As a Christian American, it is not hard to see the decline of our once great nation. I do believe that we were the greatest nation on earth, and to watch our demise saddens me. Our founders embraced Judeo-Christian values. In our most famous documents, from the Declaration of Independence to our Constitution and Bill of rights, our reliance upon God was declared unashamedly.
My father was a patriot. His people emigrated from Ukraine after the turn of the twentieth century. He truly loved America. He would say to us “We are not perfect, but there is not another nation on the earth better than America.” He served as a medic in WWII. He would have gladly given his life for his country. The Lord allowed me to lead my father to Him on his death bed. It comforts me to know that he is in heaven, and also that he did not have to witness what has happened to his beloved country.
I have heard people say that the events which precipitated the fall of Rome were very similar to what is happening in the U.S. today. I decided to do some research to see if there was any truth to these words. What I found was astounding and truly sad.
Taken from Freerepublic.com
The Reasons For the Fall of Rome
Decline in Morals and Values
Those morals and values that kept together the Roman legions and thus the empire could not be maintained towards the end of the empire. Crimes of violence made the streets of the larger cities unsafe. Even during Pax Romana there were 32,000 prostitutes in Rome. Emperors like Nero and Caligula became infamous for wasting money on lavish parties where guests ate and drank until they became ill. The most popular amusement was watching the gladiatorial combats in the Colosseum. These were attended by the poor, the rich, and frequently the emperor himself. As gladiators fought, vicious cries and curses were heard from the audience. One contest after another was staged in the course of a single day. Should the ground become too soaked with blood, it was covered over with a fresh layer of sand and the performance went on. – source
The decline of morals and values in America are so blatant – it seems the only ones not shocked are those perpetuating these ghastly crimes and sins. Since 1973, after the Roe Vs. Wade decision to allow abortion on demand, over 60 million babies have been slaughtered. Recently we have found that Planned Parenthood has actually sold “baby parts” for profit. We may not have blood from the Colosseum events as in Rome; our blood flows from the “Killing mills” every day, as they murder unborn children. It seems that these doctors and those who run these mills have no consciences at all.
The SCOTUS decided that it was their job to make law – they redefined marriage and made gay marriage legal – nationally.
The Word of God says it so clearly:
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” (Romans 1:21-27)
Political Corruption (Freerepublic.com)
One of the most difficult problems was choosing a new emperor. Unlike Greece where transition may not have been smooth but was at least consistent, the Romans never created an effective system to determine how new emperors would be selected. The choice was always open to debate between the old emperor, the Senate, the Praetorian Guard (the emperor’s’s private army), and the army. Gradually, the Praetorian Guard gained complete authority to choose the new emperor, who rewarded the guard who then became more influential, perpetuating the cycle. Then in 186 A. D. the army strangled the new emperor, the practice began of selling the throne to the highest bidder. During the next 100 years, Rome had 37 different emperors – 25 of whom were removed from office by assassination. This contributed to the overall weaknesses of the empire. – source
The political corruption in the U.S. has come to the point where most people do not trust our government. The recent primaries have left a lot of us void of hope for our country. It used to be a government for the people and by the people. I fear those days are long gone. God know all about the heart of man. He knows that the heart is capable of all sorts of evil.
Unemployment (from Freerepublic.com)
During the latter years of the empire farming was done on large estates called latifundia that were owned by wealthy men who used slave labor. A farmer who had to pay workmen could not produce goods as cheaply. Many farmers could not compete with these low prices and lost or sold their farms. This not only undermined the citizen farmer who passed his values to his family, but also filled the cities with unemployed people. At one time, the emperor was importing grain to feed more than 100,000 people in Rome alone. These people were not only a burden but also had little to do but cause trouble and contribute to an ever increasing crime rate.– source
Our exact number of unemployed in America is not being told to the public. This administration tries to have us believe that the unemployment rate is around 5%. This is not accurate – not at all. Many stopped looking for jobs and then dropped out – they are not included in the jobless rate. Many are underemployed and are making less than half of their prior salary. Some experts say that the actual jobless rate is more like 40%!
