Colonies of Heaven

Rome has been deemed by millions through millennia to be a city that is magical and royal and spiritual and holy. Supernatural. The gods thought of it as a door into the earth. In terms defined by the Kingdom of Heaven, most of what it represents and has represented is dark and deceptive and evil.

It was raised up for the days Jesus was in flesh on the earth to be a tool that could be used for enhanced communication and growth for His body and His Kingdom. Common language helped facilitate evangelism and networks of administration.

Two systems that Rome used in their governmental structure were also used by Jesus in the structure of His government: ekklesia and apostle. It is easy for me to believe that He gave them the idea so His followers would understand what He meant when He used the terms.

In the empire that Rome governed, many kingdoms were subdued and ruled over by the locals who could be bought as proxies and those who were citizens of Rome, sent to keep loyal eyes on the locals. Citizens were either born in the city or had purchased their citizenship. Citizens of the empire were not citizens of Rome otherwise. Then, (about 338 BC?) Roman leaders decided to send Roman citizens to major outposts as “apostles,” who would, by their presences, transform the outpost into a colony of the city of Rome. Then, being born in the colony would make a person a citizen of Rome.

Ephesus, Tarsus, Alexandria and other cities were granted the status, and the apostolic group of citizens of Rome were the means of accomplishment of imparting the magic and supernatural connection between the host city and Rome. They brought the culture and government and other influences of Rome into the target city. The apostles Jesus has chosen through the ages are doing the same in the places they invade with their citizenship and anointing from the Heavenly Jerusalem where they have been born of their God.

The fact that Jesus prayed all night one night and the next day named 12 of His disciples to join Him in being apostles (Hebrews 3:1) is very important. The fact that religious leaders have told us that there have only been 12 apostles is very disturbing. The Bible names at least 17, with no record that states the ministry would not continue until the end of the earth. Paul said that we would be gifted by Jesus with apostles until we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, attaining the fullness of the measure of the stature of Him as our Husband (Ephesians 4:7-16). I have seen lots of congregations, but I have not seen all coming into unity of the faith and knowledge of Jesus. Apostles are still needed, and therefore, present. Pray for them.