the seat of the government under the name of Constantinople, or the city of Constantine. He beautified it with palaces, churches, and other splendid buildings. After the dissolution of Rome, Constantinople became the residence of the Greek emperors until it was taken by the Turks. A. D. 1453. Since that time it has been the capital of

Turkey."

Thus the residence of the Roman emperors was moved to Constantinople. After this the different nations which. lived in the countries that had been subdued fell upon Italy and tried to throw off the Roman yoke. Thus the Roman kingdom was broken up during the years A. D. 356-483. The Visigoths came from Spain under Alaric; the Vandals from Northern Africa, under Genseric; the Huns from Hungary and Bulgaria, under Attila; the Ostrogoths under Theodoric. All these ruled in Rome at different times.

Justinian's general, Belisarius, was successful in his campaign against the Ostrogoths. He abolished the consulate of Rome. Afterward the eunuch Narses commanded

the Roman army. The Ostrogoths had again obtained great power, but he was successful in his warfare against In A. D. 552 he abolished the senate, the last element of the government of Western Rome.

them.

The ten kingdoms may be enumerated thus: (1) the Visigoths in Spain, (2) the Vandals in Africa, (3) the Huns in Hungary or Bulgaria, (4) the Ostrogoths in Italy, (5) the Franks in France, (6) the Suevi in Portugal, (7) the Heruli, (8) the Burgundians, (9) the Lombards in Italy, and (10) the Anglo-Saxons in Great Britain. Different authors enumerate them somewhat differently. These kingdoms have since that time undergone many changes; "but if they sometimes were more and sometimes less, yet they were," as Bishop Newton says, "from the beginning called

3 Universal Knowledge, and Nordisk Conversations Lexicon, art. Constantinople.

the ten kings, whatever their number afterward may have been."

Later Attempts to Unite the Iron and Clay.

Here we are living in the last portion of the metal image. These prophecies were spoken nearly 2500 years ago, and the mighty monarchs of the world have had plenty of time to make them fail if it were possible. Some of them have also tried to do it. Napoleon the Great tried hard to unite the toes of iron and clay under one common crown. The glittering crowns of the Greek and Roman universal monarchs tempted his ambitious spirit, and for a long time it looked as though the star of fortune favored him. He waded through streams of blood. He was willing to destroy populous cities and disturb the prosperity and happiness of nations in order to gratify his own insatiable ambition. Of this the historian says:

"While thus the Napoleonic universal monarchy like a greedy Medusa was throwing its filaments around one after another of the nations of Europe, France itself was continually constricted more and more with the iron bands of despotism.” ♦

A greater personality than Napoleon I can hardly be found in the history of mankind. But his great plans were overthrown and his glory forever obscured when he was placed in the middle of the great ocean on the island of St. Helena in 1815. In 1821 death ended his changeable life and his sufferings. The unhealthy climate on the island and his sedentary life undermined his health. He was not permitted to go out without being escorted by soldiers, and for this reason he seldom left his house."

One Political Star Extinguished and Another Lighted.

The star of France shone with great luster in the political heavens in the time of Napoleon I, but its glory was Wallis's "History of the World," book v, p. 641.

5 Nordisk Conversations Lexicon," art. Napoleon I.

soon dimmed

Afterward Napoleon III became renowned. Some fanatical commentators on prophecy have tried to make it appear that the beast with two horns was a symbol of his kingdom. But Louis Napoleon and his kingdom suffered a terrible defeat in the war with Prussia.

France was deeply humbled by the German armies. And when Germany with William I at its head was raised to the dignity of an empire, it stepped forward with much pomp among the great powers of Europe.

97

At the coronation of William I, many claimed that his remarks about being "monarch by the grace of God," whereby he meant to convey the idea that the people should yield to the monarch in all important matters, was only a high sounding eloquent phrase. But by the help of Bismarck's wonderful talents as a statesman William succeeded already in his lifetime in fashioning the government very much after the pattern of an absolute monarchy.

Now William I is gathered to his fathers, and Prince. Bismarck's superior influence on the politics of Europe is in the past. He has retired from public life; but there have been few men, if any, who understood how to arouse the enthusiasm of the great masses better than he. He united in their minds the idea of the greatness of the emperor and the government with the greatness of the nation until many thought that political slavery made the nation great and honorable.

The Eternal Sun Takes the Place of all Earthly Stars.

How empty all this political and worldly glory is! All the kingdoms of this world shall soon become like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors, and no place shall be found for them. This will take place when Jesus The prophet says:

comes.

6 Rev. 13 II.

7 Ibid., art. William I.