This 47-minute message shares evidence proving the Roman Empire never converted to Christianity, except in name only as a necessary action to take control of the growing Christian influence within their empire. Ultimately, it was for the advancement of their own pagan kingdom.
If you find this video helpful, please consider sharing it with your friends and family. This podcast is also available on iTunes and Soundcloud.com.
Sources:
- Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, by John Foxe, Kindle Edition.
- Second-century Christianity: A Collection of Fragments by Robert McQueen Grant.
- Decoding the Ancients, Episode 1, The Deception of Constantine, Selling Christianity, 2004, Simcha Jacobovici.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_antisemitism
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Great
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galerius
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Sylvester_I
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edict_of_Thessalonica
Author: James Bailey
James Bailey is a blogger, business owner, husband and father of two grown children. In 1982, he surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. In 2012, he founded Z3news.com to broadcast the message of salvation by reporting end time news before it happens.
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I am genuinely sorry to be asking this question under this post. I have nowhere else to turn and I’m hoping this community can help me. I have also tried to check if there is already a post on here about this but did not find one.
I recently discussed Joel 2 army showing some similarities with Revelations 9 army especially in the context of the coming day of the Lord. I stated that I do not believe that the Joel army is God’s people and that God only used them as a tool for judgment. Needless to say, I have caught some fire for this as I have been seen to be challenging the fathers of faith.
I am prepared to go back and apologise if I am in error but I will like to be enlightened by people here. If there are resources to further study, please send my way too.
Thank you very much.
In Joel 2:1-11, he saw a mighty army doing great exploits. Here are eight reasons why I believe it was an army of people: 1. Verse 2 calls them people. 2. Verse 5 calls them people. 3. When a great swarm of locusts came against Egypt (Exodus 10:4), we were given this promise, “There had never been so many locusts, nor would there ever be so many again” (Exodus 10:14). Yet, many years later, Joel saw this great army and described it, “There has never been anything like it” (Joel 2:2). If both refer to locusts then one statement must be false, but we know the scriptures are true, so Joel could not possibly be referring to locusts. Therefore, the army Joel saw consisted of people, just as he stated in verses 2 and 5. 4. The Hebrew word used to identify them as people in verses 2 and 5 is the same word used to identify their victims in verse 6, “Before them the people are in anguish; all faces turn pale” (Joel 2:6). The Hebrew word is “am,” which is almost always translated as people or peoples. The faces of locusts do not turn pale. This is clearly identifying people in anguish. If the victims in verse 6 are people, then the army in verses 2 and 5 are also people. 5. They have the appearance of horses, which most likely means they ride on horses (Joel 2:4). Locusts do not look anything like horses and are not able to ride horses, but people are. Their appearance as horses identifies them as the same army that comes from heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, following the Lord and riding on white horses (Revelation 19:14). 6. Even if they fall by the enemy’s weapons, they are not… Read more »
Thanks for your detailed answer James. I agree with a lot of what you said but i’m afraid i have more questions (sorry). There seems to be a dual meaning context going on here which i cannot figure out.
Are we to treat this army you described as outside the context of the other chapters of Joel? Chapter one talks of the arrival of locust, chapter 2 describes this locust army (literally or figuratively) then proceeds to talk of restoration if the people repent, chapter 3 then talks about judgement of the nations at the valley of Jehoshaphat and God’s eternal blessings for His people.
Chapter 2 seemed like God’s judgement on His own people because of their sins while chapter 3 describes God’s judgement on the nations for plundering His people. Two different judgements. In which of these two judgements do you consider that the army you described in your book, which I love by the way, takes part?
Also, correct me if i am wrong, as I read the vision described in the Remnant, i pictured an army of God’s people as forces of oneness, righteousness, purity, holiness and a demonstration of the power of God. These seem like some characteristics of the Joel 2 army, especially verses 4,5,7 and 8. I am, however, struggling to correlate that picture with the destructive and punitive nature of the army in Joel 2:3
The passage below confirms the saints play a big role in carrying out God’s judgment, just as the angels also do in Revelation 8-11.
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand,
7 To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute on them the written judgment— this honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 149:5-9 NKJV)
Thank you for your insight James.
James,
Excellent summary and connecting the sequence of events. Do you have or willing to share a bibliography to source material you used to put this together?
thanks
Yes, I try to keep up with my sources so I have that and will get something posted soon.
Here are some of the main sources I used for this podcast:
Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, by John Foxe, Kindle Edition.
Second-century Christianity: A Collection of Fragments by Robert McQueen Grant.
Decoding the Ancients, Episode 1, The Deception of Constantine, Selling Christianity, 2004, Simcha Jacobovici.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_antisemitism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Great
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galerius
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Sylvester_I
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edict_of_Thessalonica
thanks.
Is it your understanding that the transformation from legs of iron to feet of iron/clay occurred during the reign of Constantine?
No, I have a lot of evidence showing it happened around 1814-1815. I am looking forward to sharing my findings soon. Still trying to lay the groundwork for it.
Wonderful insightful podcast James… I had researched re Constantine with the help of a Pastor & his wife as they were concerned re certain doctrines man made traditions which crept into the so called churches ….over 100,s of years..& overflowing into the modern day Christian churches… so I was so glad you have mentioned all this re it was christian in name only..whilst still holding onto their Roman roots= pagan days ..,worship days…
There is so much to research on the roots & foundations of many modern celebrations in the church… especially December 25.th I found out in 2006 that the 25th was chosen because that particular date was connected to Mithraism … Mythras was the god of the soldiers of the Roman legions… carried over into Catholicism.. etc..& modern day Christianity… Jesus Christ: was most probably born possibly around the time of feast of tabernacles.. in the Fall…. in Behtlehem… as shepherds watched their flocks by night.. it would be very Brr! cold in the snow-winter in December.. as it has snowed in Jerusalem previously .
I Have seen the symbol before in the main picture : The circle the P & the X …trying to remember what this symbolised..cannot remember the name of it.!!
Thank you brother James! About last year The Lord lead me also to Constantine and also the same things here you share, The Lord lead me too, also! And yes, the word, ALWAYS truth! Not man.
Looking forward for the next podcast!
Very nicely done James. Some of that I was familiar with, other things were corrections to things that I had heard incorrectly over the years. Looking forward to the next message.
That’s awesome Mark. Thanks for sharing.