[HarleyD]

That is a rather interesting site that you posted. I'm especially interested in the quotes from the early fathers. Normally you see this with the one quote from Iraeneus with everyone else quoting him. This is the first I've seen direct quotes about John and Nero.

Elsewhere in the Syriac tradition, we should note that both of the Syriac Versions of the Revelation give in the title the statement that John was banished by Nero. Their titles say. - "The Apocalypse of St. John, written in Patmos, whither John was sent by Nero Caesar." Since John was banished to Patmos by Nero, and Nero died in 68 AD, then Revelation was written prior to 68 AD.

II.) The Muratorian Canon states "…for the blessed apostle Paul himself, following the order of his predecessor John, he wrote to only seven churches by name, in the following order…”. Paul was killed in 68 AD by Nero. Since Paul copied John's example of writing to 7 churches, then John wrote Revelation prior to 68 AD.

III.) In his work Against Jovinianum (1:26), Jerome states, “But if thou art near to Italy, thou hast Rome, where we also have an authority close at hand. What an happy Church is that, on which the Apostles poured out all their doctrine, with their blood: where Peter had a like Passion with the Lord; where Paul bath for his crown the same death with John; where the Apostle John was plunged into boiling oil, and suffered nothing, and was afterwards banished to an island.”

Rather interesting.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Yes, seems like those are pretty direct and clear quotes.

I wonder who would benefit by disabusing Christians of the fact that Rome is the "beast of Revelation?" Who would benefit by the rise of Dispensationalism which appears to let Rome off the hook?

[Uncle Chip]

Wasn’t Domitian’s nickname “Nero” -—