|
|
|
A Study Of The Prophetic Symbols Of Daniel Lesson Seven- Daniel Chapter Two – Part Two – World History From Babylon to Christ: Medes-Persians, Greece, Rome
Updated; October 30, 2007 08:35:27 AM
Text: Daniel 2:39-49 - And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. [40] And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdues all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. [41] And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. [42] 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. [43] And whereas thou sawest 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. [44] And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. [45] Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Babylon, which was the head of gold in Nebuchadnezzar’s image, conquered Israel in Nebuchadnezzar’s first year of power in about 616 B.C. He continued in power for nearly 43 of the 70 years of the Babylonian rule over Israel. Three successors to Nebuchadnezzar’s empire were:
As we also stated in lesson two, Belshazzar was the ruler when the Babylonian Empire fell in one night to the hands of Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian. This event is recorded in Daniel chapter 5 when Belshazzar threw a wild party full of drink, women and idolatry. A hand appeared on the wall decreeing not only Belshazzar’s doom but the dividing and fall of the Babylonian Empire. The world may mock God and have it’s party but eventually God’s justice is demanded when sinful man refuses to repent. His mercy is just and great, but His justice is also great and just. It would not be mercy if there were not justice. Belshazzar’s impudence brought the latter.
Daniel 5:20-31But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: [21] And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. [22] And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; [23] But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: [24] Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. [25] And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. [26] This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. [27] Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. [28] Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. [29] Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. [30] In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. [31] And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
Keep in mind again that ALL the empires Daniel saw in his visions have one thing in common - each persecuted Israel at some point in the empire's existence. Nothing is ever stated about Israel in her dispersed state between 70 A.D. and the period which will see the rise of the ten kingdoms, represented by the ten toes of this statue. During this nearly 2,000 year span, Israel has suffered tremendous persecution, with the worst, no doubt, being the slaughter of nearly 6 million Jewish people by Hitler’s Nazism in World War II. However, Daniel was given no information on this whatsoever simply because Israel was not a nation at that time. Some may argue, well Israel became a nation in 1948 and has had wars and persecution since then and nothing is mentioned about those. Well, that statement is partially true. Israel declared her independence as a nation in 1948 but there are four factors at the present time keeping Israel from being complete. They are:
Israel must be whole spiritually before Israel can be seen as a nation through the eyes of Scripture. This cannot be done until the temple is rebuilt on the exact spot where Solomon’s Temple stood and was succeeded by Zerubbabel Temple, then Herod’s Temple, which existed at the time of Christ. All of these temples were built on the same spot that God outlined to King David in 2 Samuel 24. It is also the site of Mt. Moriah, where Abraham willingly offered Isaac. And most importantly, it is the site where the Lord Jesus gave His life for the sins of mankind.
2 Samuel 24:18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the Lord in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
2 Samuel 24:24-25 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. [25] And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
The tremendous argument over the temple site will probably be contested by Israel because of the passage of scripture just quoted. They will claim, quite possibly in the not-to-distant future, that the site does not belong to the Muslims that it in fact, belongs to Israel. David paid it for some 3,000 years ago. Israel will rebuild her temple. The sacrifices will once again be reinstituted. Then, the 10 kingdoms represented by the 10 toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue will come to power rapidly, if they are not already in power when this happens. To state it again, what Daniel saw does not pertain to the CHURCH, the United States, the stock market, or any thing else. It is solely about the persecution of Israel as a state. The rise of the 10-kingdom confederacy within the Revised Roman Empire will herald the advent of the Antichrist who will be Israel's end-time persecutor in an unprecedented way.
We feel the Temple must be rebuilt simply because of what Paul said in 2 Thessalonians that the Antichrist will literally stand up in the Temple of the Lord and declare himself as God. It also what Jesus referred to in Matthew as the ABOMINATION of DESOLATION and declared "he will stand in the holy place." The "HOLY PLACE" can ONLY BE IN A JEWISH TEMPLE. There is no HOLY PLACE is an Islamic mosque!
Matthew
24:10-16 Neither the advent of the "abomination of desolation," who is the Antichrist, NOR the rebuilding of the "holy Place," taken place as of yet. Events currently taking place in the Middle East are preparing for such but these events are still YET FUTURE. Daniel would interpret and predict all of this in his prophetic symbols and visions, including the dream of a heathen king who would see the outline of world history in this dream.
