September 16: THE IMPOSER OF TAXES (part 1)

Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. Daniel 11:19

Julius Caesar indeed turn[ed] his face toward the fortress of his own land with a mind to come home. But he did not return to Rome as a private citizen, as the Senate had demanded. He was enormously popular and was at first made a dictator (49BC), but after only eleven tense days he resigned. The next year a battle for power with Pompey ensued—the Battle of Pharsalus—and  Caesar won, making him the de facto sovereign ruler over Rome. His popularity continued to climb, and in 46BC he was made dictator for ten years, but only two years later (44BC) he was made dictator for life.

However, all of his military successes and immense popularity among the people did not alter the negative opinion of several Senators who were opposed to his autocratic leaning and increasing power. Aware of their objections, he went on to make sweeping reforms, including redistribution of land and cancellation of debts, which pleased the masses and angered the elite. This is where he stumbled and eventually fell.

At the height of his power, in the Theatre of Pompey during a Senate meeting, these several Senators, led by Brutus and Cassius, walked calmly toward Caesar under the ruse of discussing matters of state. Together they proceeded to stab him to death. It was March 15, 44BC.

The conspirators defended themselves, claiming they were acting on behalf of the Roman Republic. After the murder, the Senate changed the name of his birth month from Quintilis to July in his honor. Nevertheless, Julius Caesar’s assassination sparked a series of civil wars that paved the way for his adopted son Octavian, actually a great-nephew, to rise to power. This marked the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire. Thus, our next verse is fulfilled:

There shall arise in his place one who imposes taxes on the glorious kingdom; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle. v.20

Octavian accomplished the elimination of rivals and consolidation of power through years of political maneuvering and civil wars. During these years, he presented himself as a restorer of the republic by gradually establishing a new system—the Principate—which employed terms for himself such as princeps (meaning “first citizen”). His strategy amassed authority that resulted in the Senate conferring rulership upon him in 27BC. They changed his name to Augustus Caesar and he named the month following July for himself: August. The Principate maintained an illusion of republicanism, making the autocracy “acceptable” to the masses and the elite, leading to a period of relative peace known as Pax Romana (the peace of Rome).

And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed… And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem… To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. Luke 2:1,3-5 (KJV)