JOSPEPHUS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM 70 AD REVELATION

LittleLambofJesus

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BABerean2 said:
Nobody saw Christ return to planet earth during 70 AD.
Christ remained seated at the Father's right hand while the Romans were allowed to destroy Jerusalem, in the same way the Babylonians had done it earlier.
Well, the Apostles and the Jews of that generation are not around to tell us whether they saw Him or not.
If I am not mistaken, a lot of Bibles scholars, even some futurists admit to Luke 21 beings about 70 ad, but that Matt and Mark are still future because of the AoD.
That aside, did anyone notice the word "redemption<629> in Luke 21:28?
It is used only in this 1 verse of the Gospels.
Remember, this was said PRE-70ad to that generation of Jews:
Luke 21:
27 “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads,
because your redemption<629> draws near.”
LittleLambofJesus said:
That appears to be when those mysterious 2 witnesses are "raptured"

Revelation 11:12
And they hear a great Voice out of the Heaven saying to them "ascend ye here!
Amd they ascended into the heaven in the cloud and their enemies behold them.
Do you think the above also happened during 70 AD, but we do not know if anyone saw it?
LittleLambofJesus said:
Do you believe the 7 events Josephus writes about actually happened?
Horses and chariots are mentioned numerous times concerning prophecy and mentioned in Revelation.
The Destruction of Jerusalem - George Peter Holford, 1805AD
5. "Soon after the feast of the Passover, in various parts of the country, before the Setting of the sun, chariots and armed men were seen in the air, passing round about Jerusalem. "
BABerean2 said:
Can you show which of the books of Josephus it came from?
I have access to his works on Esword.
Josephus
Besides these [signs], a few days after that feast, on the one- and-twentieth day of the month Artemisius, [Jyar,] a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armour were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities. Moreover, at that feast which we call Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner [court of the] temple, as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that, in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, "Let us remove hence" (Jewish Wars, VI-V-3).
Tacitus
In the sky appeared a vision of armies in conflict, of glittering armour. A sudden lightning flash from the clouds lit up the Temple. The doors of the holy place abruptly opened, a superhuman voice was heard to declare that the gods were leaving it, and in the same instant came the rushing tumult of their departure. Few people placed a sinister interpretation upon this. The majority were convinced that the ancient scriptures of their priests alluded to the present as the very time when the Orient would triumph and from Judaea would go forth men destined to rule the world." (Histories, Book 5, v. 13).
The member quote above put up a link to site concerning Josephus and Revelation...
Josephus supposedly wroth about the event and him viewing this event being in Revelation.
I have used Josephus numerous times but never knew he might have actually visioned Revelation as it appears his writings about Jerusalem 70 match up fairly well with Revelation. It would also seem he is the first "Preterist" of the 1st century.

How do others here view him and his eschatological views on Jerusalem 70ad and Revelation?

https://www.preteristarchive.com/JewishWars/index.html

Flavius Josephus, a Jewish priest and Pharisee, was put in command of the national resistance in Galilee at the time of Israel's revolt against Rome. When he was captured at Jotapata; his life was spared upon his prediction to rival Vespasian, that the Roman general would soon become emperor. Upon the fulfillment of this prophecy shortly thereafter, he was commissioned to provide his captors with a history of the Jewish people, although he initially wrote a history of the Roman-Jewish war suited for both a Roman and a Jewish audience. His works, disputed though they may be regarding accuracy, are an indispensable source on the history of Roman Judea....................

"The destruction of Jerusalem was more terrible than anything that the world has ever witnessed, either before or since. Even Titus seemed to see in his cruel work the hand of an avenging God." .....................

"During the Middle Ages, Josephus was the most widely read ancient author in Europe.. Josephus' literary influence had no equals, with the sole exception of the Bible.".........

Was Flavius Josephus familiar with the Apocalypse of John?


John's Revelation - “And there were noises and thundering and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.” (16:18)

Josephus - “for there broke out a prodigious storm in the night, with the utmost violence, and very strong winds, with the largest showers of rain, with continued lightnings, terrible thunderings, and amazing concussions and bellowings of the earth, that was in an earthquake.
These things were a manifest indication that some destruction was coming upon men, when the system of the world was put into this disorder; and any one would guess that these wonders foreshowed some grand calamities that were coming” (“Wars of the Jews” 4:4:5)

John's Revelation
- "Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.” (16:19)

Josephus - “it so happened that the sedition at Jerusalem was revived, and parted into three factions, and that one faction fought against the other; which partition in such evil cases may be said to be a good thing, and the effect of divine justice.” (5:1:1)

John's Revelation - “And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent.” (16:21)

Josephus - “Now the stones that were cast were of the weight of a talent, and were carried two furlongs and further. The blow they gave was no way to be sustained, not only by those that stood first in the way, but by those that were beyond them for a great space. As for the Jews, they at first watched the coming of the stone, for it was of a white color, and could therefore not only be perceived by the great noise it made, but could be seen also before it came by its brightness;” (5:6:3)..................


.
 
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BABerean2

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The Destruction of Jerusalem - George Peter Holford, 1805AD
5. "Soon after the feast of the Passover, in various parts of the country, before the Setting of the sun, chariots and armed men were seen in the air, passing round about Jerusalem. "

Have you been able to find the above in the writing of Josephus?

.
 
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Danoh

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The Mystery of the Chariots in the Clouds

"Whether or not those chariots were UFOs, actual divine armies, strange cloud formations in the skies, or mere myth to aid Josephus' histories, they did play an important role in the Jewish interpretation of the eve of one of the greatest wars in ancient Jewish history."

Does Historical Account of ‘Chariots in the Clouds’ Actually Describe UFOs?

Reading things like that, I'm reminded of those times I have looked up at a full moon and found Jackie Gleason's "The Honeymooners" moon staring back at me.

Was it actually Ralph Cramden's (Jackie Gleason's) face?

No.

Rather "just my imagination, running away with me..."

Merely my fleshly man, "intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." Col. 2:18.

Meaning, time to put off, and put on...

Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" 2 Cor. 10:5.

Because Romans 5:6-8 - in each...our stead.
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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I am still trying to imagine 1st century Jerusalem and the Temple........
It was so fortified that,according to Josephus, they would never have been able to take the City without the divine help of God.

The Destruction of Jerusalem - George Peter Holford, 1805AD

Three celebrated walls surrounded the city on every side, except that which was deemed inaccessible, and there it was defended by one wall only. The most ancient of these walls was remarkable for its great strength, and was, moreover, erected on a hanging rock, and fortified by sixty towers. on the middle wall there were fourteen towers only ; but on the third, which was also distinguished by the extraordinary merit of its architecture, there were no less than ninety................

Before their final demolition, however, Titus took a survey of the city and its fortifications ; and, while contemplating their impregnable strength, could not help ascribing his success to the peculiar interposition of the ALMIGHTY HIMSELF. "Had not God himself (exclaimed he) aided out operations, and driven the Jews from their fortresses, it would have been absolutely impossible to have taken them ;
for what could men, and the force of engines, have done against such towers as these ?"

Isaiah 32:14
The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy City deserted;
citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks,

Jeremiah 50:15
Shout against her on every side! She surrenders, her towers fall, her walls are torn down.
Since this is the vengeance of the LORD, take vengeance on her; do to her as she has done to others.
Ezekiel 26:9
He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons.



.
 
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Berean Tim

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I understand a lot of folks especially those who favor a 70AD return of Jesus use Josephus's writings to confirm their belief. Why should I accept a man who betrayed his country to serve with those who destroyed it ?
Have y'all ever read the Didache ? Most scholars date it to the late 1st century to the early 2nd. Most church fathers quote it or make reference to it. The last chapter deals with the end times.

From the Didache
16:1 Watch concerning your life; let not your lamps be quenched or your loins be loosed, but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour at which our Lord cometh.

16:2 But be ye gathered together frequently, seeking what is suitable for your souls; for the whole time of your faith shall profit you not, unless ye be found perfect in the last time.

