Download Revelation Seminarr Section 11

History of Roman
Empire to AD 800.
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As Greece declined - in line with Daniel’s
predictions from the image, Rome emerged.
1000 BC Rome - village on seven hills.
By 700 BC Italy inhabited by various people of
different cultures and languages.
By 670 BC Transformation into real city - own
temple, trade, culture - influenced by higher
civilizations surrounding it.
Systems of Roman Rule.
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Founding to 264 BC - five systems of Government Regal, Consular, Dictatorial, Decemviral, Tribunitial
followed by sixth - Imperial - Julius Caesar first
Emperor.
Seventh system - Gothic followed in AD 476 with
reversion to Imperial in AD 533.
Seven distinct systems of government of Rome
symbolised by seven heads of the Roman beast
referred to in Revelation (eg. 13:1)
Glory and Decline.
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By 100 - 200 AD Imperial Rome reached zenith of
glory - in riches, fame and splendour far outshone
other contemporary cities and those before it.
Roman law and language overspread the world,
head of Empire and of civilisation.
After 250 AD Western Empire broke into four
separate kingdoms - Diocletian (AD 284-303)
skillfully dividing power among joint-emperors.
Ascent of Constantine.
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311 AD Constantine, became Emperor in West of
one of the four divisions.
312 AD Battle of Milvian Bridge resulted in ruler of
one division defeated - increase of power and
eminence of Constantine.
Remained threefold division of Empire - highly
significant link to Revelation – refers to “third”
(Rev 12:4)
Great “Earthquake.”
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Christianity under persecution became more powerful
and spread widely.
Emperor Constantine utilized such commitment by
supporting hitherto oppressed Christians.
Church evolved her administration - one Visible
Catholic Church, uniform in faith and ritual.
Great political/social forces unleashed - pictured in
Revelation as an earthquake. (Rev 6 :12 etc).
Constantine Sole Emperor.
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324 AD Constantine overcame remaining rulers of the
empire - became first sole ‘Christian’ Emperor over
reunited empire.
Not only emperor - also head of invigorated church
with loyal adherents - same system of sacraments
united all Christians in Empire.
Constantine presided in General Councils, issued
edicts against heresy - Nicea in AD 325, doctrine of
Trinity expounded - other beliefs condemned.
To be a Roman was to be a Christian - to be a
Christian - a Roman.
A New Capital.
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AD 326-8 Constantine removed imperial
residence / government to Byzantium renamed it Constantinople or New
Rome.
Accelerated eventual separation of East
and West Roman Empire.
Subjects throughout Empire still regarded
themselves as Roman.
Decline from AD 395.
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Movement of the Capital opened Rome potentially to
attack from barbarians - tribes began weakening raids.
Some barbarian tribes attracted by Rome - were
welcomed - lived in prosperity within it.
Christians still believing in ‘Rome the eternal city’ “were filled with the belief drawn from Jewish prophecy
that the great Fourth Kingdom was to last till the end of
the world...” (Bryce J V 1904 p23).
All citizens unable to believe eternal city could fall.
Barbarian Invading Europe
VISIGOTHS
451 AD
Decline In The West.
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Barbarian invaders progressively weakened the
West - Alaric and the Goths, Genseric the Vandals,
Attila and the Huns.
Fall Of The West.
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AD 476 Western Empire finally fell to Odoacer
– who deposed last Emperor - Romulus
Augustulus.
Led to growth in papal power from Rome.
Emperor in Constantinople - headed the still undivided Roman Catholic Church.
The Gothic King.
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After fourteen years, Odoacer was overthrown by
Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths - Gothic Rule
imposed (AD 493-526).
Emperor in Constantinople endorsed Gothic
success.
By AD 520 Roman Empire of West -disappeared.