Christianity and the Downfall of Rome

1. Christianity and theDownfall of Rome

2. Our passage last week strongly hinted that somehow Christianity was responsible for the downfall of the Roman Empire.

3. Our passage last week strongly hinted that somehow Christianity was responsible for the downfall of the Roman Empire. • “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold” (Dan 2:44-45, ESV).

4. Translations other than the English Standard also demonstrate this.

5. Translations other than the English Standard also demonstrate this. • KJV: “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.”

6. Translations other than the English Standard also demonstrate this. • KJV: “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.” • NASB: “That kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.”

7. Translations other than the English Standard also demonstrate this. • KJV: “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.” • NASB: “That kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” • NIV: “It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.”

8. It's clear that God's kingdom would end the kingdoms of the world.

9. It's clear that God's kingdom would end the kingdoms of the world. How could a spiritual kingdom bring an end to the Empire of Rome?

10. As we mentioned last week, there are some who say that the kingdom of God has yet to be established.

11. As we mentioned last week, there are some who say that the kingdom of God has yet to be established. • They claim that the fourth kingdom is a “revived” Roman Empire (or that the current kingdoms & empires are an outgrowth of Rome).

12. As we mentioned last week, there are some who say that the kingdom of God has yet to be established. • They claim that the fourth kingdom is a “revived” Roman Empire (or that the current kingdoms & empires are an outgrowth of Rome). • The Messiah will crush them when he comes again to establish his millennial reign.

13. As we mentioned last week, there are some who say that the kingdom of God has yet to be established. • The main problem with that view can be found in our text.

14. As we mentioned last week, there are some who say that the kingdom of God has yet to be established. • The main problem with that view can be found in our text. • “It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall standforever” (Dan 2:44, ESV).

15. As we mentioned last week, there are some who say that the kingdom of God has yet to be established. • The main problem with that view can be found in our text. • “It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall standforever” (Dan 2:44, ESV). • A millennial kingdom—by its very definition—will not stand forever!

16. Furthermore, the kingdom of Jesus is not of this world.

17. Furthermore, the kingdom of Jesus is not of this world. • “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world” (Jn 18:36, ESV).

18. Furthermore, the kingdom of Jesus is not of this world. • “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world” (Jn 18:36, ESV). • Because Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world, he refused to allow his disciples to fight his arrest.

19. Furthermore, the kingdom of Jesus is not of this world. • “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world” (Jn 18:36, ESV). • Because Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world, he refused to allow his disciples to fight his arrest. • We shouldn’t expect, therefore, another, earthly kingdom of the Lord.

20. All did Christianity overthrow the Roman Empire?

21. Edwin Gibbon famously placed the “blame” for the fall of Rome on Christianity.

22. Edwin Gibbon famously placed the “blame” for the fall of Rome on Christianity. • Gibbon says that the Empire gradually entrusted the role of defending Rome over to barbarian mercenaries who turned on them.

23. Edwin Gibbon famously placed the “blame” for the fall of Rome on Christianity. • Gibbon says that the Empire gradually entrusted the role of defending Rome over to barbarian mercenaries who turned on them. • This would largely have been the “fault” of Christians who refused to fight in the military.

24. Many early Christians to refuse any & all military service.

25. Many early Christians to refuse any & all military service. • Justin Martyr: “We who were full of war and murder for one another and all wickedness have each changed his warlike instruments—swords into plow and spears into agricultural implements.”

26. Many early Christians to refuse any & all military service. • Justin Martyr. • Hippolytus: “A soldier of the government must be told not to execute men; if he should be ordered to do it, he shall not do it. He must be told not to take the military oath. If he will not agree, let him be rejected [from baptism]. A military governor or a magistrate of a city who wears the purple, either let him desist or let him be rejected. If a catechumen or a baptized Christian wishes to become a soldier, let him be cast out. For he has despised God.”

27. There can also be no doubt but that the failure of Christians to worship the emperor led to the downfall of Rome.

28. There can also be no doubt but that the failure of Christians to worship the emperor led to the downfall of Rome. • A great temple was erected to the Emperor Domitian during his reign (AD 81-96).

29. There can also be no doubt but that the failure of Christians to worship the emperor led to the downfall of Rome. • A great temple was erected to the Emperor Domitian during his reign (AD 81-96). It was during Domitian’s reign that the “emperor cult” grew & gained widespread acceptance in the Empire.

30. There can also be no doubt but that the failure of Christians to worship the emperor led to the downfall of Rome. • A great temple was erected to the Emperor Domitian during his reign (AD 81-96). It was during Domitian’s reign that the “emperor cult” grew & gained widespread acceptance in the Empire. • By worshiping the emperor, the Roman people demonstrated their allegiance & submission to Rome.

