Revelation, Daniel, Symbols
This study is primarily about the contents of the book of Revelation. I have another study about the book itself called "The Revelation of Jesus Christ". Consider that too.
The blessed book of symbols called Revelation is about Jesus. The spirit of God is in the words of the book. It is a masterpiece of symbolic representation of our King of kings and Lord of lords, his coming into power and bringing the kingdom of God to mankind. This is a blessed book. It is holy. Do proceed with caution when reading it. The waters of truth will test the blood, to see how much can be poured in, if any at all, and your heart must be in the right place to even begin to understand, on Jesus, not you.
A full understanding requires a full understanding of the way the prophets have spoken in the past (OT), the way Jesus, and others like John the Baptist spoke (NT), and an eager desire for truth. I say to you, a closer understanding of our Good Father, the Word, the Holy Spirit, and the heavenly grand intention for mankind cannot be fully realized without this blessed book.
God seen to it that the words remained intact over the many years with a stiff warning to those who would copy the words over the years. It is holy. The Almighty seen to it that it this book was set in place firm, as a witness of Him unto you, revealing things unseen, heavenly principles, works of the powers of heaven, but made known unto mankind in poetic expression of the Holy Spirit.
A quick point:
*An angel to Daniel: "Seal the book until the time of the end"
*An angel to John: "Do not seal the book, because the time is at hand for all to be fulfilled"
In the book of Daniel, Daniel had promptly interpreted a dream of Nebuchadnezzar concerning 4 mighty kingdoms.
Dan 2:1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep broke from him.
(briefly presenting the interpretation)
Dan 2:36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
Dan 2:37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
Dan 2:38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
Nebuchadnezzar was the king of the Babylonian Empire. This king and Empire were the first kingdom.
Dan 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
Dan 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Dan 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was the head of gold, and the Medo-Persian empire followed, and the Grecian empire followed, and the Roman Empire was the fourth.
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
The Kingdom of God was to be established during the time of the kings of the fourth kingdom strong as iron. This is a certain reference to the Roman Empire, as Christ came in that time and said the time was fulfilled, that the kingdom of God was at hand. Jesus said his kingdom was not of this world, that it would not come with observation because it is "within you", it is a spiritual kingdom.
Dan 2:46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odors unto him.
Dan 2:47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
Of a truth it is.
Now let's take a look at chapter seven:
Dan 7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
Dan 7:2 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
Dan 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Dan 7:4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
Dan 7:5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Dan 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
Dan 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 broke 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.
Dan 7:8 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.
Dan 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.
Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Dan 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
Dan 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.
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Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
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Timing is everything. This is the timing of the vision of the fourth kingdom, when the "Son of man" (The Son) went to the "Ancient of days" (The Father). When Christ ascended to the right hand of the power of God, Christ was given dominion and glory and a kingdom.
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Dan 7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Dan 7:16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
Dan 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
Dan 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
Dan 7:19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
Dan 7:20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
Dan 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Dan 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Dan 7:23 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.
Dan 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Dan 7:26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
Dan 7:27 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.
Dan 7:28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
The Head of Gold no doubt represents either the Babylonian Empire or the person of Nebuchadnezzar; the Silver denoting the Medo-Persian; the Brass the Greek; and the Iron the Roman; while the mixture of the Clay denotes the intermingling of conquered nations with the power of heathen Rome. In interpreting the Four Beasts, the Lion denotes the Babylonian Empire; the Eagle Wings relate to Nebuchadnezzar’s ambition; the Bear to the Medo-Persians; the Leopard to the Macedonians; and the Fourth Beast to the Romans. The Ten Horns were explained, referring to them as ten individual kings, likewise to the ten provinces of the ten kings of the Roman Empire.
But Christ having glory and dominion and a kingdom:
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. [11] To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Amen.
Luk 23:42-43 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
With the kingdom being given when Christ ascended unto the Father, Christ said he was coming again in his kingdom. The timing of the fourth kingdom (being the Roman Empire) is further confirmed as Jesus said that the time was fulfilled, that the kingdom of God was at hand. Daniel had spoke of this kingdom come:
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
The time of fulfillment had come:
Mat 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mar 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The kingdom was to come soon:
Mat 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Mar 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
The kingdom of God was not to come with observation, (although many thought from the prophecy of Daniel that it was to come with observation. The Pharisees asked Jesus about this):
*Luke 17:20-24 And when he (JESUS) was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
His kingdom was not of this world:
Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
PART TWO- As related to the testimony of Jesus Christ and the great book of Revelation
To understand the symbolism of Revelation, one must first learn what heads, horns, and crowns represent. This is a very important first step, and know this, scripture interprets scripture! As I see it, this is the key to understanding what HEADS, HORNS, and CROWNS may truly represent, as scripture and a closer look at the meaning of the Greek words used in "the book" reveals. As I see it, this is the just of it:
*A kingdom may be represented by a crown.
*A crown may be upon a horn which is representative of a mighty one made king.
