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.”

**************************************************************************************************

 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 

 ****************

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.

 

 

 

__________________________________

 

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."

 

 

 

 

.

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.
_________________________________________________

 

DANIEL 2:44 ... "In the time of those kings (10 toes) the God of heaven WILL SET UP A KINGDOM THAT WILL NEVER BE DESTROYED (because it's a Spiritual Kingdom) .

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 (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)

 

***********************************************

 

Speaking directly to His disciples, JESUS SAID ...

"For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” 

 

 .

The common argument is that JESUS was somehow referring to the TRANSFIGURATION ... BUT HERE'S WHY THAT IS A TERRIBLE ARGUMENT ... From the time Jesus spoke Matt 16:28 ... to the time of the Transfiguration, was no more than 6 days according to Matt 17:1 (the very next chapter).

.

"After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves." (Matt 17:1)

.

Jesus clearly said some of his disciples would still be alive when he returned - Matthew 16:28

.

So which of the disciples died during those 6 days ???

. 

The answer is ... NONE OF THEM died during those 6 days.

.

He was referring to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD ...

.

John would still be alive to SEE it.

.

John 21:22 ... Jesus answered, “If I want him (John) to remain alive until I return, what is that to you ?

__________________________

          

Rev 1:9 (NASB) ... I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in THE TRIBULATION

.

Rev 1:9 (ESV) ... I, John, your brother and partner in THE TRIBULATION

.

Rev 1:9 (YLT) ... I, John, who also am your brother, and fellow-partner in THE TRIBULATION

.

LET THAT SINK IN ... The whole book of Revelation was written specifically to John's GENERATION.

________________________________________

 

 

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."

.

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."

.

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."

_________________________

 

 

The "LAST DAYS" were pertaining to the "OLD COVENANT AGE."

.

Hebrews 1:2 ... "but in these LAST DAYS he has spoken to us by his Son ..."

.

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 his generation).

.

1 John 2:18 ... "Dear children, THIS IS THE LAST HOUR." (John said the "last hour" was in the day in which he lived).

.

Rev 1:9 (ESV) ... "I, John, your brother and partner in THE TRIBULATION ... " (John lived during the Tribulation)

.

HEBREWS 9:26 (KJV)"... but now once in the END OF THE WORLD hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."

.

Those verses can not mean something different for us, than it did for them (the original audience)

.

No matter how hard you try, you cannot separate the "LAST DAYS" from the 2nd temple time period.

.

"As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, His disciples came up to Him to point out its buildings. Do you see all these things? He replied... Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Mark 13:1

.

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)

.

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

.

Hebrews 8:13 "... and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear." (The age of the old covenant)

_______________________________________

 

 

So ... 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.

.

KEEP IN MIND that even AFTER the cross, the 1st century believers were still WAITING for SALVATION and RIGHTEOUSNESS.

___________________________

 

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

.

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

.

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."

.

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."

_______________________________

 

SO WHEN WOULD THEY RECEIVE SALVATION & RIGHTEOUSNESS ?? (Here's a hint) ...

             

                                

                                                

******************************************* 

SPEAKING OF THE TRIBULATION ...

 

In Matt 24:21, Jesus quotes directly from Daniel 12:1 ... which says ...

.

 

“There will be a TIME OF GREAT DISTRESS such as has not happened from the beginning of the world *UNTIL THEN*. - (Daniel 12:1)

.

But when Jesus quoted that passage from Daniel, He made a slight CHANGE ...

. 

"For there will be a TIME OF GREAT DISTRESS, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world *UNTIL NOW*, nor ever will again." - (Matt 24:21)

.

DID YOU CATCH THAT ??

.

In Daniel 12:1 ... "UNTIL THEN"

In Matt 24:21 ... "UNTIL NOW"

.

HE WAS SPEAKING TO HIS OWN GENERATION.

__________________________________________________

 

 

SPEAKING TO HIS OWN DISCIPLES ... Jesus said :

.

MATTHEW 10:23 (NLT)... "I tell YOU the truth, the Son of Man will return BEFORE you have reached all the towns of Israel."

.

MATTHEW 10:23 (NIV) ... "Truly I tell YOU, you will NOT FINISH going through the towns of Israel BEFORE the Son of Man comes."

.

MATTHEW 10:23 (ESV) ... "I say to YOU, you will NOT have gone through all the towns of Israel BEFORE the Son of Man comes.

_______________________________

 

Certainly, ALL the towns of Israel have heard the gospel many times over by now ... but leave it to the modern Church to deny this. So let's just consider the fact that Israel is roughly the size of New Jersey ... In this modern age of evangelism (with satellites & internet), do you really think there are still towns in Israel that have NOT heard the gospel ?

 

 

JESUS already set up His Kingdom on the earth. He dwells in His NEW TEMPLE right now (believers).

.

The ancient Jews didn't recognize their Messiah because they expected a PHYSICAL, GEOCENTRIC, ETHNOCENTRIC, MILITARISTIC, Kingdom (Zionism). - They refused His claim ... “My Kingdom is NOT of this world." - John 18:36

.

Jesus said ..."The Kingdom of God cometh NOT with observation: Neither shall they say, HERE IT IS or THERE IT IS ... for, behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21)

⁠.

When you consider how the ancient Jews failed to recognize the 1st coming of their Messiah ... then it's not very hard to see why the modern church has also failed to recognize the 2nd coming ... Christians continue to make the same mistake as the ancient Jews ... always looking for a physical kingdom they can observe !!

____________________________________________________

 

 

The early "believers" (to whom the scriptures were written) were NOT looking for a so called "rapture."

 

They were looking for this ...

 

"CHRIST IN YOU is the hope of Glory." - Col 1:26-27. .

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

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.

.

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."

 

 

Paul said ... "What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the TIME IS SHORT. From now on those who have wives should live AS IF THEY DO NOT; those who mourn, AS IF THEY DO NOT; those who are happy, AS IF THEY WERE NOT; those who buy something, AS IF IT WERE NOT THEIRS TO KEEP; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. FOR THIS WORLD IN IT'S PRESENT FORM IS PASSING AWAY." - 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

.

Remember the early believers were under tremendous persecution at the time from both the Jews and the Romans. This was no time to settle down and start a family because these were very dangerous times. The followers of Christ had to be ready at a moments notice, to flee to the mountains of Judea to avoid the Roman occupation of Jerusalem.

 

 

^  Notice it says "ALL THINGS WRITTEN" were to be fulfilled at that time.

_______________________________________________________

IS THERE ANY PROOF THAT CHRIST ALREADY CAME 

BACK ?

 

 

Tacitus (Roman historian & eye witness in 70 AD) wrote ...

⁠

"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).

⁠

Josephus (Jewish historian & eye witness in 70 AD) wrote ...

⁠

"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).

.

⁠

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

⁠

"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)

⁠

__________________________________________________________________________________

 

The History is all there, and widely available ... the problem is ... modern Christians don't look into the history books ... They simply believe 

whatever their Pastors tell them to believe. 

   CHECK OUT THIS LINK ...

 

https://youtu.be/OOCNpvItXRc 

 

E-mail :  chaletsmith@protonmail.com