Oooookay . . .

From this article about legislators in Missouri being concerned that National IDs will lead to the mark of the beast:

Most religious scholars agree that this beast in Revelation is a metaphor for the Roman emperor Nero who persecuted Christians and Jews in horrific ways that were likely to be remembered only a couple of generations later when Revelation was written.

Okay, two problems: First off, if "most religious scholars" believe that, how come this article is the first I've heard of it? Second, if the prophecies in Revelations (which is the correct spelling - the article got it wrong) are about future events, how can they be metaphors for past events? I don't get it. If you're going to debunk my religion, at least put some effort into it!