The Book of Revelation - When Written (Part 1)

Wayne Jackson wrote this piece. It appeared in the November 1989 edition of the "Christian Courier" published by the Church of Christ in Stockton, CA.

Traditionally, the book of Revelation has been dated near the end of the first century, around A.D. 96. some writers, however, have advanced the preterist view, contending that the Apocalypse was penned around A.D. 68 or 69, and thus the thrust of the book is supposed to relate to the impending destruction of Jerusalem (A.D. 70). A few prominent names have been associated with this position (e.g. Stuart, Schaff, Lightfoot and our own Foy E. Wallace, Jr.) and for a brief time it was popular with certain scholors. James Orr has observed, however, that recent criticism has reverted to the traditional date of near A.D. 96. The fact is, the evidence for the later date is extremely strong. In view of some of the bizarre theories that have surfaced in recent times (e.g. the notion of all "end time" prophecies were fulfilled with the fall of Jerusalem in A.D.70) which are dependent upon the preterist interpretation, we offer the following.

External Evidence

The external evidence for the late dating of Revelation is of the highest quality.
(1) Irenaeus (A.D.180) a student of Polycarp (who was a disciple of the apostle John) wrote that the Apocalyptic vision "was seen not very long ago, almost in our own generation, at the close of the reign of Domitian." The testimony of Irenaeus, not far removed from the apostolic age, is first rate. He places the book near the end of Domitian's reign, and that ruler died in A.D. 96. Irenaeus seems to be unaware of any other view for the date of the book of Revelation.

(2) Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 155-215) says that John returned from the Isle of Patmos "after the tyrant was dead" and Eusebius, known as the "Father of Church History" identifies the tyrant as Domitian. Even Moses Stuart, America's most prominent preterist, admitted that the "tyrant here meant is probably Domitian." Within this narrative, Clement further speaks of John as an "old man." If Revelation was written prior to A.D. 70, it would scarcely seem appropriate to refer to John as an old man since he would only have been in his early sixties at this time.

(3) Victorinus (late 3rd century) author of the earliest commentary on the book of Revelation, wrote: "When John said these things, he was in the island of Patmos, condemned to the mines by Caesar Domitian. There he saw the Apocalypse; and when at length grown old, he thought that he should receive his release by suffering; but Domitian being killed, he was released."

(4) Jerome (A.D. 340-420) said, "In the fourteenth then after Nero, Domitian having raised up a second persecution, he (John) was banished to the island of Patmos, and wrote the Apocalypse..."

(5) To all of this may be added the comment of Eusebius, who contends that the historical tradition of his time (A.D. 324) placed the writing of the Apocalypse at the close of Domitian's reign.

McClintock and Strong, in contending for the later date, declare that "there is no mention in any writer of the first three centuries of any other time or place." Upon the basis of external evidence therefore, there is little contest between the earlier and later dates.