PMT 2015-058 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

From time-to-time I get questions that I think are insightful and may be helpful to other readers. The question below came from a Facebook friend, Cindy D. I believe this will be helpful to publish more broadly than simply in a Facebook “message.”

Question

Hey, Ken,
I have a question! I loved your book, The Beast of Revelation, and to me, it cleared up a lot of questions, and had a hand in bringing me OUT of futurism. I just now saw a post by a guy in a group I am in who wrote the following about why he says Nero can’t be the Beast. Can you give me some feedback on his post that I can share with him on it?

Thanks! Here’s his post:

There is of course yet another glaring mistake in The Preterist claim that Nero is the beast…… NOTICE in [Rev 12:3 KJV] 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.

The CROWNS are on the heads of the beast.This undoubtedly shows that this phase of ROMAN rule is BEFORE the breakup into a DIVIDED kingdom of ten toes or ten horns NOTICE: [Dan 2:41 KJV] 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.

There you have it the KINGDOM (ROME) shall BE DIVIDED into ten toes ten horns

Now back to rev 13 WHERE ARE THE CROWNS???? they are on the HORNS the ten toed divided kingdom of ROME:[Rev 13:1 KJV] 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.

UPON HIS HORNS ten CROWNS….. obviously there had been a shift in power

look Rome split into ten kingdoms after 476 when ‘’the beast was not’‘ BUT it rose again in its 8th HEAD the dynasty of the POPES who reclaimed ROME and filled it with gold stones jewels and AUTHORITY.

For although the horns fought against each other what united Mediaeval Europe was the PAPACY all the horns submitted to him.

Blessed Is He Who Reads: A Primer on the Book of Revelation
By Larry E. Ball
A basic survey of Revelation from the preterist perspective.
It sees John as focusing on the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70.

See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com

Answer:

Thanks for writing!

His basic problem is: he doesn’t what he is talking about. He mistakenly believes that Revelation is giving the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy. But John actually reworks and reapplies OT verses, particularly from Daniel, his second leading source (behind Ezekiel).

For instance, note that Daniel’s image involves four successive, distinct beasts (Dan 7:3). And these are counted seriatim: “first,” “second,” third (implied), and “fourth” (Dan 7:4-7). Whereas John’s beast is one beast: “a beast” (Rev 13:1). And his one beast is even a compound that employs only three of Daniel’s four beasts: leopard, bear, and lion (Rev. 13:2).

This fellow is confusing adaptation-and-reapplication with direct fulfillment. Clearly Revelation changes much regarding Daniel’s imagery.

Furthermore, his interpretation rolls roughshod of John’s repeated declaration that the events of Revelation must occur “soon” (Rev 1:1; 22:6) because the time is “at hand” (Rev. 1:3; 22:10).

Plus he is probably left-handed and parts his hair on the right. 🙂

Beast of Revelation: Identified
(DVD by Ken Gentry)
A biblical and historical argument for Nero being the beast of Revelation.

See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com

Tagged: Daniel's four beasts, the beast of Revelation