The Watchtower Society and John and Morton Edgar - A2Z.org

This period ended in 1874, the beginning of the millenium, and from time up to 1915, the king has been present;nevertheless the times of the Gentiles not having expired, Christ will not establish his kingdom until October,1914. At that time, a Great Time of Trouble will take place, the spiritual kingdom will be set up, and Christ willbecome of King of Kings and Lord of Lords.Look back to the Papal millenium - a wonderful resemblance. Beginning 799, from that time onward, the Popewas the spiritual head of Western Europe, but nevertheless was still subject to the emperor, first Charles theGreat (Charlemagne) and afterwards his son, Louis the Meek. In 840, corresponding to 1915, Louis died and thePope became ruler. In that year there was a great time of trouble and the great empire of Western Europe wassplit up into many parts.In 1874 our Lord came to his own and his own received him not. At the corresponding time, the Pope waspractically a one-man governor over Rome. A large section of the people objected to this and rebelled. ThePope had to flee for his life. His friend at this time was Charles, who wished to establish himself as emperor ofthe west, but God had till now prevented him from attaining his desire. It was in 799 that the Pope fled toCharles and told him that his enemies had taken hold of him, gouged out his eyes and pulled out his tongue, butthat in the night the blessed St. Peter restored them. It was in that year that the Pope and Charles made thecompact with each other, that Charles would come to Rome and the Pope would anoint him emperor of theWest, and that the Pope in return was to be made the spiritual head of the West. This compact was made In 799and formed the beginning of the Papal millenium. The next year Charles went to Rome and at Christmas in thegreat church of St. Peter he was crowned the Emperor of the West. It was given out as though it were theimpulse of the moment, but really the result of the scheme laid the year before. After Charles died in 814, Louis,his son, became emperor, and retained his supremacy until his death. During the reign of Louis there wastrouble because he had three sons and he had given territory to each of them; afterwards he had married againand had another son. His wife induced him to gradually give more and more property to her son, until her sonwas getting more than the others. The others objected. Finally in 830 and again in 833 they made their fatherprisoner for a short time. The trouble in 833 was more accentuated than that in 830. There was more or lesstrouble till 840, but the emperor retained his supremacy till his death in that year. Then general trouble brokeout. The three sons waged war against each other and the result was dismemberment of the empire and theopportunity for the Pope to become king of kings and lord of lords.Notice the corresponding dates, to 830, 833 and 840, namely, 1905, 1908 and 1915. Should we expect trouble in1905 and 1908? Nineteen hundred and eight is still future, but seeing that certain things did take place in 1905,we can look for them in 1908. What happened in 1905? Ask any man on the street and he will probably saynothing special happened. It is only when your mind is drawn to the question, namely, the people rising upagainst the governments in some -way. What do we find? First, the condition of Russia last year as a result ofthe war between Russia and Japan, the people rose up in rebellion against the government.Again, France was the great power that supported Papacy, and last year, 1905, we find a separation took placebetween church and state.In Norway the people asserted themselves against the king and separated themselves from Sweden.In Austria-Hungary the same thing very nearly occurred in Germany the socialists became very strong.In Britain, previously the labor members in parliament were only two or three in number, but now there are 40or 50 labor members, because the power of the people is growing.In America there was the beginning of the investigation into insurance and people asserting themselves.We may probably expect to see the same things in 1908 on a larger scale, and there will be more or less troubleuntil the climax in 1915, the great time of trouble.