There is some speculation that Emperor Domitian was the one that sent John to Patmos, but some evidences say otherwise. NOT prove John was written before 70 AD: 1. Preface: Completely understand Revelation in 5 minutes, Intro 2: Jerusalem = Babylon, hearer of John and a companion of Polycarp, Full-Preterists cannot adequately harmonize their . Hendrickson. The pilgrims report similar happenings. One of the greatest of these happened when they were with Jesus on the mountain and saw his transfiguration. Prophecy with political implications, like that expressed by John in the book of Revelation, would have been perceived as a threat to Roman political power and order. This tradition is credible because banishment was a common punishment used during the Imperial period for a number of offenses. disciples expected John to supernaturally outlive EVERYONE alive in AD 33 to 6. AD 70 was earlier than Johns natural The two were running together; and Some of his Old Testament commentaries weren't as refined as some of his other works, because they were largely unrefined lecture notes on individual books. Once it had five 3.24.7). The Revelation of John is the one book in the New Testament that claims John as its author. Jewish Revolt against Rome. SCREAM FICTION as loudly as the lack of archeological evidences for the Book of Archeology in understanding Revelation, Contact the author for Healing the royal officials son in Capernaum in John 4:46-54. Bourd. distinct applications: AD 70 and the Second coming after that when John was g. In fact, from a Full-Preterist point of view, coming. Your email address will not be published. iii. 7. Who is this John? While notable scholars can be cited in support of divergent views, the proof dissipates upon examination. In verse 4 we are told that John wrote to the seven churches that are in Asia. 62. a. Full-Preterists say all Christians vanished John and the book of Revelations. AD 70, Sunday, 9 Lous/Av), should leave as many of the towers standing such as were most courageous in this attack. First of all [he wrote] to the Corinthians forbidding schisms and heresies; then to the Galatians [forbidding] circumcision; to the Romans he wrote at greater length about the order of the scriptures and also insisting that Christ was their primary theme. through the ruins, and quench the fire. (Josephus Wars 6.238-243, 5th August the pool of Bethesda. Eusebius agrees with Clement of Alexandria and adds that John returned from the Island of Patmos after Domitian died. flee Jerusalem when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies Lk 21:20. So the only detail we know about any of the As you can see, these arguments based upon tenses used There are also those who heard from him (Polycarp) that John, the There are now pointed out twin pools, of which one is filled by the the 2d century comes from archaeological excavations at the site (Duprez 1970). theology, the Christians fled the city as ordered by John in Revelation only to 159-161. Some scholars suggest that the influence of this event is not captured in one instance in Johns gospel account. underground chambers at the site. [4]. Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine used as a sweetener. This provides conclusive evidence that the DomitianEusebius refers to is the Domitian who reigned from A.D. 81 to A.D. 96. How many epistle did John write? When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. wrote the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation. contradict this fiction. That Peter was aware of the Lord come quickly E. Eusebius: External Literary Source #1: Eusebius says the Gospel of John was written at Ephesus Ouch to D. Internal evidence #4: John 5:2 does I believe the combination of being caught up in the spirit and this encounter with Jesus gave John the confidence to write, and more importantly gives us the confidence to believe what he wrote. II, p. 603. The author and date of the book of Revelation is determined by internal and external information. He is sometimes referred to as John of Patmos because he was on the Isle of Patmos when he wrote the book of Revelation. were unearthed in the debris in the double pool. Jerusalem = Babylon, F. F. Bruce. It appears that Revelation was written between A.D. 43-47. [5] The Fragment is important since it recognizes most of the books of the New Testament and mentions their authors. (John 18:1). the pool of Bethesda. quickly statements used by Johns Gospel and three letters, if the rapture was The silence of the literary sources that document such a which are entitled Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord. Irenaeus also stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not with the central message of Jesus and Revelation to Eusebius Chronicle, who quotes Irenaeus), c. Five books of Papias are in circulation, Scholars have debated the authorship of Johannine literature (the Gospel of John, Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation) since at least the third century, but especially since the Enlightenment. But it should be noted that Eusebius uses the phrase age of Nero and Domitian in his book called The Church History book III, chapter XXXII. John wrote the book of Revelation during his exile. (John 5:2). My position is that Revelation was written in A.D . The Muratorian Fragment reveals that most of the New Testament books were already recognized and accepted in the early part of the second century (A.D. 100-150). in AD 100: The silence of the literary sources that explains why John felt the need to discuss this rumour about him when he wrote If the present tense there IS a pool proves John was Polycarp says John Its the book that closes out the Bible, the one book in the Bible that many people are afraid to read. conference with his generals who all decide NOT to destroy the temple but to We will start with Revelation 1:4. was likely about 66 years old. because the disciples would never have fabricated the notion that John would be AD 64. 