The Number of a Man
Recently, I've been revisiting some old ground in my christian walk: Eschatology (the study of Last Things). I had a brief discussion with a friend who has accepted the Premillenial view of these matters. Having studied this pillar of Systematic Theology intensively in the first few years of my christian walk, I made some basic points to her which I will reiterate here.
By way of background, shortly after I became a christian (about the time I was fifteen years old), I became involved with a group of young college students who had all recently been introduced to the Christian faith. Eschatology became a real point of conflict among us (we were virtually all a- and post-millennial, with the exception of one Baptist guy who ended up getting upset and departing from among us). This period of about 3 years gave me the opportunity to iron out what I believe the Bible teaches regarding the Last Things. Eventually, I found that debating the issue was absolutely fruitless and needlessly divisive. This does not detract from its importance to the Christian faith, however. We need to exercise moderation in how we prioritize it in relation to unity, harmony, and love for one another.
With my friend I focused on one of the primary Eschatological characters in scripture: the Beast! I believe the prophecies of the Beast in Revelation and the Man of Sin in 2nd Thessalonians refer to none other than Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, or just Nero for short. If you're interested in finding out why, read The Beast of Revelation Identified by Dr. Ken Gentry and The Mark of the Beast by Richard Anthony. Furthermore, most biblical prophecy has been fulfilled by Rome, focusing on the destruction of Jersusalem in A.D. 70 by Vespasian. This approach to biblical prophecy is known as Preterism, meaning "things that have past".
There exists a school of thought known as Hyper-preterism: the belief that ALL biblical prophecy was fulfilled in A.D. 70, including the Second Advent and the resurrection from the dead. Please be aware that this postition has always been regarded as a Big-H Heresy by Reformed Theology, and also by Paul the Apostle (2 Tim. 2:17-18). I have seen several close personal friends adopt this heretical view and leave the church as a result. Hyper-preterism pulls the christian faith to pieces (for information, refer to A Brief Theologcial Analysis of Hyper-Preterism by Dr. Gentry). However, extremist and orthodox preterists alike agree that Nero was indeed the Beast of Revelation.
These are difficult things to consider. The study of Eschatology can often be as seemingly murky and dark as the prophecies with which it deals. Ultimately, we need to ask ourselves, "How will this affect how I live my christian life today?" Out of it all, we need to discover how God can be glorified through us. There alone can blessing be found.
By way of background, shortly after I became a christian (about the time I was fifteen years old), I became involved with a group of young college students who had all recently been introduced to the Christian faith. Eschatology became a real point of conflict among us (we were virtually all a- and post-millennial, with the exception of one Baptist guy who ended up getting upset and departing from among us). This period of about 3 years gave me the opportunity to iron out what I believe the Bible teaches regarding the Last Things. Eventually, I found that debating the issue was absolutely fruitless and needlessly divisive. This does not detract from its importance to the Christian faith, however. We need to exercise moderation in how we prioritize it in relation to unity, harmony, and love for one another.
With my friend I focused on one of the primary Eschatological characters in scripture: the Beast! I believe the prophecies of the Beast in Revelation and the Man of Sin in 2nd Thessalonians refer to none other than Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, or just Nero for short. If you're interested in finding out why, read The Beast of Revelation Identified by Dr. Ken Gentry and The Mark of the Beast by Richard Anthony. Furthermore, most biblical prophecy has been fulfilled by Rome, focusing on the destruction of Jersusalem in A.D. 70 by Vespasian. This approach to biblical prophecy is known as Preterism, meaning "things that have past".
There exists a school of thought known as Hyper-preterism: the belief that ALL biblical prophecy was fulfilled in A.D. 70, including the Second Advent and the resurrection from the dead. Please be aware that this postition has always been regarded as a Big-H Heresy by Reformed Theology, and also by Paul the Apostle (2 Tim. 2:17-18). I have seen several close personal friends adopt this heretical view and leave the church as a result. Hyper-preterism pulls the christian faith to pieces (for information, refer to A Brief Theologcial Analysis of Hyper-Preterism by Dr. Gentry). However, extremist and orthodox preterists alike agree that Nero was indeed the Beast of Revelation.
These are difficult things to consider. The study of Eschatology can often be as seemingly murky and dark as the prophecies with which it deals. Ultimately, we need to ask ourselves, "How will this affect how I live my christian life today?" Out of it all, we need to discover how God can be glorified through us. There alone can blessing be found.
