Rome Sacked By The Vandals

The great "iron empire" of Rome crumbled under the violent attacks of invading hordes from the
north. The image of Daniel 2 is exactly parallel with the four beasts in the vision of Daniel 7. The fourth
beast represents the same kingdom as do the iron legs of the image. The ten horns of the beast correspond
naturally to the ten toes of the image. These horns are plainly declared to be ten kings which should arise.
They are as much independent kingdoms as are the beasts themselves, for the beasts are spoken of in
precisely the same manner as "four kings, which shall arise." Daniel 7: 17. They do not denote a line of
successive kings, but kings or kingdoms which existed contemporaneously, for three of them were
plucked up by the little horn. The ten horns, beyond controversy, represent the ten kingdoms into which
Rome was divided.

We have seen that in Daniel's interpretation of the image he uses the words "king" and kingdom"
interchangeably, the former denoting the same as the latter. In verse 44 he says that "in the days of these
kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom." This shows that at the time the kingdom of God is set
up, there will exist a plurality of kings. It cannot refer to the four preceding kingdoms; for it would be
absurd to use such language in reference to a line of successive kings, since it would be in the days of the
last king only, not in the days of any of the preceding, that the kingdom of God would be set up.
The Ten Kingdoms. Here, then, is a division presented; and what have we in the symbol to indicate it?
Nothing but the toes of the image. Unless they do, we are left utterly in the dark on the nature and extent
of the division which the prophecy shows did exist. To suppose this would be to cast a serious imputation
upon the prophecy itself. We are therefore held to the conclusion that the ten toes of the image denote the
ten parts into which the Roman Empire was divided.

This division was accomplished between AD 351 and 476. The era of this dissolution thus
covered a hundred and twenty-five years, from about the middle of the fourth century to the last quarter of
the fifth. No historians of whom we are aware, place the beginning of this work of the dismemberment of
the Roman Empire earlier than AD 351, and there is general agreement in assigning its close in AD 476.
Concerning the intermediate dates, that is, the precise time from which each of the ten kingdoms that arose
on the ruins of the Roman Empire is to be dated, there is some difference of views among historians. Nor
does this seem strange, when we consider that there was an ear of great confusion, that the map of the
Roman Empire during that time underwent many sudden and violent changes, and that paths of hostile
nations charging upon its territory crossed and recrossed each other in a labyrinth of confusion. But all
historians agree in this, that out of the territory of Western Rome, ten separate kingdoms were ultimately
established, and we may safely assign them to the time between the dates above named; namely AD 351
and 476.

The ten nations which were most instrumental in breaking up the Roman Empire, and which at
some time in their history held respectively portions of Roman territory as separate and independent
kingdoms, may be enumerated (without respect to the time of their establishment) as follows: Huns,
Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Vandals, Suevi, Burgundians, Heruli, Anglo-Saxons, and Lombards. [*]
The connection between these and some of the modern nations of Europe, is still traceable in the names,
as England, Burgundy, Lombardy, France, etc.

But it may be asked, Why not suppose the two legs denote division as well as the toes? Would it
not be as inconsistent to say that the toes denote division and the legs do not, as to say that the legs denote
division and the toes do not? We answer that the prophecy itself must govern our conclusions in this
matter; for though it says nothing of division in connection with the legs, it does introduce the subject of
division as we come to the feet and toes. The record says, "Whereas thou saw the feet and toes, part of
potters' clay and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided." No division could take place, or at least none
is said to have taken place, until the weakening element of the clay is introduced; and we do not find this
until we come to the feet and toes. But we are not to understand that the clay denotes one division and the
iron the other; for after the long-existing unity of the kingdom was broken, no one of the fragments was
broken, no one of the fragments was a strong as the original iron, but all were in a state of weakness
denoted by the mixture of iron and clay.

The conclusion is inevitable, therefore, that the prophet has here stated the cause for the effect.
The introduction of the weakness of the clay element, as we come to the feet, resulted in the division of
the kingdom into ten parts, as represented by the ten toes; and this result, or division, is more than
intimated in the sudden mention of a plurality of contemporaneous kings. Therefore, while we find no
evidence that the legs denote division, but serious objections against such a view, we do find good reason
for supposing that the toes denote division, as here claimed.