Breast And Arms Of Silver-The Media-Persian Empire – 546 BC-334BC
Daniel 2:39a - And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth
The "kingdom inferior to thee," i.e. Nebuchadnezzar, referred to Media-Persia, who was an ancient country of Asia situated west of Parthia, north of the Persian Gulf, east of Assyria and Armenia, and south of the Caspian Sea. The country is now included in parts of Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. The inferiority refers to inferiority only in the capacity of wealth and grandness. Actually, this Empire, the Medo-Persian, would defeat the Babylonian Empire, making it a part of its grand conquest. (Daniel 5) The "two arms," of the image represent the two nation making the dual kingdom, the "Medes," and the "Persians." This Empire lasted from about 540-332 B.C., a time period of a little over two hundred years. Daniel served a little while under this power, dying about six years after its ascendancy. This power under Cyrus made it possible for Israel to be restored to her Land after the seventy years of captivity. It is important to note that Daniel would not be given the identity of this nation and the "third," kingdom of brass, which would be Greece, until the visions he would receive and record in Daniel 7 and 8.
Daniel 8:5-8
A mountainous country, Media contained some fertile sections; but much of it was cold, barren, and swampy. In the southern area lush plains were used as pasture land for the large herds of horses used in the Median cavalry. The history of the Medes is complex, because it involves many entangling alliances and the rise and fall of several nations. The Medes were an Indo-European people who invaded the rough mountain terrain south of the Caspian Sea. In the ninth and eighth centuries B. C., Assyrian kings conducted campaigns against these people, forcing them to pay tribute. The mighty Tiglath-Pileser (745-727 B. C.) invaded Media and added part of it to the Assyrian Empire. By 700 B. C., the era of the prophet Isaiah, a prosperous realm had been established. Media is first mentioned in the Old Testament as the destination to which Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, deported the Israelites from Samaria around 721 B. C. <2 Kin. 17:6; 18:11> Medes are mentioned in Ezra in connection with Darius' search for the roll containing the famous decree of Cyrus that allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem <Ezra 6:1-3>. Laws of the Medes are mentioned in the Book of Esther <1:19> and in Daniel <6:8,15>.
Ezra 6:1-3
Esther 1:19
Daniel 6:8 As mentioned, the prophet Daniel prophesied that King Belshazzar's Babylonian kingdom would fall to "the Medes and Persians" <Dan. 5:28>. Medes were also among the people from many different nations in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost <Acts 2:9>.
Acts 2:9
About 710 B. C. Sargon II of Assyria defeated the Medes and forced them to pay a tribute consisting of the thoroughbred horses for which Media was famous. The Medes, however, increased in strength and joined forces with Babylon. The Medes under Cyaxares and the Babylonians under Nabopolassar captured Asshur, the ancient capital of Assyria, in 614 B. C. In 612 B. C. this alliance overthrew Nineveh, the proud capital of Assyria, causing the crash of the Assyrian Empire. The seventh century Hebrew prophet Nahum expressed the great relief felt by neighboring nations at Nineveh's fall <Nah. 2:3; 3:19>.
Nahum 2:3
Nabopolassar's son, Nebuchadnezzar, married Cyaxares' daughter, strengthening the bond between the two countries. During the era of Nebuchadnezzar and the time of Jeremiah (about 605-552 B. C.), the Median kingdom reached the height of its power.
Persia was dominated by Media until the time of Cyrus II who was founder of the Persian Empire. In 549 B. C. Cyrus defeated Media. Yet under the Persians, Media remained the most important province of Persia. As a consequence, the dual name, "Medes and Persians," remained for a long time <Esth. 1:19; Dan. 5:28>. The expression, "The laws of the Medes and the Persians," depicted the unchangeable nature of Median law, which even the king was powerless to change <Esth. 1:19>.
