THE ANTI-CHRIST ...

                                                                REVELATION 17:10 ... 

“They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.”

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 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).

The current Caesar at the time of John’s writing was the sixth Caesar .. Nero.

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.

We have the witness of one of the most ancient versions of the New Testament, called The Syriac Peshitto ... which says the following on the Title page of Revelation 

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John used a puzzle called gematria in which numbers are used to represent certain letters. John used this puzzle to reveal Nero without actually writing down his name. Remember, the early churches were being persecuted during this time—not only from the Jews, but also from the Romans. 

 

“Nero Caesar” fits the gematria code number "666."

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).

Nero demanded those who were to buy and sell in the market place, had to pay homage to his statue. The consumer would offer a pinch of incense into the fire, and smear the ash on their forehead or right hand, proving their right to enter to buy and sell. This was the mark of the beast.

 

 

 

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A Divided Kingdom / Daniel 2 

  

The Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a large statue that represents four kingdoms, the last of which is a "divided kingdom" (a mixture of people who are not united). In verse 41, we find this "divided kingdom" is portrayed on the statue as the feet and 10 toes (a mixture of iron & clay) ... a "divided people."

 

 

 

 

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Now FAST-FORWARD to the years of Jesus' earthly ministry. Caesar Augustus separated the Roman empire into 10 provinces ("ten toes") ...

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

Each of these provinces were ruled by governors (or kings) who represented the Roman empire.
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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.

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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. 

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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." 

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Rome had a nickname at the time,  "the new Babylon,"  because both Rome and Babylon shared a similar history of ruling over the nation of Israel.
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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.  

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The designation “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. 

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DANIEL 2:44 ... "In the time of those kings (the 10 toes) the God of heaven WILL SET UP A KINGDOM THAT WILL NEVER BE DESTROYED (a Spiritual Kingdom) .
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It’s not a future scenario. He already set up His Kingdom on the earth. He dwells in His NEW TEMPLE right now (His people). 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)

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Speaking directly to His disciples, JESUS SAID ...

MATTHEW 16:28 (NLT) ... "And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now WILL NOT DIE before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom."

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MATTHEW 16:28 (NIV) ... "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here WILL NOT TASTE DEATH before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

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MATTHEW 16:28 (ESV) ... "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who WILL NOT TASTE DEATH until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom."

 

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                      NOW THINK ABOUT THIS ...

 

HEB 9:8 "... the way into the Holy Place is not yet revealed as long as the OLD temple is still standing; WHICH IS A SYMBOL OF THE PRESENT AGE." (The age of the old covenant)

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In other words ... The OLD covenant "age" would not fully pass away until the OLD temple fell.

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1 Corinthians 10:11 ... "Now these things were written down for OUR instruction, on whom the "end of the Ages" HAVE come. - (Paul was speaking to THAT generation).

 

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LET'S KEEP IN MIND that even AFTER THE CROSS, the 1st century believers were still WAITING for SALVATION and RIGHTEOUSNESS.

 

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Galatians 5:5 ... "For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the RIGHTEOUSNESS for which we hope.

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Romans 13:11-12 ... "for now SALVATION is nearer to us than when WE first believed."

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Ephesians 1:14 .. " The Spirit who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance UNTIL THE REDEMPTION of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory."

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Hebrews 9:28 ... "He will appear a second time, not to deal with our sins but to BRING SALVATION to those who are WAITING for him."

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          SO WHEN WOULD THEY RECEIVE SALVATION & RIGHTEOUSNESS ??  

 

                                                            (Here's a hint) ...     

 

          

                                          

                       

                                          Guess what happened in 70 AD ??

As the OLD temple burned to the ground in judgment (70AD), a NEW Temple was RAISED UP. The "dead in Christ" were released from Sheol and ushered directly into Heaven ... The believers who were still alive and waiting were suddenly CHANGED in the "twinkling of an eye" when they received the SALVATION & RIGHTEOUSNESS they had been waiting for. They suddenly became the NEW dwelling place of God, the NEW Temple, the NEW creation.

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Those believers remembered that Jesus said "flee to the mountains," and so they were spared from the destruction of Jerusalem.

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LUKE 21:20-22 ... “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. FOR THESE ARE THE DAYS OF VENGEANCE, THAT ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN MAY BE FULFILLED."

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• Revelation 1:7 ... "Behold He comes with the clouds, and will see Him every eye indeed who Him pierced ...” (Young's Literal Translation).

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  Zechariah 12:10 clearly identifies who "every eye" referred to:

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  “I will pour out on the HOUSE OF DAVID and on THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that *THEY* will LOOK ON ME whom *THEY* have pierced; and *THEY* will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and *THEY* will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn."

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  Tacitus (Roman historian & eye witness) wrote ...

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  "In the sky appeared a vision of armies in conflict, of glittering armour. A sudden lightening flash from the clouds lit up the Temple. The doors of the holy place abruptly opened, a superhuman voice was heard to declare that God was leaving it, and in the same instant came the rushing tumult of departure." (Histories, Book 5, v. 13).

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  Josephus (Jewish historian & eye witness) wrote ...
  

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  "I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities. Moreover, at that feast which we call Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner [court of the] temple, as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that, in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, "Let us remove hence" (Jewish Wars, VI-V-3).

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  Eusebius (the earliest "Church" historian) wrote ...

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  "For before the setting of the sun chariots and armed troops were seen throughout the whole region in mid-air, wheeling through the clouds and encircling the cities" (Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, Book 3, Ch. 8

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  The History is all there, and widely available ... the problem is ... Christians don't look into history books ... They simply want to be TOLD what to believe by their Pastors.

 

 

CHECK OUT THIS LINK ...

 

https://youtu.be/OOCNpvItXRc 

 

E-mail :  chaletsmith@protonmail.com