Question: Identify the head who received the death stroke that was healed: 1. H.Hailey: The death-stroke is the death of Nero, the first emperor to persecute the church, whose policy of persecution was revived by Domitian, in whom the death-stroke was healed. The death of Nero dealt a severe blow to the empire, which was immediately thrown into a two-year state of anarchy and confusion. Order was restored by Vespasian of the Flavian family. But to the church, which is John's interest, the healing of the death-stroke came with the revival of persecution under Domitian. Tacitus points out that after Nero's death there were various rumors that the return of the tyrant was at hand, whereupon pretenders arose claiming to be the deceased emperor (Hist.II.8). Seutonius, another early Roman historian, writes that after Nero's death friends circulated his edicts, "pretending he was still alive and would soon return to confound his enemies"; he tells of one in particular who came forward claiming to be Nero. John would have not been influenced by these rumors, but saw in the renewal of persecution under Domitian a healing of the death-stroke inflicted by the death of Nero. Tertullian wrote of "Domitian--a man of Nero's type". Victorinus (d. A.D. 304), the earliest author to write a commentary on Revelation (only a fragment of which has survived) in commenting on 17:10, lists the five emperors whom he considered had fallen, then says, "One remains, under whom the Apocalypse was written--Domitian, to wit." He adds on v. 16, "Now that one of the heads was, as it were, slain to death...he speaks of Nero" (A-N-F.VII.p.358). "And the whole earth wondered after the beast," that is, the world of unregenerated people followed the beast, being filled with awe and amazement at it. The Christians were not impressed, but held to their faith in Him who in His death had triumphed over all powers and ever lives.