Lessons from Rome

Edward Gibbon's six-volume The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is one of the premier books and a classic in the realm of history.  His first volume was published in 1776, with the remaining volumes following over the next 12 years.  In all, Gibbon spent 26 years working on Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Gibbon's careful scholarship and exhaustive research have survived the test of time. His facts and observations have truly stood the test of time.

Here is the summary of the reasons that Gibbon gives for the demise of Rome.  See if they sound familiar.

Five basic reasons why that great civilization withered and died:

 1. The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis for human society.

• Rapid rise of divorce
• Homosexuality considered more mainstream

 2. Higher and higher taxes –the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the populace.

3. The mad craze for pleasure, with sports and plays (arts) becoming more exciting, more brutal and more immoral each year.

4. The building of great armaments when the real enemy was within –the decay of individual responsibility;

5. The decay of religion, faith fading into mere form—faith losing touch with daily life and whose leaders lost touch with life and their power to guide.

It can be said of our nation that we are seeing all 5 of these happening.  I share this for you and I to be informed people, who know the signs of the times and recognize things for the reality of what they truly are.  Pray for your city, state, and nation that a true move of God would come upon the people of God.  That is where the real change needs to begin.