12 Tribes of Israel
Map of the 12 Tribes of Israel
The 12 tribes of Israel came from the families of Jacob's 12 sons (Genesis 49:28). Jacob later in life became known as Israel. Each tribe took the name of their ancestor, one of Jacob's sons. And they each claimed a specific chunk of land to call their own.
The tribes were spread out across the land of Canaan, which is modern-day Israel and Palestine. On the east side of the Jordan River, you had the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. These guys got some wonderful pastoral land, which was great for grazing their animals, such as like the sheep and goats and camels.
West of the Jordan River
As for the other nine tribes, they were situated on the west side of the Jordan. From the north to the south, you had the tribes of Asher, Naphtali, Zebulun, Issachar, Manasseh (the other half, to be exact), Ephraim, Benjamin, Dan, and Simeon. These tribes were given land that stretched from the Mediterranean Sea all the way to the Jordan River.
Oh, and let's not forget about the tribe of Levi. They were the ones who were in charge of the Temple and didn't really get a specific piece of land to call their own. Instead, they were spread throughout the communities of the other 12 tribes.
The geography of the 12 tribes of Israel was quite diverse and spread out across a large swath of land of hills and fields and coastland and river land and desert. But, somehow, they managed to come together as a people and make a name for themselves as a powerful nation.
Then they split in two. But that comes later.
To compare The Casual English Bible with other versions, see the Bible Gateway.
Jerusalem Temple rebuilt by King Herod the Great
Promised Land
Map of Hebrews 7 Ancient Jerusalem
Map of Hebrews 7 Ancient Jerusalem
Map of Hebrews 7 Ancient Jerusalem. "Melchizedek was king of Salem and a priest of God Most High."
Ancient Jerusalem
Hebrews 11 map
Hebrews 11 map
Hebrews 11 map . "It took faith for these refugees to walk across the Red Sea on dry land."
Red Sea ahead
Map of Abraham’s route
Map of Rome
Map of Rome
Map of ancient Rome
Paul and Peter executed here
In New Testament times, Rome was a big deal, and it played a major role in stories of the Bible and the early days of Christianity. That's because Rome was the center of the known world, the bustling heart of a vast Mediterranean-wide empire. Its influence reached far and wide, and it left a mark on the Bible and Christian history.Rome in the Bible
First, let's talk about how Rome shows up in the Bible. In the Gospel of Luke, we read about the famous census decreed by Caesar Augustus, which brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. That's a direct connection between Rome and the birth of Jesus. As we read through the New Testament, we'll find frequent references to Roman authorities. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. He gave the green light for Jesus' crucifixion. And Paul, one of the early Christian leaders, was a Roman citizen, which granted him certain legal privileges. His travels, documented in the Book of Acts, led him to Rome, under arrest, where he eventually faced trial before the emperor. Scholars debate whether he was executed that time or after a later arrest. But early Christian writers report that Romans executed Paul and Peter there. Paul, beheaded. Peter crucified upside down.Paul's letter to Rome
Paul wrote several letters (or epistles) to early Christian communities, and many of them were sent to Rome. The Letter to the Romans, for instance, addresses theological matters and encourages the Roman Christians in their faith journey. That book is the one that many Christian scholars say was the first theology book. Paul describes what it means to be a Christian, and how Christian behave. Then there's the Bible's grand finale: the Book of Revelation. This book is full of vivid imagery and apocalyptic visions. It contains messages for seven churches in Asia Minor (western Turkey). And it was written by a man called John, exiled on the island of Patmos, which was under Roman rule. Many scholars say the evil John described was coded language talking about Rome. Many theorize that the Beast and the Mark of the Beast (the number 666) pointed to Emperor Nero. (See Complete Guide to Bible Prophecy or Who's Who & Where's Where in the Bible.) So, Rome became the backdrop of many Bible stories, and its presence helped shape the early Christian narrative.Rome's persecution of Christians
The Roman Empire's persecution of Christians was a dark chapter in history. It began sporadically in the first century AD and intensified under Emperor Nero, who blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD. Over the years, Christians faced various forms of persecution, including arrests, torture, and execution. Emperors like Decius and Diocletian issued edicts demanding Christian sacrifices to Roman gods, resulting in widespread suffering. Despite these hardships, Christianity continued to grow, eventually gaining official recognition and support under Emperor Constantine in the early 4th century, marking a significant turning point in the faith's history within the Roman Empire.Rome
Bible map of Italy
Video of Antichrist
Video of Antichrist
Video of Antichrist
There’s no one Antichrist coming to take over the world, as far as the Bible reports. Instead, there’s a bunch of them “crawling all over the place” (1 John 2:18 Casual English Bible). It’s not hard for us to tell if we’re one of them. There’s probably enough in this seven-minute video to offend everyone a time or two. That’s not the intention. What I’ve tried to do is help folks understand what the Bible teaches about the idea of an antichrist. I give examples to illustrate what Bible writers might call antichrist behavior today. Emphasis on “might.” I’m not speaking for those writers or judging the eternal destiny of people today. I’m not the judge. But, like all of us, I’m sitting in the gallery taking note of what I see and hear. And I try to measure it all against the teachings of Jesus. Peace to you.
Video Antichrist