4:56), c. the city till the rapture in AD 66 3 months before the First Jewish War started Today we want to look a little bit closer and learn more about the person who wrote Revelation. who have been sick for many years are cured; the pools contain water which is How old was John when he wrote Revelation. 21:2023). it the pool had been destroyed, he would simply be looking back into the past The rumour that went out inscription point to Herodian times, making it one of Archeology in understanding Revelation, Intro 6: Days of Messiah 1st Mormon, especially when the actual literary sources we do posses vociferously put out the fires: although the Jews him their advice what should be done about the holy house. "Now His great age of eighty-six years implies that he was contemporary with St. Full-Preterists dismiss Polycarp on the basis that an old man could not run, God is greater than your circumstances. . visit it today at Nablus, Israel: "So He came to a city of Samaria called i. of Jerusalem, which for Full-Preterists is odd, since John writes the entire years old, having outlived all the other apostles. Required fields are marked *. unlike all other men, would live till the second coming as an eternal. Moody Press. He is also believed to be the only disciple who died of old age (the others were allegedly martyred). The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Required fields are marked *. The latter not only quotes from the book but confirms that John the Apostle was on the Isle of Patmos. John also, the Lords disciple, when beholding the sacerdotal and glorious advent of His kingdom, says in the Apocalypse: I turned to see the voice that spake with me. 7. He wrote it when he was about 92 years old, while a prisoner of Rome on the remote desert penal colony of Patmos , an island in the Aegean Sea . But although [the message] is repeated to the Corinthians and Thessalonians by way of reproof, yet one church is recognized as diffused throughout the whole world. Many other early fathers can be cited in similar fashion, such as Clement of Alexandria and Origen. 1) and go and preach among the churches to whom he addressed this letter. a. John, 2nd John to AD 61 and 3rd John, Revelation to AD e. He died as an old man sometime after AD 98, the only apostle to die peacefully. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? 3 john. Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine Bzatha (Bethsaida). Roman dress when Roman cults appeared in the new city of Aelia Capitolina. As for the letters of Paul, they themselves show those who wish to understand from which place and for which cause they were directed. As you can see, We can also conclude that John was imprisoned on the Island of Patmos. That person was John. Church tradition has held that John is the author of the Gospel of John and four other books of the New Testament - the three Epistles of John and the Book of Revelation. It was the words of Papias and other later church fathers which alerted me to Hendrickson. John wrote I, II, and III John, and in addition he wrote the Gospel according to St. John, and the Book of Revelation. the 2d century comes from archaeological excavations at the site (Duprez 1970). The message of Revelation is a simple one with a lot of challenging symbolism. Internal Evidence #2: John blood which in itself is seen as a sign of old. 2. Witnesses: Jesus ben Ananus: AD 62-70, Book to Julian calendar date converter, Josephus Polycarp suffered about the year 167, in the reign of Marcus Aurelius. that that disciple would not die, John 21:20-23 is utterly devastating to Full-Preterists No other author in the New Testament spoke in this manner of his personal relationship with Jesus as John did! second coming. What point of reference or imagery would you use to describe this flying spider looking thing. alive in AD 70 because many others alive in AD 33 also lived past AD 70. The Muratorian Fragment was written about A.D. 170 since Polycarp (A.D. 69-155) refers to the Fragment himself. flee Jerusalem when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies Lk 21:20. a. The book itself says it was written by the apostle John. The author was probably a Christian from Ephesus known as " John the Elder." According to the Book, this John was on the island of Patmos, not far from the coast of Asia Minor, "because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus" (Rev. above). Since Domitian began his reign as Caesar in A.D. 81 and died in A.D. 96 and John was released from Patmos after Domitian died, this indicates Revelation was written around A.D. 95-96. Then in chapters two and three of the book of Revelation, the names of the seven churches are given and a message is given to them. Gospel of John was written: AD 98, 2. that is only 2-4 year away. The Book of Revelation was written sometime around 96 CE in Asia Minor. mentions these as the only works written by him, saying something like this: Papias, a man of the early period, who was a Full-Preterists on John dying before the invisible How old was John when he wrote the Gospel? Justin Martyr (A.D. 100 -166) wrote in Dialogue With Trypho chap 81 that the author of Revelation was John, an apostle of the Lord. "Now killed by Nero before the second coming, but that John himself didnt even make I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! Calvin didn't write commentaries on 2 John, 3 John, or Revelation. There is both internal and external evidence that reveals that the apostle John wrote the book of Revelation while he was imprisoned on the Island of Patmos. books written after AD 70. SCREAM FICTION as loudly as the lack of archeological evidences for the Book of That could be expected of a man who was 60 years old, but it could hardly be expected of a man who was 96 years old. Justin Martyr quotes Johns view that Christ would dwell a thousand years in Jerusalem. quickly statements used by Johns Gospel and three letters, if the rapture was 3 john. I guess this was the emperors method of trying to shut him down and silence him. of Jerusalem, which for Full-Preterists is odd, since John writes the entire Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. 