The Medes and Persians were Indo-European peoples known as Aryans. Their religion was Zoroastrianism. Its adherents believed that spiritual reality was divided between Ahura Mazdah, the god of light and goodness, and Angra Mainja, the god of darkness and evil. Influenced by the moral teachings of his religion, Cyrus II of Persia was known for his humane attitude toward conquered peoples. He treated the vanquished Medes with respect. Mede-Persia, a dual nation, became a great empire that ruled Asia until it was conquered by Alexander the Great (330 B. C.). After Alexander's death, Mede-Persia became part of Syria and later a part of the Persian Empire.
Persia was an ancient world empire that flourished from 539-331 B. C. The Babylonian Empire fell to the Persians, setting the stage for the return of the Hebrew people to Jerusalem about 538-445 B. C., following their long period of captivity by the Babylonians. The Old Testament contains many references to the nation of Persia and its representatives. <Ezra 9:9> refers to the "kings of Persia." <Ezra 6:14> cites "Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia." <Daniel 8:20> speaks of the "kings of Media and Persia." <Daniel 10:13> mentions the "prince of the kingdom of Persia." The Book of Esther refers to the "powers of Persia and Media" <1:3>, the "seven princes of Persia and Media" <1:14>, and the "ladies of Persia and Media" <1:18>. <Daniel 5:28> prophesied that Belshazzar's kingdom would be "given to the Medes and Persians."
The "prince of Persia," mentioned in Daniel 10:13 will play predominantly in the early stages of the Great Tribulation period which we will discuss in a future lesson. It is this writer's opinion this "principality's" influence over the Middle East has already begun. It began after 1989 when the principality controlling the world through communism was taken down.
The Persians apparently sprang from a people from the hills of Russia known as Indo-Aryans. As early as 2000 B. C., they began to settle in Iran and along the Black Sea coast. Two of these Indo-European tribes settled on the Elamite border and to the east of the Zagros mountain range. The first references to them are made in the inscriptions of Shalmaneser III (858-824 B. C.). They are noted as the Parsua (Persians) and Madai (Medes).
The first mention of a Persian chieftain refers to his role as an ally aligned against Sennacherib of Assyria. His son was called "King, Great King, King of the City of Anshan." His grandson fathered Cyrus II, who was one of the most celebrated kings of history. He is called by the prophet Isaiah "My shepherd" <Is. 44:28>. In another passage he is referred to as "His [the Lord's] Anointed" <Is. 45:1>, a term used in the Old Testament of the Messiah.
Cyrus II, founder of the mighty Persian Empire, ascended the throne in Anshan in 559 B. C. He conquered the Median King Astyages. Then he defeated Lydia (about 546 B. C.) and Babylon (about 539 B. C.), finally establishing the Persian Empire. (IRAN IS PREDOMINANTLY PERSIAN) This last conquest is as we have probably overly stated referred to in Daniel chapter 5. Cyrus' rule was a result of the sovereignty of God. In contrast to previous rulers, especially the Assyrians, Cyrus was humane and benevolent toward those whom he defeated. Cyrus was the Persian king who issued the decree restoring the Jews to their homeland, following their long period of captivity by the Babylonians <2 Chr. 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4>. Cyrus was also the founder of the system under which each province, or an official who answered to the great king governed Persian satrapy. However, he allowed a remarkable degree of freedom of religion and customs for the vassal states, including the region known as Palestine, which is now modern day Israel. Cyrus accomplished all of this because he was God's tool-just as Assyria, who conquered Israel, was God's rod of anger.
Cambyses II (530-522 B. C.), the son of Cyrus, reined after his father and during his reign Egypt was added to the list of nations conquered by Persia. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, Cambyses accidentally wounded himself with his own sword in 522 B. C. Some believe he committed suicide. The next Persian king, Darius I (521-486 B. C.), was not a direct descendant of Cyrus but was of royal, Achaemenid blood. He defeated nine kings to claim all 23 Persian satrapies. This was recorded on the famous Behistun Inscription, which was written in the Akkadian, Elamite, and Old Persian languages. Darius I further unified the Persian Empire by using an efficient gold coinage, state highways, and a more efficient postal system. The Greeks at the Battle of Marathon in 490 B. C defeated him. This is the same Darius who, in his second year, ordered the Jewish Temple at Jerusalem to be rebuilt after work on it had been discontinued for 14 years <Ezra 4:24; 6:1>. He also gave a generous subsidy that made it possible to complete the Temple. The extent of the Persian Empire under Darius is reflected in <Esther 1:1> and <10:1>. The vast territory was nearly 4,900 kilometers (3,000 miles) long and 800-2,400 kilometers (500 to 1,500 miles) wide.