16:3 For in the last days false prophets and seducers shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate;

16:4 and because iniquity aboundeth they shall hate each other, and persecute each other, and deliver each other up; and then shall the Deceiver of the world appear as the Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; and he shall do unlawful things, such as have never happened since the beginning of the world.

16:5 Then shall the creation of man come to the fiery trial of proof, and many shall be offended and shall perish; but they who remain in their faith shall be saved by the rock of offence itself.

16:6 And then shall appear the signs of the truth; first the sign of the appearance in heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the dead

16:7 -- not of all, but as it has been said, The Lord shall come and all his saints with him;

16:8 then shall the world behold the Lord coming on the clouds of heaven.

It is clearly teaching the deceiver comes first then "the sign in heaven ,the trumpet blast and resurrection of the dead " then the "world will see (behold) the Lord coming on the clouds of heaven with all his saints.
I don't see Josephus's record of visions fulfilling this great event or for that matter the church missing their Lord's return.
Anyway just some musings of my thoughts on Josephus
 
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LittleLambofJesus

Hebrews 2:14.... Pesky Devil, git!
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I understand a lot of folks especially those who favor a 70AD return of Jesus use Josephus's writings to confirm their belief. Why should I accept a man who betrayed his country to serve with those who destroyed it ?
Have y'all ever read the Didache ? Most scholars date it to the late 1st century to the early 2nd. Most church fathers quote it or make reference to it. The last chapter deals with the end times.

From the Didache
16:1 Watch concerning your life; let not your lamps be quenched or your loins be loosed, but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour at which our Lord cometh.

16:2 But be ye gathered together frequently, seeking what is suitable for your souls; for the whole time of your faith shall profit you not, unless ye be found perfect in the last time.

16:3 For in the last days false prophets and seducers shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate;

16:4 and because iniquity aboundeth they shall hate each other, and persecute each other, and deliver each other up; and then shall the Deceiver of the world appear as the Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; and he shall do unlawful things, such as have never happened since the beginning of the world.

16:5 Then shall the creation of man come to the fiery trial of proof, and many shall be offended and shall perish; but they who remain in their faith shall be saved by the rock of offence itself.

16:6 And then shall appear the signs of the truth; first the sign of the appearance in heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the dead

16:7 -- not of all, but as it has been said, The Lord shall come and all his saints with him;

16:8 then shall the world behold the Lord coming on the clouds of heaven.

It is clearly teaching the deceiver comes first then "the sign in heaven ,the trumpet blast and resurrection of the dead " then the "world will see (behold) the Lord coming on the clouds of heaven with all his saints.
I don't see Josephus's record of visions fulfilling this great event or for that matter the church missing their Lord's return.
Anyway just some musings of my thoughts on Josephus
Thank you that informative post.
No, I have not read the Didache. Did it record the Roman destruction of Jerusalem?
And do you know of any other reliable Jewish historians that eye-witnessed and recorded the 70ad destruction of Jerusalem?
I have only been able to locate 2 historians that witnessed and wrote about 70ad and I am really looking for any others.

http://www.preteristarchive.com/StudyArchive/c/chariots-in-clouds.html

ORIGINAL CONTEMPORARY TESTIMONIES

Josephus (A.D. 75) - Jewish Historian

Tacitus (A.D. 115) - Roman historian.

The Internet Classics Archive | The Histories by Tacitus

Book I [168k]
Book II [182k]
Book III [165k]
Book IV [188k]
Book V [55k]

The Histories
By Tacitus
Written 109 A.C.E
.

70AD
The following year had been wholly taken up with civil strife, and had passed, as far as the Jews were concerned, in inaction. Peace having been established in Italy, foreign affairs were once more remembered. Our indignation was heightened by the circumstance that the Jews alone had not submitted. At the same time it was held to be more expedient, in reference to the possible results and contingencies of the new reign, that Titus should remain with the army.

Accordingly he pitched his camp, as I have related, before the walls of Jerusalem, and displayed his legions in order of battle.