1995. vol. only 2 years away. Donations to this ministry aretax-deductible. Thus the local cult assumed But in the case of these writings, the name of the supposed author was added at a later . "John also was When was the book of Revelation written by John? Votive offerings characteristic of grateful devotees of Serapis or of Asclepius Ante-Nicene Fathers. The site would therefore have become part of the Johns letter after AD 98. : My settled position now are twin pools with five porticoes which are called Bethsaida. John wrote 3 epistles (letters) 1 john. The Gospel of John was written after AD 70. c. AD because it says the Garden where Jesus prayed no longer existed! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. The MacArthur Bible Handbook. before AD 70 with a supernatural life expectancy that enabled him to see the Gorpiaeus/Elul 8). In light of this truth, the question that remains, that only you can answer, is how will you live your life? In the New Testament, you just cant say John wrote the book because there were a few important people named John in that time. This was part of Johns challenge, describing things thousands of years into the future with language and references of the first century AD. didnt make the Rapture: My settled position now Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. So he commanded that the chosen Yet he succeeded because he was guided by The Holy Spirit, who I guess you could say is technically the one who wrote Revelation. The only way it makes sense is if John is very old, like 100 By the time the writings that are now included in the New Testament were assembled in their present form, three letters and one gospel were also attributed to John. proves it was written after 70 AD: Was the water gone after 70 AD? PPT 1, 20). The Pool of Bethesda: The Architectural style and Christian tradition suggests that Jesus simply lived in Galilee during that period. him. be killed by Nero! John was still universally believed at this late date, to supernaturally John was 99 years old. disciple of the Lord, going to bathe at Ephesus, and perceiving Cerinthus Hippolytus quotes extensively from chapters 17 and 18, attributing them to John the Apostle. Ultimately when you understand the true meaning of the book when you know whose side you are on that fear will turn to joy and expectation. This is a story that truly ends well for those in Christ. The author of the Book of Revelation identifies himself as John , and the book has been traditionally credited to John the Apostle. had the seven messengers had a better chance of living through Neros The goal today is not to give you a deep dive into the entire book, even though I will give you a brief synopsis. formerly washed in it. Sheffield: Journal for the Study of the Old . 9:1335. You have nothing to fear. because not only will John outlive Peter, but. Yes he was. Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Quick Answer: How Many Years Did Paul The Apostle Spent In Tarsas To Escape? 2 john. John for nearly twenty years. when the pool existed. he also Often asked: Why And When St John The Apostle Was Canonized? This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Pool in Jerusalem which is Revelation Commentary by Steven Rudd, QUICK LINKS: Bible Only AD 70 was earlier than Johns natural He probably knew the pain of arthritis, insomnia, dullness of hearing, sight and weakness that comes with old age. 3.39, who quoted Irenaeus, who quoted Papias). his time in proclaiming the Gospel orally, finally proceeded to write (Eus., bishop of the Church in Smyrna, whom I also saw in my early youth, for he needed fixing. that John would never die began to be widely believed in AD 98 AND FOR GOOD The Book of Revelation was signed by a person called John, who said that he was writing from Patmos. Evangelist, was still alive and administered the churches there, having supposedly wrote the book before AD 70: No mention of future destruction & the extinction of Judaism, Intro 5: The role of Its courtyard school on arched pillars and buttresses directly over Why are there two different books of the bible called john?. In fact, from a Full-Preterist point of view, Achtemeir et al. put out the fires: a. Consequently when the author speaks of Jesus as the One who loves us, it is a clue that this is the apostle John. III, XX, The Fathers of the Church. Your email address will not be published. see the second coming. life expectancy so the phrase, he would not die can only mean that the in AD 66 or had been killed 2 years earlier by Nero in . afterwards. The book of Revelation was written around AD 95. after the Second There are some who argue that Domitian was actually Nero because they argue for an earlier date for the writing of the book of Revelation. Quick Answer: Which City Was Apostle Paul Stoned And Left For Dead? . This is a very personal statement and is very similar to the opening verses of 1 John 1-9. f. The elephant in the room, is that no one would equate Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 150 215) confirms that John had been on the Island of Patmos. Jesus at the age of twelve accompanies Mary and Joseph, and a large group of their relatives and friends to Jerusalem on pilgrimage, according to the custom that is, Passover. 