The Rise And Decline Of The Roman Empire

We have the pre-written history of Europe from chapter 6 to 11 of Revelation. Chapters 12 to 22 give a parallel version of the same history. Revelation 6 begins John's record of the visions he saw as Christ broke, one after the other, the seals binding the scroll. The prophecies then revealed were "shortly to come to pass" (Rev. 1:1), or soon after 96 A.D. As each seal was broken, more of the scroll was unrolled, and Christ translated the written contents into dramatic action before John's gaze. The stage is the "earth" meaning the territory of the Roman Empire.

"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer" (Rev. 6:1-2).

Astronomically, the sun seal is kicked off of the lunar spot where it was by the hoof of Aries, and the crescent moon moving through Aries is the place where the seal was broken by him. Sagittarius is given the sun as a crown and the lunar "bow" or crescent making a compound bow. Historically, the correct translation is "Come" (RV) not "Come and see" (KJV) since the beast is talking to the horseman, not to John. The HORSE symbolizes Sagittarius with his bow. Historically a HORSE symbolizes the ROMAN EMPIRE as ancient Roman coins and standards demonstrate. In Revelation 19:11-16 the "King of kings" rides on a white HORSE also. God led his "house of ISRAEL ... like a HORSE" (Isa. 63:7,13). The "house of JUDAH ... his goodly HORSE in the battle" (Zech 10:3). Therefore, the Roman Empire is largely composed of ISRAELITES at this time. Virgil's Aeneid written in 19 B.C., tells about Trojans under Aeneas who founded Rome. Who were the Trojans? The "TROJANS were called DARDANI" (Lemp. Clas. Dict., p.193). "DARDA" (KJV margin of 1 Chr.2:6) called "DARDANUS" by Josephus, was the Egyptian founder of TROY (and the Kingdom of Priam) on the southern shore of the strait called "DARDANELLES." He was from Judah. Upon Christ's head are many crowns (Greek "diadema"). Both riders are kings who demand to be worshipped and both are victorious. But we shouldn't confuse them. One is the Jewish Messiah; the other a pagan Roman Jewish "messiah." "For many shall come in my name (claiming to be "God" or "Augustus"), saying I am Anointed; and shall deceive many" (Matt.24:4-5). The white horse here symbolizes Imperial Rome because Roman emperors invariably rode white horses in their victory celebrations. The national badge of CRETE was a BOW and arrow. The CRETANS manufactured the BOW. The CRETAN Apollo first invented the BOW. Thus Cherethites were David's bodyguard and were called "BOW- bearing Cretans" (Pindar Ode 5). Thucydides relates how ARCHERS were fetched from CRETE during the Pelopponesian War by the belligerent parties. All Roman Emperors had been of Italian extraction prior to Nerva. Nerva, the first Emperor of the period, was a CRETAN. The other four emperors who reigned during the age of prosperity were not his descendants, but according to Roman law of adoption were reckoned as such. They were known as the CRETAN dynasty. The rider's "crown" is "stephanos" in Greek meaning a circle of laurel leaves (Greek crown for VICTORS in Pythian games) -- not a jewelled diadem. From 81 A.D. its use was confined to the reigning emperors till 292 A.D. when Diocletian wore a diadem in imitation of barbarian kings. This is the peaceful, prosperous, united empire from 96 to 180 A.D. of Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian and the Antonines ending in Marcus Aurelius. But it was PAGAN. It did go forth "conquering and to conquer" because Trajan conquered Dacia (Romania) and annexed the kingdom of the Nabateans as the province of Arabia. He temporarily took control of Armenia and Mesopotamia from the Parthians. Marcus Aurelius triumphed over Germans and Sarmatians.

"And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword" (Rev. 6:3-4).

