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Authors: Ken Mooney
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throughout the Roman Empire.
Even in the present day, Nero’s name is become synonymous with corrupt government and rulers. He is known for his pride and extravagant taste: he portrayed himself as an idol to the Roman Empire, in a role that many Christians would have considered blasphemous.
The historian Tacitus noted that Nero had a specific loathing of Christians that went far beyond civic duty and protection of the Empire: Christian slaves and prisoners were tied up in his personal gardens, doused in oil and then burned at the stake in order to provide nightly illumination for his estate and the rest of the city.
This is not the only story that links Nero to fire and destruction: the Great Fire of Rome occurred in AD 64 and destroyed most of the city. Many of the destroyed buildings were in the area of Nero’s palaces, with some of them sitting on land marked for future extensions. Some people suggested that Nero ordered these fires himself to make way for his own building work and extending his own wealth.
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FOUR
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The horsemen introduces the number four to Revelations: these characters may be a reference to the four Roman emperors following Nero, all of whom held power for only a short period of time.
Nero took his own life in AD 68 following revolts and unrest throughout the Empire. His death created a power vacuum and led to the Year of Four Emperors, when Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian came to rule in quick succession. Galba, Otho and Vitellius all faced opposition, dying quickly, with only Vespasian bringing an end to the period of uncertainty with his lengthy reign.
Each of these four emperors possessed traits that are similar to those of the Four Horsemen:
Galba was a stern ruler who used force to keep tight control over the coffers and taxes of the Empire.
Otho bought his way into power, using his private soldiers to attain the role of Emperor.
Vitelius can be compared to the famine-like third horseman: he is described as a glutton who would order extravagant feasts four times a day, often at the houses of the other nobles.
Finally, Vespasian ruled for ten years and was a key player in the Jewish Revolt and the Siege of Jerusalem. Although Vespasian’s attitude towards the Jewish people has been recorded as being quite favourable, the high death toll during this period means that it isn’t a stretch to believe that he could have been associated with Death.
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THE MILLENNIUM
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Prior to his final battle with Jesus, Satan is sentenced to 1,000 years in the pit and, as such, the number has become an important part of the Apocalypse. This millennium has become increasingly more important in modern times, with the passing of any period of 1,000 years becoming a landmark to be acknowledged.
Few of the dates in the Bible should be taken at face value, especially within Revelations: it’s possible that these thousand years are an exaggeration of the hundred years that the Roman Empire had been ruling over Israel at the time of writing.
The millennium has since become an important part of philosophy and religion, lending its name to other fields that are not associated with religion or with Revelations. Millenarianism is a general acknowledgement of a great change that will come to the world and may refer to technological or cultural advancement, or perhaps some discovery that will improve quality of life.
Millennialism acknowledges this 1,000 years in which Satan is banished to the pit, and looks forward with hope to the period when this occurs, seeing it as a golden age for humanity when Jesus’ reign over the Earth is unaffected by greed or other evils.
There are other beliefs that further expand on millennialism, each belonging to different Churches and speaking volumes about their opinions on the End of the World: premillennialism is the belief that Jesus’ Second Coming will take place before the 1,000-year peace, and his reign will be literal and physically on
Even in the present day, Nero’s name is become synonymous with corrupt government and rulers. He is known for his pride and extravagant taste: he portrayed himself as an idol to the Roman Empire, in a role that many Christians would have considered blasphemous.
The historian Tacitus noted that Nero had a specific loathing of Christians that went far beyond civic duty and protection of the Empire: Christian slaves and prisoners were tied up in his personal gardens, doused in oil and then burned at the stake in order to provide nightly illumination for his estate and the rest of the city.
This is not the only story that links Nero to fire and destruction: the Great Fire of Rome occurred in AD 64 and destroyed most of the city. Many of the destroyed buildings were in the area of Nero’s palaces, with some of them sitting on land marked for future extensions. Some people suggested that Nero ordered these fires himself to make way for his own building work and extending his own wealth.
----
FOUR
----
The horsemen introduces the number four to Revelations: these characters may be a reference to the four Roman emperors following Nero, all of whom held power for only a short period of time.
Nero took his own life in AD 68 following revolts and unrest throughout the Empire. His death created a power vacuum and led to the Year of Four Emperors, when Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian came to rule in quick succession. Galba, Otho and Vitellius all faced opposition, dying quickly, with only Vespasian bringing an end to the period of uncertainty with his lengthy reign.
Each of these four emperors possessed traits that are similar to those of the Four Horsemen:
Galba was a stern ruler who used force to keep tight control over the coffers and taxes of the Empire.
Otho bought his way into power, using his private soldiers to attain the role of Emperor.
Vitelius can be compared to the famine-like third horseman: he is described as a glutton who would order extravagant feasts four times a day, often at the houses of the other nobles.
Finally, Vespasian ruled for ten years and was a key player in the Jewish Revolt and the Siege of Jerusalem. Although Vespasian’s attitude towards the Jewish people has been recorded as being quite favourable, the high death toll during this period means that it isn’t a stretch to believe that he could have been associated with Death.
----
THE MILLENNIUM
----
Prior to his final battle with Jesus, Satan is sentenced to 1,000 years in the pit and, as such, the number has become an important part of the Apocalypse. This millennium has become increasingly more important in modern times, with the passing of any period of 1,000 years becoming a landmark to be acknowledged.
Few of the dates in the Bible should be taken at face value, especially within Revelations: it’s possible that these thousand years are an exaggeration of the hundred years that the Roman Empire had been ruling over Israel at the time of writing.
The millennium has since become an important part of philosophy and religion, lending its name to other fields that are not associated with religion or with Revelations. Millenarianism is a general acknowledgement of a great change that will come to the world and may refer to technological or cultural advancement, or perhaps some discovery that will improve quality of life.
Millennialism acknowledges this 1,000 years in which Satan is banished to the pit, and looks forward with hope to the period when this occurs, seeing it as a golden age for humanity when Jesus’ reign over the Earth is unaffected by greed or other evils.
There are other beliefs that further expand on millennialism, each belonging to different Churches and speaking volumes about their opinions on the End of the World: premillennialism is the belief that Jesus’ Second Coming will take place before the 1,000-year peace, and his reign will be literal and physically on
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