Marcus Aurelius Bronze Equestrian Statue

Marcus Aurelius - Gilded Bronze Equestrian Statue. Capitoline Hill. circa A.D. 161-180. Statue was placed in the Campidoglio by Michelangelo in the 16th century (ca. 1537)

Marcus Aurelius was very hostile to Christianity and persecuted the Christians heavily, considering them a threat to the established order of the empire.

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus became the Emperor of Rome in 161 A.D. He was a man who truly wanted peace within the Roman Empire, but in order to accomplish this he had to spend most of his entire reign protecting the borders of the Empire. He was forced to wage war with the Parthians from 161 A.D. until 165 A.D., and his campaign was very successful. The downside was that his soldiers brought back with them a killer plague which swept through the entire Empire and killed thousands of Romans. This was not the only disaster during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, there were earthquakes, floods, and much famine. From 167 A.D. to 180 A.D. there was continual fighting in the north along the Danube River border. So much money had been spent on these wars that Marcus Aurelius had to hold a personal auction for his own possessions in the Forum, which he later bought back. There is much revealed about his character in his work called "Meditations" in literary history, but called by him "To Himself". During childhood he studied literature, drama, philosophy, music, science, mathematics, and oratory from the greatest teachers throughout the empire. By the time he was 12 years old he favored Stoicism. He considers himself sincere, honest, and a "citizen of the world" struggling with problems like life-and-death.

Marcus Aurelius was very hostile to Christianity and persecuted the Christians heavily, considering them a threat to the established order of the empire. He was a very devoted Emperor paying careful attention to internal administration, taxation, and the legal system. He was the last of the "five good emperors" although he was blinded to the failures of his son, Commodus, who he made co-Emperor in 177 A.D. In 180 A.D. Marcus Aurelius died of the plague and the throne went to his unworthy son Commodus.

A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field." Isa. 40:6

Also See:

Marcus Aurelius  - Upon the death of Ceionius Commodus, the emperor Hadrian turned his attention towards Marcus Aurelius; but he being then too young for an early assumption ...

Marcus Aurelius - Bronze Equestrian Statue - Bronze Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius placed in the Campidoglio by Michelangelo in the 16th century AD.

Antoninus Pius  - He died in 161 A.D., and was succeeded by Marcus Aurelius. His memory was so greatly venerated that five of his successors a ssumed the name of Antoninus.

Commodus  - Commodus in Roman Biography Com'mo-dus, [Fr. Commode, ko'mod',] (Lucius / Ei.ius Aurelius,) a Roman emperor, born in 161 A.D. , was the son 0/ Marcus ...

Numerian  - Born Marcus Aurelius Numerius Numerianus, he was a Roman Emperor ruling ... Numeri?nus in Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiqui ties Marcus Aurelius.

Gordianus  - Born Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus, he was ... Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius through her father Fulvus Antoninus.

Claudius Gothicus  - Born Marcus Aurelius Claudius, he was Roman Emperor ruling from 268 to 270. Claudius Gothicus in Roman Biography Claud ius, (Marcus Aurklius,) surnamed ...

Carus  - People - Ancient Rome: Carus Born Marcus Aurelius Carus, he was Roman Emperor ruling from 282 to 283. Carus in Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities ...

The Bible mentions a lot regarding Rome:

Acts 23:11 - And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

2 Timothy 4:22 - The Lord Jesus Christ [be] with thy spirit. Grace [be] with you. Amen. <[The second [epistle] unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.]>

Acts 18:2 - And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

Colossians 4:18 - The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace [be] with you. Amen. <[Written from Rome to Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.]>

Ephesians 6:24 - Grace [be] with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. <[To [the] Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.]>

Philemon 1:25 - The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen. <[Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.]>

Acts 2:10 - Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

Acts 19:21 - After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

Acts 28:16 - And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

Romans 1:7 - To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 6:18 - Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen. <[To [the] Galatians written from Rome.]>

Philippians 4:23 - The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen. <[To [the] Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.]>

Acts 28:14 - Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

Romans 1:15 - So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

2 Timothy 1:17 - But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found [me].
 

Roman Roads

"When the fullness of time came, God brought forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law." (Gal 4:4)

The Roman road was the bloodstream of the empire. Merchants paid taxes to Rome on all their transactions, and they needed the roads to carry their goods to an ever-widening market. Legionnaires marched upon them swiftly gaining efficient access to battle. In a sense, the roads were funding and facilitating Roman expansion.

Yet God had a higher purpose. A new kind of merchant would soon be traversing the entire Mediterranean area, not one who transports his treasure to the city marketplace, but one who is a treasure, and who carries true riches, - not to sell, but to give away freely. The transforming good news of God?s forgiveness through Jesus the Messiah was imbedded into the hearts of the Apostles and early believers, and God prepared those roads for them to walk upon and lead others into His path.

A new kind of soldier would be running these well built thoroughfares to fight, - not flesh and blood, but a spiritual warfare that would liberate entire civilizations from the bondage of Satan?s tyrannical oppression and coercion, to a Kingdom ruled by love, service and willing devotion.

Throughout history ?the road? has provided an excellent metaphor for life?
s journey. With amazement, we can look back over the winding grades of difficulty, the narrow pass of opportunity, the choice between security or adventure, when our road divided and we had to make the call.

Yes, all roads led to Rome, specifically the Forum, in the ancient empire of old, where an Emperor judged the players in the arena for their conduct before him. Our personal road will eventually and inevitably cease at the throne of Almighty God. It is He who must judge our travel upon this earth, in the blinding glory of His eternal justice. Compelled by His love, He placed sin?s damning penalty upon His Own Son, instead of us, so that we could freely receive the "thumbs up!" from Him who loves us beyond all measure.

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