For a long time I studied with the Christian Spiritualist Church, whom believe in the Preterist/Historical Interpretation of Revelations. They cite Nero as the Antichrist. The Second Coming at the Resurrection. The completion of Prophesy in 70 AD. Now I have my doubts. What is your belief in relation to this? Thank you.
Daniel 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
The 4th beast is the Roman Empire.
Which 10 horns come from them which is the world divided in to 10 sections with a leader in each section.
Which they shall devour the whole earth, tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Which the little horn, the antichrist, who comes from the 10 horns will push his agenda causing the world to give heed to that as truth covering the earth.
Nero could of not had dominion and influence over all the earth back in the 1st century.
And do not say it means the then known world.
It means the whole earth.
People say the then known world to justify their position but it means the whole earth.
Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
The Roman Empire does not lose their dominion until Jesus puts down the world.
So the antichrist appears then which God is allowing him to deceive all people who do not love the truth so He can end sin on earth for He will not give up on the world until the world gives up on Him.
So the antichrist appears at the time of the end during the time of technology where the world can communicate and travel to each other.
And comes from the Roman Empire who has the dominion.
Daniel 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Daniel 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece, will never have physical dominion again but their ways are still on earth.
Babylon, lion, gold, human religion, the occult, and the kingdom of man.
Medo-Persia, bear, silver, physical cruelty in war.
Greece, leopard, brass, human wisdom.
The Roman Empire does not lose their dominion until Jesus puts down the world.
Roman Empire, iron, pushing for territory, world domination.
Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
All 4 kingdoms ways show up at the beast kingdom.
10 horns, physical dominion Roman Empire.
Babylon, lion, people going by their own religion, the occult that exalts people, the kingdom of man.
The beast kingdom is Babylon in spirit.
Medo-Persia, bear, being physically cruel to take away all people who oppose the beast kingdom.
Greece, leopard, people only going by their own wisdom.
The kingdom of man in its entirety.
All 4 kingdoms ways do not fall until Jesus hits the feet of the image of the statue representing all 4 kingdoms then all 4 kingdoms are put down.
Which the feet, 10 toes, is the same as the 10 horns.
So the beast kingdom is at the time of the end when Jesus puts down the world so it was not a first century event.
It is at the time of the end when God will punish the world for its sins and iniquities against Him for they established a system on a world wide scale all nations governments enforcing it and stopped the preaching of the truth on a world wide scale.
Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
The antichrist has power over all nations, kindreds, and tongues.
Not the then known world but the whole earth, every nation, every ethnic group, and every language.
This could not apply to Nero in the 1st century.
The antichrist is to come.
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Which the religion of the antichrist that interprets all religions according to the occult, and the exaltation of people shall come out at the latter times which is the last days of the last days.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Which the antichrist will influence all people who do not love the truth to follow his religion.
The antichrist appears at the time of the end for that is when the purpose for him to deceive will happen.
Which is the purpose of God to allow the antichrist to deceive all the world.
And because he affects all the world then God can punish the world for their sins and iniquities against Him.
Without God allowing the antichrist to deceive the world they would not rebel on a world wide scale not allowing the truth and He is not going to allow sin to continue forever on earth for He has to continue on with His plan.
There is no purpose for the antichrist to appear in the first century with that small amount of territory and influence for it would not serve the purpose of God.
Nero is not the antichrist.