Section 1: The sins commited by the New Testament churches and the truth in the spoken words of God

Rome’s Legacy and Its Modern Reflection

Rome began as a small and humble town but grew into a powerful empire with a fierce reputation, especially when compared to the earlier empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. The Bible’s description of Rome as a beast with iron teeth highlights its strength and ruthlessness.

Even after the fall of the Roman Empire, the remnants—symbolized by the “stump”—did not disappear entirely. Instead, they evolved into what we know today as the European Union. The EU reflects this legacy with its mixture of strong and weak nations—iron and clay—struggling to fully unite, as Daniel’s prophecy indicated. The nations remain divided, unable to truly blend together despite economic ties and common markets.

Rome’s historic division into ten parts corresponds to the ten toes in the prophecy, representing the fragmented but connected states in Europe today:

1. Alemanni → Germany

2. Franks → France

3. Burgundians → Switzerland

4. Suevi → Portugal

5. Anglo-Saxons → England

6. Visigoths → Spain

7. Lombards → Italy

8. Heruli → destroyed by Papacy

9. Vandals → destroyed by Papacy

10. Ostrogoths → destroyed by Papacy

The Roman Empire’s iron strength was ruthless, demonstrated when it defeated Greece and dominated vast territories. Its legacy includes not only political power but also cultural influence and, importantly, the rise of the Roman Catholic Church, which diverged significantly from the teachings of Jesus Christ and the early Christian church.

The Division and Influence of Rome

Rome was split into two main empires: Eastern and Western. Both played a significant role in shaping Europe’s religious and political landscape. Constantine the Great, ruling in the early 4th century, made Christianity the dominant religion but established the Roman Catholic Church as a political power rather than continuing the original church of Christ.

The fall of Rome wasn’t sudden but a gradual decline marked by invasions, internal corruption, and decay. The sack of Rome by the Visigoths in 410 AD was a major blow, but the city remained influential, especially as the seat of the papacy and later during the Renaissance.

Rome’s history is long and complex—from monarchy to republic to empire—and its influence extends into today’s political and religious systems.

False Prophets and Rome’s Role

The Bible warns about false prophets—those who appear harmless but lead people astray. Rome’s historic role fits this warning. It persecuted true Christians and promoted a religious system that deviated from original Christian teachings.

Key verses warn believers to be cautious and discerning:

• “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)

• “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

Rome’s religious and political power combined to mislead many, and understanding this history is vital to grasp the full scope of biblical prophecy.

In Summary

Rome’s rise and fall, its division into ten kingdoms, and its lasting influence in modern Europe through the European Union reflect the prophecies in Daniel about a kingdom partly strong and partly broken, iron mixed with clay. This powerful but divided legacy is central to understanding how ancient empires shape current events and spiritual warnings.

If you want, I can help unpack any part of this further or explore how these prophecies relate to current times. Would you like me to do that?

Origins of Rome

Latin tradition holds that after Romulus, all Roman kings were chosen by the Senate.

Did you know? About four decades after Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome through the Bishop of Rome, Emperor Julian—known as the Apostate—tried to revive the old pagan cults and temples. However, after his death, this effort was reversed, and Julian became the last pagan emperor of Rome.

Rome’s monarchy ended in 509 B.C. when its seventh king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, was overthrown. Ancient historians describe him as cruel and tyrannical, unlike his more benevolent predecessors. A popular uprising reportedly followed the rape of Lucretia, a virtuous noblewoman, by the king’s son. Whatever the exact cause, Rome transitioned from a monarchy to a republic—derived from res publica, meaning “property of the people.”

Rome was famously built on seven hills: Esquiline, Palatine, Aventine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, and Caelian.

The Early Republic

Monarchical power passed to two annually elected magistrates called consuls, who also commanded the army. Although elected by the people, magistrates were mostly drawn from the Senate, dominated by patricians—descendants of the original senators from Romulus’s time. Early republican politics featured a long struggle between the patricians and plebeians (common people), who eventually gained political power through concessions, including their own political body, the tribunes, which could initiate or veto legislation.

The Roman Forum was more than just the Senate’s home. In 450 B.C., the first Roman law code—the Twelve Tables—was inscribed on bronze tablets and publicly displayed there. These laws covered legal procedures, civil rights, and property rights, forming the foundation of Roman civil law. By 300 B.C., real political power rested with the Senate, comprising patricians and wealthy plebeians.

Military Expansion

During the early republic, Rome’s territory and influence grew rapidly. Although the Gauls sacked Rome in 390 B.C., the Romans bounced back under military hero Camillus. By 264 B.C., Rome controlled the entire Italian peninsula.

Rome then fought the Punic Wars against Carthage, a powerful city-state in North Africa. The first two wars gave Rome control over Sicily, the western Mediterranean, and much of Spain. The Third Punic War (149–146 B.C.) ended with Rome destroying Carthage and enslaving its survivors, turning part of North Africa into a Roman province.