Xerxes ruled Persia from 486 to 465 B. C. and was the Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther. Esther did not become queen until the seventh year of his reign, which would be about 478 B. C. This was two years after his devastating defeat at Salamis (480 B. C.), which ended Persia's last hope for conquering Greece. Another Persian king, Artaxerxes I Longimanus (464-424 B. C.), illustrates one of the ironies of history. This minor Persian king was of major importance because of his connection with the Hebrew people. Apparently two of the three returns of the Jewish people from captivity in Babylon occurred during his reign. The second return was apparently under Ezra. This was made possible because of the generosity of Artaxerxes. The third return occurred in 445 B. C. <Neh. 1:1>. The specific purpose of this return to Jerusalem was to rebuild the city walls. Among the kingdoms of the ancient world, Persia is remembered because it built many important cities. PERSEPOLIS was a showpiece of Persian power. Pasargadae was the ancestral capital rapidly supplanted in importance. ECBATANA served as the capital of the Median Empire and became a resort area for the Persians. SUSA (the Shushan of Esther) was the former capital of the Elamites Empire.
Isaiah the prophet, in predicting the fall of Babylon about 175 years before it happened, also prophesied that the Medes and Persians would be God's avenging instrument. In Isaiah 13:17-19 he predicted that the Medes would overthrow Babylon:
Isaiah 13:17-19
Isaiah added a further word In Isaiah 21:2 where Media was urged to attack Babylon:
Isaiah 21:2
Jeremiah who came later during the time of the Babylonian Captivity, pronounced judgment on Babylon and the other nations of his time, including Media. In Jeremiah 25:25 Media is one of the nations to be punished by God.
Jeremiah
25:25
The extended prophecy of Jeremiah concerning Babylon in Jeremiah 50-51 also predicted that the Medes would destroy Babylon. The prophecies of judgment on the Medes and Persians were not as severe as those on Babylon, because Babylon had been the instrument of the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of the kingdom of Judah while the Medes and Persians would be God's instrument to allow them to go back after the captivity and rebuild Jerusalem!
Jeremiah 51:11
A more detailed of the Persian empire will be discussed when we get to our discussion of Daniel chapter 7 and 8 which are visions that give greater clarity to Nebuchadnezzar's image in Daniel chapter 2.
The Belly And The Thighs Of Brass- Greece – 334 BC To 330 BC
Daniel 2:37-39 - Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. [38] And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. [39] And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
The portion of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream symbolized the Grecian Empire under Alexander the Great. The Grecian Empire began with a new thought about government – democracy. It blew as a fresh wind over the world of that day. This empire was greater in territory than the other two kingdoms. Alexander the Great conquered not only all the territories of the other two kingdoms but also parts of India. But the Grecian Empire began to crumble and decay with the death of Alexander the Great at the age of 32. His vast territory was divided into four parts, as we shall see when we look at Daniel chapter 8. Its origins began as a region or country of city-states in southeastern Europe between Italy and Asia Minor. Greece was bounded on the east by the Aegean Sea, on the south of Mediterranean Sea, on the west by the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, and on the north of Mount Olympus and adjacent mountains. The Old Testament name for Greece was Javan.
In the early years of its history, Greece was a country of self-governing city-states. Politically and militarily, the Greek city-states were weak. Their varied backgrounds led to frictions and rivalries that kept them from becoming one unified nation. In 338 B. C., Philip II, king of Macedon, conquered the southern peninsula of Greece. Under Philip's son, Alexander the Great (336-323 B. C.), the Greek Empire was extended from Greece through Asia Minor to Egypt and the borders of India. Alexander's military conquests and his passion to spread Greek culture contributed to the advancement of Greek ideas throughout the ancient world. This adoption of Greek ideas by the rest of the ancient world was known as HELLENISM. So thoroughly did Greek ideas penetrate the other nations that the Greek language became the dominant language of the known world. Little known to Alexander he was being aided by a demon principality that Daniel the prophet saw called the "prince of Grecia." This satanic prince will be the same principality that will aid and abet the Antichrist during the latter half of the Great Tribulation. (Daniel 10:13)
Daniel 10:17-21
Acts 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
The peninsula of Greece fell to the Romans in 146 B. C. and later became the senatorial province of Achaia with Corinth as its capital. The apostle Paul visited this area on his second missionary journey, delivering his famous sermon to the Athenian philosophers <Acts 17:22-34>. Later he appeared before the proconsul Gallio at Corinth <Acts 18:12-17>. On his third missionary journey, he visited Greece for three months <Acts 20:2-3>.
