Galba, Otho, and Vitellius

by Steve Hale

Galba, Otho, and Vitellius: Up and Down in Less than a Year

Good words, but thousands of years ago the same things were said and they offer eternal life to Daniel 7 is another dream revealing the four great world empires symbolized by four beasts. The first was Babylon ( Daniel 7:4). The second was Persia ( Daniel 7:5). The third was Greece ( Daniel 7:6). The fourth was Rome ( Daniel 7:7-8). Of this fourth beast, Daniel prophesied:
"After this I saw in the night visions, and beliold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words" ( Daniel 7:7-8).
Later, Daniel tells us that this fourth beast was the fourth kingdom, or Rome ( Daniel 7:23). Further, he tells us that this kingdom was more powerful and comprehensive than the others ( Daniel 7:23). The ten horns were ten kings ( Daniel 7:24). The little horn was one that arose after them, was different from the others, and subdued three of the kings ( Daniel 7:24).

Who Is This 'Little Horn?'

Further, this king or 'little horn" would be blasphemous, and persecute the saints or the people of God ( Daniel 7:25). Daniel even says that this little horn was 'making war with the saints and prevailing against them' ( Daniel 7:21).

What in the world does this live to do with Galba, Otlio, and Vitellius? As far as the subjugation of the Jews is concerned, these are the first eleven Roman conquerors:

1. Pompey .................... 63 B.C.
2. Julius Camir ........... 47-44 B.C.
3. Augustus Caesar ...... 37 B.C.-A.D. 14
4. Tiberius Caesar ........ A.D. 14-37
5. Caligula Caesar ........ A.D. 37-41
6. Claudius Caesar ....... A.D. 41-54 -
7. Nero Caesar ............. A.D. 54-68
8. Galba ....................... A.D. 68-69
9. Otho ......................... A.D. 69
10. Vitellius .................... A.D. 69
11. Vespasian ................. A.D. 69-79

Vespasian fits Daniel's description of the little horn perfectly. The three emperors that preceded him, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius went up and doivn in less than a year. Vespasian sent his son Titus and 80,000 crack Roman soldiers to put down the Jewish revolt. These Jews, God's chosen people to whom the gospel was sent first, were worn out by Titus and his army ( Daniel 7:21).
More than 1,000,000 Jews were slain, and more than 100,000 captured and put into slavery! Vespasian was not even of the Caesarian dynasty, and so began as a "little horn' (little power), but was used by God to punish his people for rejecting Christ. How could Daniel made such a prophecy some 600 years before its fulfillment? He was inspired by God!

The above article appeared in the Mt. Juliet Messenger, May 9, 1993.

Galba, Otho, and Vitellius Historically

by Steve Hale

Nero's death left the Roman Empire in a state of utter chaos. Vespasian was putting down the Jewish revolt at the time. Meanwhile, word reached Galba all the way in Spain in just 36 hours. Quite a feat considering he was over 300 miles from Rome!

Galba

Servius Sulpicius Galba returned to Rome in June of A.D. 68 to declare himself Emperor. He was a typically evil Roman Emperor, and had a great thirst for execution. Suetonius writes of him:

"He sentenced men of all ranks to death without trial on the scantiest of evidence, and seldom granted applications for Roman citizenship."

Even though Galba did respect some principles of justice, the local politician grew weary of his ending their freehanded dipping into the Roman treasury. His liter was intercepted as it marched toward the Forum. He was told by The Guard that he must die. Galba thrust his neck forward, and the soldiers promptly beheaded him.

Otho

Marcus Salvius Otho was a Senator, but had become bankrupt. The Senate appointed him Emperor, trusting that he would let them mutually benefit from the Roman treasury.
While this was happening, the Roman army stationed in Germany hailed Quintus Vitellius as Emperor. Vitellius was well liked and relatively wise. He marched toward Rome to claim the throne.
Several battles took place as Vitellius invaded Italy. Otho became convinced that he could not survive, and committed suicide.

Vitellius

Nero was the model for Vitellius, which tells us all we need to know about him! He was a fat, gluttonous man with exotic appetites. He particularly enjoyed peacock brains, flamingo tongues, and pike livers.
Disgusted with Vitellius, Vespasian purposed to dethrone him. He sent one of his generals, Antonius, to depose him. A terrible battle, described by Charles Ludwig as 'one of the bloodiest battles in history' was waged. Antonius prevailed and finally entered Rome.
Vitellius was found in hiding, and dragged through the streets of the city with a rope around his neck. The crowds taunted him and hurled insults at him. After they killed him, they dragged his body through the streets, and hurled it into the Tiber.

Conclusion

These three rose and fell in less than a year fulfilling Daniel's 600 year old prophecy. The Bible is the word of God!

• Hadrian's Renaming of Jerusalem - Jun 27, 1993
• The Correspondence of Pliny and Caesar Trajan - Jun 13, 1993
• Caesar Domitian - Jun 03, 1993
• Caesar Vespasian and His Son, Caesar Titus - May 23, 1993
• Herod's Descendants - May 02, 1993