Articles
Why Jerusalem Fell I
We have had, on occasion, the propensity to refer to a statement regarding the work of John Unwin, which said, “British anthropologist John D. Unwin conducted an in-depth study of eighty civilizations that have come and gone over a period of some four thousand years. He discovered that a common thread ran through all of them. In each instance, they started out with a conservative mind-set with strong moral values and a heavy emphasis on family. Over a period of time, the conservative mind-set became more and more liberal, moral values declined, and the family suffered. In each instance, as the family deteriorated, the civilization itself started to come apart; and in all eighty cases the fall of the Nation was related to the fall of the family. In most cases, that civilization fell within one generation of the fall of the family unit.” In regards to the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, it has been affirmed that Cardinal Gibbons had the following to say about the fall: 1) “The rapid increase of divorce; the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society.” 2) “Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public monies for free bread and circuses for the populace.” 3) “The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal.” 4) “The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within, the decadence of the people.” 5) “The decay of religion–faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life and becoming impotent to warn and guide the people” Fall of Roman Empire | Bible.org
In both cases the rise and fall of nations have been attributed to a liberal mind-set, declining moral values: decadence of the people, rapid increase in divorce and fall of the family. Sounds relatively contemporary.
These “facts” are the result of the historian’s conclusion of collected knowledge, which is all well and good and has its place in “history.” What we want to do is consider the fall of nations from a Biblical standpoint. Well, the fall of one nation in particular: Why Did Jerusalem Fall?
We begin our consideration with the prophet Zephaniah and the pronouncement of judgement to come upon the city of Jerusalem, chapter three verse one and two: “Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted! to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in Jehovah; she drew not near to her God” (you are encouraged to read the “rest of the story”). Let us consider seven transgressions of this nation that would fall due to the ungodliness.
- Rebellious
- Polluted
- Oppressing
- Obeyed not the voice
- Received not instruction
- Trusted not in Jehovah
- Drew not near to her God
(In our next installment we will consider the transgressions associated with each charge.)
- Why_Jerusalem_Fell_Part_I.pdf (68.99 kB)
