103.2: Time of Origin/John

Evidence No. 2

Actually the year when John wrote the Revelation to the seven churches does not really matter. Even if he wrote it before 70 AD as some people claim, it would not have changed the course of history as foretold. Some people claim he foresaw the destruction of the Herod's Temple in Jerusalem and the defeat of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans siege, but that is really very doubtful.

And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Mark 13:1-2 KJV)

This started the end time prophecy of the New Testament. Jesus life and death had fulfilled a number of Old Testament prophecies, but not all of them were fulfilled in the time between His birth and ascending into Heaven. In addition, He had already foretold the fall of Jerusalem and the Temple when on earth before it happened, and other prophets had done so, which means those events were mentioned in the Scriptures, so why not by John? There are two possible answers to this question. Either he had his visions before the fall of the Temple which he describes in Revelation. But this would have meant the end of the world, Armageddon. However, the world continued to be in existence for 1939 years. Many events which he describes in Revelation cannot be explained by that.

In addition, Jesus pointed to events that cannot be explained by the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Another much more plausible idea would be that John did not refer to past events at all and was writing after the fall of the Temple in 70 AD. There are many hints that back this up. Everybody will agree with me that John's visions described only future events from his point of view. His visions gave the hope for a New Jerusalem, while the old Jerusalem was destroyed, which John does not describe, however. He has the vision of the "New Jerusalem" in which God Himself comforted the people for their loss of Jerusalem:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21:1-5 KJV)

The order of the events is interesting. God makes all things new. Have a look at this order, please:

Jerusalem and the Herod Temple falls. (70 AD)
Heavens and the earth will be destroyed. (yet to come)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
God makes things new, a new Heaven and a new earth first. (yet to come)
God makes a New Jerusalem where he Himself is the Temple. (yet to come)

It can be used as a very rough time frame for the prophecy in Revelation.