General Discussion

So many read the bible but don't have the reading comprehension level or the historical context to make sense of its use of metaphors and allegories.
In many cases people have so oversimplified the text that it's lost its entire original meaning but to a few scholars. Not to mention the complete re-writing of passages to fit the narrative of a given pope or monk or scribe or whoever was doing to actual writing.
All that said, yes, the "judgement day" was more about the Romans. The "Beast" in Revelations is Nero, who was, to them, the devil for his attacks on early Christians.
There are whole, months long classes, on this stuff. To think you are going to get a better understanding of the Bible by going to a hour long Wednesday Bible Study class, lead by Mark from accounting, is ridiculous.