The fall of a nation Edward Gibbon authored “The decline and fall of the Roman Empire”. A six volume series of books about the deteriorating conditions of the Roman Empire from 180 – 1590 AD. He points out five major factors for Rome’s fall.

The fall of a nation 1. The rapid increase of divorce and undermining of the dignity of the home, which is the basis of human society.

The fall of a nation Increase of divorce, undermining home Matthew 19:1-9 He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery."

The fall of a nation Increase of divorce, undermining home Colossians 3:5-7 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

The fall of a nation Increase of divorce, undermining home Romans 1:24-28 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

The fall of a nation Increase of divorce, undermining home Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

The fall of a nation 2. Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public monies for free bread and circuses for the populace.

The fall of a nation Higher taxes, spending public money Romans 13:1-2 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

The fall of a nation Higher taxes, spending public money Psalm 139:13-16 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

The fall of a nation 3. The mad craze for pleasure, sports becoming every year more exciting and brutal.

The fall of a nation Mad craze for pleasure Galatians 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The fall of a nation 4. The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within, the decadence of the people.

The fall of a nation The decadence of the people Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

The fall of a nation 5. The decay of religion - faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life and becoming impotent to warn and guide the people.

The fall of a nation The decay of religion 2 Timothy 3:2-5 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;

The fall of a nation The decay of religion Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

The fall of a nation The decay of religion Psalm 9:17 The wicked will return to Sheol, Even all the nations who forget God.

The fall of a nation The decay of religion 1 Timothy 2:1-2 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

The fall of a nation How long will this nation stand? Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.