We Offer Peace to ALL THE WORLD

With tribute to the wisdom of Solomon and the knowledge of Ashoka, I declare that Rome, its citizens and its army offer peace and goodwill to all nations, and I would like it known that our roads and communities shall be open to all peace-loving people of all cultures, from all the shores of the Middle Earth Sea and beyond.

I am at an advanced stage in this life, and have been fortunate to have lived through one of the most tumultuous eras in recorded history. I lost many relatives in the Judaean war, and give thanks to Our Lord Above when I think of the times when my own life was spared...

On a personal note, though I overstand the need for Our Church to raise funds to help the poor and maintain places of worship, some of the rumours of pagan conversions for mercenary reasons are disconcerting, and it is crucial that the family of Believers be genuine and solid to the core. We can grow the community honestly, and may God give Us the strength to do so with integrity and justice in Our hearts.

Peace 2 All!

A Proposal for Peace Among the Family

From Uncle Claudius to my brother Timotheus to his son Trajanus, the line of Philip Jahn remains a powerful force in civil administration and I do hear all the talk about my worthiest successors. I have no problem with Trajan, as my brother Justus is busy helping with the rebuilding of Judea, to his credit, and my sons are still learning from travel, and not anywhere near ready for this level of leadership, though I hope and pray that there will be such a Day.

The pool of talent and Middle Earth (really from Briton in the west to Persia in the east, Germany in the north and Arabia / Ethiopia in the south) familial connections will best be served by unity and harmony among our two leading families. May the beneficence of my reign be emulated and extended through the decades ahead, and may Our Family stay righteous and strong and not be corrupted by the corrosive forces loitering near the courts. As of Saturday, September 12th, I declare that Trajanus is my equal in wisdom and vision, and from this day on he will be viewed as Co-Emperor and addressed in the same manner as myself, that is, as my adoptive son Caesar Nerva Trajanus Augustus; prepare the way for the Lord, the Light and a beacon to all humanity in the sight of Jah Above.

On Convincing Vespasian of His Kingship

At a time when Israel and Judea were in turmoil and Rome felt threatened from several angles, I was falsely imprisoned for being treasonous to the Empire. Though it was true that in my youth I led many a brigade in defense of Galilee, this was widely known and never held against me during the peace talks. To be accused of being a double agent was shocking to me, so I appealed directly to Vespasian's sense of self-worth and destiny.

I was brought before Vespasian, his son Titus (my 2nd cousin from my dad's side), and two friends of Titus. My only hope for survival meant looking beyond Nero's deepening travesty in Rome. I waxed as eloquently as I could:

Uncle Vespasian, you have the House of Aristobulus in your captivity but how long can Nero fiddle? You and your son here are each destined to lead the Empire, to restore Her Glory and bring peace and prosperity to many a nation. If the Descendants of Mariamme Unite, nobody can stop us. I have already prepared a route to Egypt for you, and from there you will arrive in Rome as a Champion.

A friend of Titus who was mental muscle (the other was brawn...) asked why I had not been able to predict the fall of Jotapata and my own imprisonment, and I quickly countered that I had indeed prophesied both of these events. Vespasian knew me from birth, and waved off the thug.

He leaned in close to my ear, and almost whispered: "What happens when I get to Egypt"