Tuesday, January 11, 2011

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.
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 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."
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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.




 

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