Are riots inspired by the Roman goddess Libertas signs the U.S. and France will face the same downfall as the Roman Republic and allow the Man of Lawlessness, the Antichrist, to rise to power?
READ TIME: 4.5 Minutes
Part IV in a series – see previous posts Part I & 2 America’s False Goddess has Ensnared the Country in a Demonic Trap, America’s False Goddess Libertas Stands at the Nation’s Gateway, and Has the Goddess of the Capitol Sealed America’s Destiny?
Riots and the Connection to Libertas
It is almost a year since George Floyd’s death, and protests erupted over the entire country. In these most volatile incidents, we saw looting, violence, police-free zones, and government-free zones. Within these zones, protestors overthrew authority and established lawlessness.
In France, the situation is also volatile with clashes between the country’s European population and its Muslim population. And just like the U.S., there have been riots and zones where police and government authority are rejected.
The situations are so bad that 61% of Americans surveyed and 45% of the French surveyed are concerned their respective are on the brink of civil war.
We can point to causes such as racism or immigration, but there is also a spiritual cause behind the lawlessness.
While republics like the U.S. and France adopted Roman Republic ideals into their own government structures, they also adopted some of their gods. One, in particular, Libertas, was prevalent at the Roman Republic’s beginning but also contributed to its turbulent end.
Interestingly, both the U.S. and France embraced the Roman goddess Libertas at the start of their revolutions. From that time forth, they have continued to incorporate her into their national symbols.
Are the riots in these countries a sign that they are destined for the same fate as their Roman predecessor? And could these events contribute to the conditions for the Man of Lawlessness, the Antichrist to rise to power?
Libertas Begins with Rebellion
Rome
Libertas’ first appearance coincided with the creation of the Roman Republic. She was worshipped by the family of Lucius Junius Brutus, who led the rebellion against the last king of Rome. His successful rebellion expelled the royal line and founded the Republic.
America
Like Rome, America adopted Libertas in the beginning of its rebellion against kingly power.
In America, Libertas’ first appearance came after a riotous rebellion produced a victory over Britian in the repeal of the Stamp Act. In celebrating their victory, Paul Revere created an obelisk to be placed under the Liberty Tree paying tribute to Libertas. Under an image containing Libertas, he inscribed poetic phrases praising the goddess.
Paul “revered” Libertas, and also added her to the masthead he designed for the newspaper The Massachusetts Spy during the years of the Revolutionary War. Other revolutionaries such as Thomas Paine, praised her in his poem Liberty Tree in 1775. And Ben Franklin struck a medal with her image in 1783, commemorating the victory at Yorktown and France’s assistance. The medal portrayed a bust of Libertas under the phrase “Libertas Americana.” On the flip side, the medal depicted France as a soldier defending an infant America. Above the image was the phrase, “The brave infant is aided by the Gods.“
Franklin minted two medals in gold and presented them to Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. Ironically, the King and Queen were about to become victims of a Libertas rebellion in their own country.
France
Like America, the French adopted Libertas in connection with the rebellion against the king. The French nationalized her, giving her the name Marianne. She first became popular as the subject of a medal in July 1789, celebrating the storming of the Bastille by rioters. This marked the beginning of the French Revolution and ushered in a period known as the Great Fear.
Unlike the American Revolution, the French Revolution was riotous and lawless. In 1793, the National Convention decreed that the new seal of the state would include the image of Marianne. Just months later, revolutionaries beheaded the King, beginning a period known as the Reign of Terror. During this 10-month period, revolutionaries sent thousands accused of counter-insurgency to the guillotines.
At this time, in 1793, Marianne’s image became more violent; bare-breasted, and fierce-looking, often leading men into battle with a pike or lance in hand.
So like Rome, the U.S. and France adopted Libertas at the beginning of their rebellions against kings. And like Rome, they incorporated her idol into many aspects of their society. But Libertas is also associated with the Roman Republic’s downfall. Are the U.S. and France repeating history?
Libertas and Riots in the Fall of the Roman Republic
The events preceding the fall of the Roman Republic seem to be eerily repeating today.
