THE BIBLE & ROME: THE BEASTS OF REVELATION
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Bible And Rome
a) In the four centuries between the Bible’s two Testaments, Persia gave way to Greece, and Greece to Rome. World empires rise and fall, but God’s unfolding plan approached its climax: God was about to set up "a kingdom which cannot be shaken" (Hebrews 12:28) — a worldwide, powerful, spiritual empire.
b) Rome, the kingdom represented by the legs and feet of iron and clay in the image of Daniel 2, came to power in the century before Christ. Antiochus Epiphanes failed to maintain Greece's power. Rome by its iron rule brought peace across the world, and made "the fields white unto harvest" for the coming of the Son of God, the preaching of the gospel, and the kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, Rome was a beast, and would bring tribulation to the promised kingdom of heaven just as former empires had brought it to the Jews. The book of Revelation depicts Rome as the archetypal enemy of God's people.
2. The Beasts Of Revelation
a) The Roman empire was in power during the life of Christ and the days of the early church. Rome is an outstanding example of what is represented in the Book of Revelation as the Dragon, the Beasts, the False Prophet, and the Mother of Harlots (Revelation 12:17). Before the empire was 100 years old it had crucified the Son of God and was persecuting the Christians, putting many to death because they would not worship Caesar. Toward the end, the Roman empire became "Christian". But this state religion was a travesty full of hypocrisy and corruption. That false church lived on after the political empire died.
The End ...
1. The Bible And Rome a) In the four centuries between the Bible’s two Testaments, Persia gave way to Greece, and Greece to Rome. World empires rise and fall, but God’s unfolding plan approached its climax: God was about to set up "a kingdom which cannot be shaken" (Hebrews 12:28) — a worldwide, powerful, spiritual empire.
b) Rome, the kingdom represented by the legs and feet of iron and clay in the image of Daniel 2, came to power in the century before Christ. Antiochus Epiphanes failed to maintain Greece's power. Rome by its iron rule brought peace across the world, and made "the fields white unto harvest" for the coming of the Son of God, the preaching of the gospel, and the kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, Rome was a beast, and would bring tribulation to the promised kingdom of heaven just as former empires had brought it to the Jews. The book of Revelation depicts Rome as the archetypal enemy of God's people.
2. The Beasts Of Revelation
a) The Roman empire was in power during the life of Christ and the days of the early church. Rome is an outstanding example of what is represented in the Book of Revelation as the Dragon, the Beasts, the False Prophet, and the Mother of Harlots (Revelation 12:17). Before the empire was 100 years old it had crucified the Son of God and was persecuting the Christians, putting many to death because they would not worship Caesar. Toward the end, the Roman empire became "Christian". But this state religion was a travesty full of hypocrisy and corruption. That false church lived on after the political empire died.
Comments
Post a Comment