DESTROYED FROM WITHIN - Lessons From History For The United States, U.K. and Other Western Powers
In his first message on the book of Zephaniah, J. Vernon McGee cites Gibbons on why great nations decline and fall. He applied it as a warning to the United States, and it is certainly not difficult to see why, but other nations such as the U.K. and Canada, should also take warning.
The Five Reasons for the Collapse of the Roman Empire
by Edward Gibbon
The British Historian Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) was no fan of the Christian faith, but his History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is
still worthy of being read, particularly because of his insights into
the reasons for the collapse of the empire and the way they should be a
sober warning to Western Culture that we are repeating many of the same
patterns that destroyed Rome.
Gibbon listed the following five primary reasons for the collapse of the Roman Empire:
- First: The rapid increase of divorce, with the undermining of the sanctity of the home, which is the basis of society.
- Second: Higher and higher taxes; and the spending of public money on bread and circuses.
- Third: The mad craze for pleasure, sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal.
- Fourth: The building of gigantic armies to fight external enemies, when the most deadly enemy, the decadence of the people, lay within.
- Fifth: The decay of religion; faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life, and becoming impotent to guide it.
John Gresham Machen (1881-1937) once said,
"America is running on the momentum of a godly ancestry. When that momentum goes, God help America."
In case you haven't noticed, that momentum is gone from America and the U.K.
If God did not send righteous judgment on such nations, He would have to apologize to other nations in history that suffered His judgments.
People look to science, medicine, technology, armed forces, politics and sociology for answers, but there is only one, the same as always:
"Repent and believe the Gospel". But we hear no calls to repentance in Western nations, no call to abandon sin, humble ourselves and turn to God, calling out to Him. People seem to only want to know what solutions the governments and scientists can offer them. None!
The apostle Paul warns the Gentiles in Romans 11:20-22 and this warning is for us.
20 "...So do not become proud, but stand in awe.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off."
This corresponds to the warning in Romans 2:3-6
3 "Do you suppose, O man- you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself- that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
6 He will render to each one according to his works:"
PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD
