|
Let
us
continue
to
look
at
and
understand
this
"image"
that
the
"king
of
Babylon"
had
set
up.
***You
may
also
want
to
review
the
study
entitled
"Ten
Toes".
Dan
2:31-35
31
Thou,
O
king,
sawest,
and
behold
a
great
image.
This
great
image,
whose
brightness
was
excellent,
stood
before
thee;
and
the
form
thereof
was
terrible.
32
This
image's
head
was
of
fine
gold,
his
breast
and
his
arms
of
silver,
his
belly
and
his
thighs
of
brass,
33
His
legs
of
iron,
his
feet
part
of
iron
and
part
of
clay.
34
Thou
sawest
till
that
a
stone
was
cut
out
without
hands,
which
smote
the
image
upon
his
feet
that
were
of
iron
and
clay,
and
brake
them
to
pieces.
35
Then
was
the
iron,
the
clay,
the
brass,
the
silver,
and
the
gold,
broken
to
pieces
together,
and
became
like
the
chaff
of
the
summer
threshingfloors;
and
the
wind
carried
them
away,
that
no
place
was
found
for
them:
and
the
stone
that
smote
the
image
became
a
great
mountain,
and
filled
the
whole
earth.
(KJV)
Dan
2:36-45
36
This
is
the
dream;
and
we
will
tell
the
interpretation
thereof
before
the
king.
37
Thou,
O
king,
art
a
king
of
kings:
for
the
God
of
heaven
hath
given
thee
a
kingdom,
power,
and
strength,
and
glory.
38
And
wheresoever
the
children
of
men
dwell,
the
beasts
of
the
field
and
the
fowls
of
the
heaven
hath
he
given
into
thine
hand,
and
hath
made
thee
ruler
over
them
all.
Thou
art
this
head
of
gold.
39
And
after
thee
shall
arise
another
kingdom
inferior
to
thee,
and
another
third
kingdom
of
brass,
which
shall
bear
rule
over
all
the
earth.
40
And
the
fourth
kingdom
shall
be
strong
as
iron:
forasmuch
as
iron
breaketh
in
pieces
and
subdueth
all
things:
and
as
iron
that
breaketh
all
these,
shall
it
break
in
pieces
and
bruise.
41
And
whereas
thou
sawest
the
feet
and
toes,
part
of
potters'
clay,
and
part
of
iron,
the
kingdom
shall
be
divided;
but
there
shall
be
in
it
of
the
strength
of
the
iron,
forasmuch
as
thou
sawest
the
iron
mixed
with
miry
clay.
42
And
as
the
toes
of
the
feet
were
part
of
iron,
and
part
of
clay,
so
the
kingdom
shall
be
partly
strong,
and
partly
broken.
43
And
whereas
thou
sawest
iron
mixed
with
miry
clay,
they
shall
mingle
themselves
with
the
seed
of
men:
but
they
shall
not
cleave
one
to
another,
even
as
iron
is
not
mixed
with
clay.
44
And
in
the
days
of
these
kings
shall
the
God
of
heaven
set
up
a
kingdom,
which
shall
never
be
destroyed:
and
the
kingdom
shall
not
be
left
to
other
people,
but
it
shall
break
in
pieces
and
consume
all
these
kingdoms,
and
it
shall
stand
for
ever.
45
Forasmuch
as
thou
sawest
that
the
stone
was
cut
out
of
the
mountain
without
hands,
and
that
it
brake
in
pieces
the
iron,
the
brass,
the
clay,
the
silver,
and
the
gold;
the
great
God
hath
made
known
to
the
king
what
shall
come
to
pass
hereafter:
and
the
dream
is
certain,
and
the
interpretation
thereof
sure.
(KJV)
We
shall
continue
to
look
at
the
"feet"
and
"toes".
This
"image",
which
is
of
Satan's
spurious
kingdom
(government,
theocracy),
has
need
to
outwardly
appear
as
if
it
were
of
YHVH'S
Kingdom.
This,
of
course,
is
a
part
of
the
deception.
Remember,
we
looked
at
the
word
"transformed"
which
meant
'disguised'.
As
we
discovered,
Satan's
"image"
has
two
"feet"
of
iron,
which
are
Satan's
two
spurious
witnesses.
So,
who
are
these
"toes"?
First,
let
us
understand
what
the
number
"ten"
represents.
The
number
"ten"
represents
"Testimony"
and
"Law
and
Responsibility".
Rom
8:36-39
36
As
it
is
written,
For
thy
sake
we
are
killed
all
the
day
long;
we
are
accounted
as
sheep
for
the
slaughter.
37
Nay,
in
all
these
things
we
are
more
than
conquerors
through
him
that
loved
us.
38
For
I
am
persuaded,
that
neither
death,
nor
life,
nor
angels,
nor
principalities,
nor
powers,
nor
things
present,
nor
things
to
come,
39
Nor
height,
nor
depth,
nor
any
other
creature,
shall
be
able
to
separate
us
from
the
love
of
God,
which
is
in
Christ
Jesus
our
Lord.
(KJV)
Did
you
see
the
number
"ten"
in
these
verses?
Let
us
count
to
"ten":
"that
neither
death,
nor
life,
nor
angels,
nor
principalities,
nor
powers,
nor
things
present,
nor
things
to
come,
nor
height,
nor
depth,
nor
any
other
creature,
shall
be
able
to
separate
us
from
the
love
of
God,
which
is
in
Christ
Jesus
our
Lord."
Now,
this
is
good,
as
this
is
counted
for
YHVH.
Yet,
Satan
has
his
"ten"
also.
And,
his
servants
(earthly
flesh
servants
and
fallen
angels)
feel
the
same
way
toward
their
'god',
Satan.
Now,
let
us
look
to
whom
these
ten
"toes"
shall
be.
Could
it
be
that
YHVH,
through
HIS
servant
Daniel,
has
already
told
us
who
they
are?
Dan
7:7-8
7
After
this
I
saw
in
the
night
visions,
and
behold
a
fourth
beast,
dreadful
and
terrible,
and
strong
exceedingly;
and
it
had
great
iron
teeth:
it
devoured
and
brake
in
pieces,
and
stamped
the
residue
with
the
feet
of
it:
and
it
was
diverse
from
all
the
beasts
that
were
before
it;
and
it
had
ten
horns.
8
I
considered
the
horns,
and,
behold,
there
came
up
among
them
another
little
horn,
before
whom
there
were
three
of
the
first
horns
plucked
up
by
the
roots:
and,
behold,
in
this
horn
were
eyes
like
the
eyes
of
man,
and
a
mouth
speaking
great
things.
(KJV)
Again,
the
number
"ten"
refers
to
"Testimony"
and
"Law
and
Responsibility".
"it
had
great
iron
teeth"
Remember,
the
word
"iron"
is
directly
associated
with
Satan.
"and
it
had
ten
horns"
What
are
"horns"?
"horns"
7162
qeren
(Aramaic)
(keh'-ren);
corresponding
to
7161;
a
horn
(literally
or
for
sound):
KJV--
horn,
cornet.
7161
qeren
(keh'-ren);
from
7160;
a
horn
(as
projecting);
by
implication,
a
flask,
cornet;
by
resembl.
an
elephant's
tooth
(i.e.
ivory),
a
corner
(of
the
altar),
a
peak
(of
a
mountain),
a
ray
(of
light);
figuratively,
power:
KJV--
X
hill,
horn.
7160
qaran
(kaw-ran');
a
primitive
root;
to
push
or
gore;
used
only
as
denominative
from
7161,
to
shoot
out
horns;
figuratively,
rays:
KJV--
have
horns,
shine.
[Strong's]
7162
qeren
(Aramaic)-
a
horn
a)
as
a
musical
instrument
b)
symbolic
(in
visions)
c)
used
of
an
animal
7161
qeren-
as
a
feminine
noun:
1)
horn
a)
a
horn
(of
an
animal)
b)
used
of
strength
(figurative)
c)
flask
(a
container
for
oil)
d)
a
horn
(as
a
musical
instrument)
e)
a
horn
(used
of
horn-like
projections
on
the
altar)
f)
used
of
rays
of
light
g)
a
hill
as
a
proper
noun,
location,
Brown-Driver-Briggs:
2)
a
place
conquered
by
Israel,
probably
in
Bashan
7160
qaran-
to
shine
a)
(Qal)
to
send
out
rays
b)
(Hiphil)
to
display
or
grow
horns,
to
be
horned
[Brown-Driver-Briggs']
So,
that
which
we
are
seeing
in
these
ten
"toes"
is
associated
with
"power",
"strength",
"iron",
and
"testimony",
and
"law
and
responsibility".
Let
go
over
to
Revelations
and
take
another
look
at
these
"ten".
Rev
12:3-4
3
And
there
appeared
another
wonder
in
heaven;
and
behold
a
great
red
dragon,
having
seven
heads
and
ten
horns,
and
seven
crowns
upon
his
heads.
4
And
his
tail
drew
the
third
part
of
the
stars
of
heaven,
and
did
cast
them
to
the
earth:
and
the
dragon
stood
before
the
woman
which
was
ready
to
be
delivered,
for
to
devour
her
child
as
soon
as
it
was
born.
(KJV)
"horns"
2768
keras
(ker'-as);
from
a
primary
kar
(the
hair
of
the
head);
a
horn
(literally
or
figuratively):
KJV--
horn.
2768
keras-
a
horn
a)
of
animals
b)
since
animals
(especially
bulls)
defend
themselves
with
their
horns,
the
horn
with
the
Hebrews
(and
other
nations)
is
a
symbol
of
strength
and
courage,
and
used
as
such
in
a
variety
of
phrases;
a
mighty
and
valiant
helper,
the
author
of
deliverance,
used
of
the
Messiah
c)
a
projecting
extremity
in
a
shape
like
a
horn,
a
point,
an
apex:
as
of
an
altar
Rev
17:1-18
1
And
there
came
one
of
the
seven
angels
which
had
the
seven
vials,
and
talked
with
me,
saying
unto
me,
Come
hither;
I
will
shew
unto
thee
the
judgment
of
the
great
whore
that
sitteth
upon
many
waters:
2
With
whom
the
kings
of
the
earth
have
committed
fornication,
and
the
inhabitants
of
the
earth
have
been
made
drunk
with
the
wine
of
her
fornication.
3
So
he
carried
me
away
in
the
spirit
into
the
wilderness:
and
I
saw
a
woman
sit
upon
a
scarlet
coloured
beast,
full
of
names
of
blasphemy,
having
seven
heads
and
ten
horns.
4
And
the
woman
was
arrayed
in
purple
and
scarlet
colour,
and
decked
with
gold
and
precious
stones
and
pearls,
having
a
golden
cup
in
her
hand
full
of
abominations
and
filthiness
of
her
fornication:
5
And
upon
her
forehead
was
a
name
written,
MYSTERY,
BABYLON
THE
GREAT,
THE
MOTHER
OF
HARLOTS
AND
ABOMINATIONS
OF
THE
EARTH.
6
And
I
saw
the
woman
drunken
with
the
blood
of
the
saints,
and
with
the
blood
of
the
martyrs
of
Jesus:
and
when
I
saw
her,
I
wondered
with
great
admiration.
7
And
the
angel
said
unto
me,
Wherefore
didst
thou
marvel?
I
will
tell
thee
the
mystery
of
the
woman,
and
of
the
beast
that
carrieth
her,
which
hath
the
seven
heads
and
ten
horns.
Rev
17:
8
The
beast
that
thou
sawest
was,
and
is
not;
and
shall
ascend
out
of
the
bottomless
pit,
and
go
into
perdition:
and
they
that
dwell
on
the
earth
shall
wonder,
whose
names
were
not
written
in
the
book
of
life
from
the
foundation
of
the
world,
when
they
behold
the
beast
that
was,
and
is
not,
and
yet
is.
Rev
17:
9
And
here
is
the
mind
which
hath
wisdom.
The
seven
heads
are
seven
mountains,
on
which
the
woman
sitteth.
10
And
there
are
seven
kings:
five
are
fallen,
and
one
is,
and
the
other
is
not
yet
come;
and
when
he
cometh,
he
must
continue
a
short
space.
The
word
"mountains"
refers
to
'kingdoms'
and/or
'governments',
in
the
manner
that
a
"mountain"
looms
up
above
and
over
their
people.
Who
are
these
"seven
kings"
and
their
"kingdoms/governments"
which
have
loomed
up
over
the
children
of
Israel
and
other
peoples?
These
'kingdoms'
are
(were):
#1.
Babylon
#2.
Medio-Persia
#3.
Greece
#4.
Rome
#5.
Mohammedans
(from
636
A.D.
until
1948)
#6.
Figs:
Good
and
Bad
#7.
Satan,
the
spurious
Jesus/God/King's
government
------
"five
are
fallen"
#1.
Babylon
#2.
Medio-Persia
#3.
Greece
#4.
Rome
#5.
Mohammedans
(from
636
A.D.
until
1948)
"and
one
is"
#6.
Figs:
Good
and
Bad
"and
the
other
is
not
yet
come;
and
when
he
cometh,
he
must
continue
a
short
space"
#7.
Satan,
the
spurious
Jesus/God/King's
government
Rev
17:
11
And
the
beast
that
was,
and
is
not,
even
he
is
the
eighth,
and
is
of
the
seven,
and
goeth
into
perdition.
"he
is
the
eighth,
and
is
of
the
seven,
and
goeth
into
perdition"
Satan
shall
be
utterly
destroyed
at
the
end
of
The
LORD'S
DAY.
Rev
17:
12
And
the
ten
horns
which
thou
sawest
are
ten
kings,
which
have
received
no
kingdom
as
yet;
but
receive
power
as
kings
one
hour
with
the
beast.
13
These
have
one
mind,
and
shall
give
their
power
and
strength
unto
the
beast.
"are
ten
kings,
which
have
received
no
kingdom
as
yet"
These
"ten
kings"
do
not
yet
have
power
over
their
people/nations,
because
they
have
not
yet
arrived
in
the
sight
of
earthly
flesh
man.
"but
receive
power
as
kings
one
hour
with
the
beast"
The
word
"hour"
is
not
specifically
60
minutes,
but
refers
to
a
definite
season,
time
appointed,
or
a
particular
instant.
