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LUKE 2:1-20

I. EARTHLY CONDITIONS "AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THOSE DAYS, THERE WENT OUT A DECREE FROM CEASAR
   AUGUSTUS.
        A. Ceasar Augustus.
                1. First Roman Emperor.
                2. Real name Caius Octavius.
                3. Roman Senate choose his title.
                        a. Refused dictator (temporary).
                        b. Refused king (didn't signify enough..
                        c. Augustus (signifying divine sanction).
        B. "In Those days."
                1. Roman republic passed away and there emerged the Roman Empire.
                2. Gates of temple of Janus were closed.
                3. Roman people passed under despotism of Autocratic ruler.
                4. That empIre had bludgeoned world into submission whole world crushed under
                   heel of despot.
                5. The one period of history when one man attained world mastery
                6. "Jesus was born."
                        Let the significance fall on us.
                7. Ceasar issued a decree world should be enrolled and it was done.
                        a. There was no appeal.
                        b. They came!  Because Ceasar said to.
                8. No war.
                        a. Beautiful, think again.
                        b. Most damnable condition world ever knew.
                                1. Not glorifying war.
                                2. People bludgeoned into submission.
                                3. Darkest hour of world history.
        C. Small Roman outpost, Palestine.
                1. Young couple of Nazareth, only two people.
                2. No more effect on Ceasar that you have on President.
                3. They must go to Bethlehem, Ceasar ordered.
                4. Look again, two people going to Bethlehem. Look at the woman.
                        a. Her womb is the tabernacle of the Son of God.
                5. Climb high and look down upon this scene.
                        a. They are going to Bethlehem, because at this psychic moment of
                           History Ceasar decided to enroll the world.
                6. My Bible 650 yrs. previously had declared, "And thou Bethlehem, Ephrathah,
                   which art little, shall One come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in 
                   Israel, whose going forth is from old, from everlasting."