Astronomically when the next seal was stripped away, John saw this constellation in a red sunrise. Historically, the next stage of Roman history was CIVIL WAR from 185 A.D. (accession of Commodus) to 284 A.D. (Diocletian's accession). During this period there were no less than 32 Emperors opposed by 27 Pretenders (according to Sismondi), who took the "great sword" -- the Roman short sword (Gr. "machaira") -- the lunar crescent in Sagittarius' hand. Emperor Commodus was ASSASSINATED in 192 A.D. The many armies throughout the empire REVOLTED from allegiance to one emperor, and created numerous rival emperors many of whom were in turn MURDERED. The rival armies under their respective generals in the provinces brought wide-spread CIVIL WAR and REVOLUTION; whole armies MASSACRED one another and red blood drenched the empire. These are the "WARS and rumors of WARS" (Matt. 24:6).

Gibbon says of this era, "The power of the sword had begun its reign, and military rule was supreme. The tyranny of Commodus, the civil wars occasioned by his death, and the new policy introduced by Severus, had all contributed to increase the dangerous power of the army, and to obliterate the faint image of laws and liberty that was still impressed upon the minds of the Romans. This internal change undermined the foundations of the empire" (ch. 6).

The "giving of the sword" was fulfilled when Commodus exalted Perennis (who aspired to the Empire) to practically despotic authority as Captain of the Praetorian Guards (ch.4, Gibbon). In theory the Praetorian commander represented the Emperor; the action of Commodus transferred in practice supremacy to the army which it wasn't slow to use. Septimus Severus (193-211) aggravated this military despotism, thereby leading to further revolutions and bloodshed.

"And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine" (Rev. 6:5-6).

Astronomically, this is once again Sagittarius holding a gold sun-plate and lunar moon-plate suspended by strings of a bow -- making scales. A"MEASURE" equalled approximately ONE QUART. A PENNY was equal to the DAILY WAGE of a laborer during Roman times (Matt. 20:1-16 -- "He agreed with the laborers for a PENNY a DAY"). When bread is eaten by weight, it is a sign of SCARCITY. As Jesus said, "there shall be FAMINES" (Matt. 24:7). The balances were used as a common symbol in Rome for justice and commerce and hence were often a badge of the emperor or provincial governors as seen on Roman coins. The rider is a tax-gatherer. What caused this economic depression and famine? Gibbon says of this period, "The industry of the people was discouraged by a long series of oppressions." and the financial oppression was "a noxious weed of luxurious growth, DARKENING the Roman world with its deadly SHADE." The HEAVY TAXATION was the result of reckless extravagance in the reigns of Caracalla and Elagabalus -- dissolute emperors -- who for ten years exhausted the resources of the Empire in supporting the army. TAXES to support the armies, the court and the capital city, could be paid either in money or the equivalent value of produce such as wheat, wine and oil. Roman TAXATION by this official tax gatherer caused black DEPRESSION. One of the chief causes of decay was EXCESSIVE TAXATION from 200 to 250 A.D. Not just local, provincial taxes. In 212 A.D., the Emperor Caracalla issued his famous decree extending the privilege of Roman citizenship to all free men within the Empire. Such a "favor" was actually a curse since it carried with it MORE TAXES. This TAXATION to maintain the armies, coupled with the EXTRAVAGANT administration of the Empire, proved to be so burdensome that AGRICULTURE was RUINED, and fertile provinces were LEFT UNCULTIVATED in desolation, ECONOMIC DEPRESSION and gloom. TAXATION was brought to such a pitch that vast tracts of country went OUT of CULTIVATION -- the tiller of the soil feeling NO ENCOURAGEMENT to RAISE CROPS merely to hand over to the revenue officer. An idea of the extent of the taxation, which crushed alike every part of the empire, may be gathered from the fact that when a new government took over, taxes were instantly reduced to one thirtieth part of what they were during the reigns of Caracalla and Elagabalus. Alexander Severus came to the throne after the assassination of Elagabalus, and he wasn't unjust with regard to the wine and oil. In other words, although wheat should be at FAMINE prices owing to the FISCAL EXTORTIONS of the first part of the seal, prices were lowered instead. The prices given for wheat and barley enable us to date the prophecy since they are the exact market prices during the reign of Alexander Severus.