Who
then
would
be
able
to
be
accepted
by
their
people
as
'kings'?
This
refers
to
the
ten
"toes",
and
speaks
of
'ten
kings
of
renown
from
old
times.
Yet,
we
must
remember,
that
Satan's
fallen
angels
are
disguised.
In
every
country
and
people,
there
have
been
great
kings,
which
their
people
remember.
Some
are
great
historical
figures
which
did
great
things
for
their
people.
Their
actions
were
so
significant
that
they
have
secured
a
place
of
remembrance
in
the
minds
of
their
people.
There
shall
be
ten,
of
Satan's
fallen
angels,
who
shall
come
disguised
as
these
'great
kings'.
And,
the
'testimony'
that
they
shall
give
to
their
people
shall
cause
these
people
to
look
to
the
'king',
Satan,
as
the
'king
of
kings'.
Therefore,
no
matter
their
form
of
government,
up
to
that
point
in
time,
and
no
matter
to
what
'god'
they
had
looked
to
and
worshipped,
these
fallen
angels,
disguised
as
their
historic
great
kings,
shall
bring
their
people
to
bow
to
the
"image"
set
up.
They
shall
cause
their
people
to
bow
to
the
spurious
'Christ'.
It
is
through
these
'ten
toes'
that
balance
is
given
unto
the
"image",
so
it
can
stand.
And,
all
nations
will
come
into
the
spurious
"one
world"
theocracy,
which
Satan's
fallen
angels
shall
set
up
before
Satan,
himself,
arrives
(in
his
disguise)
'Jesus'/'king'.
Rev
17:
14
These
shall
make
war
with
the
Lamb,
and
the
Lamb
shall
overcome
them:
for
he
is
Lord
of
lords,
and
King
of
kings:
and
they
that
are
with
him
are
called,
and
chosen,
and
faithful.
Rev
17:
15
And
he
saith
unto
me,
The
waters
which
thou
sawest,
where
the
whore
sitteth,
are
peoples,
and
multitudes,
and
nations,
and
tongues.
16
And
the
ten
horns
which
thou
sawest
upon
the
beast,
these
shall
hate
the
whore,
and
shall
make
her
desolate
and
naked,
and
shall
eat
her
flesh,
and
burn
her
with
fire.
17
For
God
hath
put
in
their
hearts
to
fulfil
his
will,
and
to
agree,
and
give
their
kingdom
unto
the
beast,
until
the
words
of
God
shall
be
fulfilled.
18
And
the
woman
which
thou
sawest
is
that
great
city,
which
reigneth
over
the
kings
of
the
earth.
(KJV)
"For
God
hath
put
in
their
hearts
to
fulfil
his
will,
and
to
agree,
and
give
their
kingdom
unto
the
beast,
until
the
words
of
God
shall
be
fulfilled."
What
have
we
been
shown
in
FATHER'S
Word,
thus
far?
We
have
been
shown
the
"feet"
and
the
"toes"
of
this
"image".
The
"feet"
and
"toes"
are
of
"iron",
and
are
covered
by
the
"miry
clay".
Shall
we
see
a
fallen
angel
disguised
as
'King
David'?
Or,
perhaps,
one
disguised
as
'Mohammad'?
What
about
one
disguised
as
Abraham,
the
father
of
many
nations?
Have
we
any
documentation
that
indicates
that
the
fallen
angels
will
come
disguised
as
great
"men
of
renown"?
Gen
6:4
4
There
were
giants
in
the
earth
in
those
days;
and
also
after
that,
when
the
sons
of
God
came
in
unto
the
daughters
of
men,
and
they
bare
children
to
them,
the
same
became
mighty
men
which
were
of
old,
men
of
renown.
(KJV)
Let
us
read
this
again
from
the
Green's
Interlinear
as
it
was
originally
written,
without
man's
added
words.
"Giants
(the
fallen
angels:
Ha-Napiliym)
there
were
in
the
earth
in
days
those
and
also
after
that
when
came
in
the
sons
of
God
(sons
who
fell
away
from
YHVH'S
'Elohiym:
haa-'Elohiym)
unto
the
daughters
of
men.
And
they
bare
to
them
the
same
mighty
men
which
of
old
men
of
renown."
Dan
2:36-45
36
This
is
the
dream;
and
we
will
tell
the
interpretation
thereof
before
the
king.
37
Thou,
O
king,
art
a
king
of
kings:
for
the
God
of
heaven
hath
given
thee
a
kingdom,
power,
and
strength,
and
glory.
38
And
wheresoever
the
children
of
men
dwell,
the
beasts
of
the
field
and
the
fowls
of
the
heaven
hath
he
given
into
thine
hand,
and
hath
made
thee
ruler
over
them
all.
Thou
art
this
head
of
gold.
39
And
after
thee
shall
arise
another
kingdom
inferior
to
thee,
and
another
third
kingdom
of
brass,
which
shall
bear
rule
over
all
the
earth.
40
And
the
fourth
kingdom
shall
be
strong
as
iron:
forasmuch
as
iron
breaketh
in
pieces
and
subdueth
all
things:
and
as
iron
that
breaketh
all
these,
shall
it
break
in
pieces
and
bruise.
41
And
whereas
thou
sawest
the
feet
and
toes,
part
of
potters'
clay,
and
part
of
iron,
the
kingdom
shall
be
divided;
but
there
shall
be
in
it
of
the
strength
of
the
iron,
forasmuch
as
thou
sawest
the
iron
mixed
with
miry
clay.
42
And
as
the
toes
of
the
feet
were
part
of
iron,
and
part
of
clay,
so
the
kingdom
shall
be
partly
strong,
and
partly
broken.
43
And
whereas
thou
sawest
iron
mixed
with
miry
clay,
they
shall
mingle
themselves
with
the
seed
of
men:
but
they
shall
not
cleave
one
to
another,
even
as
iron
is
not
mixed
with
clay.
44
And
in
the
days
of
these
kings
shall
the
God
of
heaven
set
up
a
kingdom,
which
shall
never
be
destroyed:
and
the
kingdom
shall
not
be
left
to
other
people,
but
it
shall
break
in
pieces
and
consume
all
these
kingdoms,
and
it
shall
stand
for
ever.
45
Forasmuch
as
thou
sawest
that
the
stone
was
cut
out
of
the
mountain
without
hands,
and
that
it
brake
in
pieces
the
iron,
the
brass,
the
clay,
the
silver,
and
the
gold;
the
great
God
hath
made
known
to
the
king
what
shall
come
to
pass
hereafter:
and
the
dream
is
certain,
and
the
interpretation
thereof
sure.
(KJV)
"Thou,
O
king,
art
a
king
of
kings:
for
the
God
of
heaven
hath
given
thee
a
kingdom,
power,
and
strength,
and
glory."
Nebuchadnezzar
is
a
'type'
for
Satan.
But,
as
powerful
as
Nebuchadnezzar
was,
he
is
but
a
shadow
in
comparison
to
Satan.
YHVH
allowed
Nebuchadnezzar
to
have
"kingdom,
power,
and
strength,
and
glory".
As
you
can
see,
these
are
'four'
things:
"kingdom,
power,
and
strength,
and
glory".
The
number
"four"
has
a
connection
to
'things
earthly
or
worldly'.
