PART 1 –The Birth of Two Empires – Constantine The Great - GameChanger series

Summary

The video explores the life of Constantine the Great, a pivotal figure in Roman history who transformed the empire and merged it with a new religion. Born in Nis, Serbia, under humble circumstances, he rose to power and left an indelible mark on history. The narrative also juxtaposes his story with that of Jesus, whose teachings clashed with Roman authority, setting the stage for a profound 'clash of empires.' The video delves into the cultural and religious impact of these two figures, questioning which empire—Rome or Christianity—would ultimately triumph.

Takeaways

• 🏛 Constantine the Great was a Roman Emperor who significantly influenced the world by merging his rule with the establishment of a new religion.
• 👶 Born in Nis, Serbia, under a cloud of illegitimacy, Constantine grew up to completely transform the Roman Empire.
• 🛣️ Nis, known as Naissus in Roman times, was a strategic crossroads between the East and West, which played a crucial role in Constantine's early life.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 Constantine was born to a humble village girl, Helena, and the Roman military tribune Flavius Constantius, who later became an important figure in his life.
• 📜 The script explores the lives of two significant figures, Constantine and Jesus, who both had humble beginnings and left lasting impacts on history.
• 🏰 Constantine's rise to power led to Nis becoming a major cultural, economic, and military center, with a luxurious Roman palace at its heart.
• 🌍 The Roman Empire was characterized by its remarkable stability and tolerance, with a vast infrastructure that facilitated trade and communication.
• ⛪️ Christianity was seen as a threat to the Roman Empire due to its refusal to participate in emperor worship and its prediction of the empire's fall.
• 🔥 The Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD led to increased persecution of Christians, who were blamed by Emperor Nero for the disaster.
• 📖 The Bible's prophecies, such as in Daniel chapter 7, were interpreted by Romans as a direct challenge to their empire's authority.
• 📚 The program offers a booklet titled 'A Clash of Empires' for deeper insight into the historical conflict between Rome and Christianity.

Q & A

Who was Constantine the Great?

Constantine the Great was a Roman Emperor who ruled an empire that lasted for centuries and had a significant impact on the world by merging political power with a new religion.

What significant event is associated with the town of Nish?

The town of Nish is significant because it is the birthplace of Constantine the Great, who was born there under a cloud of illegitimacy to a humble village girl named Helena.

What was the ancient Roman name for the town of Nish?

The ancient Roman name for the town of Nish was Naissus.

How did Constantine's father, Flavius Constantius, react when he learned about his son's existence?

Flavius Constantius was delighted to learn about his son's existence and welcomed both Helena and Constantine into his home with open arms.

What was the social status of Helena, Constantine's mother?

Helena was a peasant woman and the daughter of an innkeeper in Naissus (Nish).

How did Constantine's life change when he was brought to live with his father?

Constantine's life changed dramatically when he moved from the small village of Naissus to live with his father, going from a peasant boy to being part of the highest circles of Roman society.

What was the term used by the Romans for legitimate religions?

The Romans used the term 'religio' for legitimate religions, which is the origin of the English word 'religion'.

How did the Romans view Christianity initially?

The Romans initially viewed Christianity with suspicion as it was a non-traditional and non-racial religion that did not belong to any specific country or race and was seen as filled with what they considered foolish ideas.

What was the term the Romans used for non-traditional and non-racial religions like Christianity?

The Romans used the term 'superstitio' for non-traditional and non-racial religions like Christianity, which is the origin of the English word 'superstition'.

Why were Christians considered a threat to the Roman Empire?

Christians were considered a threat to the Roman Empire because they refused to worship the emperor, which was seen as a rejection of the authority of the empire, and their beliefs and principles clashed with those of Rome.

What was the significance of the bridge Ponte Fabricio in Rome?