The Greek verb "adikeo," translated "hurt" in verse 6, means "to be unjust." The command should be translated "and see thou BE NOT UNJUST with regard to the oil and the wine,"-- that is, when collecting taxes, take only the FAIR EQUIVALENT in PRODUCE. It was wine and oil that had been HEAVILY TAXED. Severus lowered the taxes, reduced the price of provisions, and the interest on money. But all his efforts to change the color of the horse were inadequate. The previous evils were too deeply planted to be removed in a short time, and the army became discontented with the economy of Severus.

"And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth" (Rev. 6:7-8).

Astronomically this is the crescent moon (Grim Reaper's Scythe of Death) held by Sagittarius before sunrise, thus making a pale color. Historically, the "FOURTH part" is a play on words. First, it is the FOURTH empire in succession from Babylon -- namely the whole Roman Empire. Second, ONE QUARTER of the citizens from all parts of the Roman Empire fell victim to war, famine, disease and wild beasts. Third, Diocletian divided the empire into FOUR PARTS, called prefectures, over each of which a prince, or prefect, exercised authority in subjection to the emperors. The four parts at this time were: 1. the East (including Egypt, Syria, Asia Minor etc.); 2. Illyricum; 3. Gaul (France, Spain, Britain, etcetera) and 4. Italy The principal or leading fourth was the prefecture of Italy -- headquarters of the Roman Empire. The events of the fourth seal especially affected this FOURTH section of the empire. From 250 to 300 A.D., disastrous WARS raged both within the Empire and against enemies on the borders. DISEASE followed the bloodshed. Also the ruin of agriculture through excessive taxation brought inevitable FAMINES; and, as civilization waned, the wild BEASTS which multiplied ravaged the inhabitants. During this time there were 39 emperors and not one died a natural death. Virtually all were assassinated. Maximin had Severus assassinated. Once he became emperor, he had 4000 nobles put to death. Commanders, governors and nobles were executed at the slightest accusation. He confiscated taxes for his own use and the use of his army. He stripped temples of gold and silver. This all led to public revolt and civil WAR. Finally Maximin was killed by his troops. The early church historian Eusebius, writing of this period, says, "Death waged a desolating war with two weapons, FAMINE and PESTILENCE ... Men, wasted away to mere skeletons, stumbled hither and thither like mere shadows, trembling and tottering. They fell down in the midst of the streets ... then, drawing their last gasp cried out, HUNGER! ... Some indeed were already the food of the dogs." Gibbon says, "From A.D. 248 to the death of Gallienus there elapsed twenty years of shame and misfortune ... FAMINE was followed by epidemical DISEASES, the effect of scanty and unwholesome food. Other causes must, however, have contributed to the furious PLAGUE which, from the year A.D. 250 to the year 265, raged without interruption in every Province, every city, and almost every family in the Roman Empire. During some times, five thousand persons died daily in Rome ... So great was the mortality that we might expect that war, PESTILENCE and FAMINE had consumed in a few years the half of the human species." Arnobius described the state of the Roman Empire in 296 A.D. by saying,"Men complain: There are now sent us from the gods PESTILENCE, DROUGHTS, WARS, SCARCITIES, LOCUSTS, wars with wild BEASTS, battles with LIONS, and destruction from venomous CREATURES." These are the "PESTILENCES" (Matt. 24:7).

Before going further, it is worth noting that national decline in the United States has proceded along these same lines: From 1776 to 1867 the U.S. expanded and conquered territory successfully as a WHITE horse. From 1861 to 1865 came the RED horse of civil war with lingering after-effects. From 1929 to 1939 came the BLACK horse of Great Depression. Then from 1941 to 1945 (W.W. 2) and from 1950 to 1953 (Korea) and from 1964 to 1973 (Viet Nam), etcetera, the PALE horse of death and hell have been the fruit of war. What is next for the United States? It has already begun. In 1962 the U.S. Supreme Court banned voluntary, public prayer (Engel v. Vitale) and in 1963 voluntary, public Bible-reading in public school (Abington v. Schempp).

Since 1963, SAT scores and productivity plummetted while fornication, crime, suicide and divorce sky-rocketed. Then came "Waco Texas" adding up to 666 if A=6, B=12, C=18, etc. After 9-11-2001 the Patriot Act was passed and Americans lost their Bill of Rights.

