The Forum in Rome contains historical buildings from Pagan Rome’s government and religiopolitical system to its conversion to Christianity- it is particularly significant to an understanding of the development of church and state as outlined in Daniel chapter 11- how Pagan Rome became Papal Rome. The significance of Papal Rome is that exists and is a persecuting power right up to the time of the second coming of Christ. The significance of Pagan Rome is it lays the foundation for Papal Rome.
The forum today is divided down the middle with one side pagan Rome and the other side Papal where the church was placed on top of Pagan temples
All buildings in the forum both public and private were dedicated to the gods. King Numa Pompilius was said to have established four colleges of priests. Succeeding Romulus ‘He is credited with the formulation of the religious calendar and with the founding of Rome’s other early religious institutions, including the Vestal Virgins; the cults of Mars, Jupiter, and Romulus deified (Quirinus); and the office of pontifex maximus.’ All decisions had to be held on sanctified ground from holding elections to passing laws. The priests had the final say over planning decisions.
Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the College of Pontiffs, his name means greatest bridge bridger, he was the bridge between gods and man. He regulated the rituals of Roman life and divine law.He was master of the vestal virgins. Chosen at the age of 16 for their moral and physical perfection. Their job was to preserve the sacred flame of Rome, sweep out the temple of the hearth goddess Vesta, and to make the special salt cake (mola salsa) for the annual 8-day festival. They also preserved sacred objects. They had to remain virgins and the punishment for a violation of this was extreme.
Near the temple of Vesta was the site of the Regia, thought by the Romans to have been the residence of their early kings. While King Numa established Numa Marcius as the first Pontifex Maximus, Augustus himself took that role as Caesar. In the forum, we see what remains of the residence of the Pontifex Maximus.
The forum in Rome provides important historical images of prophecy. On viewing old ruins it may seem like a heap of old rubble left from the Caesars and it is but has a very important illustration from the past that shapes the world’s future.