The bridge Ponte Fabricio in Rome is significant because it is an example of Roman engineering and has been in continuous use since it was built, symbolizing the stability and permanence of the Roman Empire.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Constantine the Great: The Game Changer

The script begins with a dramatic introduction to Constantine the Great, the Roman Emperor who had a profound impact on history by merging a new Rome with a new religion, creating an empire that lasted for centuries. The narrative then shifts to the town of Nish, Serbia, where Constantine was born to a humble village girl named Helena. The video script describes the ancient land of Israel and draws a parallel between the births of Constantine and another significant figure from history, Jesus Christ, who also changed the world. The story sets the stage for an exploration of the lives of these two men and the clash of empires that still resonates today.

05:01

🛌 The Birth of Constantine and His Early Life

This section delves into the story of Constantine's conception when his father, Flavius Constantius, a Roman military tribune, stayed at an inn in Nish and impregnated the innkeeper's daughter, Helena. The narrative describes how Constantius, feeling guilty, left a parting gift for Helena and instructions to protect any child that might result from their union. The story then jumps to Constantine's childhood and the revelation of his true parentage when Roman soldiers, having discovered his identity, informed Constantius of his son's existence. Helena and Constantine were subsequently welcomed into Constantius's home, marking a significant change in their lives.

10:03

👑 The Rise of Constantine and His Impact

The paragraph discusses Constantine's rise from a peasant boy to the position of Emperor of Rome. It highlights how his father, now a governor, took responsibility for him and his mother, integrating them into Roman high society. The script also mentions the educational efforts made for Constantine, who showed a keen aptitude for learning. The narrative then focuses on Constantine's legacy, emphasizing his role as a 'game changer' whose decisions and ideas had a lasting impact on the world. The video script also describes the archaeological site of Mediana, which was once Constantine's residence and a center of Roman culture, economy, and military strategy.

15:04

🌉 The Roman Empire and Its Religious Tolerance

This part of the script explores the Roman Empire's infrastructure and its policy of religious tolerance. It describes how the Romans built an extensive network of roads and bridges that facilitated trade and communication across their vast empire. The narrative also touches on the Pax Romana, the relative peace and stability within the empire, and the Romans' generally lenient approach to religious practices. However, it contrasts this with the special status of the Jews, who were exempt from emperor worship due to historical reasons, and the Christians, who refused to participate in such practices, setting the stage for conflict.

20:05

⚔️ Clash of Empires: Rome vs. Christianity

The script delves into the conflict between the Roman Empire and the emerging Christian faith. It outlines the Roman perspective on Christianity, viewing it as a non-traditional and potentially seditious belief system. The narrative highlights the differences between the established 'religio' of various cultures and the new faith that transcended cultural and geographical boundaries. The script also discusses the rumors and misconceptions about Christians that fueled Roman suspicion and hostility, leading to their persecution. The section concludes with the backdrop of the Great Fire of Rome, which marked a turning point in the relationship between Rome and Christianity.

25:08

📖 The Prophecies and the Future of the Clash

The final paragraph sets the stage for the continuation of the story, focusing on the prophecies in the Bible that foretell the rise and fall of empires, including Rome. It discusses the Christian beliefs that were seen as treasonous by the Romans and the growing influence of Christianity despite persecution. The script introduces a booklet titled 'A Clash of Empires' as a resource for further exploration of the topic and provides contact information for the audience to obtain it. The video ends with a prayer for guidance and strength in the face of life's challenges.

Keywords

💡Constantine the Great

Constantine the Great was a Roman Emperor who ruled between 306 and 337 AD. He is known for being the first Roman ruler to convert to Christianity, which led to Christianity becoming the dominant religion in the Roman Empire. In the video, Constantine is portrayed as a pivotal figure whose decisions and actions significantly influenced the world, merging his political power with the emerging Christian faith to create a lasting legacy.

💡Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was a civilization that began on the Italian Peninsula and lasted from 27 BC to the fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD. It was characterized by its vast geographical reach and cultural influence. In the script, the Roman Empire is depicted as a powerful force that shaped the world, with its Pax Romana providing stability and infrastructure across its territories.

