CONSTANTINE
THE GREAT
ONE IN A LONG LIST
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SOME EMPERORS OF THE
ROMAN EMPIRE
AUGUSTUS (31-14) JESUS WAS BORN
TIBERIUS (14-37) JESUS DIED
GAIUS (CALIGULIA) (37-41)
CLAUDIUS (41-54)
NERO (54-68) PAUL WAS KILLED BY
VESPASIAN (69-79)
TITUS (79-81)
DOMITIAN (81-96) CHRISTIANS WERE MARTYRED
NERVA (96-98) JOHN WAS RELEASED FROM PATMOS
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MARCUS AURELIUS (161-180)
COMMODUS (180-192)
DIOCLETIAN (284-305) MORE
PERSECUTION
LICINIUS (308-324)
CONSTANTINE (306-337)
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Constantine is known by many in the world as
the first Christian emperor of the Roman
Empire. He and another emperor composed
the Edit of Milan which gave the Christians
the right to worship and which restored
property taken away from the Christians.
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Constantine had an imposing and winning person, and his
flatterers said he was like Apollo.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, handsome, remarkably
vigorous and healthy, but was given to vanity in dress,
always wearing a crown or helmut studded with jewels and
a purple mantle of silk richly embroidered with pearls and
flowers worked in gold.
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At first he reverenced all the gods as mysterious powers,
especially Apollo, the god of the sun, to whom he presented
many gifts in 308. He regularly sought the advice of
soothsayers in public misfortunes, and he placed his new
residence under the protection of the God of the Martyrs
and the heathen goddess of Fortune.
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Down to the end of his life he retained the title of Pontifex
Maximus, or high priest of the heathen hierarchy.
His coins bore on the one side the letters of the name of
Christ, on the other the figure of the sun god and the
inscription “Sol invictus.”
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He summoned the Council of Nicea; he ordered the
execution of his rival and brother-in-law, after he had
promised mercy. He also caused the death of his nephew
(11 years old) and his eldest son. He is also said to have
caused the death of his wife, in addition to the wars he
engaged in.
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Constantine was baptized shortly before he died.
Christianity, however, had not produced in him a
thorough moral transformation but was, instead, an
efficient power for a political reformation of the
empire.
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Ellen White tells us:
Little by little, at first in stealth and silence and then more openly
as it increased in strength and gained control of the minds of men,
the mystery of iniquity carried forward its deceptive and
blasphemous work. Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism
found their way into the Christian church. The spirit of compromise
and conformity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions
which the church endured under paganism. But as persecution
ceased, and Christianity entered the courts and palaces of kings, she
laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles for the
pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers; and in place of the
requirements of God, she substituted human theories and traditions.
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The nominal conversion of Constantine in the early part
of the fourth century caused great rejoicing; and the
world, arrayed in robes of righteousness, walked into the
church. Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed.
Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the
conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church. Her doctrines,
ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the
faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ.
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This compromise between paganism and Christianity
resulted in the development of the man of sin
foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself
above God. That gigantic system of false religion is a
masterpiece of Satan’s power—a monument of his
efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth
according to his will. (Story of Redemption, pp. 326,
327)
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One way the man of sin opposed God was to prohibit
the Bible from being available to the people.
Satan knew the Bible would expose him and give
power to the people to withstand him, so he worked
through the Papacy to prevent the people from learning
truth. The people were forbidden to read the Bible or to
have it in their houses. Instead, they had to rely on the
priests to teach it to them.
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Another way the man of sin opposed God was to give
the people images to worship, such as the image of
Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the image of Jesus on
the cross.
What does the second commandment say?
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Credits:
Slide 9: Son of Groucho at flickr
Slide 20: Steel Wool at flickr
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