Furthermore, each of the four monarchies had its own particular territory, which was the kingdom
proper, and where we are to look for the chief events in its history shadowed forth by the symbol. We are
not, therefore, to look for the divisions of the Roman Empire in the territory formerly occupied by
Babylon, or Persia, or Greece, but in the territory proper of the Roman kingdom, which was finally known
as the Western Empire. Rome conquered the world, but the kingdom of Rome proper lay west of Greece.
That is what was represented by the legs of iron. There, then, we look for the ten kingdoms, and there we
find them. We are not obliged to mutilate or deform the symbol to make it a fit and accurate representation
of historical events.

Verse 43 And whereas thou saw iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of
men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Rome the Last Universal Empire. With Rome fell the last of the world's universal empires.
Heretofore it was possible for one nation, rising superior to its neighbors in prowess, bravery, and the
science of war, to consolidate them into one vast empire. But when Rome fell, such possibilities forever
passed away. The iron was mixed with clay, and lost the power of cohesion. No man or combination of
men can again consolidate the fragments. This point is so well set forth by another that we quote his
words:

"From this, its divided state, the first strength of the empire departed but not as that of the others
had done. No other kingdom was to succeed it, as it had the three which went before it. It was to continue,
in this tenfold division, until the kingdom of the stone smote it, upon its feet; broke them in pieces, and
scattered them as the wind does 'the chaff of the summer threshing-floor!' Yet, through all this time, a
portion of tis strength was to remain. And so the prophet say, 'And as the toes of the feet were part of iron,
and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. Verse 42. . . . Time and again
men have dreamed of rearing on these dominions one mighty kingdom. Charlemagne tried it. Charles V
tried it. Louis XIV tried it. Napoleon tried it. But neither succeeded. A single verse of prophecy was
stronger than all their host. . . 'Partly strong, and partly broken,' was the prophetic description. And such,
too, has been the historic fact concerning them. . . . Ten kingdoms were formed out of it; and 'broken,' as
then it was, it still continues i.e., 'partly broken.' . . . It is 'partly strong' i.e., it retains, even in its broken
state, enough of its iron strength to resist all attempts to mold its part together. 'This shall not be,' says the
word of God. 'This has not been,' replies the book of history.

"But then, men may say, 'Another plan remains. If force cannot avail, diplomacy and reasons of
state may we will try them. And so the prophecy foreshadows this when it says, 'They shall mingle
themselves with the seed of men' i.e., marriages shall be formed, in hope thus to consolidate their power,
Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith and, in the end, to unite these divided kingdoms into one.
"And shall this device succeed? No. The prophet answers: 'They shall not cleave one to another,
even as iron is not mixed with clay.' And the history of Europe, is but a running commentary on the exact
fulfillment of these words. From the time of Canute until the present age, it has been the policy of the
reigning monarchs, the beaten path which they have trodden, in order to reach a mightier scepter and a
wider sway. . . . Napoleon . . . sought to reach by alliance, what he could not gain by force, i.e., to build up
one mighty, consolidated empire. And did he succeed? Nay. The very power with which he was allied,
proved his destruction, in the troops of Blucher,on the field of Waterloo! The iron would not mingle with
clay."[10]

But Napoleon was not the last to try the experiment. Numerous European wars followed the
efforts of the Little Corporal. To avert future conflicts, benevolent rulers resorted to the expedient of
intermarriage to ensure peace, until by the opening of the twentieth century it was asserted that every
ranking hereditary ruler of Europe was related to the British royal family. World War I showed the futility
of these attempts.

Out of the horrors of that titanic struggle was born an ideal expressed by President Woodrow
Wilson, who exclaimed, "The world has been made safe for democracy!" With the conviction that a war
had been fought which would end war came the announced inherent rights of minorities, and the
principles of self-determination, ensured by a world league of nations which would restrain dictators and
punish aggressors.

Yet under the very shadow of the League of Nations' palace arose leaders who would destroy
world peace and shatter the ideal of world union, while preaching a new social revolution. They vainly
promised the triumph of culture and a union born of racial superiority ensuring the "partly strong" and
"partly broken" nations of Europe "a thousand years of tranquility."