💡Religion

Religion in the context of the video refers to the belief systems and practices that individuals and communities adhere to. It highlights the shift from the traditional Roman polytheistic religion to Christianity, which Constantine the Great embraced and promoted. The video discusses how Constantine's new religion, Christianity, began to merge with the state, leading to a transformation in the empire's religious landscape.

💡Empire

An empire is a group of territories under a single ruler or government. In the video, the term is used to describe the vast territories controlled by Rome and later by Christianity. The script explores the concept of empires clashing, where the Roman Empire and the emerging Christian faith are portrayed as two powerful entities whose paths were destined to intersect and influence each other.

💡Christianity

Christianity is the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It is one of the world's largest religions, with billions of followers. The video emphasizes Christianity's growth from a small sect to a major world religion, particularly under Constantine's rule, and how it challenged and eventually transformed the Roman Empire.

💡Clash of Empires

The 'Clash of Empires' refers to the ideological conflict between the Roman Empire's traditions and the new Christian faith. The video uses this term to describe the tension and eventual synthesis between the two entities, leading to a profound change in the religious and cultural landscape of the time.

💡Pax Romana

Pax Romana, or 'Roman Peace,' was a long period of relative peace and stability across the Roman Empire. The term is used in the video to illustrate the benefits of living within the empire, such as safety and infrastructure, which came at the cost of accepting Roman authority and participating in the empire's religious practices.

💡Superstition

In the video, 'superstition' is used by the Romans to describe what they considered irrational or unfounded beliefs, particularly referring to Christianity. The term is used to highlight the Roman perspective that Christianity was not a legitimate religion but rather a set of absurd and potentially dangerous beliefs.

💡Nero

Nero was a Roman Emperor known for his tyranny and is infamously associated with the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD. In the script, Nero is mentioned as an example of the Roman Empire's negative aspects, where he blamed Christians for the fire as a scapegoat, illustrating the persecution Christians faced.

💡Prophecy

A prophecy is a prediction of future events, often of a religious nature. The video references prophecies from the Bible, particularly in the Book of Daniel, to show how Christianity anticipated the rise and fall of empires, including Rome, which was seen as a challenge to the empire's eternal status.

💡Conversion

Conversion in the video refers to the process of adopting a new religion or belief system. It is highlighted by the story of Constantine's conversion to Christianity, which had a profound impact on the Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity. His conversion is portrayed as a turning point in history.

Highlights

Constantine the Great built a new Rome and a new religion, merging them into an empire that lasted for centuries and changed the world.

The town of Nish, Serbia, is historically significant as the birthplace of Constantine the Great.

Constantine was born to a humble village girl, Helena, and grew up to rule an empire.

The ancient land of Israel is where another influential baby, Jesus, was born, who also changed the world.

The series explores the lives of two men whose influence still shapes our world today.

Flavius Constantius, Constantine's father, was a great Roman commander who defeated the Persians.

Constantius had a one-night encounter with Helena, which resulted in the birth of Constantine.

Constantine's life took a significant turn when he was recognized as the son of Constantius, leading to a life of luxury and education.

Constantine's education played a crucial role in his rise to become Emperor and shape the world.

Constantine never forgot his hometown, Nish, which developed into a major center during his reign.

The Roman Empire was known for its remarkable stability and religious tolerance.

Christianity was seen as a threat to the Roman Empire due to its refusal to worship the emperor.

Christians were accused of sedition and treason against the empire, leading to their persecution.

Despite persecution, Christianity continued to grow rapidly within the Roman Empire.

The program suggests a clash between the Roman Empire and Christianity, with significant implications for civilization.

The story of Constantine and the clash of empires is offered as a free booklet for interested viewers.

