Augustus Caesar has his name stamped upon this month of August. Likewise our month of July gets its name from Julius Caesar. It was Augustus who was in power when Christ Jesus came the first time.
In Luke 2:11And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (Luke 2:1) we read. "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus. that all the world should be taxed [enrolled)." We would call it a census. Imperial Rome was at the peak of its power at that time. Rome was the fourth of the Gentile powers to which God gave the government of the earth after He removed the center of power from Israel because of idolatry. The other three Gentile powers were Babylon. Medo-Persia and Greece.
Daniel gives us a very interesting and revealing description of this fourth Gentile power in Chap. 2, vv. 40-43. "And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided: but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were.... mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.”
These verses give a comprehensive view of Rome from beginning to end. We are now living near the end when the old broken-up form of Rome that has gone on for many centuries is about to be revived. The double character represented by the two legs has been the Teutonic and the Latin nations of northern and southern Europe and the same two forms are found in North and South America.
But now we are surely beginning to see what we believe the ten toes represent. Iron and clay do not cleave well to one another. So it is with democratic powers, yet it says they are partly strong and partly broken. This is very well demonstrated in our day. Also it says that they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men. This too, is a great practice in the western nations. The removal of race barriers is urged and so the effort is to mingle together.
The revival and the destruction of Rome and the ten kings that receive power with her for a short time are foretold in Rev. 17.
Rome will again be in power when Christ comes the second time. Christ will then be the judge instead of the judged as He was before Pilate. The ten kings with the beast (the last imperial head of the Roman power) will make war with the Lamb. The Lamb shall overcome them, for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings. (Rev. 17:1414These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (Revelation 17:14).)
As believers, we are sure that our Lord and Savior will come and take us to be with Himself before much more of these coming events take place. We shall be caught up to be with Him and then come back with Him to reign over the earth in His kingdom of power and glory. This will last for 1000 years.
Peter, who had a preview of this coming kingdom said, "We... were eyewitnesses of His majesty." We rejoice in anticipation of that time of our Lord and Savior's exaltation here on this earth where He was so shamefully treated at His first coming. Ed.