There is a common phrase that says:
“All roads lead to Rome.”
Today, that phrase is used to mean that there are different ways of achieving the same end result.
But in more ancient times, particularly in Europe, that phrase was quite literal. Many roads throughout Europe did lead to Rome which is now the capital of Italy.
Two millennia ago, Rome was the capital of the Roman empire. Sadly, the Roman empire had a major influence on European empire and culture, including Christianity.
The Catholic church can be traced back to Rome, hence the name the “Roman Catholic church”. It’s easy to see the connection there.
But did Christianity begin in Rome?
No, it didn’t.
Christianity began in Jerusalem, not Rome.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was crucified, died, buried, and rose from the grave in Jerusalem, not Rome.
Christianity began on the day of Pentecost, the Biblical holiday of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. Christianity began, literally, on the southern steps of an upper room on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, not Rome.
Back in 2015, I had the privilege of seeing many ancient mikvahs (like a small baptism tank) where the first Christians were baptized!
Christianity’s roots are in Jerusalem, not Rome.
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| Old city walls of Jerusalem with lights shining on it. |
This month, the Jewish people remembered the destruction of the first and second temple in Jerusalem. Both temples were destroyed on the exact same date, the 9th day of the month of Av. The Hebrew month of Av usually coincides with our month of August.
The first temple was built by King Solomon. The second temple was finished by King Herod. The second temple is what stood during the time that Christ was on earth.
The Babylonians destroyed the first temple in Jerusalem around 586 BC. The Romans destroyed the second Temple in 70 AD.
Observant Jews remember this every summer. They do not mourn the loss of a building; they mourn the loss of the presence of God.
Both temples were destroyed because of Israel’s national sin and disobedience to God, a clear picture that God will not dwell where sin abounds.
God’s presence left those temples before they were overtaken by Israel’s enemies and burnt down.
It is a sobering thought what national sin can do.
Christians know that God’s Spirit now lives inside of those who have repented of their sin and given their life to God. God’s presence dwells in His people.
But, there is coming a day when the Lord Jesus will come back to earth again, this time, to rule and reign. Once again, His presence will dwell, quite literally, among His people again when He rules and reigns from Jerusalem, not Rome.
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| The Temple Mount, Jerusalem, Israel. |
Today, Jerusalem and Rome are major capital cities just as they were in ancient times.
Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, represented the worship of the one, true God, the Creator of heaven and earth.
Rome, which is now the capital city of Italy, once represented the capital of the Roman Empire.
The Catholic church essentially began in Rome around 300 AD during the time of Constantine.
Rome, representing the Catholic church, persecuted the Jews.
Rome, representing the Catholic church, hated true Christians, followers of Christ the Messiah.
Yes, some early Christians were also persecuted in Jerusalem, but not to the same degree as Rome.
Rome fed uncompromising Christians to hungry lions in large colosseums with cheering crowds.
Rome hated the Hebrew identity of early Christianity and sought to twist, separate, and destroy that. Much of that remains in Christianity to this very day, more than most people realize.
Sadly, there are some Christians who hate Jews and deny the Christian link to the Hebrew Bible.
Sadly, Rome, representing the Catholic church, has affected almost all of Christianity.
I grew up knowing full well that the Catholic church was false. However, there are strong elements of it that remain, totally unsuspected, even in Godly, conservative Christian churches.
Christianity needs to remember that it began in Jerusalem not Rome.
The roots of Christianity are Hebrew, not Catholic.
It is not my desire to offend any Catholics reading this, but Rome represents everything that is against the worship of the one true God.
Around the age of 14, I prayed and asked God for wisdom, like He gave Solomon. When I was around that age, God impressed on me that the “false prophet” the Bible speaks of would come out of Rome from the Catholic church.
Though I am sure Rome is a beautiful city, and Italy is a beautiful country, places I would enjoy seeing someday, I want nothing to do with what has come out of Rome.
Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah, is returning soon!
When He comes to reign, He will come with the armies of heaven to Jerusalem, not Rome.
All roads lead to Rome?
For two thousand years, Rome has been lifted up as being something great.
But someday, all nations, all people, and all roads will lead to Jerusalem not Rome.
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”
Isaiah 2:2-3
Jeremiah 3:17
Hallelujah! "Yes, come, Master Yeshua" I long for and look forward to the day when He comes again to reign over us and teaches us HIS ways, perfectly!
ReplyDeleteAmen, Dawn!
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