31. There can also be no doubt but that the failure of Christians to worship the emperor led to the downfall of Rome. • A great temple was erected to the Emperor Domitian during his reign (AD 81-96). It was during Domitian’s reign that the “emperor cult” grew & gained widespread acceptance in the Empire. • By worshiping the emperor, the Roman people demonstrated their allegiance & submission to Rome. Failure to do so was an act of treason.

32. When people are not united by language, religion, customs, etc., a nation cannot remain united.

33. When people are not united by language, religion, customs, etc., a nation cannot remain united. • Canada has had serious problems because those in Quebec speak French & the rest of the nation speaks English.

34. When people are not united by language, religion, customs, etc., a nation cannot remain united. • Canada has had serious problems because those in Quebec speak French & the rest of the nation speaks English. • Look at the trouble in Iraq in bringing different ethnic & religious groups together.

35. When people are not united by language, religion, customs, etc., a nation cannot remain united. • Without doubt, the failure of Christians to pledge allegiance to Rome led to its downfall.

36. Gibbon also believed that as the Roman populace turned more Christian that they were interested more in the reward of heaven than in the “in-and-now.”

37. Gibbon also believed that as the Roman populace turned more Christian that they were interested more in the reward of heaven than in the “in-and-now.” • Therefore, they were much less interested in what was taking place in the Empire.

38. Gibbon wrote: “The decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate greatness. Prosperity ripened the principle of decay; the causes of destruction multiplied with the extent of conquest; and as soon as time or accident had removed the artificial supports, the stupendous fabric yielded to the pressure of its own weight. In discussing Barbarism and Christianity I have actually been discussing the Fall of Rome.”

39. However, Gibbon’s work was published in six volumes between 1776 & 1788.

40. However, Gibbon’s work was published in six volumes between 1776 & 1788. • Many historians have, thus, discounted his work.

41. However, Gibbon’s work was published in six volumes between 1776 & 1788. • Many historians have, thus, discounted his work. • We know much more about history now than he did then.

42. However, Gibbon’s work was published in six volumes between 1776 & 1788. • In fact, we know more about the Bible than we knew in 1788.

43. However, Gibbon’s work was published in six volumes between 1776 & 1788. • In fact, we know more about the Bible than we knew in 1788. • History had not confirmed the existence of the Hittites until 1884 (even though Moses & other biblical writers spoke of them).

44. However, Gibbon’s work was published in six volumes between 1776 & 1788. • In fact, we know more about the Bible than we knew in 1788. • History had not confirmed the existence of the Hittites until 1884 (even though Moses & other biblical writers spoke of them). • The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered between 1947 & 1956.

45. However, Gibbon’s work was published in six volumes between 1776 & 1788. • In fact, we know more about the Bible than we knew in 1788. • History had not confirmed the existence of the Hittites until 1884 (even though Moses & other biblical writers spoke of them). • The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered between 1947 & 1956. • These scrolls demonstrate the authenticity of the Hebrew Old Testament.

46. However, Gibbon’s work was published in six volumes between 1776 & 1788. • In fact, we know more about the Bible than we knew in 1788. • History had not confirmed the existence of the Hittites until 1884 (even though Moses & other biblical writers spoke of them). • The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered between 1947 & 1956. • These scrolls demonstrate the authenticity of the Hebrew Old Testament. • Before the discovery of these scrolls, the oldest manuscripts from the Old Testament came from the Middle Ages.

47. However, Gibbon’s work was published in six volumes between 1776 & 1788. • In fact, we know more about the Bible than we knew in 1788. • History had not confirmed the existence of the Hittites until 1884 (even though Moses & other biblical writers spoke of them). • The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered between 1947 & 1956. • These scrolls demonstrate the authenticity of the Hebrew Old Testament. • Before the discovery of these scrolls, the oldest manuscripts from the Old Testament came from the Middle Ages. • However, the Dead Sea Scrolls read as the Hebrew manuscripts already known.

48. However, Gibbon’s work was published in six volumes between 1776 & 1788. • In fact, we know more about the Bible than we knew in 1788. • History had not confirmed the existence of the Hittites until 1884 (even though Moses & other biblical writers spoke of them). • The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered between 1947 & 1956. • These scrolls demonstrate the authenticity of the Hebrew Old Testament. • The date of the Daniel scrolls demonstrate that Daniel could not have been written as late as liberal scholars had claimed.

49. All of that demonstrates how tentatively we need take historical findings.

50. All of that demonstrates how tentatively we need take historical findings. • That will be important later in Daniel as we discuss both Belshazzar & Darius the Mede.