*And the head the horn grows from where the crown is placed upon may be representative of a chief officer, an appoint er of kings and kingdoms, a "head of state", such a high place and authority as a "mountain" even.
With that in mind, I will be presenting all reference to each "beast" spoken of in the great book of Revelation, and try my best to present an explanation of each.
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[*]The dragon
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Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
The Dragon represents Satan. He appeared having seven "heads", seven leaders with great authority, you could even say "heads of state". He had ten "horns", or ten kings coming up from the heads, ten kings appointed by the seven heads. The seven "crowns" are upon his head, (not the horns), and represent the seven provinces belonging to the seven "heads", a kingdom having being given great authority and power, the fourth kingdom prophesied by Daniel, the Roman Empire.
(see below concerning the identity of each)
Because this vision is a vision appearing in "heaven", and the dragon was furious that the woman brought forth the man child, and began to persecute those having the testimony of Jesus Christ and keeping the commandments, the time is from the days of Christ, and the other one sent from God, John the Baptist, until the end of that old age, ending with the putting away of the former arrangement that was symbolized at the end of that old age by the desolation of the religious system of the Jews, the temple in Jerusalem, Herod's temple.
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[*]The first beast
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Rev 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.
Rev 13:2 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.
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
This beast represents the Roman Empire, 10 kingdoms, and 10 kings. This beast represents the God-less political system of the Roman Empire rising up into power, greatest from among all nations of earth. That the beast is like a Leopard with Bear feet having a Lions mouth is to say this beast ruled the earth with great strength. That is to say this beast was given great strength, from God, for His good reasons. This was one bloody and sinful political system, and it stretched the known world over. The whole world was in fear of this monster. Yes, it's true.
Heads always represent Chief Leaders, "kings", and in this case, the 7 heads represent 7 Roman Empire Emperors. That one of the heads were wounded is to say an Emperor was cut off short, but even after that, the beast would live on to ravage terribly, with the worst yet to come.
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Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 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.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
The dragon is destruction, and his heads call out for it against all people. This speaks of a horrible 42 month persecution, oppression from the beast, the Roman Empire. It is worth noting that the siege of Jerusalem persisted roughly 66.5-70 AD, 42 months. This beast demanded to be worshipped above all, demanding of all, even Jews and Christians, demanding their allegiance to the Roman Empire, or death.
This beast made war with Christ, the saints, and even the Apostles. This beast represented the Roman Empire. The Siege of Jerusalem was the venue. Regardless of which Roman emperor one identifies with the head that was wounded, but I do identify that with Nero, as his antics wounded the Empire, and Nero was cut short, there can be no doubt that this beast-prophecy pertains to the Caesars who were then in power. The prophecy relates to a man sitting as God in his own heart, but he is just a man. That wickedness was crushed, beginning right there in the temple in Jerusalem, through all the Roman Empire, and has almost has vanished completely, into perdition.
There were seven Caesar's in the time of Jesus, within that same Generation. They sat as Gods in their own heart, as the prince of Tyrus did before them, and the Pharaoh before him. They were seven Emperors of Rome. They may have been:
1. Julius Caesar
2. Augustus
3. Tiberius
4. Caligula
5. Claudius
6. Nero
7. Galba
This scripture speaks of another...
Rev 17:10 - 11 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
That the beast is of the previous seven is to say of the same order, the order of Emperors, of the seven Caesars, not to say was one of the exact seven before, but of that seat, which is no more, done away with, into "perdition". Leaders don't sit as god's and demand worship anymore, like they used to. Thank God that foolishness is no more.
I am sure there are some who sit as God in their own heart. Atheists are real good at that, because in thinking there is no supreme God, they often think of themselves as a God. Some may even think they are God or Jesus or Moses or Elijah...Lord knows who else, calling for worship. They are deceived. Do not believe them, and do not worship them. Don't be like them.
The angel revealed this concerning the scarlet beast:
Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Rev 17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
Rev 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
The seven heads were seven kings who were seven Emperors who had their being and a place in Herod's Temple, the temple of the Jews in Jerusalem. The mountains are high places, where alters are, holy places. This mountain was the religious system of the Jews, the works and deeds of the temple in Jerusalem, Herod's Temple.
The harlot sat upon the scarlet beast, her feet not touching the ground. The beast was in control of her and hated her and ravaged her.
The Bible says of the scarlet beast, the "ten kings have received no kingdom yet", no "crowns" (kingdoms), but this first beast has ten crowns. Regardless of the name of the ten kings and provinces that were to be established, know this, a Roman governor was an official either elected or appointed to be the chief administrator of Roman law throughout one or more of the many provinces constituting the Roman Empire. Such a one can be called a "king", and so can a "horn".
