This Christian Life

Revealing Revelation

When I went to Turkey I learned something that helped me understand Revelation better. It made me see the culture to which Revelation was first written to and what kind of persecution believers of that time were subjected to. I came to the conclusion that while Revelation may be written about /our/ end times, it is probably more likely a reference to the times that the 1st century believers lived in. The “beast” being referred to by John (the author) is probably the Ceasar Domitian because of his merciless and unending defiance against believing Jews and Christians alike.

From the Catholic Encyclopedia

Roman emperor and persecutor of the Church, son of Vespasian and younger brother and successor of the Emperor Titus; b. 24 Oct., A.D. 51, and reigned from 81 to 96. In spite of his private vices he set himself up as a reformer of morals and religion. He was the first of the emperors to deify himself during his lifetime by assuming the title of “Lord and God”. After the revolt of Saturninus (93) he organized a series of bloodthirsty proscriptions against all the wealthy and noble families. A conspiracy, in which his wife joined, was formed against him, and he was murdered, 18 Sept., 96.

When the Acts of Nero’s reign were reversed after his death, an exception was made as to the persecution of the Christians (Tertullian, Ad Nat., i, 7). The Jewish revolt brought upon them fresh unpopularity, and the subsequent destruction of the Holy City deprived them of the last shreds of protection afforded them by being confounded with the Jews. Hence Domitian in his attack upon the aristocratic party found little difficulty in condemning such as were Christians. To observe Jewish practices was no longer lawful; to reject the national religion, without being able to plead the excuse of being a Jew, wasatheism. On one count or the other, as Jews or as atheists, the Christians were liable to punishment.

John’s words were poetic in describing the situation to the believers in cities like Ephesus, Laodocia, Philadelphia, Hieropolis, and more because he was trying to protect himself and them.

I’m not exactly sure what the mark of the beast refers to, but I know it was probably a reference to the fact that all citizens eventually became subject to buying and selling /anything/ via this form of commerce. In effect, Domitian required everyone to bow to him (as self-professed “Lord and God”) before doing any commerce. An educated guess would tell me that the believers would have no part in doing this. He was so strict about it, that beleivers in the one true God became the victims of his obsession.

The book of the Apocalypse was written in the midst of this storm, when many of the Christians had already perished and more were to follow them…

So, I think the whole question of the “mark of the beast” in the context of today’s electronic society may be over-inflated.