Simultaneously, Rome expanded east, defeating King Philip V of Macedonia and making his kingdom another province. Military success fueled cultural growth, as Romans absorbed Greek art, philosophy, and religion. Roman literature began around 240 B.C. with Latin translations of Greek classics.

Internal Struggles in the Late Republic

Rome’s complex political system began to falter under the strain of its expanding empire. Wealth inequality grew as rich landowners displaced small farmers. Political access became increasingly limited to the elite. Reform attempts by Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus in 133 and 123-122 B.C. ended violently.

Gaius Marius, a commoner and military leader, became consul in 107 B.C., beginning a trend of warlords dominating Rome. His rival Sulla became military dictator by 82 B.C. After Sulla retired, Pompey briefly served as consul before launching military campaigns in the Mediterranean and Asia.

In 63 B.C., Marcus Tullius Cicero, elected consul, defeated the conspiracy of Catiline, cementing his reputation as one of Rome’s greatest orators.

The Sudden Rise of Julius Caesar

After Pompey returned victorious, he formed the First Triumvirate with Marcus Licinius Crassus (who had crushed the Spartacus slave rebellion in 71 B.C.) and Gaius Julius Caesar. Caesar, after military success in Spain, won the consulship in 59 B.C. and governed wealthy provinces in Gaul, conquering much of the region.

The triumvirate broke after Pompey’s wife Julia (Caesar’s daughter) died in 54 B.C., and Crassus died in battle the next year. Pompey, now sole consul, clashed with Caesar, whose military and financial power overshadowed him.

In 49 B.C., Caesar crossed the Rubicon River, starting a civil war. By 45 B.C., Caesar declared himself dictator for life.

The Rise of Emperor Augustus

Less than a year later, Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 B.C., by republican nobles led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius. Mark Antony and Caesar’s heir Octavian defeated the assassins and shared power with Lepidus in the Second Triumvirate.

By 31 B.C., Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium. After their suicides, Octavian became Rome’s sole ruler. To avoid Caesar’s fate, he restored republican institutions but held all real power. In 27 B.C., he took the title Augustus, becoming Rome’s first emperor.

The Age of Roman Emperors

Augustus brought peace and stability after decades of turmoil, beginning the pax Romana—two centuries of peace and prosperity. He enacted social reforms, won military victories, and promoted arts, architecture, and religion. Augustus ruled for 56 years and was later deified by the Senate.

His successors included Tiberius (14–37 A.D.), Caligula (37–41), Claudius (41–54), and Nero (54–68). Nero’s misrule led to his suicide and a chaotic year with four emperors, ending with Vespasian (69–79) and his Flavian dynasty, who restored order and public welfare. Titus (79–81) gained admiration for handling recovery after Vesuvius’s eruption destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The reign of Nerva (96–98) began another golden age, with Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius succeeding peacefully by adoption. Trajan expanded Rome’s borders to their greatest extent, while Hadrian fortified frontiers and stabilized the empire internally.

Under Antoninus Pius (138–161), Rome enjoyed peace. Marcus Aurelius (161–180), however, faced wars against Parthians and Germanic tribes. Breaking tradition, he named his son Commodus as successor.

The Actual Decline of the Roman Emperors

Commodus’s poor rule (180–192) ended the golden age. His assassination led to civil war, with Lucius Septimius Severus emerging victorious (193–211). The third century saw constant conflict, with 22 emperors, many killed by their own troops. External threats from Germans, Parthians, and Goths strained the empire.

Diocletian (284–305) restored peace by dividing power among four rulers (the tetrarchy). However, after Diocletian and Maximian retired, Constantine, son of Constantius, reunited the empire in 324 and moved the capital to Byzantium, renamed Constantinople.

At the Council of Nicaea in 325, Constantine made Christianity Rome’s official religion, though many say he only truly converted on his deathbed. His reign allowed the Bishop of Rome to diverge from the original Christian church, laying groundwork for the Roman Catholic Church.

The Fall of Rome

Despite temporary unity under Constantine, the empire split again 30 years after his death. The eastern empire (Byzantine Empire) survived for centuries, but the western empire weakened amid internal strife and external threats from Germanic tribes like the Vandals, whose sack of Rome gave rise to the word “vandalism.” Constant warfare drained Rome’s resources.

Rome lost provinces one by one: Britain around 410, Spain and North Africa by 430. Attila and the Huns invaded Gaul and Italy around 450, further destabilizing the empire.

In 476, the Germanic leader Odovacar seized control of the Roman army in Italy, deposed the last western emperor, Romulus Augustus, and declared himself king. This marked the end of ancient Rome.

Throughout its history, Rome never gave glory to God and Jesus Christ, attributing its success to its gods and goddesses. According to prophecy, Rome’s fall was God’s judgment against the rise of evil and the Antichrist.