The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

Boulogne, France, thence to Britain, where at the death of his father, 306 AD, he was
proclaimed emperor. The other associate emperors were obliged on account of his extreme
popularity in Britain to acquiesce in his accession to the throne. It was only a very short
time, however, before efforts were made, particularly by Galerius, to cause his overthrow.
This increased a feeling that already existed on the part of Constantine to aspire and strive
to be the sole ruler; and some twenty years before his death, which occurred in 337 AD, he
succeeded in overthrowing all his rivals. It was during the civil wars (which ended in the
overthrow of his rivals), that he professed to become not only a friend, but a convert to
Christianity; and history informs us that he attributed his success in attaining sole
rulership to this fact.
Her child caught up to God
We thus see the fulfillment of that part of the vision described in the words that follow:
"And her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne." The following comment on
these words seems fitting and appropriate:
"That her son was suddenly caught up to God and His throne, denotes both that he was
rescued in an extraordinary manner from the attempts of the Pagan emperors to destroy
him, and exalted to supreme power in the empire; and that he became in that station a
usurper of the rights of God, and an object of idolatrous homage to his subjects."
Some, who do not seem to be familiar with the Scripture teaching concerning God's
relationship to human governments of the world, make objection to this application of the
words. It is, nevertheless, in perfect harmony with God's overruling providence in the
setting up and putting down of rulers. The Prophet Daniel gives expression to this truth in
the words: "The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He
will, and setteth up over it the basest of men." (Dan. 4:17.) The same thought is brought out by
St. Paul when he said: "The powers that be are ordained of God." (Rom. 13:1.) God saw
that it was best, in view of His purpose in the election and character development of His
Son's joint-heirs, to permit one who afterwards proved to be a base man to occupy the
highest seat of authority on earth, and thus bring His true Church into new experiences for
their testing and trial. The state of affairs that soon came in after Constantine's accession to
the throne placed Christians under a most severe temptation--the temptation to grasp for
honor, power, and glory, in the time appointed for their humiliation. One eminent writer
has thus defined God's relationship to the rulers and governments:
"In the case of Pharaoh, the perverse king of Egypt, God declared, 'For this very purpose I
raised thee up, that I might show forth My power in thee.' God did not approve of
Pharaoh, but used him to show forth His own glory. God also used king Cyrus of Persia as
a servant to perform His bidding. All of these recorded instances show a vital interest on
God's part as to who shall come forward, and who should be retarded when these matters
would affect His own Plan. We are not to understand that these different kings
represented God's choice as respects their loyalty to Him, but that these were the ones
through whom the Divine Plan in operation could be signally manifested and outworked. .