Achievements:
- He expanded the border defenses of the Empire
- He fought significant wars were fought in Britain
Negative achievements:
- Domitian had totalitarian characteristics; he saw himself as the new Augustus, an enlightened Ruler destined to guide the Roman Empire into a new era of brilliance.
- Religious, military, and cultural propaganda fostered a cult of personality, and by nominating himself perpetual censor, he sought to control public and private morals.
- His decrees had the header, “Domitian, Lord and God.” According to Suetonius, he was the first Roman Emperor who had demanded to be addressed as Dominus et Deus (master and god).
- Tacitus, Pliny the Younger and Suetonius published histories stating that Domitian was a cruel and paranoid tyrant.[1]
- His reign came to an end in 96 when he was assassinated by court officials.
New Testament connections:
The “cult of emperor worship was strong in what was now Turkey…Formal recognition of the emperor’s divinity was a patriotic duty” (Ramsay, 8).
John would be exiled to Patmos. “Antipas” from Pergamum would be martyred. During this reign, John commends the Ephesians and Thyatirans for “patient endurance.” 2nd or 3rd generation Ephesians, however, had lost their “first love.” Sardis seemed “dead.” Laodicea was “lukewarm.”
To the famous church, from whence Polycarp would come and in which he was a bishop, John had this to say, Rev. 2.9-10:
Application:
Accept, believe, confess, embrace, stay faithful and walk in the fear of the LORD. This never changes, even when apostate, heretical and pagan Governors rule.
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