The End of Paganism
The Heavens Depart Like a Scroll
And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth,
even as
a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is
shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven
departed as a scroll when it is rolled together;
and every mountain and island were moved out of
their places. Rev 6:13,14
"The ruin of the Pagan religion" said
Gibbon, "is
described by the sophists as a dreadful and amazing
prodigy; which covered the earth with
darkness, and
restored the ancient dominion of chaos and of night."
Paganism and Christianity Coexisted for 80 Years
Ambrose Led the Final Purge
Christians had impatiently supported the prudent
delays of Constantine, and the equal
toleration of the elder Valentinian. And
Julian the Apostate actually
tried to restore the ancient religion.
But Ambrose gained influence over the
youthful
Gratian and the pius Theodosius and infused
in them the spirit of persecution. Eighty years
after Constantine's vision the last vestiges of
pagan
worship were swept away.
Paganism Dismantled
Its Component Parts were Grafted into Catholicism
The emperor's bureaucracy still supported a
pagan
college of pontiffs. But,Gratian disbanded
the college
and rejected the title of pontifex
maximus.
It was
adopted by the pope in the year 381.
The Temple of Vesta was closed and
the six Vestal Virgins who guarded the
sacred fire disbanded. The Catholic
church adopted the practice which became the
nuns and their convents.
Statues of the pagan gods were still
available to the public, and over four
hundred
pagan
temples still stood. In the Senate was a
pagan altar -
the Altar of Victory where Senators had
long sworn to observe the laws of the empire.
But,
Gratian removed it after three years of
debate from the outraged pagans.
Theodosius Extinguishes Pagan Fire
Paganism Punishable by Death
Theodosius finally cracked down on paganism
with a
series of decrees and he formally
extinguished the
sacred fire in the Temple of Vesta in 394.
This flame
had burned continuously since the 8th century BC!
Sun, Moon and Stars of Heaven
The Figurative Language of the Prophets
God revealed in a dream to Joseph that one day he
would rule over his family. The heavens and heavenly
bodies in prophecy signify the government of a
political power.
Behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven
stars made obeisance to me. Gen. 37: 9
Ezekiel foretold the downfall of Pharoah and Egypt
with heavenly metaphors.
And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the
heaven, and make the stars thereof
dark; I will cover
the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not
give her
light. All the bright lights of heaven will I
make dark
over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the
Lord GOD. Eze 32:7,8
Historicist expositors all interpret Rev 6:12,13
figuratively and consider it fulfilled .
By interpreting this verse literally and putting it in
the future, futurist expositors paint a wild end
time picture that is beyond belief.