The Jews formed their line close under their walls, whence, if successful, they might venture to advance, and where, if repulsed, they had a refuge at hand. The cavalry with some light infantry was sent to attack them, and fought without any decisive result. Shortly afterwards the enemy retreated. During the following days they fought a series of engagements in front of the gates, till they were driven within the walls by continual defeats. The Romans then began to prepare for an assault. It seemed beneath them to await the result of famine.
The army demanded the more perilous alternative, some prompted by courage, many by sheer ferocity and greed of gain. Titus himself had Rome with all its wealth and pleasures before his eyes. Jerusalem must fall at once, or it would delay his enjoyment of them.......
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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http://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/1737_whiston_english.html

Luke 21:

10 Then He said to them shall be being roused nation agains nation and kingdom against kingdom
11“And great earthquakes and in various places famines and pestilences; and besides fearful sights also shall be great signs from heaven.
23 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.
Luke 23

28 and Jesus having turned unto them, said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for yourselves weep ye, and for your children;
29 - for behold! days are coming, in which they shall be declaring, 'Happy the barren, and wombs which not bare, and paps which not nourish;


This site goes into more details of the woman who slew here infant child to eat of it.....Lord have mercy! Sigh........

http://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/1737_whiston_english.html


Chapter 3 Part 4
Concerning A Stratagem That Was Devised By The Jews, By Which They Burnt Many Of The Romans; With Another Description Of The Terrible Famine That Was In The City.

Among the residents of the region beyond Jordan was a woman called Mary, daughter of Eleazar, of the village of Bethezuba (the name means "House of Hyssop"). She was well off, and of good family, and had fled to Jerusalem with her relatives, where she became involved with the siege.
Most of the property she had packed up and brought with her from Peraea had been plundered by the tyrants [Simon and John, leaders of the Jewish war-effort], and the rest of her treasure, together with such foods as she had been able to procure, was being carried by their henchmen in their daily raids.
In her bitter resentment the poor woman cursed and abused these extortioners, and this incensed them against her. However, no one put her to death either from exasperation or pity.

She grew weary of trying to find food for her kinsfolk. In any case, it was by now impossible to get any, wherever you tried. Famine gnawed at her vitals, and the fire of rage was ever fiercer than famine. So, driven by fury and want, she committed a crime against nature.
Seizing her child, an infant at the breast, she cried, "My poor baby, why should I keep you alive in this world of war and famine? Even if we live till the Romans come, they will make slaves of us; and anyway, hunger will get us before slavery does; and the rebels are crueler than both. Come, be food for me, and an avenging fury to the rebels, and a tale of cold horror to the world to complete the monstrous agony of the Jews."
With these words she killed her son, roasted the body, swallowed half of it, and stored the rest in a safe place. But the rebels were on her at once, smelling roasted meat, and threatening to kill her instantly if she did not produce it. She assured them she had saved them a share, and revealed the remains of her child. Seized with horror and stupefaction, they stood paralyzed at the sight. But she said, "This is my own child, and my own handiwork. Eat, for I have eaten already. Do not show yourselves weaker than a woman, or more pitiful than a mother. But if you have pious scruples, and shrink away from human sacrifice, then what I have eaten can count as your share, and I will eat what is left as well."
At that they slunk away, trembling, not daring to eat, although they were reluctant to yield even this food to the mother. The whole city soon rang with the abomination. When people heard of it, they shuddered, as though they had done it themselves.

I believe Revelation 9:6 is depicting that event:

Revelation 9:6
And in those days the men shall seeking the death, and not no shall be finding it;
and shall be desiring/yearning<1937> to be dying, and the death is fleeing from them.

A lot of OT prophecies actually foretold of this happening upon 1st century Jerusalem, in particular Deut 28::

Deuteronomy 28:
53 - “You shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and your daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you.
55 - “so that he will not give any of them the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates.

Jeremiah 19:9
And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them

Zephaniah 1:17
And I bring distress to man, and they go as blind-ones, that to Yahweh they Sin.
And blood of them is poured out as soil/dust,
and intestine of them as dung
.
 
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Erik Nelson

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Daniel 12
11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days" = 66-70ad August
12 "Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days." = +45 days to conquer the upper city and tunnels after the temple was desecrated and torched 70ad September-October

Chronology of the War According to Josephus: Part 7, The Fall of Jerusalem
 
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Erik Nelson

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Dan 2,7,9,11-12 clearly link the "little horn" to the 3 1/2 times = 3.5yr = 1290days

= desolation of temple

= 70ad

so...