Inflation (from Freerepublic.com)
The roman economy suffered from inflation (an increase in prices) beginning after the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Once the Romans stopped conquering new lands, the flow of gold into the Roman economy decreased. Yet much gold was being spent by the romans to pay for luxury items. This meant that there was less gold to use in coins. As the amount of gold used in coins decreased, the coins became less valuable. To make up for this loss in value, merchants raised the prices on the goods they sold. Many people stopped using coins and began to barter to get what they needed. Eventually, salaries had to be paid in food and clothing, and taxes were collected in fruits and vegetables. – source
The price of food and clothes and most everything else continues to rise. But those of us who have retired, and paid into Social Security for many years, have not gotten a cost of living raise in years.
Urban decay (from Freerepublic.com)
Wealthy Romans lived in a domus, or house, with marble walls, floors with intricate colored tiles, and windows made of small panes of glass. Most Romans, however, were not rich, They lived in small smelly rooms in apartment houses with six or more stories called islands. Each island covered an entire block. At one time there were 44,000 apartment houses within the city walls of Rome. First-floor apartments were not occupied by the poor since these living quarters rented for about $100 a year. The more shaky wooden stairs a family had to climb, the cheaper the rent became. The upper apartments that the poor rented for $40 a year were hot, dirty, crowed, and dangerous. Anyone who could not pay the rent was forced to move out and live on the crime-infested streets. Because of this cities began to decay. – source
Military Spending (from Freerepublic.com)
Maintaining an army to defend the border of the Empire from barbarian attacks was a constant drain on the government. Military spending left few resources for other vital activities, such as providing public housing and maintaining quality roads and aqueducts. Frustrated Romans lost their desire to defend the Empire. The empire had to begin hiring soldiers recruited from the unemployed city mobs or worse from foreign counties. Such an army was not only unreliable, but very expensive. The emperors were forced to raise taxes frequently which in turn led again to increased inflation.– source (Emphasis mine)
The present administration has cut our military to pre-WWII numbers. Even though the threat of terrorism is so great, our military keeps shrinking and shrinking. We are not guarding out border with Mexico, and there have been many reports that Islamic terrorists have been coming over that border by the droves.
THE FINAL BLOWS
For years, the well-disciplined Roman army held the barbarians of Germany back. Then in the third century A. D. the Roman soldiers were pulled back from the Rhine-Danube frontier to fight civil war in Italy. This left the Roman border open to attack. Gradually Germanic hunters and herders from the north began to overtake Roman lands in Greece and Gaul (later France). Then in 476 A. D. the Germanic general Odacer or Odovacar overthrew the last of the Roman Emperors, Augustulus Romulus. From then on the western part of the Empire was ruled by Germanic chieftain. Roads and bridges were left in disrepair and fields left untilled. Pirates and bandits made travel unsafe. Cities could not be maintained without goods from the farms, trade and business began to disappear. And Rome was no more in the West. – source
Of all of these reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire and the similarities of America, I do believe that the decline in morals and values is what will be mostly responsible for the demise of the U.S. We ushered God out of our schools and government, beginning in the 1960’s; and it has gotten so much worse through the years – especially during the reign of Obama.
Our nation was a Christian nation, but sadly I do not see America as a Christian nation any longer. It has become a humanistic and secular nation – filled with God haters. Political correctness rules, and the government views Christians as the enemy within our borders. The gay community is protected at all cost, but the rights of the Christian are all but gone.
Today is Mother’s Day. Our president spoke of mothers and made sure that he included transgender and lesbians in his “shout out.” Do we really believe that God will wink at this gross sin?
No – He will not wink, but He will bring destruction upon us as He did in Sodom and Gomorrah. He is God. He is Holy and Righteous. The sins of America are despicable sins that fly in the face of our Creator. Many call themselves atheists, but I call them haters of God.
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:28-32) (Emphasis mine)
Hatred of Israel
This great sin of our nation will not go unpunished. America has been a friend to Israel since 1948, but that friendship ended with the election of Barack Hussein Obama. His words and actions against Israel and her leader, PM Netanyahu, have angered God.
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3)
We who are born again are saved because we repented of our sins and trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for Salvation. We believe that His death on that Cross and His resurrection was payment in FULL for our many sins. We worship Him and look for His appearing in the sky to snatch us away from this evil place.
Still, I believe that America is on the doorstep of total annihilation. Her destruction could be from natural disasters, or from an attack from another country. It could also be from the terrorists who have been brought to our country by the Obama administration. I’m certain that they are organized, and that they lie in wait for us.
However this is accomplished – be sure that our end is near.
Pray for the lost. Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. It may be too late for America, but it is never too late for a sinner to repent and turn to the Lord.
MARANATHA