Let
us
again
look
at
the
'kingdoms'
which
have
ruled
over
Israel.
#1.
Babylon
#2.
Medio-Persia
#3.
Greece
#4.
Rome
#5.
Mohammedans
(from
636
A.D.
until
1948)
#6.
Figs:
Good
and
Bad
#7.
Satan,
the
spurious
Jesus/God/King's
government
"And
wheresoever
the
children
of
men
dwell,
the
beasts
of
the
field
and
the
fowls
of
the
heaven
hath
he
given
into
thine
hand,
and
hath
made
thee
ruler
over
them
all.
Thou
art
this
head
of
gold.
And
after
thee
shall
arise
another
kingdom
inferior
to
thee,
and
another
third
kingdom
of
brass,
which
shall
bear
rule
over
all
the
earth.
And
the
fourth
kingdom
shall
be
strong
as
iron:
forasmuch
as
iron
breaketh
in
pieces
and
subdueth
all
things:
and
as
iron
that
breaketh
all
these,
shall
it
break
in
pieces
and
bruise."
Nebuchadnezzar,
the
king
of
Babylon,
was
referenced
as
"this
head
of
gold".
#1.
Babylon
Therefore,
the
Babylonian
Empire
is
foremost...the
beginning
of
the
"image",
as
it
takes
shape.
Babylonia
The
ancient
pagan
empire
between
the
Tigris
and
Euphrates
Rivers
in
southern
Mesopotamia.
The
Babylonians
struggled
with
the
neighboring
Assyrians
for
domination
of
the
ancient
world
during
much
of
their
history.
At
the
height
of
their
power,
the
Babylonians
overpowered
the
nation
of
Judah,
destroyed
Jerusalem,
and
carried
God's
Covenant
People
into
captivity
about
587
B.
C.
The
fortunes
of
the
Babylonians
rose
and
fell
during
the
long
sweep
of
Old
Testament
history-from
about
2000
B.
C.
to
about
500
B.
C.
References
to
these
ancient
people--
their
culture,
religion,
and
military
power--
occur
throughout
the
Old
Testament.
Babylonia
was
a
long,
narrow
country
about
65
kilometers
(40
miles)
wide
at
its
widest
point
and
having
an
area
of
about
8,000
square
miles.
It
was
bordered
on
the
north
by
Assyria,
on
the
east
by
Elam,
on
the
south
and
west
by
the
Arabian
desert,
and
on
the
southeast
by
the
Persian
Gulf.
Among
the
earliest
inhabitants
of
this
region
were
the
Sumerians,
whom
the
Bible
refers
to
as
the
people
of
the
"land
of
Shinar"
<Gen.
10:10>.
Sargon,
from
one
of
the
Sumerian
cities,
united
the
people
of
Babylonia
under
his
rule
about
2300
B.
C.
Many
scholars
believe
Sargon
was
the
same
person
as
Nimrod
<Gen.
10:8>.
Around
2000
B.
C.
HAMMURABI
emerged
as
the
ruler
of
Babylonia.
He
expanded
the
borders
of
the
Empire
and
organized
its
laws
into
a
written
system,
referred
to
by
scholars
as
the
Code
of
Hammurabi.
About
this
time
Abraham
left
UR,
one
of
the
ancient
cities
in
lower
Babylon,
and
moved
to
Haran,
a
city
in
the
north.
Still
later,
Abraham
left
Haran
and
migrated
into
the
land
of
Canaan
under
God's
promise
that
he
would
become
the
father
of
a
great
nation
<Gen.
12:1-20>.
Any
account
of
Babylonia
must
also
mention
Assyria,
which
bordered
Babylonia
on
the
north.
Assyria's
development
was
often
intertwined
with
the
course
of
Babylonian
history.
About
1270
B.
C.,
the
Assyrians
overpowered
Babylonia.
For
the
next
700
years,
Babylonia
was
a
second-rate
power
as
the
Assyrians
dominated
the
ancient
world.
Around
626
B.
C.,
Babylonian
independence
was
finally
won
from
Assyria
by
a
leader
named
Nabopolassar.
Under
his
leadership,
Babylonia
again
became
a
great
empire.
In
605
B.
C.,
Nebuchadnezzar,
the
son
of
Nabopolassar,
became
ruler
and
reigned
for
44
years.
Under
him
the
Babylonian
Empire
reached
its
greatest
strength.
Using
the
treasures
which
he
took
from
other
nations,
Nebuchadnezzar
built
BABYLON,
the
capital
city
of
Babylonia,
into
one
of
the
leading
cities
of
the
world.
The
famous
hanging
gardens
of
Babylon
were
known
as
one
of
the
seven
wonders
of
the
ancient
world.
In
587
B.
C.,
the
Babylonians
destroyed
Jerusalem
and
carried
the
leading
citizens
of
the
nation
of
Judah
as
captives
to
Babylon.
During
this
period
of
captivity,
the
Persians
conquered
Babylonia,
and
the
Babylonians
passed
from
the
scene
as
a
world
power.
During
its
long
history,
Babylonia
attained
a
high
level
of
civilization
that
was
influential
beyond
its
borders.
Sumerian
culture
was
its
basis,
which
later
Babylonians
regarded
as
traditional.
In
the
realm
of
religion,
the
Sumerians
already
had
a
system
of
gods,
each
with
a
main
temple
in
a
particular
city.
The
chief
gods
were
Anu,
god
of
heaven;
Enlil,
god
of
the
air;
and
Enki
or
Ea,
god
of
the
subterranean
ocean.
Others
were
Shamash,
the
sungod;
Sin,
the
moon-god;
Ishtar,
goddess
of
love
and
war;
and
Adad,
the
storm-god.
The
Amorites
promoted
the
god
Marduk
at
the
city
of
Babylon,
so
that
he
became
the
chief
god
of
the
Babylonian
religion,
beginning
about
1100
B.
C.
Babylonian
religion
was
temple-centered,
with
elaborate
festivals
and
many
different
types
of
priests,
especially
the
exorcist
and
the
diviner,
whose
function
was
to
drive
away
evil
spirits.
Babylonian
literature
was
dominated
by
mythology
and
legends.
Among
these
was
a
creation
myth
written
to
glorify
a
god
known
as
Marduk.
According
to
this
myth,
Marduk
created
heaven
and
earth
from
the
corpse
of
the
goddess
Tiamat.
Another
work
was
the
Gilgamish
Epic,
a
flood
story
written
about
2000
B.
C.
Scientific
literature
of
the
Babylonians
included
treatises
on
astronomy,
mathematics,
medicine,
chemistry,
botany,
and
zoology.
An
important
aspect
of
Babylonian
culture
was
a
codified
system
of
law.
Hammurabi's
famous
code
was
the
successor
of
earlier
collections
of
laws
going
back
to
about
2050
B.
C.
The
Babylonians
used
art
for
the
national
celebration
of
great
events
and
glorification
of
the
gods.
It
was
marked
by
stylized
and
symbolic
representations,
but
it
expressed
realism
and
spontaneity
in
the
depiction
of
animals.
The
Old
Testament
contains
many
references
to
Babylonia.
