External Evidence for dating Revelation.
1.) It is true that Irenaeus' qoute in the greek is ambiguos when it comes "it was seen". This verb can refer to John "was seen" or the Vision "was seen". However, in Eusebius’ Latin translation , the "it was seen" refers to the Vision, and not John, thus seemingly confirming a post 70ad dating.
“Had there been any need for his name to be openly announced at the present time, it would have been stated by the one who saw the actual revelation. For
it was seen not a long time back, but almost in my own lifetime, at the end of Domitian’s reign.” (
Against Heresies, 5.30.3)
However, this did not stop Eusebius from believing the New heavens and New Earth and New Jerusalem were realized on earth in 70ad per Samuel Lee’s dissertation. And it most likely won't change the mind of preterists either, due to internal evidence.
EUSEBIUS Bishop of Caesarea (c. 265 - 340) Extract from the 'Theophania' "All authorities concur in the declaration that "when all these things should have been done" "The End" should come : that "the mystery of God should be finished as he had declared to His servants the prophets" : it should be completed : time should now be no more : the End of all things (so foretold) should be at hand, and be fully brought to pass : in these days should be fulfilled all that had been spoken of Christ (and of His church) by the prophets : or, in other words, when the gospel should have been preached in all the world for a testimony to all nations, and the power of the Holy People be scattered (abroad), then should the End come, then should all these things be finished.
I need now only say, all these things have been done : the old and elementary system passed away with a great noise; all these predicted empires have actually fallen, and the new kingdom, the new heaven and earth, the new Jerusalem--all of which were to descend from God, to be formed by His power, have been realized on earth; all these things have been done in the sight of all the nations ; God's holy arm has been made bare in their sight: His judgments have prevailed, and they remain for an everlasting testimony to the whole world. His kingdom has come, as it was foretold it should, and His will has, so far, been done; His purposes have been finished; and, from that day to the extreme end of time, it will be the duty, as indeed it will be the great privilege of the Church, to gather into its bosom the Jew, the Greek, the Scythian, the Barbarian, bond and free; and to do this as the Apostles did in their days--in obedience, faith and hope.'
2.) Epiphanus places the dating of John's banishment to Patmos during the time of Claudius (Epiphanius
Heresies 51.12, 33.)
3.) The syriac prologue of the Revelation includes "“The Revelation which was made by God to John the evangelist on the island of Patmos, into which he was thrown by Nero Caesar.”"
Some Internal Evidence for pre-70ad.
1.) Soon
Revelation 1:1-3 This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must s
oon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,
2who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the
time is near.
2.) Desolation of Jerusalem in 70ad.
Revelation 11:2 But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over
to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months
Luke 21:24 And
Jerusalem will be trampled by the nations, until the times of the nations are fulfilled.
3.) Church in Philadelphia to be protected from the hour of trial to come on the whole world.
revelation 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
4.) 6th seal is in regards to the desolation of Jerusalem when comparing to gospel scripture.
Revelation 6:12-14 And when I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake, and t
he sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, 13and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind. 14The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘
The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Revelation 6:16
And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.
Luke 23:28-29 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’
At that time
‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’
c
5.) harlot of Babylon is 1st century Jerusalem.
a.) The harlot is the great city, which is Jerusalm
Revelation 17:18 And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
Revelation 11:8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.
b.) the harlot is responsible for all the righteous blood shed, which Jesus put on 1st century Jerusalem.
Revelation 18:24 And there was found in her the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who had been slain on the earth.
Matthew 23:35-36 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
36Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.
c.) After the harlot is destroyed, the wedding feast is ready. Jesus states the wedding feast would be ready following the destruction of Jerusalem.
Revelation 9:19 Then the angel told me to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Matthew 22:7-9 The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city.
8Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy.
9Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’
I have no disagreements that some things in revelation can be about a future still to us, But I would argue it is mainly in regards to the victory of Christ and the New bride and the destruction of the 1st century Jerusalem.