Acts 18:12-17 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, [13] Saying, This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law. [14] And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: [15] But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. [16] And he drove them from the judgment seat. [17] Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.
Acts 20:2-3 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, [3] And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
This same multi-god faceted thought of religion today is making a comeback as we near the end of the church age! It will be predominant during the Great Tribulation period. Greece is important to Christianity because of its language. In New Testament times Greek was the language spoken by the common people of the ancient world, as far west as Rome and the Rhone Valley, in South Eastern France. Most of the New Testament was written originally in Greek. This precise and expressive language provided the most capable vehicle for expressing thought of any in the ancient world. Natives of Greece or people of Greek descent. In the New Testament, Greeks is sometimes a general term for all who are not Jews. Historically, the Greeks descended from four separate groups-- the Achaeans, Ionians, Aeolians, and Dorians-- which immigrated into Greece and replaced the civilization that previously existed. Each group settled in different regions of Greece. Because these peoples did not mix very well, Greece developed into a group of city-states instead of a nation. They fought among one another for superiority, and even though they conquered isolated areas of the Mediterranean coastland, they were unable to establish a unified empire. Much later, Philip of Macedon conquered Greece, and his son ALEXANDER the Great, extended Greek culture throughout most of the Mediterranean world. When Alexander died, his generals continued this policy of forcing Greek culture upon the people of his empire. The way of life they enforced is known as HELLENISM.
We will discuss the divisions of Alexander's kingdom in great detail in lessons concerning Daniel chapters 8 and 9 for out of ONE of those divisions will the Antichrist rise in the last days. We believe the Bible shows us that the man of sin will come from the Assyrian division of Alexander's kingdom. More on that later.
The Legs Of Iron – Rome – 300 BC Until 70 AD – Bible Only Dictates Events Up To 70 AD When Israel Was Dispersed
Daniel 2: 40 - And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdues all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Rome was the powerful pagan empire that controlled most of the known world during New Testament times. Rome was founded in 753 B. C. by Romulus, who became its first king. The little kingdom grew in size and importance, absorbing its immediate neighbors through the reign of seven kings, until the tyranny of Tarquinius Superbus drove the people to revolt and to take the government into their own hands. A republic was established, and Roman citizens had a voice in governmental affairs. During the period of the republic, Rome extended her borders throughout all of Italy and the known world.
In 63 B. C., Judea became formally subject to Rome and this was the case during the entire New Testament period. The republic was subject to internal strife that eventually led to the decline of a people-oriented government. The emperor Octavian, who was also known as Augustus, became emperor in 27 B. C. He was still reigning at the time of Jesus' birth. The religion that was native to Rome was basically primitive in nature. The Romans believed that impersonal spirits or supernatural powers inhabited such natural objects as trees, streams, and earth. They believed that these spirits affected one's personal life for good or evil. But the most striking feature of Roman religion was its ability to merge the best features of several religions. As the empire expanded, it imported and assimilated many religious ideas and pagan gods from Greece and the Orient. Roman gods were fused and identified with the gods of the Greeks. Buildings, temples, and monuments to these gods were erected. Astrological beliefs and magical practices flourished.