<Genesis
10:10>
mentions
four
Babylonian
cities,
Babel
(Babylon),
Erech
(Uruk),
Accad
(Agade)
and
Calneh.
These,
along
with
Assyria,
were
ruled
by
Nimrod.
(from
Nelson's
Illustrated
Bible
Dictionary)
(Copyright
(C)
1986,
Thomas
Nelson
Publishers)
"And
after
thee
shall
arise
another
kingdom
inferior
to
thee"
#2.
Medio-Persia
Persia
and
Media
An
ancient
world
empire
that
flourished
from
539-331
B.
C..
The
Babylonian
Empire
fell
to
the
Persians,
setting
the
stage
for
the
return
of
the
Hebrew
people
to
Jerusalem
about
538-445
B.
C.,
following
their
long
period
of
captivity
by
the
Babylonians.
The
Old
Testament
contains
many
references
to
the
nation
of
Persia
and
its
representatives.
<Ezra
9:9>
refers
to
the
"kings
of
Persia."
<Ezra
6:14>
cites
"Cyrus,
Darius,
and
Artaxerxes
king
of
Persia."
<Daniel
8:20>
speaks
of
the
"kings
of
Media
and
Persia."
<Daniel
10:13>
mentions
the
"prince
of
the
kingdom
of
Persia."
The
Book
of
Esther
refers
to
the
"powers
of
Persia
and
Media"
<1:3>,
the
"seven
princes
of
Persia
and
Media"
<1:14>,
and
the
"ladies
of
Persia
and
Media"
<1:18>.
<Daniel
5:28>
prophesied
that
Belshazzar's
kingdom
would
be
"given
to
the
Medes
and
Persians."
The
Persians
apparently
sprang
from
a
people
from
the
hills
of
Russia
known
as
Indo-Aryans.
As
early
as
2000
B.
C.,
they
began
to
settle
in
Iran
and
along
the
Black
Sea
coast.
Two
of
these
Indo-European
tribes
settled
on
the
Elamite
border
and
to
the
east
of
the
Zagros
mountain
range.
The
first
references
to
them
are
made
in
the
inscriptions
of
Shalmaneser
III
(858-824
B.
C.).
They
are
noted
as
the
Parsua
(Persians)
and
Madai
(Medes).
The
first
mention
of
a
Persian
chieftain
refers
to
his
role
as
an
ally
aligned
against
Sennacherib
of
Assyria.
His
son
was
called
"King,
Great
King,
King
of
the
City
of
Anshan."
His
grandson
fathered
Cyrus
II,
who
was
one
of
the
most
celebrated
kings
of
history.
He
is
called
by
the
prophet
Isaiah
"My
shepherd"
<Is.
44:28>.
In
another
passage
he
is
referred
to
as
"His
[the
Lord's]
Anointed"
<Is.
45:1>,
a
term
used
in
the
Old
Testament
of
the
Messiah.
Cyrus
II,
founder
of
the
mighty
Persian
Empire,
ascended
the
throne
in
Anshan
in
559
B.
C.
He
conquered
the
Median
King
Astyages.
Then
he
defeated
Lydia
(about
546
B.
C.)
and
Babylon
(about
539
B.
C.),
finally
establishing
the
Persian
Empire.
This
last
conquest
is
referred
to
in
<Daniel
5>.
Cyrus'
rule
was
a
result
of
the
sovereignty
of
God.
In
contrast
to
previous
rulers,
especially
the
Assyrians,
Cyrus
was
humane
and
benevolent
toward
those
whom
he
defeated.
Cyrus
was
the
Persian
king
who
issued
the
decree
restoring
the
Jews
to
their
homeland,
following
their
long
period
of
captivity
by
the
Babylonians
<2
Chr.
36:22-23;
Ezra
1:1-4>.
Cyrus
was
the
founder
of
the
system
under
which
each
province,
or
Persian
satrapy,
was
governed
by
an
official
who
answered
to
the
great
king.
However,
he
allowed
a
remarkable
degree
of
freedom
of
religion
and
customs
for
the
vassal
states,
including
Palestine.
He
developed
roads,
cities,
postal
systems,
and
legal
codes,
and
treated
the
subject
nations
kindly
and
humanely.
Cyrus
accomplished
all
of
this
because
he
was
God's
tool-just
as
Assyria,
who
conquered
Israel,
was
God's
rod
of
anger.
Hence
the
Bible
refers
to
Cyrus
in
favorable
terms
<Is.
44:28--45:3>.
Cambyses
II
(530-522
B.
C.),
the
son
of
Cyrus,
reigned
after
his
father.
During
his
reign,
Egypt
was
added
to
the
list
of
nations
conquered
by
Persia.
According
to
the
Greek
historian
Herodotus,
Cambyses
accidentally
wounded
himself
with
his
own
sword
in
522
B.
C.
Some
believe
he
committed
suicide.
The
next
Persian
king,
Darius
I
(521-486
B.
C.),
was
not
a
direct
descendant
of
Cyrus
but
was
of
royal,
Achaemenid
blood.
He
defeated
nine
kings
to
claim
all
23
Persian
satrapies.
This
was
recorded
on
the
famous
Behistun
Inscription,
which
was
written
in
the
Akkadian,
Elamite,
and
Old
Persian
languages.
Darius
I
further
unified
the
Persian
Empire
by
using
an
efficient
gold
coinage,
state
highways,
and
a
more
efficient
postal
system.
He
was
defeated
by
the
Greeks
at
the
Battle
of
Marathon
in
490
B.
C.
This
is
the
same
Darius
who,
in
his
second
year,
ordered
the
Jewish
Temple
at
Jerusalem
to
be
rebuilt
after
work
on
it
had
been
discontinued
for
14
years
<Ezra
4:24;
6:1>.
He
also
gave
a
generous
subsidy
that
made
it
possible
to
complete
the
Temple.
The
extent
of
the
Persian
Empire
under
Darius
is
reflected
in
<Esther
1:1>
and
<10:1>.
The
vast
territory
was
nearly
4,900
kilometers
(3,000
miles)
long
and
800-2,400
kilometers
(500
to
1,500
miles)
wide.
Xerxes
ruled
Persia
from
486
to
465
B.
C.
He
was
the
Ahasuerus
of
the
Book
of
Esther.
Esther
did
not
become
queen
until
the
seventh
year
of
his
reign,
which
would
be
about
478
B.
C.
This
was
two
years
after
his
devastating
defeat
at
Salamis
(480
B.
C.),
which
ended
Persia's
last
hope
for
conquering
Greece.
Another
Persian
king,
Artaxerxes
I
Longimanus
(464-424
B.
C.),
illustrates
one
of
the
ironies
of
history.
This
minor
Persian
king
was
of
major
importance
because
of
his
connection
with
the
Hebrew
people.
Apparently
two
of
the
three
returns
of
the
Jewish
people
from
captivity
in
Babylon
occurred
during
his
reign.
The
second
return
was
apparently
under
Ezra.
This
was
made
possible
because
of
the
generosity
of
Artaxerxes.
The
third
return
occurred
in
445
B.
C.
<Neh.
1:1>.
The
specific
purpose
of
this
return
to
Jerusalem
was
to
rebuild
the
city
walls.
Among
the
kingdoms
of
the
ancient
world,
Persia
is
remembered
because
it
built
many
important
cities.
