The Emperors of Rome vs. The Messiah

Near the end of his life, as the Roman Emperor Domitian was making claims of divinity and persecuting the church, the Apostle John wrote, “the whole world lieth in wickedness” (1 Jn. 5:19b). John was teaching that earthly rulers, who are usually outside the grace of God, serve the purposes of Satan, not only by being ruthless dictators, but also by attempting to thwart the purposes of God and