"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled" (Rev. 6:9-11).

All the constellations (representing souls) are under Ara (the Altar). The horse with a single rider has disappeared because "military emperors" (27 B.C. to 284 A.D.) have now passed away and Israel is moving west. Hitherto the empire had been governed as one unit. But in 292 A.D. Diocletian divided the empire into four parts, each under its own ruler. Maximian, Galerius and Constantine therefore helped him govern.

These "souls" are Christians martyred by pagan Rome. "They shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall KILL you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake" (Matt. 24:9). The Brazen Altar in the Court of the Temple was the place where priests burnt the carcasses of the sacrificial animals and around which the blood of the animals was sprinkled. These SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS typified CHRIST'S SACRIFICE and therefore the martyrs in this vision must also be CHRISTIANS who SUFFERED at the hands of the same Roman Empire. Leviticus 4:7 says, "Thou shalt pour all the blood ... at the BOTTOM of the altar." The blood of the victims was poured out UNDER the altar. They were "UNDER" the Altar indicating they were UNDER the New Covenant and would have Eternal Life. Their sacrifices were well pleasing to God (2 Tim. 4:6). Under the Mosque of Omar, where the Temple once stood, is an underground cave. In the roof of this cave there was a hole which connected with the floor above where the brazen altar stood. Through that hole the blood of victims poured down into the cave.

The Romans looked upon Christians as enemies since Christians refused to worship the emperor or offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. Also the Bible that Christians followed condemned their heathen sacrifices. Hence when the Romans offered Christians the alternative of engaging in such heathen ceremonies or of being put to death, multitudes chose public martyrdom and so died literally "for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held" that Jesus was the Christ. "Present your bodies a LIVING SACRIFICE" (Rom. 12:1). Persecution of Christians took place under Emperor Diocletian from 303 to 313 A.D. and this was the longest, fiercest and most universal. It was Smyrna's "tribulation for ten days" (years) (Rev. 2:8-10). DIOCLETIAN published his edict at Nicomedia on February 24, 303 and it lasted until his death and Licinius's "Edict of Toleration" on January 13, 313. Churches were demolished, the Scriptures burnt, Christians put outside the protection of the law, prevented from holding any office, and imprisoned, tortured, and cruelly slain. The era of Diocletian was the "Age of the Martyrs."

When Cain slew righteous Abel, Abel's blood cried out to God for justice (Gen. 4:10). When PAGAN Rome slew Christians, the Christians' blood also cried out (Rev. 6:10). "WHITE ROBES" symbolize "RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Rev. 19:8). The first group of martyrs were told to "rest yet for a little season" meaning sleep in death "until their brethren should be killed as they were." Their brethren were the second group of martyrs to be killed at the hands of PAPAL Rome. The "day of vengeance" (Jer. 46:10) is coming and God says, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Rom. 12:19).

"And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Rev. 6:12-17).

