Study of Revelation 01/16/2011

The author of the study book holds to late date of the writing of Revelation, I hold to or believe it was written before the destruction of Jerusalem. Thus, I shall be writing my views below as stated in class.

There are five ways to look at the following events, and each view is most logical by the holder: 1) The events have not happened since the late date of writing Revelation {c.90 A.D.} But will happen at the end of time. 2) The events have happened since the late date of writing Revelation but there is no historical record of the events. 3) This is dealing with the current at that time as well as the continuing struggle the faithful have, i.e. the philosophy of history {cf. page i or 4 if viewing in Adobe}, and the late date is correct. 4) The events have happened in the O.T.  past and thus one can accept the late date of writing 5) The events fit the historical events that happened a few years before the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem but it means one must reject the late date (the most popular date) and accept the early date{before 70 A.D.} of the writing of Revelation.. Currently I am of the opinion number 5 fits the events of Revelation the best and I will accept the proof of an early date of Revelation’s writing. (This is not the author’s view; he goes with number 2.).

 +++++++

Section 3 THE SEVEN TRUMPETS OF JUDGMENT
Chapter 8 - The  Seventh  Seal  and  The  First  Four  Trumpets

1- The silence suggest something dramatic was going to happen - Mat 24:29, the end of Jerusalem; i.e., the end of the nation Israel. The reason Israel exist today is the UN at the end of WW II said so.

2- The trumpets, the alarm of war; they give seven, i.e. complete, warnings before the judgement.

3- 4 - The prayers of the newly killed saints (6:11b) are added to the prayers of OT saints (6:9-10) and brought to God.

5 - What those under the alter (6:9) wanted came about. The fires thrown on earth may be making reference to what happened when Vespasian subdued the Jews 66 A.D. as told by Josephus’ in his account of the Roman-Jewish wars. Josephus, account of the Roman-Jewish war similarities seems to go along with this section.

6-7 - Josephus says “Galilee was all over filled with fire and blood.” This probably does not mean a third of the earth was burned up but the places where there was war.    

8-9 - “and had life” in verse 9 may suggest human life and not only animal life for such would not be necessary. In Bible times there were four prominent seas: Mediterranean Sea, Dead Sea, Red Sea, sea of Galilee. Josephus describes a sea battle that was fought on Mediterranean Sea at Joppa that showed the sea was not a good defense for Israel during the Roman-Jewish wars.

10-11- The star is could be a person that was well thought of but was turned on because of his actions. This could be Josephus for at one time he was well thought of by the Jews, then he became a traitor.

12 - The Vespasian campaign conquered 1/3 of Israel, i.e. Israel’s light (God’s help) was going out

13 - It was at this time there was a pause in the Roman-Jewish wars when Nero died (June 68 A.D.) and Vespasian went back to Rome; but the Roman army did return to Jerusalem and destroyed the temple, thus, the woes by the eagle (the eagle was the ensign of Rome).  

Study of Revelation

The author of the study book holds to late date of the writing of Revelation, I hold to or believe it was written before the destruction of Jerusalem. Thus, I shall be writing my views below as stated in class.
 +++++++
 Some historians state that the persecution of Christians expanded dramatically during Domitian’s reign. However, noting that he maintained debaucheries, there is simply no historical evidence of any persecutions during his reign, despite mention of a handful of individual trials for heresy which took place in Rome. These are listed by both Eusebius and the Roman historian Dion Cassius. Eusebius’ List of Martyrs did have its beginning during Domitian’s reign, but comparatively speaking, it is not a very long list, with less than one hundred names most of whom were identified in the second and third century. It is interesting to note that Edward Gibbon speculated that the inquisition in Spain was responsible for more Christian martyrs than were all of the rest emperors combined excepting Nero, of course.

Some things to ponder.
1    The only persecution against Christians identified in Revelation are by Jews [cf. Revelation 2:9; 3:9].  There are additional persecutions but the source is not identified [cf. Revelation 2:13].

2    Tacitus and Suetonius, who were members of the Roman Senate during Domitian's reign, nor Pliny, who lived in Rome, leave any record of a campaign against Christians.  Yet, Tacitus and Suetonius both left a record of Nero's persecution against Christians.  Strange is it not.
    2.1    Tacitus (55?-120?) - Roman public official and historian whose two greatest works, Histories and Annals, concern the period from the death of Augustus (a.d. 14) to the death of Domitian.
    2.2    Suetonius (Second century a.d.) - Roman historian whose major work, Lives of the Caesars, is an account of the lives of the first 12 Roman emperors.
    2.3    Pliny the Younger (62:-113? a.d.) Roman consul and writer. His letters provide valuable information about Roman life.

3    Robert Young in his "Commentary on Revelation" published prior to 1885 gives the reason for the tradition of Domitian.  "It was written in Patmos about A.D. 68, whither John had been banished by Domitius Nero, as stated in the title of Syriac Version of the book; and with this concurs the express statement of Irenaeus in A.D. 175, who says it happened in the reign of Domitianou — i.e. Domitius (Nero).  Sulpicius, Orosius, etc. stupidly mistaking Domitianou for Domitianikos supposed Irenaeus to refer to Domitian, A.D. 95, and most succeeding writers have fallen into the same blunder.  The internal testimony is wholly in favor of the early date."
++++++

Section 3 THE SEVEN TRUMPETS OF JUDGMENT
Chapter 8 - The  Seventh  Seal  and  The  First  Four  Trumpets

1- The silence suggest something dramatic was going to happen - Mat 24:29, the end of Jerusalem; i.e., the end of the nation Israel. The reason Israel exist today is the UN at the end of WW II said so.

2- The trumpets, the alarm of war; they give seven, i.e. complete, warnings before the judgement.

3- 4 - The prayers of the newly killed saints (6:11b) are added to the prayers of OT saints (6:9-10) and brought to God.