What is "treasure in heaven"?, page-21

The most likely explanation is the "beast" referred to in Revelation was Nero.
Evidence:

• At the time of writing there was a state religion in which emperors were worshipped as deities.
• The Roman state was suppressing the early Church.
• Nero was the sixth king - the previous 5 had already "fallen". Galba was the 7th.
• Nero persecuted Christians at the time of the writing of revelation. Tatitus described the persecution.
• In line with the imagery of the book of revelation, Rome was known in antiquity as the city of 7 hills.
• Revelation 1:1 warned of events that would shortly take place.
• In Rev. 13:5-8 the beast spoke blasphemies against God - this is what Nero did.
• The beast continues for 42 months (Revelation 13:5) went on for 42 months. Nero's persecution started in 62 and ended with his death in 68.
• Nero was succeeded by short lived emperors and civil wars.
• Apollonius of Tyana specifically called Nero a beat.
• Ephesus was well known for it's persecution of the newly formed church - the location of one of the 7 churches addressed in revelation.
• Scholars appear to agree that 666 was a well known symbol for an existing beast at the time of writing.

All this points to revelation addressing events of the time.
Compare this evidence with that claimed 1914.