As far as those earth-shattering events:
Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
You've heard of emperor worship, right? Most of the early Christian martyrs were killed specifically because they wouldn't engage in it.
Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
I believe you'll find something very much like that was enforced by the Romans, however, that may be merely metaphor for emperor-worship.
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six.
"Caesar Nero" in Hebrew letters gives exactly the required number.
You know, don't you, that after Titus' legions conquered the Temple precincts in AD 70, their first act was to set up their regimental standards in the court of the Gentiles and sacrifice to them? But I want you to have the last word, so perhaps you can explain this verse:
Rev 17:9 "Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.
What or who are the seven kings upon which the woman sits, five of whom had fallen before John wrote this verse, one of whom was reigning as he wrote the verse, and one who would be yet to come?
The revived ROMAN empire led by the antichrist is the one to come. (With a False Prophet leading a bogus One-World Religion, also of ROMAN origin)
Now you answer ME a question...
When -- in the 1st century -- did the Romans cause an IMAGE to speak? By what technology?
When did the 1st century Romans (or whoever) "cause fire to come down from heaven in the sight of men"??? (Rev 13: 13)
When did Nero (from your example) cause all humans on the earth to have a mark on their hand or forehead without which NO ONE could buy or sell?