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Topic:
The Book Of Revelation -- A Brief Overview, Part 2 Of 2
Time and place of writing of the book of Revelation.--The date of the
Revelation is given by the great majority of critics as A.D. 95-97.
Irenaeus says: "It (i.e. the Revelation) was seen no very long time
ago, but almost in our own generation, at the close of Domitian's reign.
Eusebius also records that, in the persecution under Domitian, John the
apostle and evangelist was banished to the Island Patmos for his
testimony of the divine word. There is no mention in any writer of the
first three centuries of any other time or place, and the style in which
the messages to the Seven Churches are delivered rather suggests the
notion that the book was written in Patmos.
Interpretation.--Modern interpreters are generally placed in three
great divisions: (a) The Historical or Continuous exposition, in whose
opinion the Revelation is a progressive history of the fortunes of the
Church from the first century to the end of time. (b) The Praeterist
expositors, who are of opinion that the Revelation has been almost or
altogether fulfilled in the time which has passed since it was written;
that it refers principally to the triumph of Christianity over Judaism
and Paganism, signalized in the downfall of Jerusalem and of Rome. (c)
The Futurist expositors, whose views show a strong reaction against some
extravagances of the two preceding schools. They believe that the whole
book, excepting perhaps the first three chapters, refers principally, if
not exclusively, to events which are yet-to come. Dr.Arnold in his
sermons "On the Interpretation of Prophecy" suggests that we
should bear in mind that predictions have a lower historical sense as
well as a higher spiritual sense; that there may be one or more than one
typical, imperfect, historical fulfillment of the prophecy, in each of
which the higher spiritual fulfillment is shadowed forth more or less
distinctly.
From: Smith's Bible Dictionary. Fair Use. Presented for educational
purposes only.
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