From the start, the democracy of United States was conceived to be an image based on the great Republic of Rome. Inspired by Rome’s longstanding five-hundred years of power, the legend of the Republic of Rome demonstrated the vast capabilities of separation of powers, checks and balances, and veto-power. Across the United States, early American delegates journeyed to Philadelphia in 1787. Their goal was to establish an effective federal government. Though, despite all of Rome’s grandeur, the Founding Fathers still had Rome’s downfall weighing heavy on their minds too. Once a thriving Republic, Rome’s crumbled as an Autocracy by the first century B.C. At the 1787 Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked if the United States would be a republic or a monarchy. He cautioned, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”
Despite our Founding Father’s grave fears, the United States has proven itself a survivor of civil war and regional variety. However, 200 years later, the United States is suffering from a political stagnation that may have been Benjamin Franklin’s worst nightmare. For the past three years, people have looked to differing examples of failed democracies like Germany’s Weimer Republic to understand the situation afflicting America. Yet, Rome is a much more relevant example. After all, America’s democracy is a daughter of Rome’s Republic. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Like early Rome, the United States is now a matured country that doesn’t know anything except the established status-quo.
The United States and Rome both differ from failed, short-lived democracies, because their masses have learned to value freedom, political norms, and constitutional checks. So, they’d naturally rebel against an outright totalitarian dictator. Typically, Romans anticipated elections, respected voter’s choice, and believed elected officials should fairly represent all their constituents. Most of all, they operated under the assumption that representatives would peacefully compromise to resolve difficult political problems. These cultural standards allowed Rome to remain stable, despite even becoming the world’s largest state. However, obviously, that didn’t last forever.
Old republics won’t die outright with a bang. Instead, they slowly self-destruct starting with the deterioration of their cultural and institutional defenses. The literal foundation of their government. For Rome, that erosion began nearly unnoticeable in the middle of the second century B.C. Similar to the United States, Rome was confronted with a rising wealth gap. As Rome vastly expanded, they plucked the riches of the newly conquered territories. However, increasingly, the affluence went straight into the pockets of abundant folks; meanwhile, the middle-class didn’t see a zing of profit. As time passed, Roman politicians attempted to reconcile the outrage that the economic inequality caused by proposing voting reforms and suggesting programs to distribute public resources among underprivileged Romans. Despite the virtue to prosper the lives of the lower-class, most of these proposals were blocked. Thereby, it was inevitable that was a major revolt would occur. Led by Tiberius Gracchus, he successfully annexed Italian land for the peasantry. However, he was soon assassinated by his enemies in the Senate. Of whom, he used their hoarded money to fund the venture. It was the first act of Roman political violence in 300 years.
Needless to say, the slaughter of Tiberius gave the country a taste for bloodlust on the political landscape. Afterward, power-hungry Romans implemented distasteful tactics like murder, violence, and bribing to a point where they became the norm. Despite two civil wars tied to the collapsing democracy, Romans still thought their neglected government to be intact. Some Romans were under the belief that the Republic had the potential be restored after Julius Caesar dictatorship in 44 B.C. To the contrary, Caesar’s subsequent assassination proved the opposite. Rome experienced several more atrocious civil wars that lifted the veil of delusion from Roman citizens’ eyes. They allowed their Republic to fall. The Roman Republic transitioned into the Roman Empire under the rule of a dictator.
Under the Roman Empire, the size of the state sharply increased. Over centuries, Rome conquered territory across the Mediterranean Sea, rapidly expanding into Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. However, the larger Rome grew, the more unstable, corrupt their rulers became. In biblical history, they placed puppet kings like the Herod family to manage the various provinces of Palestine; and they placed military leaders like Pilate, Felix, and Festus into power to keep the people in check. These first figures were reasonable, acting in the best interest of ensuring Rome’s power by appeasing the religious Jewish populations. Although, over time, these leaders become increasingly selfish and barbaric in nature. It steadily climbed to the likes of Nero and Commodus. Of the two, Nero executed Apostle Paul and Apostle Peter. Not to mention, he was said to have lit Christians on fire to light his garden during the night. Meanwhile, Commodus was volatile, putting his sister to death; and he established an irrational personality-cult centered on himself. Statues and all, he insanely claimed to be a god.
Historical Rome teaches a grave lesson to modern Americans. The robust, cultural defenses which protect established republics will slowly erode if they are not regularly reinforced. Already, #45 is unleashing anarchy through his haphazard and chaotic rhetoric. He has punched numerous holes in the United States’ traditional, political defenses by condoning racism, hate-speech, and rigidness. Not to mention, he is standardizing a dangerous, hysterical political climate. Under his administration, the heavy pressure of his personality continues to strain America’s constitutional structure. It wasn’t made for someone who is unwilling to compromise.
Meanwhile, the rest of America’s politicians fail her by prioritizing their selfish agendas. Without a doubt, they have numbers on their mind instead of the fate of her own people: numbers at the polls, figures of donations, and statistics of winning. Even if a morally righteous man was elected into power, he cannot do his job without restraint from corrupted counterparts peppered across the political landscape. These days, all those bad apples have far more power than the few good ones in America’s democracy.
The only way the world can prosper is under the leadership of a king. Someone who is untouchable by people, temptation, and SIN! Needless to say, that flawless standard is impossible for any man of this Earth. Since, Jesus Christ of Nazareth is only who could put the holiest of righteousness at first priority. He does not fall for the selfish, immoral obstacles that have plagued leaders for centuries. Conversely, as the Son of God, He will grace the world under his kingship with keen guidance, loving care, and virtuous justice.
These days, everyone is yearning for a selfless leader to uprightly rule. However, they do not realize that God’s kingdom is right around the corner. It won’t be something that everyone will be expecting. So, it’s best to seek RESCUE. A camaraderie of Christian believers, RESCUE helps others understand political occurrences from an Endtime perspective and to prepare for God’s return to power. The changing of hands from egotistic Man to honorable Jesus will likely be not be a quiet transaction, so it’s best to be prepared. Republics cannot be kept forever.
Spiritual Warfare Library of PSM 