It was the Western Roman Empire, symbolized by the "fourth
beast" of that vision.
Less than two centuries after the ecclesiastical revolution in connection with the change of
the religion of the Roman Empire from Paganism to Christianity, the Western Roman
Empire, which had ruled the world from its capital city, Rome, since a short time before
the birth of Christ, was overthrown, and began to be broken up into several lesser
kingdoms. This event, next to the overthrow of the Pagan religion itself, is one of the most
important in the history of the world since the birth of Christ. Its final collapse occurred
476 AD in which year Odoacer the King of the Heruli, took possession of the city of Rome
and Romulus Augustulus, the last reigning emperor of Western Rome, was dethroned.
The Eastern Roman Empire with its capital at Constantinople, continued to exist, however,
until 1453 AD. The Roman kingdom began its career in the city of Rome, which has been
called the "eternal city." It was here that its central government was always located. With
its overthrow the world entered upon a new era. The historian informs us that, "Modern
history, in a comprehensive sense, begins with the downfall of the Western Roman
Empire; for with that event the volume of ancient history was closed."