96 AD

Another Answer - Earlier non-traditional

BaldStatement that Revelation was writtenbefore destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD

"Because church tradition says that Domitian exiled John to the Isle of Patmos , many scholars have dated the Book of Revelation to be during Domitian's reign as Roman Emperor in the 90's. However, Domitian served temporarily as Emperor in AD70 when his father [Vespasian] was away from Rome. The weight of internal evidence in the Book of Revelation suggests that it was written before the destruction of Jerusalem (see John A.T. Robinson's "Redating The New Testament", Westminster Press, Chapter 8, for details}. The little-known fact of Domitian's reign meshes the internal evidence with the testimony of church history quite nicely. "

{ From "Note 56" of "The Untold Story Of The New Testament Church An Extraordinary Guide To Understanding the New Testament" " by Frank Viola 2004 ISBN 0-7684-2236-1 ]

Anyone can make a claim, but it must have proof. Therefore:-

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Proof of previous statement that Revelation waswritten before destruction of Jerusalem in70AD

"Traditionally, the book of Revelation has been dated near the end of the first century, around A.D. 96. Some writers, however, [believe]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). "

["When Was the Book of Revelation Written?" @ https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1552-when-was-the-book-of-revelation-written ]

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"Aramaic Peshitta Preface - hints to an early date

The preface comment to the Book of Revelation in the Aramaic Peshitta version has a comment which would place the writing of the Book of Revelation to the early date, a time prior to 70 AD. The title page of the Book of Revelation contains the following statement: "The revelation which God gave the evanglist John on the island of Patmos where he had been banned by Nero Caesar." The emperor Nero however died in 68 AD, and according to Roman rules those banned by a Cesaer would be released after the Caesar's death ... thus, John would have been released from Patmos in 68 AD (or shortly thereafter) and the time when he received this revelation and wrote it down would have been prior to 70 AD. John himself mentions in the book that he was at Patmos, when he received this revelation."

[" When was the Book of Revelation written? " @ http://www.biblecenter.de/bibel/studien/e-std310.php ]

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"Warnings to seven churches in Asia

The Book of Revelation specifically mentions that this revelation was of special relevance to the seven churches in Asia and that John wrote it and had it sent to those churches by messengers (cp Rev 1:4). It is important to note that during Paul's ministry in the 50ies AD, there had been nine churches established in Asia. At about 60/61 AD there was a large earthquake in which, as we can read in secular sources, the cities of Colossae, Hierapolis and Laodicea were totally destroyed. Laodicea was the only city of these three which was rebuilt soon afterwards, which then left seven cities with churches in Asia. The period of time where there were only seven churches in Asia was only during the few years from the early 60ies AD to the time prior to the Jewish war.

In order for the book to even be of benefit to the Christians in Asia, it must have been written prior to 66/67 AD, before Vespasian was coming through this area with his armies as they were getting in position for the war against the Jews. Once the war started, the Romans plundered and persecuted the Christians as well as the Jews wherever they came through."

[Also from " When was the Book of Revelation written? " @ http://www.biblecenter.de/bibel/studien/e-std310.php ]

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" Further, John describes the Temple at Jerusalem as being in existence in Revelation 11:1-2 and this would demand a pre-70 C.E. period before the Temple was destroyed. John's indication that Jerusalem had a population of about 70,000 persons (Revelation 11:13) could only apply to the time before the war. In fact, the Tenth Legion occupied the central area of Jerusalem after 70 C.E. and in no way could the population then be about 70,000.

Another point that shows an early date of composition are two statements made by John in which he indicated that to be reckoned as Jewish was, in that time, an honorable and desirable thing. The two references concern the wish of some Christians to be Jewish, though in actual fact they were not Jews (Revelation 2:9; 3:9). These two statements indicate an early writing of Revelation because after the Jewish/Roman War of 66 to 73 C.E., there was hardly a Christian (especially any Gentile Christian) who wanted to be identified with the Jewish people. During and after the war, the Jewish people were held in disdain throughout the Roman Empire because of the war and (what Gentiles considered) their antisocial behavior. But before 66 C.E. it was quite popular among Christians in wanting to be "Jewish."