7 heads have 10 horns

  1. Caesar = 1 head with 1 horn
  2. Augustus = 1 head with 1 horn
  3. Tiberius = 1 head with 1 horn
  4. Caligula = 1 head with 1 horn
  5. Claudius = 1 head with 1 horn
  6. Nero = 1 head with 1 horn
  7. Otho, Galba, Vitellius, Vespasian = 1 head with 4 horns
obviously, the little horn has to be on the same head as 3 it uproots

revelation says that the body is also an 8th king... So I offer that the 4 horns on the 7th head run down the neck? Or the heads don't have long necks?

all of this would imply that the resurrection of Daniel 12 = 1st resurrection of revelation 20

millennium = defeat of Temple Sadduces + Caesar dynasty (who together caused the Crucifixion) in 70ad to Great Schism of 1054ad
 
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Berean Tim

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Dan 2,7,9,11-12 clearly link the "little horn" to the 3 1/2 times = 3.5yr = 1290days

= desolation of temple

= 70ad

so...

7 heads have 10 horns

  1. Caesar = 1 head with 1 horn
  2. Augustus = 1 head with 1 horn
  3. Tiberius = 1 head with 1 horn
  4. Caligula = 1 head with 1 horn
  5. Claudius = 1 head with 1 horn
  6. Nero = 1 head with 1 horn
  7. Otho, Galba, Vitellius, Vespasian = 1 head with 4 horns
obviously, the little horn has to be on the same head as 3 it uproots

revelation says that the body is also an 8th king... So I offer that the 4 horns on the 7th head run down the neck? Or the heads don't have long necks?

all of this would imply that the resurrection of Daniel 12 = 1st resurrection of revelation 20

millennium = defeat of Temple Sadduces + Caesar dynasty (who together caused the Crucifixion) in 70ad to Great Schism of 1054ad
Daniel 7 has 4 beasts with the final beast having 10 horns, not spread out amongst all the beasts. Daniel 12 has 2 resurrections not just the 1st resurrection. Again Daniel 7 has 4 beast with a total of 7 heads. They're clearly not all Rome. The 10 horns receive their power at the same time and give their authority to the beast, again not spread out amongst the emperors
 
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robycop3

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We must not forget that, although Josephus was adopted by Vespasian & thus surnamed "Flavius", he was still on shaky ground as a former leader of a rebellion against Rome. Thus, he was careful to keep his writings entertaining to the Romans, but also careful not to write anything offending to them. Thus, he often embellished his stories at least a little bit.

And 'tis strange that he saw/heard chariots in the sky above Jerusalem, but that several hundred thousand people in that area missed them!
 
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Erik Nelson

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Daniel 7 has 4 beasts with the final beast having 10 horns, not spread out amongst all the beasts. Daniel 12 has 2 resurrections not just the 1st resurrection. Again Daniel 7 has 4 beast with a total of 7 heads. They're clearly not all Rome. The 10 horns receive their power at the same time and give their authority to the beast, again not spread out amongst the emperors
no, of course, all the horns are on the same 4th beast of Daniel = Sea Beast of Rev
the little horn is necessarily contemporary with the 3 he uproots and casts down in defeat

Dan 12 has a double resurrection, some unto glory others to shame
 
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Erik Nelson

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The Overwhelming Imminence of Romans 8:16f- #2- Responding to Lance Conley

"Resurrection" of Daniel 12:2 may be interpretable as the "Rebirth" of spiritual Israel, after the decades of persecutions dubbed the "birth pangs" prophesied in Matthew 24:8

30-70 AD = "birth pangs" of labor
70 AD = "rebirth" of true spiritual Israel = Isaiah 66 = destruction of Jerusalem & diaspora

non-literal interpretation of Daniel 12:2, obviously associated with the 70th week abomination of desolation of the temple = 70 AD, permits partial preterist presumptions
 
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Erik Nelson

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Dr. Taylor Marshall's New Saint Thomas Institute has a series of podcast lectures on Revelation.