The program concludes with a prayer, emphasizing the importance of choosing Jesus and his rule in our lives.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Applause]

constantine the great

emperor of rome

caesar augustus

he built a new rome

and a new religion

he merged them into an empire that

lasted for centuries

and changed the world

this forever

authority and influence shift our world

this is his story

a story of romance

intrigue power

and conquest

constantine the great

game changer

this is the town of nish

right in the heart of serbia

and it's a very old town

in ancient times the romans called it

nicest

and it was right here some 1700 years

ago

that a baby was born under a cloud of

illegitimacy

to a very humble and insignificant

village girl

and that baby would grow up to rule an

empire and completely transform the

world

and this is the ancient land of israel

two thousand five hundred kilometers

away

where another even better known baby was

born some two thousand years ago to

another humble village girl

and that baby

also grew up to completely change the

planet undeniably to an extent unmatched

by any other child in history

in this series we'll be looking at these

two incredible men

men in whose shadow we still live today

their fingerprints are all over the

world

in fact they've shaped the way we live

the way we think and the way we believe

this is their story it's a story of how

their lives were destined to cross

and come together in an explosive clash

of empires

empires that span the ages and know no

boundaries

this clash of empires still reverberates

around our world today

[Music]

let's start with the first of these

powerful men

you may have heard his name though you

might not know much about why he matters

his name

was constantine

constantine the great

in the year a.d 271

a tied roman military tribune

flavius constantius

led his men back from fighting against

the summations

a large confederation of ancient

persians that had been slowly making

their way westward for centuries

eventually with the help of germanic

tribes like the goths

they started pushing into roman

territory

something the roman empire

couldn't allow

constantius was a great roman commander

and he had defeated the enemy decisively

and on his way back

he traveled the road that brought him

through nicest present-day niche

one of the oldest cities in the balkans

it's often called the gate of east and

west because it's located at the

crossing of important roads that connect

europe with the middle east and asia

it was a crossroads between the east and

the west

and was an ideal place to rest at least

for a night

and back then when constantia stopped

for the night it was already a thriving

centre with numerous houses buildings

and crucially an inn

and this inn becomes very important to

our story

you see rank and file soldiers

probably spent the night in a field next

to the village but not an important

officer like constantius

oh no

he secured lodgings at that local inn

probably the best one in town

there he could get a meal a good night's

sleep and something else that soldiers

sometimes look for when they're in town

a little company for the evening

according to the story

constantius asked the local innkeeper to

find him a female companion for the

night

now that might not have been an unusual

request

but how the innkeeper responded

was highly unusual

the innkeeper must certainly have been

extremely impressed by tribune flavius

constantius

because he did the unthinkable

he sent for his 16 year old virgin

daughter

her name

was helena

while he was sleeping later that night

constantius experienced a guilty

conscience about what he had done

his bad dreams that night made him fear

that he'd offended the gods because of

what he'd done with young helena

and so early the next morning he quickly

packed up and wasted no time in leaving

town and returning to his men

but just before he left as if to make

amends

he gave the innkeeper his purple

officers cape

which had a buckle with his initials on

it

and he told him to keep his daughter

safe and that if she bore a child

to protect that child as the apple of

his eye

and then constantius turned and left

probably thinking that he would never

see the young woman again

but what constantius didn't know

was that sixteen-year-old helena was in

fact pregnant

in due course

she gave birth to a son whom she named

constantine which means little

constantius

however his father had no idea little

constantine existed

and we don't know whether the boy knew

who his father was either

while constantine the peasant boy was

growing up in sleepy nicest

his father's life was taking a turn for

the better

constantius now 33 years old was

summoned by the roman emperor karus

and told that he was to be appointed the

governor of dalmatia

a region located in modern-day croatia

this was a huge promotion for

constantius because dalmatia was a key

roman territory