[" When Was the Book of Revelation Written? " @ http://www.askelm.com/restoring/res026.htm ]

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"it is common to contend that Revelation was written long after the destruction of the temple in AD 70. ...

First, if the apostle John were indeed writing in AD 95-long after the destruction of the temple- it seems incredible that he would make no mention whatsoever of the most apocalyptic event in Jewish history-the demolition of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple at the hands of Titus. ... Imagine that you are reading a history concerning Jewish struggles in Nazi Germany and find no mention whatsoever of the Holocaust. Would it not be reasonable to suppose that this history was written prior to the outbreak of World War II? ...Just as it stretches credulity to suggest that a history of the Jews in Germany would be written in the aftermath of World War II and yet make no mention of the Holocaust, so too it is unreasonable to think that Revelation was written twenty-five years after the destruction of Jerusalem and yet makes no mention of the most apocalyptic event in Jewish history."

[" Was Revelation written before or after the destruction of the temple in AD 70?

" @ http://www.equip.org/bible_answers/was-revelation-written-before-or-after-the-destruction-of-the-temple-in-ad-70/ ]

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Revelation is often dated to 96AD because Domitian was Roman emperor from 81 to 96AD. However, he was also emperor beforethen.

Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War. This situation continued under the rule of his father Vespasian, who became emperor in 69

[From article "Domitian " @ http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Domitian.html ]

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In the war with Vitellius he [ Domitian] took refuge in the Capitol with his paternal uncle Sabinus and a part of the forces under him. When the enemy forced an entrance and the temple was fired, he hid during the night with the guardian of the shrine, and in the morning, disguised in the garb of a follower of Isis and mingling with the priests of that fickle superstition, he went across the Tiber with a single companion to the mother of one of his school-fellows. There he was so effectually concealed, that though he was closely followed, he could not be found, in spite of a thorough search. It was only after the victory that he ventured forth and after being hailed as Caesar, he assumed the office of city praetor with consular powers, [ie Emperor with full powers] but only in name, turning over all the judicial business to his next colleague. ... Not to mention all details, ... in a single day he assigned more than twenty positions in the city and abroad, which led Vespasian to say more than once that he was surprised that he did not appoint the emperor's successor with the rest.

[From "The Life of Domitian" [by Suetonius, 'The Lives of the Caesars'] @ http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Domitian*.html ]

Since Vespasian died in 79AD, Domitian had to have been called Emperor before that, but it can be narrowed down furthur than that to December 21 69AD..

Domitianus was the second son of the future emperor Vespasian and Flavia Domitilla. During the civil war of ad 69over the imperial crown, Domitian remained unharmed in Rome, but on December 18 he took refuge in the Capitol with his uncle Flavius Sabinus, escaping into hiding when the Capitol was stormed by supporters of Vitellius. On the entry of his father's [that is, Vespasian's] supporters into Rome two days later he [Domitian] was saluted as Caesar, and he became praetor next year. He[Domitian]attempted to turn the repressive military campaign of Petillius Cerialis in the Rhineland into a triumphal operation of his [Domitian's] own; and for this and other excesses he[Domitian]is said to have required his father's[Vespasian] pardon when the latter arrived at Rome in autumn ad 70. Domitian, however, was princeps juventutis (an imperial prince) and was consul six times in Vespasian's lifetime;

[ Article "Domitian" @ http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/168802/Domitian ]

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Little is known about Domitian in the turbulent 18 months of the three emperors, but in the aftermath of the downfall ofVitelliusin A.D. 69 he presented himself to the invading Flavian forces, was hailed as Caesar,and moved into the imperial residence. Guided by Gaius Licinius Mucianus, Vespasian's chief advisor, Domitian represented the family in the senate and suggested that other issues be postponed until Vespasian's arrival from the East. Eager for military glory himself, Domitian soon led reinforcements to Germany, where the Batavian auxiliaries of the Rhine legions had revolted. The uprising failed before he could arrive, however, and the literary accounts of his achievements are not to be trusted. It was also during this period, perhaps in late A.D. 70, that he married Domitia Longina, ...