The following provinces were certainly established by Emperors of the Roman Empire, but this is just speculation of a larger list as the beast lived for a short time later. The exact names of the Governors are only further speculation at this point. From what I have learned thus far, the ten "kingdoms" or "provinces" of the Roman Empire may have been:
1.Aegyptus
2.Cappadocia
3.Galatia
4.Rhodus
5.Lycia
6.Judaea
7.Arabia
8.Mesopotamia
9.Armenia
10.Assyria
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[*]The second beast & the mark of the beast
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Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
His rising out of the land, while the first beast rises out of the sea, denotes that the second beast may be a domestic or home authority, the place of the beginning of it all.
His having two horns, while the first beast has ten, denotes that his sphere of government is small, and his power limited, compared with the full power of the other.
As horns represent Leaders, but not Chief Leaders as heads do, and that the horns are as a lamb, this speaks of Religious Leaders under the power of the Roman Empire, being sent to deceive. This beast with 2 horns like a lamb calls for the beast before it to be worshiped. This wicked wants the Roman Empire to be worshiped, the Emperors, not God. That this beast speaks as a dragon, or serpent, denotes his crafty character, speaking lies from the devil.
This beast with two horns like a lamb represents all the false prophets employed by the Roman Empire, sent to deceive everyone, Jews and Christians, and everyone else they could, deceive them away from Christ, Christianity.
The mark of the beast was in peoples "foreheads", which is to say in their minds, in all they lived for, also, in their "right hand", which is to say in all they do, in all their actions to glorify the Roman Empire.
Was "the beast" the political system and powers of the Roman Empire? Yes.
Was "the harlot" the religious system and powers of the house of Israel? Yes.
Who was the man of sin? He is the man who sits as God in his own heart, but is just a man.
What was his mark? A number of his name, a mark and curse because of his name, written within the hands and minds and deeds of those hearts who worshiped a man as God.
Yes, Nero was one.
If we add the numbers of Nero's name in Hebrew, (NRWN QSR), the total is 666. Note that if we used a Latin form of Nero's name (Nero Caesar) instead of a Greek form (Neron Kaisar), the value of the Hebrew equivalent (NRW QSR), would be 616 instead of 666. This is a plausible explanation of the variant 616 which appears in some New Testament manuscripts.
N= 50
R= 200
W= 6
N= 50
Q= 100
S= 60
R= 200
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~ 666 ~
A little about Nero.
Nero was the first emperor to persecute Christians. For a time as many as 3,000 Christians per day were crucified. Nero would also torch Christians atop poles just to light up the roads of Rome. He was a madman, He killed his mother, his brother, and his sister. He would put on animal skins and pretend to be an animal while eating the genitals of restrained captives. Nero ordered a massive statue of himself be built, and decreed that every citizen of the Roman Empire must pledge allegiance to him and the Empire or be put to death. For those who would take the pledge, ( almost everyone BUT the Christians, it made Nero furious!), they received a document with Nero's mark on it saying they could buy and sell in Rome and within the Roman Empire.
Nero was against everything that was holy and blasphemed every thing that was holy. What Nero did was throw Rome into perdition, that is ruin, loss. Rome being burned with fire and almost bankrupt by Nero's antics, the Roman Empire suffered a deadly wound but lived.
Concerning this scripture:
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 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:
This mystery was already at work (2:7), the "man of sin" was living at the time this was written, he just had not been revealed (2:8), and for good reason, Nero would have had their heads had they revealed him as the "man of sin"! But it is said Nero did command the death of Paul and many other Apostles anyway. The epidemic of idol worship and the rejection of Christ was the "falling away". Nero was the first Roman Emperor to persecute Christians, as many as 3,000 were crucified every day for a time, and many more awful deaths.
And 2Th 2:3-4 is deep, all is not as it seems:
2Th 2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 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.
The prince of Tyrus did not literally sit in a chair in a temple and claim to be God, and likewise, the "man of sin" was not to literally sit in a chair in a temple and claim to be God, compare Eze 28:2 to 2Th 2:3-4. Nero lifted up his heart against Christ and his people, against God, and even sent Vespasian after the Jews. The verbage is certain to say; for a man to glorify himself in his heart, or his handiwork, for a man to think of himself as a God, the worst kind of blasphemy against God! Please, Compare Eze 28:2 to 2Th 2:3-4, Kind of reminds you of this verse, doesn't it:
Eze 28:2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God. [28:9-10] Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be [a man], and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee. Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
As it went, Galba reigned for a short time, and tried real hard to fix the holes Nero had dug. The focus of Vespasian was away from persecuting Christians, and to turn the tide for the well being of the Roman Empire, and Vespasian looked at the Jews and Jerusalem for riches, setting his eyes on the extreme riches of the temple in Jerusalem. It was God's plan all along, God had put it in their hearts to fulfill his will, and Vespasian sent his son Titus to siege Jerusalem, Judea was trodden of the gentiles, absolutely trampled, ten thousand a day at times, blood up to the ankles, and by the end of the Roman/Jewish war that lasted 42 months, from roughly 66.5 - 70 A.D., the harlot was cleansed, and now there is salvation. "The Siege of Jerusalem"
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