The suggestion that John in the Apocalypse refers to the Hebrew is not to be despised.

In the Talmud and other Rabbinical writings the words Neron, Kesar (the Caesar Nero)

often occur. The gematria of the Hebrew words are 666. If, however, this name be

written in the Latin way, Nero Caesar, it amounts to 616, the alternative reading of

Irenaeus' reference. Now, if Nero was intended by John and by Paul, we can understand

how convenient at the time the method of Jer. 25: 26 would be. Moreover, if some

wrote the name after the Latin fashion they would be tempted to consider 616 to be

correct and not 666.

The reader by this time may be asking, Does this writer of this article believe that

Rome is the Beast of Rev. 13:? We will answer that question by asking another. Was

John the Baptist Elijah? John the Baptist, when asked the question said he was not (see

John 1:); Christ when asked the question said he was:--

John was Elias, IF.......! Rome would have been the Beast of Rev. 13:, IF.......!

the "if" here was the repentance of Israel. Israel however did not repent, and the nation

was set aside, and Rome was not the beast. When the Lord Jesus commenced His

ministry He could say "THE TIME is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and

believe the gospel" (Mark 1: 15). Had Israel repented (we speak after the manner of men)

there must have been at hand all material ready for the final sphere of Gentile dominion.

Surely the times that could produce a Herod (Acts 12: note carefully) could produce the

Antichrist! surely the age that could see the rise of such as Nero could produce the Beast!

One of the objections to Rome is that it never really held possession of Babylon. This

is not by any means a difficulty, neither is it a valid objection. Jerusalem, not Babylon, is

the Key. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, each in turn held JERUSALEM, and

that fact constituted it the successor in Gentile dominion. Rome it was that compelled the

mother of Christ to travel to Bethlehem, Rome's penny it was that was shown to the

Lord, Rome it was that crucified Christ, Rome's soldiers that guarded His tomb, Rome

itself was the final place of appeal of the Apostle Paul. Upon the failure of Israel the

prophetic Image of Daniel enters into mystery. The first three dynasties are named,

Babylon, Persia, Greece, the rest remained unnamed. Rome succeeded to the domination

of Jerusalem, and after Rome came the Turk. This lasted until the taking of Jerusalem by

General Allenby. The Gentiles are nearing the end of the period foreshadowed by

Nebuchadnezzar's image.