John doesn't see the second coming here. Instead he sees terror-stricken people who think it is the "day of his wrath." But that event doesn't come till the eleventh chapter. Other similar descriptions of the Day of the Lord occurred at the downfall of Babylon in 539 B.C. (Isa. 13:9-10), destruction of Judah in 604 B.C. (Zeph. 1:14-16; Jer. 4:23-25), the fall of Israel in 721 B.C. (Hos. 10:8) and of Egypt (Ez. 32:7-8). The EARTHQUAKE is political upheaval. It signifies "the REMOVING of those THINGS that are SHAKEN ... that those THINGS which cannot be shaken may REMAIN.... a KINGDOM which cannot be moved" (Heb. 12:27-28). The "Lord shall punish ... the HIGH ONES ...the KINGS ... Then the MOON shall be confounded, and the SUN ashamed" (Isa. 24:21-23). The Lord's "fury" is "upon all their ARMIES ... all the HOST of HEAVEN shall be dissolved ... fall down" (Isa. 34:2-4). DIOCLETIAN the "SUN" was eclipsed. The "MOON" was the pagan CLERGY who obtained their glory from Diocletian's favor. "STARS" were GENERALS. As Jesus said, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the SUN be darkened, and the MOON shall not give its light, and the STARS shall fall from heaven" (Matt. 24:29). Eusebius describes the ruling Roman GOVERNMENT as "celestial powers, the SUN, the MOON and the STARS" (Eccl. Hist. 10:4). A mighty WIND is an ARMY (Jer. 4:11-13; 49:36; 51:1-2; Dan.7:2-3). A MOUNTAIN is a KINGDOM (Isa. 2:2; Jer. 51:25; Dan. 2:35; Micah 4:1). Since the SUN, MOON and STARS were worshipped alongside other heathen gods in the pantheon of Rome, this verse has a double meaning: "Upon their gods also, the Lord executed judgments" (Nu. 33:4) in Pharaoh's Egypt.Diocletian sent Constantius to govern Britain. He married a British lady named Lady Helena, a native of York. Their son was called Constantine, and his mother, Helena, appears to have early taught him the Christian faith. Constantius died at York in 306 A.D. Constantine his son traveled to Rome to deliver Christianity from Diocletian. Eusebius records that on the eve of battle, he saw at mid-day the two initial letters of Christ in Greek, X (Chi) and P (Rho) in the sky and above them was written in Latin: "In Hoc Signo Vinces" or "By This Sign Conquer." A dream followed in which he was directed to put the cross on his banners if he wished for victory. He did so. This was a small fulfillment of "Then shall appear the SIGN of the Son of Man in HEAVEN" (Matt. 24:29). He put this symbol on his banner or Labarum. In the Battle of "Milvian Bridge" he defeated the army of Maxentius (successor of Maximian) in October 27, 312 A.D. about nine miles from Rome. Maxentius was drowned in the River Tiber while fleeing. Constantine defeated the rival pagan emperors in 313 A.D. and became Emperor himself (324-337 A.D.). Constantine abandoned the dragon standards of the Roman armies and adopted instead "the Sign of the Cross" which seemed to assure him of victory after victory over fear-stricken pagan armies (cp. Isa. 44:28). Constantine issued the Milan Edict in 313 A.D. giving complete tolerance to all religions, including Christians. Later in his rule, he suppressed heathen sacrifices, destroyed pagan temples, and tolerated no other public form of worship than Christianity. This is why heathenism came to be called "pagan" because it could only be practices in the "pagi" or villages (Pagus meaning rural) from where we get the word "peasant." He also elevated Christians to high offices in the State, and displaced pagans. Heathen priests lost their great power over the people. The Roman population thought the Day of Wrath had come but it was just a type and forerunner. "A stone (Constantine's British & Gallic -- Israelite -- troops) ... smote the image upon its feet" (Dan. 2:34). It was more superficial than substantial. Neverthless, Diocletian was so panic-stricken that he died insane in 313 A.D. Maximinian committed suicide. Galerius was smitten in 310 A.D. with an incurable disease. In 311 A.D., softened by suffering, he allowed Christians to rebuild their places of worship. Then he died. After this Maximin was struck with a sudden plague all over his body. He died in 313 A.D. Licinius lost his life in battle against Constantine. Newton quoting Eusebius says, "Galerius, Maximin and Licinius made even a public confession of their guilt, recalled their decrees and edicts against the Christians and acknowledged the just judgments of God and of Christ in their destruction" (p.461, Newton's Dissertations on the Prophecies). These "kings of the earth" experienced "the wrath of the Lamb." Later, Julian the Apostate in 363 A.D. gave orders for the rebuilding of Jerusalem's Temple to disprove the origins of Christianity by strengthening their enemies the Jews. But "horrible balls of fire breaking out near the foundations, with repeated attacks, rendered the place inaccessible to the scorched workmen" (Amm. Marc.). He reigned one year and eight months. While dying from a Persian lance on the battlefield, he cried, "O Galilean, Thou hast conquered." Pagans hid their idols and heathen rites in the dens and caves. As Gibbon says, "The ruin of the pagan religion is described by the Sophists as a dreadful and amazing prodigy, which covered the earth with DARKNESS, and restored the ancient dominion of chaos and of NIGHT" (ch. 28).