1 Corinthians 10:20 “The sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.”
Rome, like empires before and after, were caught up in what is known as the five deadly sins. What were the five deadly sins of history?
1 – Rejection of God’s laws. 2 – Tyranny/ worship of leaders. 3 – Enslave or execute enemies. 4 – Human sacrifice. 5 – Persecution of the believers.
We can see the same five deadly sins operating in some countries in the world today where the kingdom of God is spreading. One thing that comes out is that there is a major problem in the heart of man. God’s laws are written on the hearts of all men. “Since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.” Romans 2:15
When we reject the laws of God we will have problems in our families to the third and fourth generation. We can trace this through history. We do not break God’s laws, but God’s laws should break us unto obedience. Persecution of believers takes place in all pagan empires.
It was this type of environment that the 12 apostles, along with the other disciples, went out into the Roman world preaching the gospel of the kingdom. The book of Acts shares some of the problems that they faced as well as victories won and sacrifices they made.
Paul, one of the guiding lights in the days of the early church, is converted in a dramatic way on the road to Damascus. During those days of Paul’s blindness and as he fasted, his theology was shaped. He begins to move out in the power of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He is chosen to go to the Gentiles.
From Antioch Paul begins his missionary journeys into the Roman world and the kingdom of God begins to spread. Although Rome committed the five deadly sins mentioned above, there was still a certain amount of peace and common language, and the Roman roads that allowed the gospel to spread.
We read in Acts 16 that Paul and his companions traveled throughout the province of Asia. However, when they came to the border of Mysia they tried to enter Bithynia (which is located in the northern – Eurasian part – of modern-day Turkey), but the Spirit of God would not allow them. So we read that they came down to a place called Troas located on the Aegean Sea.
It was during the night that Paul had a dream of a man standing in Macedonia calling and begging him to “come over to Macedonia and help us.” We read that the next morning they concluded that God had called them to preach the gospel to them in Macedonia.
We see that this decision to go to Macedonia in fact caused the gospel of the kingdom beginning a westward movement. The gospel was coming into Europe. It is quite remarkable to think that within 70 years the apostle Paul, with his companions and other disciples – that God used, spread the Kingdom of God throughout the Roman Empire.
In 68 AD Nero committed suicide and Rome was left without a leader. Civil War ensued and the generals fought for control of the empire. About 50,000 people died. Eventually Vespasian becomes the Emperor, but he lacked authority and so he knew that he needed a foreign victory to secure his throne.
He turned his attention upon Jerusalem and the destruction of Jerusalem came about. Not only was the Temple destroyed but over 1 million people died. However, Rome was coming to the end of the empire, but the kingdom of God that started in a small obscure village in Palestine was beginning to spread throughout the world.
Today, in the 21st century the Roman Empire is long gone, but the kingdom of God is moving on.