Notwithstanding the potential of a future prophesy, how do you all feel about it being meant for Christians under persecution in the Roman Empire?
I'm not a scholar on Revelation (but is any man really?) but here are a few things I understand to support that theory:
Caesar Nero, who martyred St. Peter and St. Paul, set fire to Rome and murdered his own mother, his name transliterated into Hebrew adds up to 666, and in Greek 616 which is found in some manuscripts.
Nero, as most Roman Emperors did, revered themselves as gods, Augustus called himself "Son of God" Nero was "Savior of the World" all being blasphemies, and Nero was the seventh Roman Emperor (including Julius Caesar)... Revelation 13:1
One was also unable to participate in commerce unless they recognized the Caesar as god. The metaphor I've heard is that, it was Jewish tradition to consider either your right hand or your forehead as the mark of whatever was most precious to you, so when they took upon the mark of Nero as god, instead of God as god, they committed idolatry.
After Nero, the Empire fell into civil war.
Other prophesies I'm not sure about, but most of the non-apocalyptic scholarship I've read about points to this period of time as the most likely setting for Revelation--possibly as a foreshadowing.
MMurphy???
"Matt 'Guitar' Murphy, ...Blues Brothers Band?" Cool!
Bro, the book of Revelation is written/laid out in chronological order, we
know that because Jesus told us so in the first chapter,
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; Rev 1:19
What did John
see?
Chapter 1, Jesus Christ in His now glorified state, up until that time cousin John had only seen Him in His state of humiliation. Phil 2:6-8
What things
were reality/actuality when John was given the vision?
Chapters 2 & 3, the Church, more correctly the Church age or as Paul calls it the dispensation of Grace. Eph 3:2
What are the things which
will be after the Church Age?
Chapters 4 - 22, ...4 & 5, the Church in Heaven, 6 - 19 the Tribulation, 20 the Millennium and Great White Throne Judgement, 21 & 22 New Heaven and New Earth and we all live happily ever after.
For your question,
"Christians under persecution in the Roman Empire," ...in Chapter 2, during the Church age, the Church of Smyrna,
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Rev 2:10
History records there were 10 waves of severe persecutions from the Roman Emperors on the Church between the years of 100 AD and 312 AD before/when Constantine put a stop to it, history also records for us the saints of the Church of Smyrna
were faithful until death in the atrocities of the coliseum games, ...they paid their dues and they
will receive their crowns that Jesus promised them!
History also records for us Nero was a mild tempered man, an accountant actually, with nothing outstanding in his reign, until, ...a short, bull legged, hooked nose little Jew with runny eyes came before him to be judged, Paul gave him the Gospel and as it always is, man can receive the Good News and be blessed or reject the Gospel and be cursed, Nero rejected the Gospel and history subsequently records for us he went insane.
Blessings,
Gene