An "imperial ruler cult" developed in the first century B. C. when the Roman senate voted to deify Julius Caesar and to dedicate a temple to his honor. Among all the emperors, only Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Claudius were deified. This phenomenon apparently had more political than religious meaning. Throughout the entire New Testament period, various emperors ruled over the Roman Empire. During the reign of Augustus, Christ was born. The Lord's crucifixion actually occurred during the reign of the succeeding emperor Tiberius. The martyrdom of James, the brother of John, took place in the reign of the emperor Claudius <Acts 11:28; 12:1-2>. It was to the emperor Nero that Paul appealed <Acts 25:11>. The destruction of Jerusalem prophesied by Jesus <Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 19:41-44> was accomplished in the year A. D. 70 by Titus, who later became emperor. Thus, the entire New Testament story unfolded under the reign of Roman emperors; a story that was foretold and seen by Daniel the prophet some 800 years prior!
The Roman Empire reached the height of its power from about A. D. 100 to 175. By the end of the century, however, the Romans and their power had begun to decline. Because of the vast expanse of its territory, the Empire grew increasingly difficult to administer. High taxation and political infighting also took their toll. Morally, Rome was also a sick society; its life of sin and debauchery served to hasten its collapse from within, even as barbaric tribes moved in to challenge the Romans' military rule. By A. D. 450 the Roman Empire was only a skeleton of its former self, reduced to a third-rate power among the nations of the ancient world. Contact between Rome and the Jews took place when some of the Jews were scattered to various parts of the Mediterranean world and when Rome moved into Palestine as a part of its eastern expansion. Technically, however, contact between the Romans and the Jews began in 63 B. C., when Pompey marched into the land of Palestine.
From the time of the Captivity in Babylon-- or perhaps even earlier-- many Jews made their homes outside Palestine. While some of them did this for economic reasons; others had been deported as prisoners of war to such places as Assyria and Babylon. The prophet Jeremiah indicated that some Jews had settled in Egypt during his time <Jer. 44:1>. Under Roman rule the Jews were given a special status with certain legal rights. They were permitted to practice their own religion and to build their synagogues. They also were exempt from military service and were not required to appear in court on the Sabbath.
Relationships between the Jews and the Romans were strained at best, deadly at worst. The emperor Caligula alienated the Jews by opposing their belief in one God and forcibly erecting a statue of himself in their synagogues. Also, in A. D. 19, the emperor Tiberius expelled some Jews from Italy. This edict was renewed under Claudius in A. D. 49 <Acts 18:2>. Apparently this edict did not last long, because Jews were living in Rome when Paul arrived there about A. D. 62. The situation of the Jews varied considerably under the different Roman rulers. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple in 20 B. C., and Herod Agrippa sought Jewish favor by persecuting the Christians <Acts 12:1-3>. Archelaus, on the other hand, was a cruel and tyrannical ruler who massacred many Jews <Matt. 2:22>.
Acts 12:1-3
Resentful of the presence of these foreign oppressors, the Jews refused to recognize anyone but God as sovereign. Revolutionary activities of Jewish nationalists such as the ZEALOTS increased and threatened the peace in Palestine. By A. D. 66, Rome was forced to subdue a Jewish revolt in Judea. And in A. D. 70, Titus, Roman general who later became emperor, marched on the city of Jerusalem to destroy Jewish resistance. Many Jews lost their lives by crucifixion and other violent means. A small group of freedom fighters held out at Masada, but they took their own lives just before the Roman soldiers broke into their fortress. The destruction of Jerusalem did not wipe out the Jewish state or religion. In some ways, it made the Jews more determined to resist. During the next 60 years Rome and the Jews clashed on a number of occasions. From A. D. 132-135 a self-proclaimed messiah, Simon Bar Cochba, led a second rebellion. Hadrian, emperor at the time, issued an edict that virtually destroyed Judaism. Jerusalem was rebuilt as a Roman colony, complete with a pagan Roman temple, erected on the site of the Jewish Temple from which the name "Palestinia" remains to this day and was a slap in the Jews face. The province of Judea was replaced by the term "Syria Palestine." During this rebellion, some 5OO,OOO Jews were killed and many others were sold into slavery. Those who survived were scattered beyond this new province.
Christianity Within the Empire
The birth and development of Christianity and the Christian church took place within the borders of the Roman Empire. The New Testament contains several references to Romans who were ruling at this time. Among them were CAESAR AUGUSTUS <Luke 2:1>, QUIRINIUS <Luke 2:2>, and TIBERIUS CAESAR <Luke 3:1; 20:22>.
