Hi John,
I got the book, Caesar and Christ, that you recommended, and read the last 60+ pages of history as suggested, the synopsis of what was going on with Rome and the emperors from 100-400AD. Whew, it gets in your head, and it is unbelievable what went on in those times.
All I can say is, “what a mess”. It seemed to be a dreadful time to be living, and just as dreadful to be a Caesar, which was as good as death sentence. I guess MOST dreadful though, was to be a believer that would not “play ball” with the political system of Rome. Life was so unimportant.
What struck me was the way that money, politics, war and religion were all so intertwined and run by evil means. How COULD a man understand what happened to the Roman Empire unless they knew the truth?
What struck me too, is that there is such a fine line between then and now. It all sounded too familiar, the thirst for power and fame. Money and position. Religion and war. “Believers” and others I suppose, could be tortured and put to death at a man’s whim. It just did not seem too distant from where WE could be at some time in the near, or distant future — IF we get in the way, and there is no legal issues.
As long as it suited the ruler, death to those who did NOT foster the state was in order. Right and wrong was not part of the equation. At some brief periods, religious opponents could be “tolerated” by the state, as long as they did not interefere with a Ceasar’s political plans. But when people got in the way, they were murdered – it was nothing. The “system” was first.
So many different ideas of rule, Domitian (sp.?), Constantine, and others… it was all in God’s hands though, way above men’s. Even the Caesars the writer saw as noble in some respects, were all just setting up what was to come. A conversion was taking place that was bigger than Rome… Christianity was taking over as the phony representative of Jesus on earth, and I guess God’s people in the main did not even notice it was not the real Jesus.
It reminded me of Baal-Peor. God would not curse Israel, so wicked men just “mingled” with God’s people, and that did the job. Jesus could not be overcome by Satan, and Satan could not get rid of Jesus. He just invented his own version, one that could rule, and one that God’s people would not so readily resist… if it had the name of Jesus, it would be O.K. And my, oh my, how that has worked! When DID that religion replace the real Jesus in God’s people’s hearts? It’s astounding.
Anyway, when I was done, I just sat there “astonied”. What you have been saying for a good while now seemed a little clearer to me, that Christianity and the Roman Empire have the same seductive, deceptive, power-hungry spirit. They are one. All they want is power, without GOD’S power. And I’m sure there are many many more similarities.
I suppose that is why Jesus made himself of no reputation. There’s no way to be godly in that system. We must come out and live…. or die. That is up to God and the times we live in.
Gary
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Hi Gary,
You asked, “How COULD a man understand what happened to the Roman Empire unless they knew the truth?” The answer is, he can’t. That is why God has put this work into our hands; we know the truth.
Gd help us get this light to the saints who are entangled in that abomination called Christianity. They have no idea whatsoever how wretched that thing is, in the sight of God. Do we?
jdc