[circlecity]

"Nero, the beast would still be the beast."

Beasts who have been dead for 50 years don't really pose much of a threat. Also Paul, who was never afraid to name names, never put forth Nero (or any Roman) as the Man of Lawlessness. Finally several texts of Revelation, including the earliest one we have, put the mark of the Beast as 616 rather than 666. But, putting a name on the Beast has been favorite Christian parlour game for eons and that's not gonig to stop.

[Cronos]

true. But note that Nero had died in 69 AD — 26 years prior if one takes the latter scenario. And there were 3 Nero imposters after Nero’s death — one in 69AD, one in 81 AD and on in 90~ AD, so yes he was still considered a threat

[Cronos]

Also Paul, who was never afraid to name names, never put forth Nero (or any Roman) as the Man of Lawlessness. -- Thessalonians dates from 52 AD -- before the reign of Nero.

[Cronos]

Finally several texts of Revelation, including the earliest one we have, put the mark of the Beast as 616 rather than 666 -- possibly, maybe the Beast had an address change? :0