With Rome having just come through a polarizing civil war, Emperor Vespasian (AD 69–79) set out to distract the populace with ultimate fighting spectacles. He began building the Coliseum at Rome for gladiator “games” in AD 70. His son (Emperor Titus) completed the project in AD 80. Step inside the Coliseum even today and it…
Tag: Roman Empire
Stop wishing for Armageddon
From the top of “Armageddon” (HAR MEGIDDO or “Mount Megiddo”) I took this picture of Jezreel Valley in northern Israel, where many so-called Bible prophecy advocates believe the final armed conflict of history will take place. Today Megiddo is a large archeological mound made by ruins of at least twenty-six cities destroyed over thousands of…
Christian Response to a Demented Ruler
When rulers turn cruel or criminal, Christians need to go beyond Romans 13 and read Revelation 13 for guidance.
Any seagulls lately in Washington, D.C.?
I took this picture of ancient Rome when Ellen and I visited the city in 2025. Today seagulls haunt what once was the epicenter of a sprawling empire. Rapacious emperors claimed to have made it great again. “I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marbles,” boasted Caesar Augustus (Suetonius…
Autocrats love their gold
Ever notice how authoritarian rulers try to salve their ego, distract attention from their corruption, and dazzle others with bling? And there’s gold, always gold! A great fire destroyed more than half of the city of Rome in the summer of AD 64. Suspected of having torched the city to make room for a new…
Come join me on a gospel journey . . .
Join a Christian pilgrimage to biblical sites in Greece and Türkiye. Learn about the Roman Empire and how early Christians witnessed.
To hell with the pigs!
Jesus asked the man possessed, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. They begged Jesus not to order them to go back into the abyss. Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. Luke 8:30–32…
Another King named Jesus
“We have a high priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” Hebrews 8:1 What are the limits of patriotism for followers of Jesus? Caesar Augustus (whose given name was Octavian) ruled the Roman Empire from 27 BC to AD 14. He was such an extraordinary…
Holy Lands Peace Pilgrim 