While Libertas was deified at the beginning of the Roman Republic, she also had a hand in its downfall. She revealed her snare during a period leading up to its fall known as the crisis of the Roman Republic. The crisis started as early as 134 BC with a politician named Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus.
Gracchus’ family worshipped Libertas and Gracchus actually shared his name with his ancestor who built the first temple to Libertas. He was a populist politician who tried to redistribute land to the poor to the ire of the nobles. After the nobles assassinated him, the poor rioted in mass in the city in reaction to his death.
Roman historian, soldier, and senator, Marcus Velleius Paterculus, considered this event the start of the downfall of the Republic. He stated, “This was the beginning of civil bloodshed and of the free reign of swords in the city of Rome. From then on justice was overthrown by force and the strongest was preeminent.“
Repeating History
From Gracchus’ assassination to Julius Caesar’s death in 44 BC, mob violence skyrocketed in Rome. Historians have attributed this to immigration, gaps in societal classes, and a cultural acceptance of violence. Notably, these are among the same issues causing riots in the U.S. and France today.
Another recent trend associated with the Roman crisis is that Roman senators or aristocracy members often incited mobs to serve their purpose. This was standard practice for Roman politicians such as Clodius, whose mobs would even prevent opposing senators from voting. Clodius was a worshipper of Libertas but used her as a license to do as he pleased, even building a second temple to Libertas on his nemesis’ property.
In reflection of this practice, politicians such as Maxine Waters started inciting people to form crowds and harass political opponents as they carried out their personal lives.
As if history were repeating, this period in Roman history also included a Capitol breach in 100 BC. In an election, praetor Gaius Servilius Glaucia realized the votes were not moving in his favor. Supporters of Glaucia rioted in the streets against their rivals and then retreated to Capitoline Hill (yes, the place from where the U.S. got the name Capitol Hill). At the Capitol building, they seized the building and barricaded themselves inside.
Does any of this sound familiar? This was the spiritual atmosphere at the downfall of the Roman Republic, and it is the spiritual atmosphere today.
So is Libertas associated with today’s riots?
Libertas Appearing in Riots in the U.S. and France
Notably, Libertas as Marianne continues to be a focus of protests in France. For example, Yellow Vest protesters gathered at the statue of Marianne in late 2018 and lit her up with flares.
However, the traditional image of Libertas doesn’t fit today’s rioters. She has emerged in recent times with a modern look. Though she appears different, she represents the same spirit. Here are a couple of examples from France.
In the U.S., an image appeared in the Seattle CHOP that carries the same Libertas spirit (and designed by the same artist as the Marianne depiction above). You can see the defiant stand against authority in the woman’s face posted on a Seattle police station. This is liberty from authority – this is Libertas.
These pictures are the new faces of Libertas. So why is she rising again now? And is her rise connected to the end of this age?
Libertas and the Antichrist Spirit
There are a number of intriguing connections between the Libertas spirit and the antichrist spirit.
- Warring against the saints. In the same year that the French National Convention adopted Libertas/Marianne as a symbol, they also changed the calendar and tried to eradicate Christianity, replacing it with goddess worship, including Libertas. This is a sign of the antichrist spirit, who per Daniel 7 will “wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law.”
- Doing as one pleases. In the late Roman Republic, politicians such as Clodius used Libertas as a justification for doing as one likes. An angel described the Antichrist four times using this same phrase in Daniel 8 and 11.
- Lawlessness. As cited above, Libertas has manifested in lawlessness and riots throughout history. This trait is similar to the antichrist spirit, which the Apostle Paul described as lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2).
- Overthrowing Kings. From her beginning in Rome, Libertas has been associated with the overthrow of kings. She assumed this role in the American Revolution and the French Revolution and is memorialized for such in the rotunda of the Capitol. This is much like the Antichrist, who overthrows kings and even wars against the King of Kings.
We know from Jesus that lawlessness will increase as we approach the end of this age. And we know from Paul that this is a precursor and a sign of the Antichrist, the man of lawlessness.
The rise of Libertas is the rise of lawlessness and a sign of the Man of Lawlessness to come, the Antichrist. The Libertas spirit has the potential to destroy two of the most established republics in the world. This vacuum of power may be a necessary step for the Antichrist to rise.