through it the empire controlled the

flow of trade between east and west

to be governor was an appointment where

you could easily get rich

it meant that constantius was on the way

up and going places

this could have been it for helena and

constantine a peasant mother and her

child

people like them

had no way of contacting the elite of

roman society like constantius

there was a vast social gulf between

them that couldn't be

bridged

but when constantine was nine years old

something happened that changed the

course of history

it was chance or maybe it wasn't

a group of roman cavalry

stopped to spend the night at that same

village inn at nicest

and in the morning when they came out to

the barn

they found young constantine teasing

their horses

they were so angry at this audacious

peasant boy that they started to beat

him

his mother now in her mid-20s

heard the commotion and came rushing out

of the house and into the barn

yelling at the soldiers stop it

don't you know who this is

he's the son of the governor

the soldiers looked at her stun

and then started laughing

how could this peasant woman's son

belong to the roman governor

do you take us for fools they said

she replied with

i swear by the gods that i'm telling the

truth

and then she told them the story

when she'd finished to prove it she ran

back to the house and brought back the

officer's cape that constantius had

given her all those years ago

imagine the panic those men must have

felt when they saw the governor's

initials on the buckle

they had indeed been beating the

governor's son

however instead of keeping quiet about

it the soldiers did the right thing

they went and told the governor that he

had a son in the village of nicest

and they told him that the boy was the

spitting image of his father

well the governor could have been

annoyed or he could have been delighted

in fact he was delighted and he sent for

helena and for his son

helena was now 26 years old

and she and the boy were welcomed into

the home of the governor with open arms

this must have been a huge culture shock

for this woman and son from the small

village

they only knew the small world and hard

life of nicest

and now they were in a palace with

marble columns gardens and luxurious

baths

they had landed in the highest circles

of roman society

flavius constantius even found helena

attractive enough to consider marrying

her

however roman law didn't allow

constantius to marry a peasant woman as

his full wife

the social divide was simply too great

but the law allowed for a lesser form of

marriage called matrimoniam concubinatum

this kind of marriage also gave his son

the full legal rights jewish son

particularly the rights of inheritance

so that's what constantius did

constantius also decided that his new

family needed to come up to standard in

certain areas like education

they were illiterate and could only

speak the local language and no latin or

greek

so constantius quickly appointed tutors

to start the work of teaching them both

to read and write

they both progressed in their studies

the boy constantine in particular took

quickly to education

and well he might

because he grew up to become emperor

and received the name constantine the

great whose ideas and bold decisions

shaped and transformed the world forever

making him a true

game changer

although the duties and responsibilities

as emperor took him away

constantine never forgot his hometown

during his reign

nicest developed into a major cultural

economic and military centre

based around a luxurious roman palace

decorated with magnificent mosaics and

monuments

he often resided here and attended two

state affairs including the passing of

several important laws

the imperial residence was also used by

constantine and six later roman emperors

as a place of rest on their long

journeys across the empire and also as a

place of solitude during preparations

for war

today

it's called mediana and is one of the

most important archaeological sites in

the region

it's covered by a great awning to help

preserve and protect it

archaeologists continue to meticulously

uncover its treasures and bring it to

life once again

remember i said we were going to talk

about two of the most important men in

all of history

well i'd like to consider now the other

one who was to become even more

important in shaping our civilization

than constantine himself

i'd like to start in the very center of

imperial power rome itself

this is ponte fabrizio

it's a bridge that connects two parts of

the city of rome over the tiber river

it's probably the oldest structure in

the neighborhood because it was built

some 60 years before the birth of jesus

christ

the fascinating thing about this bridge

is that it's been in continuous use

since it was built until this very day

it's a remarkable example of roman

engineering

you see the romans were builders

they built an entire international

infrastructure of roads bridges

aqueducts and so on

and all of this helped to weld together

