Many over the years have compared America to Rome. Some think that there is little if any comparison while others see the life cycle of all great empires being played out as America runs out of gas. Today, I am going to provide a brief introduction comparison of Ancient Rome and modern America as two empires running the paces, from start to finish, as all great empires do. Let’s get started.
I want to open with side by side quotes of the words of the famous Roman poet “VERGIL” and the first woman to hold the position of U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright. Let’s start with Vergil.
Vergil is the most famous poet in Roman history. “VIRGIL” (Full name Publius Vergilius Maro was Born October 15, 70 BC, near Mantua (ITALY) and died September 21, 19 B.C. He was best known for his national EPIC, the “AENEID” which went unfinished until his death. He is still regarded today as he was by ancient Romans to be Rome’s and Italy’s greatest poet. He is called Virgil or Vergil, the Aeneid.
Let's compare Vergil’s words regarding Rome’s view of self to that America through the American diplomat and political scientist Madeleine Albright who served as the 64th United States secretary of state from 1997 to 2001. Albright was a member of the Democratic Party, and she was the first woman in U.S. history to hold the position of U.S. Secretary of State.
Listen carefully to what each are saying, and how they are eerily similar.
VERGIL: “Remember, Roman, that it is yours to lead other people. It is your special gift” - Virgil, The Aeneid
MS. ALBRIGHT: “We are the indespensable nation. We stand tall. We see further into the future.” - Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
It seems clear that while Vergil and Albright used different words to describe the Italian and American empires, they said much the same thing in that that each saw themselves as the invincible leaders of the world. I am reminded of Proverbs 16:18 which says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall”.
In what is most likely king David’s last formal utterance, in 2 Samuel, he wrote this:
“WHEN ONE RULES JUSTLY OVER MEN, RULING IN THE FEAR OF GOD HE DAWNS ON THEM LIKE THE MORNING LIGHT, LIKE THE SUN SHINING FORTH ON A CLOUDLESS MORNING, LIKE RAIN THAT TMAKES GRASS TO SPROUT FROM THE EARTH” (2 Samuel 23:3b-4 ESV).
David opens with addressing, “HE WHO RULES OVER MEN”. David in his last breath found it important to voice God’s expectations for rulers in comparison to the expectations of the rulers themselves. David made clear that if these rulers would follow God’s was as outlined in the Judaea-Christian Scriptures that it would bring blessing upon them and the citizens like the light dawn after the rain, like a clear morning, like tender grass. Each of these similes speaks of of “NEW LIFE, PURITY, and REFRESHMENT”.
David also made clear that the function of the king was not to impoverish the nation. Instead, the king was to enable the people as he presented to them the refreshing will of God. I am baffled as to why Americans politicians and political leaders around the world are bent on impoverishing their citizens, which otherwise would provide tax revenues to much greater levels than they would by subduing them-killing their spirit to succeed and ability to produce greater taxes for the king, or government heads themselves. The answer is simple in that when rulers become too comfortable with their power, they lust after that power, abusing the every citizen with the end goal of controlling them on all sides. This is the same story of communism that has been played out over 200 times in world history-and which has failed over 200 times in world history.
Today, we find very little fear of God in American and European - Christian culture. Proverb’s 22 makes clear this: “DO NOT ROB THE POOR, BECAUSE HE IS POOR, OR CRUSH THE AFFLICTED AT THE GATE, FOR THE LORD WILL PLEAD THEIR CAUSE AND ROB OF LIFE THOSE WHO ROB THEM” (Proverbs 22:22-23 ESV).
Let’s remember that the “FALL OF ROME” was not violent at all, but a smooth transition of power from the elites to the barbarians. There was no social implosion after the seize of power and no raping or pillage going on. Rome didn’t “FALL” the way the Carthage had side centuries earlier, when he Romans slaughtered the inhabitants and razed the city, or the way Berlin would with the fall of the iron wall would, fifteen centuries later, blasted into rubble. Let’s pray and hope that America follows the model of the Fall of Rome and not the uncivil chaos of violent national rebellion.
IN CONCLUSION: Many over the years have compared America to Rome. Some think that there is little if any comparison while others see the life cycle of all great empires being played out as America runs out of gas. We can now conclude that America and Ancient Rome-Italy are much the same as two empires running the paces, as all earthly empire do-from start to finish. The only perfect Kingdom to ever exist has not yet been created. That will happen when God creates the New Heaven and Earth-the New Jerusalem (See Book of Revelation). In the mean while, we are stuck with imperfect, sinful men and women trying and succeeding temporarily with creating new and great empires-until sinful, lustful, and evil desires permeates and takes over the souls of the leaders and many of it’s citizens to the point of the demise of their temporal empire.
In closing, it all boils down to God’s perfect ways over man’s temporal, sinful ways. And the best way to the best empires are with the timeless, living Word of God. “WHEN ONE RULES JUSTLY OVER MEN, RULING IN THE FEAR OF GOD HE DAWNS ON THEM LIKE THE MORNING LIGHT, LIKE THE SUN SHINING FORTH ON A CLOUDLESS MORNING, LIKE RAIN THAT TMAKES GRASS TO SPROUT FROM THE EARTH” (2 Samuel 23:3b-4 ESV).
