9 June 68
AD. Nero commits suicide.
Dr. Rusten tells the story. Rusten, E. Michael and Rusten,
Sharon. The One Year Christian History.
Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003. Available at: http://www.amazon.com/The-Year-Christian-History-Books/dp/0842355073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393302630&sr=8-1&keywords=rusten+church+history
Nero was
born in 37 AD. He became at Emperor in 54 AD.
His first five years were sound and sober. He had good men around him, such as Seneca
and Burrus. In 58 AD, his troubles
began.
He
cavorted—as an adulterer—with Poppea.
Tacitus claims she had every gift of nature except an “honorable
mind.” Nero began to throw off
restraints including sound counsellors.
Poppea
induced Nero to divorce his wife and murder his mother.
In 65 AD,
however, in a rage, he kicked the pregnant adulteress, Poppea, and she died.
The Roman
treasury was exhausted under him. Greedy
men were about him. A fire in Rome broke
out. Christians were scapegoated,
arrested in large numbers and tortured.
“Some were covered with skins of wild animals and
then torn partly by dogs, some were crucified, some were burned as torches to
the light the night.”
These
were the Christians to whom Paul wrote his magnum
opus, “The Epistle to the Romans,” dealing with original sin, actual sins,
bondage of the will, free and gratuitous justification under both
administrations of the gracious covenant, sanctification and Spirit-wrought
baptism into union with Christ, the battle of sanctification, predestination,
and election that cuts across the covenant signs—all the great themes of the
historic and true church.
Paul and
Peter were be martyred under this reprobate and anti-Christ.
Nero
suffered further delusions of grandeur and further expressions of his
reprobation.
He went
to Greece. He featured himself in Greek
plays. He entered Greek sports and
games. But, since he was the Caesar, all
was rigged so he could win. He was
mocked.
Ultimately,
the reprobate lost his will to live.
Rebellion encircled him.
He
committed suicide on 9 June 68 and
went to hell. The Christians whom he
persecuted entered the joy of their Redeemer in the City Above.
Sources
Angus, S.
and A.M. Renwick. “Nero.” ISBE. Rev.ed. 3:521-3.
Blacklock,
E.M. “Nero.” ZPEB. 4:410-2.
Gasque,
W. Ward. “Nero Claudius Caesar (37-68).” NIDCC. 699
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