the massive empire that they had built

this empire consisted of hundreds of

different cultures and nationalities

there were jews to the east barbarians

to the north

and the ancient civilizations of greece

persia and north africa

all in one empire that was remarkably

stable and peaceful

outside of the roman empire there was

always the threat of some invader or

another

but within the boundaries of the empire

it was generally safe and a pretty good

place to live

that's if you put aside the brutality of

the romans and the slavery and all that

but that's the price you paid for the

pax romana the roman peace

in return

from northern europe to north africa and

from spain to the far reaches of the

middle east people could count on roman

water roman roads and roman law

and compared to most of the societies of

the time

rome was remarkably tolerant in matters

of religion

people had almost total freedom as to

what god they worshipped and how

one of the reasons why this vast amalgam

of cultures

worked well for so long was that the

romans had a larger than life person at

the top

and that was

the emperor

as long as you respected him all would

be well

in fact you could worship whatever god

you pleased

as long as you also respected the deity

of the emperor

now of course people knew that the

emperor wasn't really a god but that

wasn't the point

the point was that he represented the

authority of rome

it wasn't really a big deal for the

people of that time

usually

all they had to do was offer a tiny

pinch of incense to the emperor once in

a while on special days like his

birthday and then you could go back to

your normal life

but the jews were an exception

they refused to offer the emperor their

worship because their holy book forbade

idolatry

and they were the only people in the

whole empire who were actually exempt

from offering incense to the emperor

that's because the jews had been very

helpful to julius caesar in the past and

in return he passed laws that excused

them from sacrificing to the emperor

forever

as long as they did one thing and that

was to pray for the emperor

but then there was another group of

people the christians

at first glance

the christians and the jews didn't seem

that different in fact for a while

people saw christianity as just one of

the various sects of

judaism but the romans soon found out

that with the christians

they were dealing with a whole new

kettle of fish

and it was one that they couldn't get

their heads around at all

you see you have to try to understand

christianity from the romans point of

view

the romans had no problem with all the

different religions of the empire to

them it was all very logical to

understand

each race or country had their own

religion the romans had their own

national religion and so did the

egyptians and the greeks and so on

so they could understand that the jews

had their own religion

these were all legitimate religions

because they were all ancient beliefs

that belonged to a specific culture it

was all neat and easy to understand

the word the romans gave to these

legitimate religions was religio

now the word sounds familiar because

that's where we get the english word

religion from

but christianity was very different

it had just burst on the scene seemingly

out of nowhere early in the first

century

it was a faith that didn't belong to any

specific country or race

people everywhere embraced it it knew no

boundaries

and the romans were deeply suspicious of

anything

that wasn't part of the established

order like that

and because it wasn't rooted in ancient

traditions and practices

it was filled with what the romans

considered were foolish ideas

its leader had been executed

and the romans thought that anyone who

made a hero out of a man who had been

crucified by roman law let alone call

him god

had to be both a lunatic and a traitor

but the christians didn't stop there

they went on to say that their leader

had risen from the dead

now the romans believed that death was

the end

no one ever came back from death

it was as we might say it scientifically

impossible

to them the idea was pure nonsense

it wasn't even in their roman myths

and what made it even worse

was that these christians

said that this crucified criminal was

coming back from heaven

to put an end to the whole roman empire

and establish his own eternal kingdom

that's what this sacred book the bible

predicted in its prophecies

it predicted the rise and fall of many

empires including rome

here's how the prophet daniel described

it in daniel chapter 7 and verse 14.

then to him was given dominion and glory

and a kingdom

that all peoples nations and languages

should serve him

his dominion is an everlasting dominion

which shall not pass away

and his kingdom

the one which shall not be destroyed

and then of course there was the lord's

prayer

that the christians were taught to pray

regularly

here's what it says in matthew chapter 6

verses 9 to 13.

