Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Dating the Book of Revelation


 It seems right to me to take a look at the date for the writing of the book of Revelation. For, whether Revelation was written before or after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the desolation of the Jewish nation, determines how its prophecies are to be understood. For example: if the book of Revelation was written AFTER the taking of Jerusalem and the razing of the temple then one must look beyond the first century for the fulfillment of ALL its prophecies. On the other hand, if Revelation has a date earlier than A.D. 70  much of its content is very likely to have been fulfilled within the context of Jerusalem’s destruction by the Romans. This writing will examine the issue and attempt to answer the question: Does Revelation have an early date (i.e. before A.D. 70), or a late date (i.e. after A.D. 70)?
Two periods have been suggested for the date of the writing of the Revelation: we can best categorize these periods as EARLY and LATE dates. The “early” date would most likely be within the reign of Nero Caesar (A.D. 54-68), while the “late” date would be the reign of Domitian (A.D. 81-96).

There is much EXTERNAL evidence (namely, evidence outside of the Bible itself) that would suggest a later date (the traditional date is A.D. 95). However, this “EXTERNAL” evidence is supplied primarily by the Catholic fathers: Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Victorinus, and Eusebius: none of which are representatives of the Apostolic Faith of the first century. Juxtaposed to these witnesses is the INTERNAL evidence (i.e. biblical) which indicates the earlier date of Nero’s reign (A.D. 54-69).
Before we look at the INTERNAL evidence for the early date, it will be good to explore the witnesses for the late date theory. Primarily, we will examine Irenaeus and Eusebius. Irenaeus is third century - Eusebius is fourth century.
While both Irenaeus and Eusebius argue for the late date of the reign of Emperor Domitian for the writing of the book of Revelation, they are not agree on the author. Irenaeus says John the apostle; Eusebius says, John the elder. Furthermore, it appears that the late date and the Ephesus residence of John the Apostle go hand-in-hand. Irenaeus claims that through his teachers, Polycarp and Papias, he has direct record of John the Apostle’s residence and work in the Ephesian region (Her. III.3.4; V.33.4). Irenaeus reports hearing these things from Polycarp when he (Irenaeus) was a boy (Eusebius, History, V. 20. 5). Irenaeus, further claims that Papias was a hearer of John the apostle. Counter to the claim of Irenaeus (that Papias was a hearer of John), Eusebius states flatly that “Papias himself, in the preface to his discourse, makes it plain that he was in no sense a hearer and eyewitness of the holy apostles” (History’s, III. 39. 2). Eusebius goes on to quote Papias as making a distinction between the Apostle John and John the Elder (Histories, 39. 2). Polycrates of Ephesus speaks of the Ephesian residents of “John” and adds that he was a “priest, wearing the sacerdotal plate” (Eusebius, Histories, V. 24. 3); this would suggest a “John” who was of priestly origin—most likely not the apostle. At any rate, if Irenaeus was wrong concerning Papias having heard John the apostle, and he seems to have been, then the force of his testimony is considerably weakened. Compounding his credibility problem is his apparent confusion over James, the Lord’s half brother, with James the son of Zebedee (Iren. Her. III. 12. 15.). Another concern to me is the fact that both Polycarp and Ignatius write epistles to the church at Ephesus and neither mention John at all—let alone as having a long term residents there. The absence of the Apostle John from the epistles of Polycarp and Ignatius to the church at Ephesus seems odd, and unlikely if - as tradition has it - Ephesus was the headquarters of John’s bishopric. Ignatius, in his letter to the Ephesians, speaks of Paul, but not of John.
Furthermore, there is the matter of John’s possible martyrdom as reported by George the Sinner. 
(eighth  - ninth century  George the Monk, also called George the Sinner, Greek Georgios Hamartolos   (flourished 9th century), Byzantine historian, author of a world chronicle that constitutes a prime documentary source for mid-9th-century Byzantine history, particularly the iconoclast [Greek: “image destroyer”] movement.) and Philip of Side (fifth century  Philip of Side or Philip Sidetes (ca 380 - after 431), a historian of the early Christian church, was born at Side, the ancient Greek Iconium, Pamphylia (the modern Konya, Turkey). He wrote a Christian history of which fragments survive. Philip may be the last writer to quote Papias, and is best known for his statement that in the second book of the latter's five book treatise, Papias reported that the Apostle John was "killed by the Jews". He studied in Alexandria under Rhodon, and was teaching in Side about 405. Later he was a priest in Constantinople in the close circle of John Chrysostom, and he was a candidate for the patriarchate of Constantinople against Sisinnius (425), Nestorius (428), and Maximianus (431). Of his numerous books only fragments remain, his history of the Christian church, his polemic against the Emperor Julian.). 
In both accounts, the sons of Zebedee were martyred. This report has support in ancient Church calendars which lists John among Christian martyrs. But more weighty to me is the statement of Jesus, found in Mark 10:39, where He seems to be telling the sons of Zebedee that they both would have to be killed for the cause just as He (Jesus) was going to be killed. Included here is the account from Mark’s Gospel:
Mark 10:37-39.
“They said to him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on my left hand, in thy glory.  38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can you drink of the cup that I drink of? And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?  39 And they said into him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drank up; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall you be baptized:...”
What is clear to me is that in the zeal of the ancient advocates to establish a late date (which requires a long life for John—thus, the Ephesus residency and bishopric) for the book of Revelation they claimed too much. And one might ask, Why?
I will attempt to give a very short answer and you may take it for what it is worth. Irenaeus is the first of the Catholic Fathers. This, particular, strain of the Church  felt a strong need for an apostolic touchstone. Irenaeus tried to bridge his church, via Papias and Polycarp, to the apostolic Church of Apostle John. The claim of Irenaeus of Lyon is unconvincing as reliable evidence.

