How will the revived Roman Empire appear democratic while its ruler is actually absolute?
The revived Roman Empire will carry the residue of ancient Rome but present a seeming democracy behind it. Its ruler, however, will be absolute, exercising totalitarian power like the bestial empires of Daniel and Revelation. The democratic appearance masks his personal absolute control, even as the ten-horn government takes shape.
Les explains that a secular writer described Western Europe’s hatreds and problems yet noted its great potential and reminded readers that these nations had once been together in the Roman Empire. Les says this shows the outline of that same old Roman Empire rising now, exactly as Scripture said. In Daniel and Revelation, the ten horns appear, the government is bestial, and the ruler has Nebuchadnezzar-like totalitarian power, the destructive force of the Medes and Persians, and the swiftness and tenacity of Alexander the Great’s leopard empire. The ancient Roman residue remains, but with a seeming democracy behind it; he himself will be absolute. As events converge, Les says, Scripture’s accuracy becomes clearer.