THE BATTLE THAT BEGAN THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE – PROPHECY FULFILLED!

The Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar (64 BC – 14 AD) wailed "Give me back my legions!" This he cried when he heard the news that in far off Germania the pagan tribes had defeated his military divisions in the forests of northern Germany.    The death of so many of his soldiers took place in the brooding and dark Teutoburg Forests. Cold, damp, and mysterious, the Black Forests were the home of all of the German gods. And as well, the German people were strong, strong-willed, evil, and blood thirsty. They trounced the Romans in a most unpleasant way.    For decades the Romans were moving north through Gaul and then into what is now the Baltic Sea region. They campaigned eastward to the Elbe River, establishing forts that they hoped would create a buffer along the Rhine that would retard the invasion of the Germans into civilized Italy. If there was any good about the Roman incursions it would be that many Roman soldiers were Christians and they took their faith into those dark regions of Europe with many Germans being converted to Christ.    The Germans were divided into many tribal peoples but the coming of the Romans caused them to unite in order to stand fast against the Roman legions. The Imperial Roman troops were sophisticated in their tactics and weaponry; the Germans fought with basics: clubs, swords, spears, and with helter-skelter tactics. As the Roman legions marched forward into the darkness of cold and sinister woods, the Germans simply retreated, pulling the Romans further and further into unknown territory.    The Roman commander Varus had his hands full. Besides his legionaries, he had a large mob of wives, children, prostitutes, and traders. In one final push to reach the Baltic Sea, he struggled through cold, wind, and rain. They fought their way through thick, dark trees, and underbrush, crawling streams that were icy cold, and mud that bogged down horses and carts. The tribesmen knew the terrain well but the Romans did not.    Suddenly, the Germans leaped to the attack, closing steadily with their enemy. Casualties were horrific. In order to escape and survive, the Romans burned their wagons and anything else that was not essential. On the second day, the Germans had surrounded the Romans deep in their forests. Torrential rains waterlogged the troops and made it impossible to move. Slogging through the night the Romans had unwittingly marched into a hopeless position. The cold marshes became their graves. Their tormenters assailed them every step of the way. Because they knew what their fate would be if captured, many of the Romans committed suicide.    The three Romans legions were almost completely wiped out—the Germans had suffered almost no casualties. The Romans began a long 400 year retreat from Europe. The Germans consider to this day the battle of the Teutoburg Forest a symbol of German unity and nationalism.    Prophecy was fulfilled. Daniel predicted the Fall of Rome in that the Empire would be divided up into small pieces. He wrote "Like iron that breaks in pieces, the [Roman Empire] will be crushed and break into many pieces" (Dan. 2:40). That Empire will be like iron mixed with clay (v. 41). "Part of it will be brittle" (v. 42). The pieces "will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery" (v. 43). But someday it will be seen as a fourth beast (or kingdom) "dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it will have large iron teeth" (7:7) and be led by a "little one," a violent horn that will have great power (vv. 7-8).    We are seeing today the revival of that Roman Empire! – Mal Couch (May., 10)