EXAMPLES OF THE INTERNAL EVIDENCE
The holy Scripture presents several examples of internal evidence for an early date for the writing of the book of Revelation. 
At the opening of the fifth seal (6:9, When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.), John was shown the souls of martyrs that were under the altar. The altar in view here is the altar of Holocaust which was an important part of the Temple in Jerusalem. (This is not a vision of a heavenly altar, because it is the breaking of one of the seven seals which all relate to the earth.) This passage, then, presupposes the existence of the earthly temple, with its altar, at the time of the writing of Revelation (i.e. pre-A.D. 70).
Second, and similarly, there is the instruction given to John to measure the Temple (11:1-2, Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood,[a] saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.). 
Again, the passage presupposes the existence of the Temple at that particular time. Added to this is the fact that the book of Revelation nowhere mentions the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. The Temple was destroyed in A.D. 70; therefore, the internal evidence indicates an early date for the writing of Revelation.
Furthermore, there are the writings of Peter and James to be considered. Both of these apostles seem to quote the book of Revelation. Peter refers to Rome as Babylon (see 1 Peter 5:13, She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.).  Such a reference would likely have come from reading the book of Revelation, chapter 17 in particular. This is very interesting, in that the First General Epistle of Peter was written in the early 60s. James, our Lord’s half brother, who wrote the General Epistle of James early to mid 50s, wrote: “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned, behold, the judge standeth before the door” (James 5:9). This has all the characteristics of a gloss to the book of Revelation; namely, 3:20 “Behold I stand at the door, ...”
Another internal evidence is the passage found in chapter 12 verses 1-6,
Revelation 12:1-6
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:  2 and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pain to be delivered.  3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and 10 horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.  4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and to cast them into the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.  5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.  6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, for she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.” 
Notice that the above passage states: “... and the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared of God ...” This prophecy was fulfilled when the Romans lifted their siege from Jerusalem (Josephus states that the Roman general Cestius 
(Gaius Cestius Gallus (d. 67 AD) was the son of a consul in ancient Rome.  He was legate of Syria from 63 or 65. He marched into Judea in 66 in an attempt to restore calm at the outset of the Great Jewish Revolt.  But was unable to take The Temple Mount. During his withdrawal to the coast his army was ambushed near Beth Horon, and only succeeded in making good his escape to Antioch by sacrificing the greater part of his army and a large amount of war material. Soon after his return Gallus died (before the spring of 67), and was succeeded in the governorship by Licinius Mucianus. Emperor Nero appointed General Vespasian, the future Emperor, instead to crush the rebellion.) 
“... retired from the city, without any reason in the world.” Wars of the Jews 2. 19. 7) and withdrew their army to Caesarea; during which time, the Christians fled the city. The Christians crossed the Jordan River, and entered the wilderness of a Pella. 
(Dr. John Gill wrote in his work entitled, An Exposition of the New Testament, in 1809, "...it is remarked by several interpreters, and which Josephus takes notice of with surprise, that Cestius Gallus having advanced with his army to Jerusalem, and besieged it, on a sudden without any cause, raised the siege, and withdrew his army, when the city might have been easily taken; by which means a signal was made, and an opportunity given to the Christians, to make their escape: which they accordingly did, and went over the Jordan, as Eusebius [an early church father] says, to a place called Pella; so that when Titus [another Roman general] came a few months after, there was not a Christian in the city..." More on this later!) 
(Pella was not under Roman control until A.D. 117.) Since the prophecy was given before its fulfillment, and since it was realized in the late 60s, it follows that the Revelation was written earlier.
Moreover, the prophecy of “tribulation ten days,” given to the Church at Smyrna (2:8-10, “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.),   speaks of the ten years of persecution during the reign of Domitian (A.D. 81-96). If Revelation is, indeed, viewed as prophecy, it must be accepted that it had a writing earlier than Domitian’s persecution: which argues for the earlier date theory.
Lastly, some would argue that the level of persecution at this early date (mid-50s to mid 60s) was not such that would produce the circumstances which landed John on the island of Patmos. That argument, however, is unconvincing when Peter writes in the early to mid-60s of severe persecution upon his church.
1 Peter 4:14-16.
 “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, put on your part he is glorified.  15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.  16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God on this behalf.”
1 Peter 5:8-9.
“Be sober, the vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walk us about, seeking whom he may devour:  9 whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Conclusion:
From the foregoing information it seems logical to conclude (if internal [biblical] evidence is favored above the external) that the book of Revelation has an early date; i.e. mid-50s to the late 60s. Among the scholars who argue for a pre-A.D. 70 date for the writing of the book of Revelation are: Westcott, Lightfoot, Hort, and Salmon. (See The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Moody.)