Citing that as my source for the following discussion of Revelation 19, Dr. Marshall makes a compelling case that every verse up through Rev 19:18 all apply to the "Fall of Babylon"...

the "Beast & False Prophet" only appear in verses 19-21

--------------------------------------------------------------

So, let me try to map out the “web” of Scriptural allusions...

“sword tongue of mouth” (Rev 19) = Hosea 6:5…

= Hosea 6:6, “I desire mercy not sacrifice” = Matt 9:13a, controversial calling of Matthew the tax-collector = Matt 9:13b, “I have come to call sinners not the righteous” (cp. Mark 2:17) = rebuke of self-righteous Pharisees who emphasized outward ritual over inward repentance realized not their need for Salvation*…

= Hosea 6:11, “harvest of Judah” = 70 AD desolation of temple and Jerusalem

* Jesus tells the Pharisees to “go and learn” (Matt 9:13), yet they learned nothing, prompting Jesus to repeat the same teaching (Matt 12:7), showing Jesus gave all time to learn the Scriptures & repent

MEANWHILE…

“sword tongue of mouth” = Isaiah 49:2…

= Isaiah 49:4, “I have labored in vain”…
= Isaiah 49:14, “Zion said, ‘The LORD has forsaken me'”…
= Isaiah 49:19, “though you were ruined & made desolate”…
= Crucifixion & Resurrection, c.30 AD…

= Isaiah 49:22, “I will beckon the nations”
= Gentile Mission, c.30-70 AD…

= Isaiah 49:26
= desperate acts of starvation survival in besieged Jerusalem in 70 AD described by Josephus

AND SO…
every verse up through Rev 19:18 refers to the “Fall of Babylon the Great” = 1st century Jerusalem (Rev 11:8)

“The Beast” (symbolizing pagan Roman empire) and “False Prophet” (symbolizing pagan Imperial Caesar cult) only enters the scene in verse 19

Beast & False Prophet are captured (symbolizing Christian victory over paganism & imperial Caesar cult) in verse 20

and they are cast into the Lake of Fire (symbolizing outright ban of paganism & imperial cult) in verse 21

I can’t argue with Isaiah & Hosea

I still can’t see, how verse 20 does NOT prophesy the victory of Constantine, Edict of Milan & victory Council of Nicaea in the early 4th century
and how verse 21 does NOT prophesy the defeat of pagan cults with Julian the Apostate, and their outright outlawing by Theodosius in the 5th century

And I still have not read a secular history text which does NOT dub Byzantium the “1000 year Christian empire” of Constantinople
which lasted just about 1000.00 years until the 15th century (= Rev 20:1-6)

And I still don’t see how the Renaissance (designed to “rebirth” & resurrect Classical paganism) and Reformation (giving rise, first, to 1000s of “whatever you want” sects, and thence to secular humanism & militant atheism) could NOT be construed as the Adversary unchained (= Rev 20:7-9a)

still don’t see how modern times does NOT resemble Rev 20:9a

(and still don’t see how, *IF* Revelation really has been super-naturally prophetically accurate from Rev 1:1 all the way to Rev 20:9a that we should NOT expect that prophetic accuracy to continue on, to Rev 20:9b+…)
 
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Erik Nelson

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Dr. Taylor Marshall's NSTI cites Catholic Tradition which apparently ID'd the "10 horns" of Revelation 17:12 1700 years ago:

Diocletian Persecution in AD 303

Under the pagan Roman Empire until the time of Constantine, the Catholic Church endured ten persecutions under ten emperors. In this video lesson, we review these 10 Roman Persecutions and then focus on the most fierce and final one of the Emperor Diocletian.
  1. Nero (54-68 AD)
  2. Domitian (81-96)
  3. Trajan (98-117)
  4. Marcus Aurelius (161-180)
  5. Septimius Severus (193-211)
  6. Maximinus (235-238)
  7. Decius (249-251)
  8. Valerian (253-260)
  9. Aurelian (270-275)
  10. Diocletian (284-305)
 
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