[Cronos]

That's incorrect linkage. The beast was Nero who persecuted Christians, executed Peter and Paul. Many were the martyrs who died for not adoring the beast.

The key to interpreting the book of Apocalypse is Apocalypse 17:8-14

8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and [g]go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. 9 Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, 10 and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. 11 The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. 12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 These have one [h]purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

the coinage with images was part of this "mark of the beast" and remember that Emperor Caligula

note the 7 heads, the 7 Emperors, out of which 5 "have fallen": Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero

The seventh "is not yet come. But when he does, his reign will remain short" - that is Domitian, who ruled 2 years (the 6th and 7th heads were Vespasian and Titus respectively

[patlin]

who persecuted Christians, executed Peter and Paul

Peter & Paul were Jewish who followed Messiah in the keeping and teaching of Torah. The doctrine of Christendom rejects Torah.

[xzins]

The “Nero” theory has been around a long time, but it’s good to reflect on it again.

My memory says that it’s weaknesses are twofold:

1. It doesn’t take into account all scripture on the subject.

2. Most early Church fathers were unaware of it and continued to ponder who the beast might be. Apparently, no one clued them in that the Nero was the fulfillment even though they lived through it or knew others who had.

My personal opinion is that there will be a future person so similar to Nero that he could be his returned clone. (Or maybe something in the same sense as Jesus said that John the Baptist and Elijah were the same “if you could receive it.” IOW, so similar as to be the same.)

JMHO