PERSEPOLIS
was
a
showpiece
of
Persian
power.
Pasargadae
was
the
ancestral
capital
rapidly
supplanted
in
importance.
ECBATANA
served
as
the
capital
of
the
Median
Empire
and
became
a
resort
area
for
the
Persians.
SUSA
(the
Shushan
of
Esther)
was
the
former
capital
of
the
Elamite
Empire.
The
religion
of
the
Persians
centered
around
a
reformation
of
the
old
Iranian
religions
developed
by
Zoroaster.
He
believed
in
a
dualism
in
which
Ahura
Mazda
(or
Ormazd)
headed
the
gods
of
goodness
(Amesha
Spentas)
and
Angra
Mainyu
(or
Ahriman)
headed
the
gods
of
evil
(daevas).
Some
of
this
is
revealed
in
the
Jewish
apocryphal
literature
which
developed
from
the
fifth
century
B.
C.
to
the
time
of
Christ.
(from
Nelson's
Illustrated
Bible
Dictionary)
(Copyright
(C)
1986,
Thomas
Nelson
Publishers)
"and
another
third
kingdom
of
brass,
which
shall
bear
rule
over
all
the
earth"
#3.
Greece
Greece
A
region
or
country
of
city-states
in
southeastern
Europe
between
Italy
and
Asia
Minor.
Greece
was
bounded
on
the
east
by
the
Aegean
Sea,
on
the
south
by
the
Mediterranean
Sea,
on
the
west
by
the
Adriatic
Sea
and
Ionian
Sea,
and
on
the
north
by
Mount
Olympus
and
adjacent
mountains.
The
Old
Testament
name
for
Greece
was
JAVAN
<Gen.
10:2,4;
Is.
66:19>.
In
the
early
years
of
its
history,
Greece
was
a
country
of
self-governing
city-states.
Politically
and
militarily,
the
Greek
city-states
were
weak.
Their
varied
backgrounds
led
to
frictions
and
rivalries
that
kept
them
from
becoming
one
unified
nation.
In
338
B.
C.,
Philip
II,
king
of
Macedon,
conquered
the
southern
peninsula
of
Greece.
Under
Philip's
son,
Alexander
the
Great
(336-323
B.
C.),
the
Greek
Empire
was
extended
from
Greece
through
Asia
Minor
to
Egypt
and
the
borders
of
India.
Alexander's
military
conquests
and
his
passion
to
spread
Greek
culture
contributed
to
the
advancement
of
Greek
ideas
throughout
the
ancient
world.
This
adoption
of
Greek
ideas
by
the
rest
of
the
ancient
world
was
known
as
HELLENISM.
So
thoroughly
did
Greek
ideas
penetrate
the
other
nations
that
the
Greek
language
became
the
dominant
language
of
the
known
world.
Greek
learning
and
culture
eventually
conquered
the
ancient
Near
East
and
continued
as
dominant
forces
throughout
the
New
Testament
era.
Even
after
the
rise
of
the
Romans,
about
146
B.
C.,
the
influence
of
Greek
language,
culture,
and
philosophy
remained
strong,
even
influencing
the
Jewish
religion.
Greek
religion
included
many
gods.
The
religions
of
Egypt,
Asia
Minor,
and
Persia
were
more
appealing
than
the
old
Greek
gods
because
they
promised
immortality.
However,
the
Greeks
did
not
abandon
their
former
gods;
they
simply
adopted
new
gods
and
gave
them
old
names.
A
renewed
interest
in
astrology
among
the
Greeks
also
led
to
widespread
belief
that
the
planets
governed
the
lives
and
fates
of
human
beings.
The
Greeks
sought
to
control
any
turn
of
fate
through
worship.
They
even
erected
an
altar
inscribed
"to
the
unknown
god"
in
their
capital
city
of
Athens
<Acts
17:23>.
The
peninsula
of
Greece
fell
to
the
Romans
in
146
B.
C.
and
later
became
the
senatorial
province
of
Achaia
with
Corinth
as
its
capital.
The
apostle
Paul
visited
this
area
on
his
second
missionary
journey,
delivering
his
famous
sermon
to
the
Athenian
philosophers
<Acts
17:22-34>.
Later
he
appeared
before
the
proconsul
Gallio
at
Corinth
<Acts
18:12-17>.
On
his
third
missionary
journey,
he
visited
Greece
for
three
months
<Acts
20:2-3>.
Greece
is
important
to
Christianity
because
of
its
language.
In
New
Testament
times
Greek
was
the
language
spoken
by
the
common
people
of
the
ancient
world,
as
far
west
as
Rome
and
the
Rhone
Valley,
in
South
Eastern
France.
Most
of
the
New
Testament
was
written
originally
in
Greek.
This
precise
and
expressive
language
provided
the
most
capable
vehicle
for
expressing
thought
of
any
in
the
ancient
world.
**Also
see
GREEKS;
LANGUAGE.
(from
Nelson's
Illustrated
Bible
Dictionary)
(Copyright
(C)
1986,
Thomas
Nelson
Publishers)
**Greeks
Natives
of
Greece
or
people
of
Greek
descent.
In
the
New
Testament,
Greeks
is
sometimes
a
general
term
for
all
who
are
not
Jews.
Historically,
the
Greeks
descended
from
four
separate
groups--
the
Acheans,
Ionians,
Aetolians,
and
Dorians--
which
immigrated
into
Greece
and
replaced
the
civilization
that
previously
existed.
Each
group
settled
in
different
regions
of
Greece.
Because
these
peoples
did
not
mix
very
well,
Greece
developed
into
a
group
of
city-states
instead
of
a
nation.
They
fought
among
one
another
for
superiority,
and
even
though
they
conquered
isolated
areas
of
the
Mediterranean
coastland,
they
were
unable
to
establish
a
unified
empire.
Much
later,
Philip
of
Macedon
conquered
Greece,
and
his
son
ALEXANDER
the
Great,
extended
Greek
culture
throughout
most
of
the
Mediterranean
world.
When
Alexander
died,
his
generals
continued
this
policy
of
forcing
Greek
culture
upon
the
people
of
his
empire.
The
way
of
life
they
enforced
is
known
as
HELLENISM.
Centuries
later
when
the
Romans
conquered
the
ancient
world,
they
brought
political
organization
to
the
Mediterranean,
but
they
did
little
to
change
its
Hellenistic
culture.
When
the
biblical
writers
use
the
term
"Greeks,"
therefore,
they
do
not
merely
mean
natives
of
Greece;
they
are
speaking
of
all
who
have
been
influenced
by
Greek
culture
and
are
not
Jews
(for
instance,
<Mark
7:26>,
where
a
SyroPhoenician
woman
is
called
a
Greek).
By
contrast,
the
term
"Grecians"
(KJV),
Grecian
Jews
(NIV),
or
"Hellenists"
(RSV,
NKJV)
refers
to
Greek-speaking
Jews
only
<Acts
6:1;
9:29>.
In
the
Old
Testament,
Greece
is
to
be
identified
with
Javan
<Is.
66:19>.
The
only
Old
Testament
reference
to
Greeks
occurs
in
<Joel
3:6>.
