Page 43 - ENTERTAINMENT
P. 43

The circus is not the circus as we see today,



             but  the  circus  in  the  first,  second,  and  third


             centuries had to do with chariot races.  It had to


             do with a stadium.  It had to do with racing.  The


             word "circus" is the Latin word for circle.  The



             Circus Maximus was probably the largest sports


             arena ever constructed.  During the days of Jesus


             Christ, it seated about 250,000 people. That's a



             quarter of a million people in one stadium.  This


             is why we have all these verses in the Bible –


             Titus,  Ephesians  5,  Ephesians  4  –  discussing



             these  things  trying  to  show  us  the  truth. The


             Emperor  himself  was  usually  present  at  the


             games and the races.  You've got the gladiator



             games.  Now, I could elaborate.  I could spend


             an hour talking about the chariot races alone.  We


             have  races  today  –  do  we  not?  –  and  they're


             usually on Sunday, and they drive as fast as they



             can.  They drive about 500 miles, and they end





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