our father in heaven hallowed be your

name

your kingdom come your will be done

for yours is the kingdom

and the power and the glory forever

amen

to the roman mind

these kinds of ideas were seen as highly

treasonous in the extreme against the

empire

after all

the roman empire was intended to last

forever

and then to make matters worse

all sorts of false rumors swirled around

regarding what christians believed and

how they lived

they were accused of the most violent

evil practices

so this was another problem

the romans had a word for this kind of

non-traditional and non-racial religion

they called it superstitio

and if that sounds familiar to you

it's because it's where we get our

english word superstition

to the romans

christianity wasn't worthy to be classed

as a proper religion

it was just a lot of crazy superstitions

after all

the word was that this new faith had

been started by some uncivilized and

uneducated jewish teacher from the

backwater of palestine

to the romans that was laughable in

itself

so the romans considered christianity to

be seditious

treasonous against the empire

and positively harmful to the moral

fabric of society

this

was a clash of empires

a clash between rome and christianity

[Music]

all of which brings us to the other baby

who changed the world

he too was born under the shadow of the

roman empire

he too was born of humble peasant stock

in a small village

no one had ever heard of

he too

was born under a cloud of illegitimacy

his real father was also

far more powerful than anyone could have

imagined

he too was an unlikely king who changed

the world forever

his name

of course is jesus

jesus of nazareth

the very one

whom the christians worshiped as god

now the christians despite all the false

rumors about their beliefs were actually

good citizens in every sense

except for just one thing

for them

emperor worship was out of the question

their worship

was reserved for jesus alone

and when it came down to it to refuse to

worship the emperor was to reject the

authority of the empire itself

and that made them traitors

and as we know

the romans didn't take kindly to

traitors

it all came to a head in 1864

when a great fire broke out in rome

the roman population blamed their mad

emperor nero

and nero blamed the christians as a

convenient scapegoat

it's really amazing that this happened

only around 33 years or so after the

crucifixion of jesus

and already christianity had spread from

judea all the way to rome

in just a few years it had reached the

very heart of the empire

the new religion centered in jesus

christ was capturing the hearts and

minds of its citizens

and its beliefs values and principles

clash with those of rome

so it's no wonder that the romans

considered christianity a serious threat

to their empire

it was feared and hated and its

followers were persecuted

but the problem was the more christians

were persecuted the faster it grew

this truly was a clash of empires

the battle lines are set

we have the births of two babies with

amazing similarities

we have two men who are going to rule

two great empires

and in due time

their paths are destined to cross

and when these two empires collide

the results are going to be

incredible they will impact in ways that

will determine the very shape of our

civilization and how we act and think

we'll continue with the next dramatic

chapter in this story

in our next program however you can see

the battle line shaping up

which side which empire will prove

triumphant the roman empire or

christianity

the empire of this world or the kingdom

of god

the answer may surprise you

because there's a strange twist to this

clash of empires there's more than meets

the eye

here's what the bible says in ephesians

chapter 6 verses 12 and 13.

our struggle is not against flesh and

blood but against the rulers against the

authorities against the powers of this

dark world

and against the spiritual forces of evil

in the heavenly realms

therefore

put on the full armor of god

so that when the day of evil comes

you may be able to stand your ground

and after you have done everything

to stand

if you've enjoyed today's program on

constantine the great and would like to

dig deeper then i'd like to recommend

the special gift we have for all our

viewers today

it's the booklet a clash of empires

this booklet will share with you the

greatest clash of empires the world has

ever seen

this booklet is our gift to you i

guarantee there are no costs or

obligations whatsoever

so make the most of this wonderful

opportunity to receive the free gift we

have for you today here's the

information you need

phone or text us at 0436 triple three

triple five in australia or 020 402 2042

in new zealand or visit our website

tij.tv

to request today's free offer and we'll

send it to you totally free of charge

and with no obligation

write to us at gpo box 274 sydney new

south wales 2001 australia or po box

70673

manukau auckland 2241 new zealand don't

delay call or text us now

[Music]

if you've enjoyed today's journey to

nish in serbia following the footsteps

of constantine the great and our

reflections on the clash between the

roman empire and christianity then be

sure to join us again next week when we

will share another of life's journeys

together

let's pray

dear heavenly father

we thank you because although life is

full of difficult choices

you are the one who shines the light

where there is darkness

help us to choose jesus and his rule in

our lives

help us to study your word

so that we may be strengthened and

encouraged for our journey through this

life

we ask this in jesus name

amen

[Music]