September 17: THE IMPOSER OF TAXES (part 2)

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. Daniel 11:20

When the Roman Senate finally conferred the name and title of Augustus Caesar upon Octavian, he was 35 years old. He was only 19 when Julius Caesar was murdered, but his accomplishments in the meantime were many. It was an uphill climb, beginning with forming the Second Triumvirate (with Mark Antony and Lepidus) and rooting out those who conspired to kill Julius. During those sixteen years, Octavian firmly established himself in the empire, and the other two members of the Triumvirate having died, the Senate acknowledged him as supreme ruler.

It was during the reign of Augustus Caesar that Rome reached the pinnacle of its greatness. He was most certainly an imposer of taxes across the whole empire, including the glorious kingdom. During the forty years of his rule, “peace was promoted, justice was maintained, luxury curbed, discipline established, and learning encouraged.” URIAH SMITH

As Daniel was being shown the things that were to come, this section of time in the life of the fourth beast of chapter seven was but a few days. Augustus Caesar died peacefully in his bed at age 75 on August 19, 14AD. Just as specified, the life of Rome’s first emperor ended not in anger or in battle.

And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. v.21

Marcus Agrippa was a close friend of Augustus and also his military commander from the start. As a naval commander, his skills proved decisive in the Battle of Actium (31BC), which moved Octavian toward the throne. He was his most trusted advisor, engaging in public works projects that enhanced the water supply by improving aqueducts, building baths, cleaning sewers, etc. This he did at his own expense to help Octavian win favor with the people. He was a skilled architect, designer of the original Pantheon, and those skills he also applied to harbor design. He married Julia, the only daughter of Augustus. When Augustus was preparing to nominate his successor to the throne, his wife, Livia, asked him to appoint Tiberius (her son from a former marriage). But he did not. Agrippa was appointed. But shortly after, Agrippa died due to illness contracted during the brutal winter of 13/12BC. Livia renewed her appeals to Augustus to choose Tiberius. Over time, weakened by age and wearied with illness, Augustus consented to name Tiberius as his successor.

The rule of Tiberius was characterized by violence on one hand, flattery and deception on the other. He was detested by the Senate and despised by the people. Indeed, his conduct was vile.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Luke 2:52-3:3