Domitian's role in the 70's was determined largely byVespasian's choice of Titusas his successor. To him [Titus]fell a series of ordinary consulships, the tribunician power, the censorship, and the praetorian prefecture.Domitian, on the other hand, was named six times to the less prestigious suffect consulship,retained the title of Caesar,and held various priesthoods. He was given responsibility, but no real power.

[ " Titus Flavius Domitianus(A.D. 81-96)" @ http://www.luc.edu/roman-emperors/domitian.htm }

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Titus Flavius Domitianius was the younger son of Vespasian and Flavia Domitilla, born in AD 51 at Rome.

He was the younger and the clearly less favoured son of Vespasian who cared much more for his heir Titus.

During his father's uprising against Vitellius in AD 69, Domitian was in fact in Rome. Though he remained unharmed.

When the city prefect of Rome and elder brother of Vespasian, Titus Flavius Sabinus attempted to seize power, during the confusion about Vitellius' alleged abdication, on 18 December AD 69, Domitian was with his uncle Sabinus. He hence went through the fighting on the Capitol, though, unlike Sabinus, he managed to escape.

For a short time after arrival of his father's troops, Domitian enjoyed the privilege of acting as regent. Mucianus (the governor of Syria and ally of Vespasian who had led an army of 20'000 to Rome) acted as Domitian's colleague in this regency and carefully kept Domitian in check.

For example with there being rebels against the new regime in Germany and Gaul, Domitian was eager to seek glory in suppressing the revolt, trying to equal his brother Titus' military exploits. But he was prevented from doing this by Mucianus.

When alas Vespasian arrived in Rome to rule it was made evidently clear to everyone that Titus was to be the imperial heir.

["Titus Flavius Domitianius ( AD 51 - 96)" @ http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/domitian-index.html ]

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Though in AD 66, as a member of Nero's imperial entourage in Greece, ...Vespasian committed the ultimate sin by either walking out or falling asleep during the course of one of Nero's recitals. He fell from grace and fled to some obscure country town, hiding in fear of his life.

But in AD 67 he was offered a province and an army command of three legions by Nero. If the emperor was mad and wanted to see Vespasian dead, he needed him now. The Jewish rebellion of AD 67 called for a commander who knew of ways to oust the Jews from their walled cities. Someone had obviously reminded the emperor of Vespasian's record against the defensive earthworks in Britain.

... Vespasian headed for Judaea, directed the reduction of Jotapata in the north and began the preparations for the siege of Jerusalem.

On hearing of Nero's death Vespasian formally recognized the accession of Galba [was Emperor 68-69AD].

When news arrived of Galba's murder in early AD 69, Vespasian was prompted to consider rebellion. He had on his side the governor of Syria, Gaius Licinius Mucianus. At first the two had not got along well, mainly due to Mucianus resenting that Vespasian's military command had been given higher status by Nero than his governorship, but now they both needed allies to weather the crisis following the death of two emperors.

After Otho's [Emperor 69AD] suicide in April AD 69 they formed plans to take action. They both acknowledged Vitellius' accession [Emperor 69AD], but meanwhile secretly enlisted the support of Tiberius Julius Alexander in Egypt. Mucianus had no sons of his own to be his heirs. Alexander was only of equestrian rank - and a Jew. Neither therefore could be considered as potential emperors. Vespasian though had two sons, Titus and Domitian, was of senatorial rank and had held the consulship. All three agreed, that he should be their candidate for the throne.

On 1 July, [69AD] Alexander commanded the legions in Egypt to swear an oath of allegiance to Vespasian. Within two weeks the armies in Judaea and Syria had followed that example. The plan was that Mucianus would lead twenty thousand men into Italy, with Vespasian remaining in the east, where he could control the all-important Egyptian grain supply to Rome.

Though by late August the Danubian armies also declared themselves for Vespasian.

Antonius Primus, commander of the Sixth Legion in Pannonia, and Cornelius Fuscus, imperial procurator in Illyricum, now led the Danube legions in a rapid descent on Italy. They commanded a relatively modest force of five legions, perhaps 30'000 men, which was only half of what Vitellius had at his disposal in Italy.

The Second Battle of Cremona began on 24 October AD 69 and ended the next day in complete victory for Primus and Fuscus.