Luke 2:1
Other minor officials ruled on behalf of Rome, particularly those of the Herodian dynasty. The Book of Acts shows how Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire. Under Paul, the great missionary to the Gentiles, the gospel may have been preached as far west as Spain <Rom. 15:28>. A Christian church existed in Rome as early as A. D. 50 <Acts 18:2-3>. By the time Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans (A. D. 58), a large Christian community existed in the imperial city.
Acts 18:2-3
Paul's appearance in Rome was ironic, because he came as a prisoner and not as a missionary <Acts 25:12; 27:1; 28:19-31>. Here he was held in confinement awaiting a trial that apparently never took place. According to tradition, Paul lost his life under Nero's persecution about A. D. 64. In its early stages, Christianity was regarded by Rome as a sect of Judaism. This is why it was ignored during its early years. On several occasions, Roman authorities viewed conflicts between Jews and Christians as an internal matter, not worthy of their attention <Acts 18:12-17>. When Christians were accused by the Jews of breaking the law, they were acquitted <Acts 16:35-39>. Rome even protected Christians from Jewish fanatics <Acts 19:28-41; 22:22-30; 23:23-24> and assured Paul the right of a proper trial <Acts 23:26; 28:31>.
Most Christians had a positive and respectful attitude toward Roman authority. They were careful not to promote any revolutionary or treasonous acts. Jesus spoke about paying taxes <Mark 12:17>. Paul reminded his readers to respect, pray for, and honor governing authorities <Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; Titus 3:1>. Peter admonished the churches: "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king" <1 Pet. 2:17>. The first known persecution of Christians by the Roman authorities took place under Nero. But this was an isolated case and not a general policy even though Nero's activities made it seem so looking back through historical glasses.
Many Christians, including Paul, lost their lives at this time. Tacitus, a Roman historian, refers to vast multitudes of Christians who were arrested, tortured, crucified, and burned. Hardships came to Christians in parts of Asia while Domitian was emperor, who exiled the Apostle John to the isle of Patmos and sought to burn the beloved Apostle in burning oil. Later, under Trajan, there were further problems, especially in Bithynia, where Pliny was governor (A. D. 112). Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, (MODERN DAY TURKEY) was martyred during this persecution. Rome may have feared that Christians could become a political threat because they would not acknowledge Caesar as lord.
Marcus Aurelius took official action against Christianity. As emperor, he was responsible for the death of Justin Martyr (A. D. 165). Celsius (A. D. 249-251) launched attacks against Christians and, like Nero, used them as scapegoats for his own failures. Under Diocletian intense persecution of the church took place for three years (A. D. 303-305). Many churches were destroyed. Bibles were burned, and Christians were martyred. With the coming of Constantine, however, this policy of persecution was reversed. His Edict of Milan in A. D. 313 made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, which was probably the worst thing that ever happened to the early church.
Rome’s Religious Roots – Prelude To The Antichrist And the Rise of The Revised Roman Empire, The NEXT, YET FUTURE Kingdom On The Prophetic Calendar
Roman religion was basically primitive in nature. The Romans believed that impersonal spirits or supernatural powers inhabited such natural objects as trees, streams, and earth. They believed that these spirits affected one’s personal life for good or evil. But the most striking feature of Roman religion was its ability to merge the best features of several religions. This will also be the case during the Revised Roman Empire when apostate religion will become predominant again during the first 3-½ years of the Tribulation until the Beasts destroy it and demands total worship of him. We are seeing the earmarks of such a rise of this type religion as we write these words in the fall of 2007. The last five years has seen a sudden and shocking rise of apostate religion and a denying of the CROSS of Christ unlike any time the church has encountered since the Reformation of Martin Luther. As the empire expanded, it imported and assimilated many religious ideas and pagan gods from Greece and the Orient. Roman gods were fused and identified with the gods of the Greeks. It will be this same type of idolatry and paganism that will underscore the Antichrist’s rise to power during the rule of the Revised Roman Empire. As we draw closer to the end of the church age one can be sure that this will only increase. Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's image showed each of these kingdoms in succession and existence as no other prophet did. We are living in the last days friend. It's getting late and it's harvest time!
2 Tim. 3:1-8
1 Tim.
4:1-4 |