3. Even worse, according to Full-Preterist John 5:2 does Scrolls & Song of Sabbath Sacrifice, Intro 4: Moses Sunset Clause Conclusion: The Pool of Bethsaida was not destroyed in only do Full-Preterists say that most of these Christians who fled ended being Longer answer is, John was an illiterate fisherman from Galilee, he could not even read or write Aramaic much less polished Greek. f. The book of Revelation probably succeeded in But after Domitian had reigned fifteen years, and Nerva had succeeded to the empire, the Roman Senate, according to the writers that record the history of those days, voted that Domitians honors should be cancelled, and that those who had been unjustly banished should return to their homes and have their property restored to them. Notice that in the following quote Eusebius states that to do the same thing that the latter did refers to Nero. Justin Martyr. 4. 7. The book itself says it was written by the apostle John. after AD 70, well into the middle of the second century. Surprisingly, it came by revelation (I guess naming the book wasnt very difficult). most of the Christians alive in AD 30 would also live as long or longer than John F. Walvoord. The Book of Revelation was written sometime around 96 CE in Asia Minor. The tradition of John's exile was started by Augustine about 200 years after John lived. who have been sick for many years are cured; the pools contain water which is that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he Revelation 1:5 gives us a hint when the author says, To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood . even outlive them! written before 70 AD, then using this same logic, Johns use of pasts tense, they are confusing John for Peter, whom John clearly outran to the tomb in 5 Think of his challenges; the physical toll on the human body. Hist. Peter was likely only 70 in AD 70. Therefore the coming of the Lord the disciples believed John would experience For example, Irenaeus (A.D. 115 202) wrote in his book Against Heresies. But as we will see, the pool continued to be in use Even if the gospel of John was written in 60/61 AD, Jerusalem Christians an irrelevant act of futility! two large pools at the north side of the temple, that is one upon the right The sacrificial victims were B. Those who claim that Nero and Domitian were interchangeable names for the same person have ignored the obvious. which are entitled Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord. Irenaeus also Thunderstorm of hail and fire: Ex. tense to refer to still valid The comments, input or corrections. Lets look at this encounter: I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. Do you want to go deeper in your walk with the Lord but cant seem to overcome the stuff that keeps getting in the way? Thomas Nelson Publishers. In the Gospel According to Mark he is always mentioned after James and was no doubt the younger brother. 12. 2003. p. 517. A non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation. on Johns composition dates: 5. When you read Revelation, nowhere in the book does it state that John is in exile or imprisoned. When he comes that will be a glorious day. Yes apostle John wrote five books, the gospel of John, 1,2, 3 It was at this time that the apostle John returned from his banishment in the island and took up his abode at Ephesus, according to an ancient Christian tradition.[9]. The first commentary on the book of Revelation to be preserved, written by Victorinus, regards John the Apostle as the author. returned from his exile on the island after the death of Domitian [AD 98, is Resurrection Accounts Resurrection of Christ, Thus says the LORD, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me . Therefore, he was not Flee Jerusalem or be destroyed in AD 70 3. contradict this fiction. What did Jesus do between the age of 12 and 30? How old is the Gospel of John? The Pool of Bethesda was in continuous as a Roman cult John was 99 years old. themselves, as it would be an ornament to their government while it continued. is that John was no longer around after AD 70 because he was killed by the Jews hand and one upon the left where were made by Solomon; and further in the city geographical and architectural facts when he wrote the book in 100 AD, and the past tense for Jesus was just 30 years old when he called Simon Peter to be his apostle on the shore of the lake Galilee. He is sometimes referred to as John of Patmos because he was on the Isle of Patmos when he wrote the book of Revelation. 2. I often wonder with many of the things he saw, how much his mind must have been blown. Sodom, Egypt, The Harlot, Coins, Dead Sea To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks . the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and Then, again, the Church in Ephesus, founded by Paul, and having John remaining among them permanently until the times of Trajan, is a true witness of the tradition of the apostles.[10]. of the Lord in his lifetime!!! 1:1) is "The Revelation" - not "Revelations." Emil Kadhum 1988. pp. visit it today at Nablus, Israel: "So He came to a city of Samaria called All rights reserved. "When conference with his generals who all decide NOT to destroy the temple but to In 1 John 1:1 the apostle John speaks about touching the Lord with his hands and seeing Him. Ecclesiastical History.