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

The Legacy and Fall of Rome

Rome’s impact on history is undeniable. Its engineering feats, religious practices, and political structures influenced civilizations long after its fall. Yet, this influence came at a high cost, especially in terms of its spiritual and moral legacy.

The Roman Empire, though powerful, was deeply flawed in many ways. The rulers—emperors who wielded absolute power—often acted in ways that contradicted God’s teachings. They changed sacred calendars, renamed months after themselves, and altered the very days meant to honor God. This wasn’t just political manipulation; it was an act of defiance against divine order.

Roman persecution of early Christians is another dark chapter. Many believers, including some apostles, faced imprisonment, torture, and death under Roman rule. The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the attempts to kill the infant Jesus, and the brutal crucifixion of Christ were all entangled with Roman authorities. Soldiers placed the crown of thorns on Jesus’ head and flogged Him cruelly, despite finding no fault in Him.

Rome was built on seven hills, much like Jerusalem, but it became a symbol of opposition to God’s kingdom. Its emperors and their empire imposed harsh control, reshaped religious practices, and forced pagan customs on the world—actions that have left lasting scars.

The Prophetic Picture

The Bible’s book of Daniel gives us insight into Rome’s role in history and prophecy. The iron legs and feet mixed with clay symbolize a kingdom that is both strong and divided—iron representing strength and clay weakness and fragility. This mix reflects the complicated and often unstable nature of Rome’s later empire and its influence over the world.

The “stone cut without hands” that destroys the statue represents God’s kingdom, which will ultimately replace all earthly empires. Despite Rome’s power and cruelty, its dominion is not eternal. God’s justice and plan will prevail, breaking the iron and clay to pieces.

The vision in Daniel about the beasts and the horns symbolizes Rome’s fierce and oppressive rule, including the rise of ten kings and one “little horn” that speaks against God and persecutes His people. This is seen as a warning about the forces that oppose God’s truth, a reminder that no matter how powerful evil seems, it will be judged and destroyed in the end.

The Modern Connection

Today, many aspects of Roman influence remain—our calendars, the names of the days, and even planetary names. The Roman Catholic Church, centered in Rome, has continued to play a significant role in global religion and politics. Some view it as a continuation of Rome’s spiritual power, often called the “false prophet” in prophetic writings.

Understanding Rome’s history helps us see how it shaped much of the modern world—both for good and ill. It reminds us to be vigilant about the powers that shape society and to hold fast to spiritual truths that endure beyond empires.

The Lasting Impact of Rome on God’s Calendar and Worship

Rome’s influence didn’t just stop at political conquest; it extended deep into spiritual and religious practices. As mentioned earlier, the substitution of God’s seventh-day Sabbath with Sunday worship is a key example. This wasn’t just a calendar change—it was a significant spiritual shift.

The Bible clearly points to a calendar with months of thirty days, as seen in Exodus 14:15 and many other passages. This calendar reflects God’s order in timekeeping, but Rome imposed its own system, one that still governs much of the modern world: the Gregorian calendar, the naming of days, months, and the concept of a seven-day week anchored not on the Sabbath but Sunday, the day of the Roman sun god.

This isn’t a small detail—it represents the spiritual deception Rome propagated. The calendar is a subtle but powerful tool, shaping how people worship and observe sacred time. By enforcing Sunday rest, Rome effectively led many away from God’s original command.

The Bible’s Prophetic Time Periods and Rome’s Role

The book of Revelation speaks about specific time periods: 1,260 days, 42 months, or “a time, times, and half a time.” These references correspond to prophetic periods during which the papacy’s power dominates—often understood to reflect Rome’s spiritual influence and persecution of God’s people.

• Revelation 11:2 mentions “42 months,” a symbolic period of persecution.

• Revelation 12:6 talks about 1,260 days—roughly the same period—in which the faithful are preserved amid trials.

• Revelation 12:14 again references the “time, times, and half a time,” emphasizing the duration of apostasy and trial.

These numbers align with the historical reign of papal Rome, which persecuted saints and enforced its authority spiritually and politically.

Rome’s Judgement and Fall

Rome’s destruction wasn’t sudden; it came through waves of invasions by barbarian tribes—Visigoths, Vandals, Saxons, and more. These tribes chipped away at the empire until the western Roman Empire officially ended in 476 C.E. when Romulus Augustulus was deposed.

This collapse wasn’t just political; it symbolized the weakening of the first beast mentioned in Revelation—the imperial power Rome once held.

But the papal system (the second beast) continued, taking the spiritual power Rome once wielded politically and using it to deceive nations.

Final Thoughts

This history serves as a warning: Rome’s legacy is not only in ruins and faded empires but in spiritual deception, false worship, and persecution that still echoes today.

Understanding these connections helps us recognize the importance of holding firmly to God’s truth and worshiping according to His original commands—not the traditions imposed by men.