On 17 December AD 69 an army sent to fight Primus and Fuscus defected to them at Narnia, leaving the way free to Rome.

[Continued]

When Vitellius learned of this he tried to abdicate and Vespasian's elder brother Titus Flavius Sabinus, city prefect of Rome at the time, attempted to take control of the city. But he and his supporrters were attacked by Vitellius' soldiers and killed.

Two days later, on 20 December, the army of Primus and Fuscus fought its way into Rome against a determined defence. The following day [21 December] the senate confirmed Vespasian as emperor. Mucianus arrived soon after.

Until Vespasian's arrival Mucianus ruled on his behalf alongside the emperor's younger son Domitian who had been in Rome throughout the troubles .

Vespasian now headed for Rome, leaving his son Titus behind to capture Jerusalem, and arrived at Rome in October AD 70. He was almost 61 but he was still fit and active.

Soon after Titus in Palestine brought an end to the Jewish revolt â€¦. In effect Vespasian, an old military veteran, was the man who could finally deliver peace to the empire.

Vespasian possessed insight and the sense of how to maintain peace, too. Though the destruction of Jerusalem and the retaliation against the Jews were carried out with unnecessary severity, and restrictions were placed on some of their practices, Jews were excused from Caesar-worship.

Vespasian's ... chose to date his accession [not on] 21 December AD 69, when the senators had recognized him, but 1 July AD 69 when he had first been acclaimed emperor by his troops. ...

On his son Titus' return to Rome from Palestine in AD 71, Vespasian formally made him his associate in government, granting him the title of Caesar, and appointed him commander of the imperial guard, a sound move considering the role teh praetorians had plaid in establishing and overthrowing previous rulers. â€¦...............

[" The Success of Vespasian" @ http://www.josephus.org/FlJosephus2/warChronology5Pg3.htm ]

Dec 22, 69

The people of Rome declare Vespasian emperor.

The next day, Mucianus arrives with his forces. He supports V's nephew Domitian as acting Emperor until V can arrive. The people of Rome acclaim Vespasian emperor. (4.11.4 655)

Some time later

Vespasian hears the news in Alexandria, determines to go to Rome.

Vespasian reaches Alexandria and hears the news from Rome. The city celebrates. He determines to sail for Rome as soon as the winter is over. (4.11.5 658)

[from " The Judaean Campaign, 68-69 CE & Emperor Vespasian, 69 CE " @ http://www.josephus.org/FlJosephus2/warChronology5Pg3.htm]

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Vespasian waits until weather improves before he can leave Alexandria:-

"In the months during which Vespasian was waiting at Alexandria for the periodical return of the summer gales and settled weather at sea, .."

[http://poetry.rapgenius.com/Tacitus-histories-481-annotated#note-2710928]

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Date Vespasian left Alexandria for Rome:-

"he had departed Alexandria in the second part of August [in year 69AD]

[Note 23 from book "Vespasian" by Barbara Levick

@ http://books.google.com.au/books?id=auqGAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA234&lpg=PA234&dq=when+did+Vespasian+leave+Alexandria+to+return+to+Rome&source=bl&ots=iSLoN8hiWl&sig=DA_VQLH3-5v2He4CbyN-2LE-P7E&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ePuXU4qHCMfckgW7yoGIBQ&ved=0CFMQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=when%20did%20Vespasian%20leave%20Alexandria%20to%20return%20to%20Rome&f=false]

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Date Vespasian arrived in Rome from Alexandria :-

"Upon his arrival in Rome in late summer, A.D. 70, ..."

[ @ http://www.luc.edu/roman-emperors/vespasia.htm]

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Vespasian now headed for Rome, leaving his son Titus behind to capture Jerusalem, and arrived at Rome in October AD 70.

[ " The Success of Vespasian" @ http://www.josephus.org/FlJosephus2/warChronology5Pg3.htm ]

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Even though Vespasian had been declared Emperor by the army while he was in Judea, he had made Domitian acting-emperor until he returned to Rome.

This means Domitian was Caesar in Rome from mid-August 69AD to late October 70AD, so Domitian was acting Emperor for more than a year.

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