Abstract The following paper discusses Trajan's reign as a near perfect Roman ruler. The writer examines what Trajan accomplished during his reign, including restoring the treasury that had been depleted under Domitian's reign, causing the empire to undergo an expansion program that had not been seen since before the time of Augustus, lowering taxes, enlarging public works and renovating Italy's roads.
From the Paper "Marcus Ulpius Trajanus was born on "the fourteenth day before the kaleds of March" or in other words, September 18th, probably in the year AD 52 at Italica near Seville, Spain. Being of Spanish origin made him the first emperor who did not come from Italy, even though he was from an old Umbrian family from Tuder in northern Italy. Having chosen to settle in Spain, the family was not a purely provincial one (Empire, pg). Trajan was the son of a Senator, Consul, and Governor of Asia and Syria. His father, also Macus Ulpius Trajanus, commanded the Tenth Legion "Fretensis" in the Jewish War of AD 67-68. He became consul in AD 70 and in AD 75 he became governor of Syria, which was one of the key military provinces in the empire.?
Tags: praetorians, legions, soldiers, senator, affairs, government, roman
Abstract The Book of Revelation is a unique portion of the New Testament. Unlike the other Books found in the latter part of the Bible, the Book of Revelation is not presented as a historical document or an instructional discussion, but is essentially a prophetic book, intended to deliver a glimpse of upcoming history that affects the happenings of the church. The paper considers why more mystery and disagreement surrounds the Book of Revelation than any other part of the New Testament. It shows that one reason why there is so much disharmony in the interpretations of the Book of Revelation is that there are different perspectives from which this apocalyptic book could be understood. The magnificence of Revelation is apparent in its intersection of shared imagery, language and style. This paper focuses on chapter 20 of the book of Revelations, by dissecting it line by line.
From the Paper "Line eleven states ?And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.? This throne is the throne of judgement, and all nations are called to stand before God. The white throne represents purity, glory and triumph, and is the color of the light. There is to be a new heaven and earth, and the old ones are destroyed and will be reconstructed. The twelfth line reads ?And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.? This indicates how the dead of every part of earth all come to judgement. The records that contain all the deeds of men are opened, as is the book of life in which the names of the saints are kept. All are judged according to their works in these books."
Abstract This paper relates that the "Book of Revelation" was written by the Apostle John in Patmos as a prisoner of Emperor Domitian around the time of 95 A.D. The author points out that Revelation chapter 20 in its literary genre is composed of apocalyptic prophecy and contains many allusions to the Old Testament and the New Testament writings of Paul. The exegetical analysis includes a key investigation of three phases: postmillennial, premillenial and amillenial. The paper concludes that these verses stress that, despite persecution, death or life, demons or any other thing above or below the earth, nothing can separate mankind from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This paper lists sources as end-notes.
Table of Contents:
Historical Context
Literary Context
Exegetical Analysis
Application
From the Paper "Verse 14 and 15 involve two types of individuals, those found in the Book of Life and those not found. Those found in the Book of Life, not by own works or martyrdom or any other situation yet because they are righteous through the blood of the Lamb. And the other depraved souls who will be thrown, not placed or transported but thrown out of the presence of God. They are sent to a place of eternal torment, the same exact place where the devil and his companions had just been sent."
Tags: suffering prisoner, book of life, satan sovereignty
Abstract A biographical account of Roman satirist, Juvenal. The paper relates that he was the most famous Roman satirist and that he wrote of sex, avarice, criminals and idiots that he encountered in everyday life. The paper further relates that Juvenal's style was accessible to everyone with an easy flowing language and frequent use of graphic images and vulgarity in his poems. The paper also points out that considering that Juvenal is an important Roman author very little is known about him. However, scholars have determined that he lived during the later part of Domitian's reign as emperor. In addition, the paper explains that Juvenal wrote sixteen satires in five books in thirty years, all with the main theme of the corruption of Rome. The paper then reviews several of these satires. Sources are listed in end notes instead of a bibliography.
From the Paper "The system of patronage in Rome was important to Juvenal and he spends a good deal of time discussing the decline of this very important aspect of Roman intellectual life. He criticizes both stingy patrons and selfish clients for the current situations in which they find themselves. Other topics include advice against marriage, homosexuality, reliance on personal achievements and not the achievements of ancestors, and the corrosive power of wealth."
