Well I'll tell you what Lars, it sounds like another set of acedemics trying to make a name for themselves. I don't believe the Christians would have done it, I do believe a group that were confused with Christians could have. Added to which Christians usually weren't persecuted, only a certain points in history, i.e. Nero. The religion wasn't outlawed and a lot of people were happy with the Roman Empire, in fact most people were.

Maybe the Whore of Babylon does refer to Rome but it seems to me an underground sect could have been more explicit. Added to which many believe the Apocalypse also refers to the fall of Rome. so the fall of Rome was the end of the world.

Sorry but this just doesn't jive for me. Even if the Book of Revelations does refer to Rome it was written after Nero's persecution of the Christians.