This passage, which speaks of the line of rulers in Rome, tells us exactly how many rulers had already come, which one was currently in power, and that the next one would only last a short while. Take a look at how perfectly it fits with Nero and the Roman Empire of the first century.
The rule of the first seven Roman Emperors is as follows:
“Five have fallen …”
Julius Caesar (49–44 BC)
Augustus (27 BC–AD 14)
Tiberius (AD 14–37)
Caligula (AD 37–41)
Claudius (AD 41–54)
“One is…” Nero (AD 54–68)
“the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.”
Galba (June AD 68–January AD 69, a six month ruler-ship).
While on the island of Patmos, John wrote that the number is “the number of a man's name; and his number is 666."
Known as "Nero Caesar" ... His name in Hebrew equals 666.
But first, let's understand why John was on the island in the first place.
In Greek "Nero Caesar" renders to "Neron Kesar."
For the Hebrew rendering, "Neron Kesar" becomes "NRWN QSR."
The number values are:
N = 50 , R = 200 , W = 6 , N = 50 , Q = 100 , S = 60 , R = 200
Since the 7 headed Beast in the book of Revelation is generically portrayed as a KINGDOM ... we should note that it is ONE OF THE HEADS (of the 7 Roman kings) which received a death blow:
REV 13:3 ...“And I saw one of his heads as if it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.”
Nero killed himself with a dagger (June 8, A.D. 68) ... According to Suetonius, he drove a dagger into his own throat (suicide).
The mortal sword wound to ONE OF THE HEADS is a wound that should have been fatal to the Beast (Roman empire). But after Nero’s death ... the "Beast" (Roman empire) continued to live on and dominate.
"At that point, everyone was amazed and followed after the beast” (Rev.13:3 b). The seven–headed Beast seems indestructible, for the cry goes up: “Who is like the Beast, and who is able to wage war with him? (Rev 13:4 b).
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1. Achaea
2. Africa
3. Asia
4. Crete et Cyrene
5. Cyprus
6. Gallia Narbonensis
7. Hispania Baetica
8. Macedonia
9. Pontus et Bithynia
10. Sicilia
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During the time of those 10 “kings,” Jesus was put on trial ... and Israel rejected her Messiah (spiritual husband) in favor of Caesar ("we have no king but Caesar") ... This was depicted as an adulterous affair between a whore (Israel) and a beast (Rome). This "affair" would continue for 40 years.
The Jewish historian JOSEPHUS wrote that in 64 AD, the Roman empire (led by Nero) ... brokered a "peace deal" with Israel's religious leaders. After 3.5 years of "peace," this "divided kingdom" of iron & clay fell into a civil war. Known as the Jewish/Roman war, it ended in the destruction of the Jewish temple & Jerusalem ... just as Jesus had predicted in Matt 24.
The FALSE PROPHET of Revelation was the Levite priesthood (Israel's religious leaders) ... Notice John 8:44 - Jesus called Israel's religious leaders "CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL," - messengers of the Law that kept the people of Israel trapped in the OLD covenant dogma. They were the same leaders that rejected Christ ... and chose Caesar ... "We have no king but Caesar."
Rome was known as "the new Babylon," because both Rome and Babylon shared a similar history of ruling over the nation of Israel.
The book of Revelation portrays Israel as a "harlot" and "the whore of Babylon" because both Israel and Rome became as one ... in the same way as when a man has relations with a whore, the two become one flesh.
The “harlot” is an established label for Old covenant Israel (Isa. 1:21; 57:8; Jer. 2:2, 20), and it could never be applied to any other nation, because only Israel had a relationship with God.
It’s not a future scenario. He already set up His Kingdom on the earth. He dwells in His NEW TEMPLE right now (believers). The Bible says absolutely NOTHING about another PHYSICAL TEMPLE in JERUSALEM ... but it does say this ... "I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down." - (GALATIANS 2:18)
The Jewish/Roman war began in 66 A.D. ... 42 months later, in September of 70AD, Jerusalem fell to the Romans as they trampled the city and destroyed the temple. The Jewish/Roman war dragged on for seven years, ending at Masada in 74AD. (Therefore, this is not a future scenario).
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At the mid-point, after 1260 days (3.5yrs) the Roman armies entered Jerusalem. According to JOSEPHUS, this was God's wrath upon "apostate Israel." The Roman armies of Titus would "Exact God's wrath" upon the unbelieving Jews during this time ... as prophesied - the priesthood was slaughtered - and their fancy temple demolished.
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Daniel 12:11 ... “From the time that the DAILY SACRIFICE is abolished and the ABOMINATION THAT CAUSES DESOLATION is set up, there will be 1,290 days. “HOW BLESSED IS HE WHO ATTAINS TO THE 1,335 DAYS!”
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After 1,290 days the daily sacrifices ceased, and the Roman soldiers defiled the temple with their ensigns. There were EXACTLY 1,335 DAYS from the 9th of Av of A.D. 70 (when the Romans worshiped the ensigns at the Temple) to the 1st day of peace after the fall of Masada (15th of Nisan A.D. 74) when the war officially ended.
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The Jewish historian Josephus recorded in WARS - (book 6. chapt 9. section 3-4) that 3 million Jews were trapped in Jerusalem in 70AD ... and just over a million were killed, in exact FULFILLMENT of Revelation 9:18 ... - which said a "third" of men would be killed.
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Revelation 9:18 ... "by these three were the THIRD of men killed, from the FIRE, and from the SMOKE, and from the BRIMSTONE, that is proceeding out of their mouth."
