Yes, Rome fell because it rotted from within—morally, economically, and politically—before it fell to outside invaders.
Les Feldick says the Romans had literally deteriorated morally, with absolutely no moral compunctions left. Roman citizens never had to work because slaves did all the manual labor, softening the Roman physique until the empire finally fell apart. At the same time, as Rome's military power ascended, its political power descended, with divided authority weakening the government. The result was an empire that collapsed under its own corruption and then became victims of the conquering hordes from Gaul.
Daniel 7:7 — Daniel's fourth beast describes the Roman Empire's iron-like political strength and ten horns, which Les uses as the prophetic framework for Rome's rise and end.
The Bible does not record a secular explanation for the fall of Rome. It does, however, prophesy about the Roman Empire as the fourth beast in Daniel 7. Daniel 7:7 says: "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns." This verse pictures Rome as an empire that was politically strong (“great iron teeth”) and that devoured and broke other kingdoms. The ten horns point to a later divided form of the empire. The biblical text focuses on the character of the beast rather than on a direct cause for its collapse.
Les Feldick places the blame for Rome's fall squarely on internal corruption. He says the Roman Empire became grossly immoral: history authenticates that they had literally deteriorated morally, with absolutely no moral compunctions left; they were wicked and evil. At the same time, its economic foundation was built on slavery. Roman citizens never had to work because the slaves did all manual labor, which softened the Roman physique and caused the empire to fall apart, making it vulnerable to the conquering hordes from Gaul. Politically, Les points to the Roman Republic as the beginning of democracy. Instead of one absolute ruler, Rome depended on its senate and representatives, requiring a consensus of many. He sums up the pattern this way: as the Romans ascended in military power, they descended in political power. Dividing authority weakened the political structure and made government inefficient. Les also places Rome's historical end between 300 and 400 A.D. In his teaching, Daniel's “iron and clay” points to a revived Roman Empire that will appear in the European community at the end of the age.
Les describes the Roman Empire as “bestial” in many ways. It had no concern for the lower classes or for conquered peoples; it threw them to the lions and thought nothing of it. History, he says, authenticates that the Romans had literally deteriorated morally—they had no moral compunctions left and were wicked and evil.
Les says the Roman Empire became corrupt because actual Roman citizens never had to work. Slaves brought in from conquered territories did all the manual labor for little or no wages. This gave rise to a softening of the Roman physique, and the empire finally fell apart. It then became victims of the conquering hordes from Gaul.
Although Rome is often associated with the Caesars, Les says it was actually a republic that depended on its senate and representatives—the seeds of democracy. As authority spread from one absolute ruler to a consensus of two, four, and then many, the political structure weakened. Les says, “as they ascended in military power, they descended in political power,” and the divided authority made Rome's government inefficient.
Les places the end of the historical Roman Empire between 300 and 400 A.D. From that point, Daniel's prophecy jumps about 1,700 years to the present time and the appearance of the European community as the revived Roman Empire. The same prophecy that describes Rome's iron strength also anticipates a future ten-horn form.
What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality — Romans 1
old tapes 11, 12, and 13, I guess, 14. Those are the ones that we did on Revelation, and I suppose we've sent more of them out than any other one. But whatever, we just want our television audience to know that these are available. Now I think we'll get right back into the book, and pick up where we left off.
Rome's Total Moral Corruption
Les says history authenticates that Rome had literally deteriorated morally—the Romans had no moral compunctions left and were wicked and evil.
Military Ascent, Political Descent
Les teaches that as Rome's military power increased, its political power decreased; divided authority weakened the political structure, making government inefficient.
Slavery and Rome's Softened Physique
Les says Roman citizens never worked because slaves did all the manual labor, which softened the Roman physique and caused the empire to fall apart, making it vulnerable to the conquering hordes.
The Rise and Fall in Daniel's Four Beasts
Les notes that the Roman Empire, pictured as a ferocious beast with iron teeth, ended between 300 and 400 A.D. and is later seen in the European community.
The Rise and Fall in Daniel's Four Beasts
Les notes that the Roman Empire, pictured as a ferocious beast with iron teeth, ended between 300 and 400 A.D. and is later seen in the European community.
Rome's Republic as Democracy's Seed
Although governed by Caesars, Rome was actually a republic with a senate and representatives—an early form of democracy that made government increasingly dependent on consensus.
Rome's Republic as Democracy's Seed
Although governed by Caesars, Rome was actually a republic with a senate and representatives—an early form of democracy that made government increasingly dependent on consensus.
Daniel 7:7: After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
This verse provides the prophetic picture of Rome as the strong, devouring fourth beast.
Daniel 2:41: And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
Les refers to the iron and clay mixture as a picture of the divided, revived Roman Empire in the last days.
Les says Rome finally fell apart from within before becoming victims of the conquering hordes from Gaul. The primary cause was internal corruption—moral decay, slave-based economics, and political weakening—not a superior enemy.
Yes. Les says history authenticates that the Romans had literally deteriorated morally. They had no concern for conquered peoples, threw them to the lions, and had absolutely no moral compunctions left.
Rome was a republic with a senate and representatives, the seeds of democracy. Les explains that as political authority was spread from one ruler to a consensus of many, government became inefficient. Military power ascended while political power descended.
Daniel 7 pictures Rome as the fourth beast with iron teeth and ten horns. Les sees Rome's historical end between 300 and 400 A.D. and a future revived Roman Empire in the European community.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality — Romans 1