(from
Nelson's
Illustrated
Bible
Dictionary)
(Copyright
(C)
1986,
Thomas
Nelson
Publishers)
"And
the
fourth
kingdom
shall
be
strong
as
iron:
forasmuch
as
iron
breaketh
in
pieces
and
subdueth
all
things:
and
as
iron
that
breaketh
all
these,
shall
it
break
in
pieces
and
bruise."
#4.
Rome
Now,
what
do
we
know
about
this
Roman
Empire?
It
is
the
government,
that
those
who
were
against
CHRIST,
used
to
have
YAHSHUA,
JESUS
CHRIST,
crucified.
"and
bruise"
Gen
3:15
15
And
I
will
put
enmity
between
thee
and
the
woman,
and
between
thy
seed
and
her
seed;
it
shall
bruise
thy
head,
and
thou
shalt
bruise
his
heel.
(KJV)
Isa
53:1-12
1
Who
hath
believed
our
report?
and
to
whom
is
the
arm
of
the
LORD
revealed?
2
For
he
shall
grow
up
before
him
as
a
tender
plant,
and
as
a
root
out
of
a
dry
ground:
he
hath
no
form
nor
comeliness;
and
when
we
shall
see
him,
there
is
no
beauty
that
we
should
desire
him.
3
He
is
despised
and
rejected
of
men;
a
man
of
sorrows,
and
acquainted
with
grief:
and
we
hid
as
it
were
our
faces
from
him;
he
was
despised,
and
we
esteemed
him
not.
4
Surely
he
hath
borne
our
griefs,
and
carried
our
sorrows:
yet
we
did
esteem
him
stricken,
smitten
of
God,
and
afflicted.
5
But
he
was
wounded
for
our
transgressions,
he
was
bruised
for
our
iniquities:
the
chastisement
of
our
peace
was
upon
him;
and
with
his
stripes
we
are
healed.
6
All
we
like
sheep
have
gone
astray;
we
have
turned
every
one
to
his
own
way;
and
the
LORD
hath
laid
on
him
the
iniquity
of
us
all.
7
He
was
oppressed,
and
he
was
afflicted,
yet
he
opened
not
his
mouth:
he
is
brought
as
a
lamb
to
the
slaughter,
and
as
a
sheep
before
her
shearers
is
dumb,
so
he
openeth
not
his
mouth.
8
He
was
taken
from
prison
and
from
judgment:
and
who
shall
declare
his
generation?
for
he
was
cut
off
out
of
the
land
of
the
living:
for
the
transgression
of
my
people
was
he
stricken.
9
And
he
made
his
grave
with
the
wicked,
and
with
the
rich
in
his
death;
because
he
had
done
no
violence,
neither
was
any
deceit
in
his
mouth.
10
Yet
it
pleased
the
LORD
to
bruise
him;
he
hath
put
him
to
grief:
when
thou
shalt
make
his
soul
an
offering
for
sin,
he
shall
see
his
seed,
he
shall
prolong
his
days,
and
the
pleasure
of
the
LORD
shall
prosper
in
his
hand.
11
He
shall
see
of
the
travail
of
his
soul,
and
shall
be
satisfied:
by
his
knowledge
shall
my
righteous
servant
justify
many;
for
he
shall
bear
their
iniquities.
12
Therefore
will
I
divide
him
a
portion
with
the
great,
and
he
shall
divide
the
spoil
with
the
strong;
because
he
hath
poured
out
his
soul
unto
death:
and
he
was
numbered
with
the
transgressors;
and
he
bare
the
sin
of
many,
and
made
intercession
for
the
transgressors.
(KJV)
Does
this
in
Isaiah
sound
familiar?
It
was
prophesy,
that
was
fulfilled,
when
CHRIST
was
crucified.
Roman
Empire
The
powerful
pagan
empire
that
controlled
most
of
the
known
world
during
New
Testament
times.
Rome
was
founded
in
753
B.
C.
by
Romulus,
who
became
its
first
king.
The
little
kingdom
grew
in
size
and
importance,
absorbing
its
immediate
neighbors
through
the
reign
of
seven
kings,
until
the
tyranny
of
Tarquinius
Superbus
drove
the
people
to
revolt
and
to
take
the
government
into
their
own
hands.
A
republic
was
established,
and
Roman
citizens
had
a
voice
in
governmental
affairs.
During
the
period
of
the
republic,
Rome
extended
her
borders
throughout
all
of
Italy
and
the
known
world.
In
63
B.
C.,
Judea
became
formally
subject
to
Rome
and
this
was
the
case
during
the
entire
New
Testament
period.
The
republic
was
subject
to
internal
strife
which
eventually
led
to
the
decline
of
a
people-oriented
government.
The
emperor
Octavian,
who
was
also
known
as
Augustus,
became
emperor
in
27
B.
C.
He
was
still
reigning
at
the
time
of
Jesus'
birth.
Roman
Religion.
The
religion
that
was
native
to
Rome
was
basically
primitive
in
nature.
The
Romans
believed
that
impersonal
spirits
or
supernatural
powers
inhabited
such
natural
objects
as
trees,
streams,
and
earth.
They
believed
that
these
spirits
affected
one's
personal
life
for
good
or
evil.
But
the
most
striking
feature
of
Roman
religion
was
its
ability
to
merge
the
best
features
of
several
religions.
As
the
empire
expanded,
it
imported
and
assimilated
many
religious
ideas
and
pagan
gods
from
Greece
and
the
Orient.
Roman
gods
were
fused
and
identified
with
the
gods
of
the
Greeks.
Buildings,
temples,
and
monuments
to
these
gods
were
erected.
Astrological
beliefs
and
magical
practices
flourished.
An
"imperial
ruler
cult"
developed
in
the
first
century
B.
C.
when
the
Roman
senate
voted
to
deify
Julius
Caesar
and
to
dedicate
a
temple
to
his
honor.
Among
all
the
emperors,
only
Julius
Caesar,
Augustus,
and
Claudius
were
deified.
This
phenomenon
apparently
had
more
political
than
religious
meaning.
Throughout
the
entire
New
Testament
period,
various
emperors
ruled
over
the
Roman
Empire.
During
the
reign
of
Augustus,
Christ
was
born.
His
crucifixion
occurred
during
the
reign
of
the
succeeding
emperor
Tiberius.
The
martyrdom
of
James,
the
brother
of
John,
took
place
in
the
reign
of
the
emperor
Claudius
<Acts
11:28;
12:1-2>.
It
was
to
the
emperor
Nero
that
Paul
appealed
<Acts
25:11>.
The
destruction
of
Jerusalem
prophesied
by
Jesus
<Matthew
24;
Mark
13;
Luke
19:41-44>
was
accomplished
in
the
year
A.
D.
70
by
Titus,
who
later
became
emperor.
Thus,
all
of
the
New
Testament
story
unfolded
under
the
reign
of
Roman
emperors.
The
Roman
Empire
reached
the
height
of
its
power
from
about
A.
D.
100
to
175.
By
the
end
of
the
century,
however,
the
Romans
and
their
power
had
begun
to
decline.
Because
of
the
vast
expanse
of
its
territory,
the
Empire
grew
increasingly
difficult
to
administer.
High
taxation
and
political
infighting
also
took
their
toll.
Morally,
Rome
was
also
a
sick
society;
its
life
of
sin
and
debauchery
served
to
hasten
its
collapse
from
within,
even
as
barbaric
tribes
moved
in
to
challenge
the
Romans'
military
rule.
By
A.
D.
450
the
Roman
Empire
was
only
a
skeleton
of
its
former
self,
reduced
to
a
third-rate
power
among
the
nations
of
the
ancient
world.
The
Jews
Within
the
Empire.
Contact
between
Rome
and
the
Jews
took
place
when
some
of
the
Jews
were
scattered
to
various
parts
of
the
Mediterranean
world
and
when
Rome
moved
into
Palestine
as
a
part
of
its
eastern
expansion.
Technically,
however,
contact
between
the
Romans
and
the
Jews
began
in
63
B.
C.,
when
Pompey
marched
into
the
land
of
Palestine.
From
the
time
of
the
Captivity
in
Babylon--
or
perhaps
even
earlier--
many
Jews
made
their
homes
outside
Palestine.
While
some
of
them
did
this
for
economic
reasons;
others
had
been
deported
as
prisoners
of
war
to
such
places
as
Assyria
and
Babylon.
The
prophet
Jeremiah
indicated
that
some
Jews
had
settled
in
Egypt
during
his
time
<Jer.
44:1>.
Under
Roman
rule
the
Jews
were
given
a
special
status
with
certain
legal
rights.
They
were
permitted
to
practice
their
own
religion
and
to
build
their
synagogues.
They
also
were
exempt
from
military
service
and
were
not
required
to
appear
in
court
on
the
Sabbath.
Relationships
between
the
Jews
and
the
Romans
were
mostly
positive.
But
a
few
major
disturbances
did
occur.
The
emperor
Caligula
alienated
the
Jews
by
opposing
their
belief
in
one
God
and
forcibly
erecting
a
statue
of
himself
in
their
synagogues.
Also,
in
A.
D.
19,
the
emperor
Tiberius
expelled
some
Jews
from
Italy.
This
edict
was
renewed
under
Claudius
in
A.
D.
49
<Acts
18:2>.
Apparently
this
edict
did
not
last
long,
because
Jews
were
living
in
Rome
when
Paul
arrived
there
about
A.
D.
62.
The
situation
of
the
Jews
varied
considerably
under
the
different
Roman
rulers.
Basically,
the
Romans
treated
the
Jews
fairly.
Herod
the
Great
rebuilt
the
Temple
in
20
B.
C.,
and
Herod
Agrippa
sought
Jewish
favor
by
persecuting
the
Christians
<Acts
12:1-3>.
Archelaus,
on
the
other
hand,
was
a
cruel
and
tyrannical
ruler
who
massacred
many
Jews
<Matt.
2:22>.
Resentful
of
the
presence
of
these
foreign
oppressors,
the
Jews
refused
to
recognize
anyone
but
God
as
sovereign.
Revolutionary
activities
of
Jewish
nationalists
such
as
the
ZEALOTS
increased
and
threatened
the
peace
in
Palestine.
By
A.
D.
66,
Rome
was
forced
to
subdue
a
Jewish
revolt
in
Judea.
And
in
A.
D.
70,
Titus,
a
Roman
general
who
later
became
emperor,
marched
on
the
city
of
Jerusalem
to
destroy
Jewish
resistance.
Many
Jews
lost
their
lives
by
crucifixion
and
other
violent
means.
A
small
group
of
freedom
fighters
held
out
at
Masada,
but
they
took
their
own
lives
just
before
the
Roman
soldiers
broke
into
their
fortress.
The
destruction
of
Jerusalem
did
not
wipe
out
the
Jewish
state
or
religion.
In
some
ways,
it
made
the
Jews
more
determined
to
resist.
During
the
next
60
years
Rome
and
the
Jews
clashed
on
a
number
of
occasions.
From
A.
D.
132-135
a
second
rebellion
was
led
by
a
self-proclaimed
messiah,
Simon
Bar
Cochba.
Hadrian,
emperor
at
the
time,
issued
an
edict
which
virtually
destroyed
Judaism.
Jerusalem
was
rebuilt
as
a
Roman
colony,
complete
with
a
pagan
Roman
temple,
erected
on
the
site
of
the
Jewish
Temple.
The
province
of
Judea
was
replaced
by
Syria
Palestine.
In
this
rebellion,
some
5OO,OOO
Jews
were
killed
and
many
others
were
sold
into
slavery.
Those
who
survived
were
scattered
beyond
this
new
province.
Christianity
Within
the
Empire.
The
birth
and
development
of
Christianity
took
place
within
the
borders
of
the
Roman
Empire.
The
New
Testament
contains
several
references
to
Romans
who
were
ruling
at
this
time.
Among
them
were
CAESAR
AUGUSTUS
<Luke
2:1>,
QUIRINIUS
<Luke
2:2>,
and
TIBRIUS
CAESAR
<Luke
3:1;
20:22>.
Other
minor
officials
ruled
on
behalf
of
Rome,
particularly
those
of
the
Herodian
dynasty.
The
Book
of
Acts
shows
how
Christianity
spread
throughout
the
Roman
Empire.
Under
Paul,
the
great
missionary
to
the
Gentiles,
the
gospel
may
have
been
preached
as
far
west
as
Spain
<Rom.
15:28>.
A
Christian
church
existed
in
Rome
as
early
as
A.
D.
50
<Acts
18:2-3>.
By
the
time
Paul
wrote
his
Epistle
to
the
Romans
(A.
D.
58),
a
large
Christian
community
existed
in
the
imperial
city.
Paul's
appearance
in
Rome
was
ironic,
because
he
came
as
a
prisoner
and
not
as
a
missionary
<Acts
25:12;
27:1;
28:19-31>.
Here
he
was
held
in
confinement
awaiting
a
trial
that
apparently
never
took
place.
According
to
tradition,
Paul
lost
his
life
under
Nero's
persecution
about
A.
D.
64.
In
its
early
stages,
Christianity
was
regarded
by
Rome
as
a
sect
of
Judaism.
This
is
why
it
was
ignored
during
its
early
years.
On
several
occasions,
Roman
authorities
viewed
conflicts
between
Jews
and
Christians
as
an
internal
matter,
not
worthy
of
their
attention
<Acts
18:12-17>.
When
Christians
were
accused
by
the
Jews
of
breaking
the
law,
they
were
acquitted
<Acts
16:35-39>.
Rome
even
protected
Christians
from
Jewish
fanatics
<Acts
19:28-41;
22:22-30;
23:23-24>
and
assured
Paul
the
right
of
a
proper
trial
<Acts
23:26;
28:31>.
Most
Christians
had
a
positive
and
respectful
attitude
toward
Roman
authority.
They
were
careful
not
to
promote
any
revolutionary
or
treasonous
acts.
Jesus
spoke
about
paying
taxes
<Mark
12:17>.
Paul
reminded
his
readers
to
respect,
pray
for,
and
honor
governing
authorities
<Rom.
13:1-7;
1
Tim.
2:1-2;
Titus
3:1>.
Peter
admonished
the
churches:
"Honor
all
people.
Love
the
brotherhood.
Fear
God.
Honor
the
king"
<1
Pet.
2:17>.
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