Why Nero Is Not The Antichrist

 

A.C.Pike

Introduction

There is a belief among Reformed Christians known as 'Preterism.' This is a belief that Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21 & the book of Revelation all had their fulfillments in the first century. This view denies a literal future return of Jesus Christ to the earth, where he will raise the dead and judge mankind. 

The Protestant Reformed view held by Martin Luther and John Calvin, and among Anglicans, Lutherans, Baptists, Congregationists, Dutch Reform, and Presbyterians is that of Historicism. This is the view that the book of Revelation has a historic viewpoint in that from the first century to the return of Christ, the prophecies in the book of Revelation will be fulfilled throughout history.

We will now see why the Preterist view of eschatology is incorrect and incompatible with Scripture.

Reasons Why

A) The Bible informs us that the Temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed (Matthew 24; Mark 13 & Luke 21).. Nero died in 68AD, yet the temple wasn't destroyed until 70AD  - two years after Nero's death.

B) Nero reigned for 11 years from 54AD to 68AD. The Bible says that the Antichrist will reign for three and a half years (Revelation 13:5).*

C) Nero's name does-not add up to 666 (as recorded in the Greek Language). It does, however, add up to 666 in Hebrew if we add the title Ceaser to Nero's name. However, the New Testament was written to the Church in Koine Greek, not Hebrew. Plus, the Bible mentions the "name" and "number" of the beast (Revelation 13:18), not his title.

D) The Bible records that the man of sin will sit in the Temple (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). The physical Temple was destroyed in 70AD, yet Nero died in  68AD. The spiritual Temple is the Church. The early church used to meet in homes. Nero didn't sit in a home. Also, Christians started gathering in buildings in the second century. It was not until the fourth century that Christians offically congregated in church buildings - this is three centuries after the death of Nero.

E) In the Bible, Revelation 13:3 informs us that "all the world wondered after the beast." We know that 'ALL' the world did not wonder after Nero. There were parts of the world (China and India) that did not wonder after Emperor Nero.

F) In the Bible, Revelation 13:8 informs us that all the people on earth will "worship" the beast. The whole world did not worship Nero in his reign from 54AD to 68AD, as Nero ruled the Greeco-Roman Empire and not the whole earth (China and India did not worship Nero).

G) We know that the beast will perform great signs and miracles (Revelation 13:13). Not one of the Emperors of Rome performed miracles or signs. 

H) The people did not receive a mark in their foreheads or right hands (Revelation 13:13-16) in the time of Nero. Preterists have tried to say that this refers to people buying and selling with coins that bear the inscription of Emperor Nero. But this is not true. Jesus commanded his Disciples to pay tax to Caesar (Mark 12:14-17). The text tells us that the coin carried the inscription of Caesar on it. Jesus and his Disciples did not take the Mark of the beast. 

I) We read in the Bible that "the beast and the kings of the earth" (Revelation 19:19) gathered against Jesus to make war with him. This did not happen in the reign of Nero from 54AD to 68AD. 

J) The beast was given power and authority over every nation in the earth (Revelation 13:7). As mentioned previously, Nero did not conquer China or India. 

K) We learn in Revelation 19:20 that both the beast and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire. This di not happen to Nero or the Roman Empire. 

L) In Revelation chapter 13 we read that the beast will recover from a fatal wound. This did not happen to Emperor Nero. He died in 68AD and did not come back to life. 

M) The Bibles records that "Antichrists" were people who expressed a belief in Jesus as the Messiah (1 John 2:18-19). Emperor Nero never believed that Jesus was the Messiah. 

N) Additional notes: The book of Revelation was written in 95AD. This was 27 years after the death of Nero. 

O) Also, Nero did not change "laws and times" (Daniel 7:27). It was the Roman Catholic church that changed the Jewish (Days, Months, and Years) and adopted the Pagan Roman Days, Months, and Years into their Calendar. 

In Histrocism, we believe this to be Months of Years signifying a longer period of time, more than three and a half years. * 

Conclusion

As we can see, full Preterism is contrary to what the Bible teaches.