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

Cyrus

Cyrus set himself up as king of the Medes and the Persians. Among his ancestors was the legendary king Achaemenes, founder of the Achaemenid dynasty. Cyrus revolted against the Median Empire in 553 BC and, by 550 BC, had defeated the Medes, capturing King Astyages and the Median capital, Ecbatana. Once in control, Cyrus styled himself as Astyages’ successor and assumed control of the entire empire. He died in 530 BC, and his son Cambyses succeeded him as ruler of Persia, followed soon after by Darius.

Who conquered the Medes and Persian Empire?

Cyrus.

What is the modern name of Media and Persia?

The Medes’ territory corresponds roughly to today’s Hamadan Province in Iran. Persia corresponds to Fars and Bushehr provinces in Iran. Historically, Median borders included Iran and some neighbors, while Persian borders extended much further—across Libya, Greece, Central Asia, India, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Caucasus.

Babylonian Empire and the Grecian Empire

The Babylonian Empire was eventually conquered by the Grecian Empire, also known as Ancient Greece, symbolized by the leopard.

History of Greece

Greece’s history stretches back to Stone Age hunters, followed by early farmers and the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations. Around 1100 BC, the Dorians invaded from the north, spreading along the west coast. Between 500 and 336 BC, Greece was divided into city-states, each comprising a city and its surrounding countryside.

The classical and Hellenistic eras of ancient Greece are celebrated for their profound contributions to art, architecture, philosophy, and language. Ancient Greek dialects influenced modern Greek and many other languages. The Renaissance was largely driven by rediscovering Greek texts and art, which had been suppressed by the authority of the church.

Importantly, history as a discipline was conceived in ancient Greece. Herodotus (484–425 BC), known as the “Father of History,” was the first to record events to preserve them for future generations. Thucydides (460–395 BC) followed, emphasizing an objective approach by linking human actions to events, setting a standard for historians for centuries.

Carthaginian Empire

The Carthaginian Empire lasted from about 650 BCE to 146 BCE, roughly 504 years. Founded by Phoenician settlers in 814 BCE in North Africa, Carthage gained independence in 650 BCE and controlled other Phoenician settlements in the western Mediterranean.

At its peak, Carthage was a major trading hub and was called “the empire that shines.” It often clashed with the Greeks in Sicily, leading to the Greek-Punic Wars (600–265 BCE) and the Punic Wars (264–146 BCE). After the third Punic War in 146 BCE, Carthage fell to the Roman Republic.

Roman Empire and Revelation 17:8-13

The Roman Empire, ranked eighth among the world’s great empires, is mentioned in Revelation 17:8-13. Here is an interpretation based on the Lord’s guidance:

• Revelation 17:8 speaks of a beast “that was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit.” The beast “that was” refers to the Roman Empire, which was destroyed by stronger nations (“is not”) but is said to “yet be” in a revived form, now often understood as the European Union.

• Revelation 17:9 mentions “seven mountains,” representing the seven hills on which Rome was built:

  • Palatine Hill

  • Capitoline Hill

  • Aventine Hill

  • Caelian Hill

  • Esquiline Hill

  • Quirinal Hill

  • Viminal Hill

Roman mythology says Romulus and Remus, Rome’s founders, were abandoned and raised by a she-wolf. However, according to the Lord’s revelation, Romulus and Remus originated from Carthage, not Rome, and Romulus killed Remus to become Rome’s first king.

• Revelation 17:10 describes seven kings who ruled Rome, starting with Romulus:

  1. Romulus

  2. Numa Pompilius

  3. Tullus Hostilius

  4. Ancus Marcius

  5. Lucius Tarquinius

  6. Servius Tullius

  7. Lucius Tarquinius Superbus

Five have fallen, one is currently reigning (Tarquinius Superbus), and one is yet to come. The last king’s reign was brief because Rome became a Republic afterward.

• Revelation 17:11 says the beast (Roman Empire) was destroyed but is the eighth world ruling power and “goeth into perdition.” Rome’s origin is from Carthage, through Romulus and Remus. Rome was ranked the eighth ruling power of the world. The commonly accepted story of Romulus and Remus being raised by a she-wolf is a myth replaced by the Lord’s truth that they came from Carthage.

• Revelation 17:12-13 mentions ten horns, or kings, who receive power briefly, representing the ten strongest Roman empires that have now passed but whose legacies live on in the European Union. These rulers share a unified purpose to regain their former strength, but this will ultimately lead to their destruction.

Summary

The Roman Empire, while famous for lasting over 1,500 years, was preceded by much older empires from the Carthaginians and ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. Many early empires controlled the same territories over time, replacing each other.

Italy’s nativity is Carthage, and Rome itself originated from Carthaginian roots through Romulus and Remus, despite Rome’s denial and myth-making. Revelation 17:9-13 unfolds this story, revealing the spiritual and political significance of Rome’s seven hills, seven kings, and the rise and fall of empires, culminating in a revived power symbolized by the European Union.