My children, the conclusion of the matter is that when teaching the book of Revelation you must allow for its early date of writing, and that much of its contents were fulfilled within the first century A.D.

Apostolically Speaking,
☩☩ Jerry Hayes
(Mar David Ignatius)


Read other epistles from the pen of the Bishop on Prophecy:


"Prophecy and the Spiral Staircase"

"The Prophets Speak of the Church"

"Apostolic Eschatology"

God’s New Covenant With Israel
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/05/gods-new-covenant-with-israel.html

Dating the Book of Revelation

The Three Horsemen of Dispensationalism
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-three-horsemen-of-dispensationalism.html

Correct Method of Interpreting the Book of Revelation

 Joel's Messianic Kingdom (The Church of Jesus Christ)

Biblical Eschatology
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/09/biblical-eschatology.html

Millennial Reign of Christ
http://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/09/millennial-reign-of-christ.html

All These Things (A Study on Matthew 24)
http://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/09/all-these-things-kingdom-teaching-of.html

Second Coming of Christ Jesus
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/09/second-coming-of-christ-jesus.html

The Crux of the Matter (What Did Jesus Mean By "The Generation"?)
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-crux-of-matter-what-did-jesus-mean.html

The Apocalypse, is the introduction to the biblical book of Revelation. Here Bishop Hayes also gives a verse by verse commentary of the first three chapters of the Apostle John's Revelation of Jesus Christ, covering the letters addressed to the seven churches of Asia Minor. The Bible student will thrill at the Bishop's easy evangelistic style of presenting deep and unique truths never before published. In this study a wealth of information will be shared with the disciples of Christ on each verse of this great manuscript.
After spending over forty years in the dispensational doctrine, and having raise my children in that theological framework, I became a convinced adherent to a "kingdom" theology that recognizes the Church as the Israel of God, and that the first century actually saw the fulfillment of most of Matthew chapter 24. "Letters to My Children on Apostolic Kingdom Theology" is a compilation of twenty four letters written to my children explaining my journey. These "Letters" provide a systematic approach to Apostolic Eschatological study of Scripture. It is sure to interest all students of Scriptures.
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