A Russian Astronomer
dated the Apocalypse astronomically to 30 September 395 and named John Chrysostom, who at the time was on his way to Ephesus, as the author. He was in Ephesus the first three months of the year 401. At this time, five of the seven dynasties of the Roman Empire had fallen.
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A Brother
was in Ephesus at the beginning of the fifth century replacing seven bishops. Jerome was finishing the Vulgate which would become the official bible of the Church. There are no reliable copies of the Apocalypse prior to the fifth century. So we don’t know what it looked like prior to Chrysostom who was at the right place at the right time.
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A Reasonable Explanation
as to when it was written. We all know it was written by John. Which John? We have three to choose from. John who bare record. John to the seven churches. John who is our brother. To say they are all the same John is not reasonable. You have to consider the possibility that they are different.
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A Prophecy
of things which must shortly come to pass. John the Baptist was talking about the first coming. John who bare record. The first Apocalypse. The second, John to the seven churches was written by John the Apostle. The third John is John Chrysostom. Really.
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A Record
that ties John the Apostle to John the Baptist who bare record of the word of God. From Acts 19 we know John the Baptist had followers in Ephesus that did not know Jesus. When John was preparing the way, he didn’t know Jesus was the Lamb, a word found 27 times in the Apocalypse. John the Apostle didn’t use that word.
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A Strange Beginning
in the Apocalypse. Why is John mentioned three times? Has anyone addressed this in a reasonable way? Could they actually be three different people all named John? Victorinus and Eusebius gives us reason to believe that. Victorinus in his commentary doesn’t mention Antipas or the seven churches. He does mention the seven churches Paul wrote to. Eusebius doesn’t mention Antipas. He does mention six of the seven churches but doesn’t associate them with the Apocalypse. Both may be looking at the first version written by John the Baptist.
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A Revelation
of things which must shortly come to pass. The first coming. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. For the second coming. How long? Not until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Not how long but how many.
A Test
that will verify your beliefs. What you do is what you are. What you say is what you want others to hear. If you have an ear, listen to what the spirits are saying. He knows your works.
A Destination
that is not predetermined. It starts with hope or what you want. Then comes faith or a belief that you can get what you want. This will be tested, a word you won’t find in some bibles. Charity is a big part of the test. Without it you are but a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. Many shall be refined, purified, and tested.
A Translation
of the bible by Jerome. Where did he get his copies? We have no copies of the Apocalypse older than what is in the Vulgate. Jerome had to rely on others for reliable copies. We can only speculate but it must be consistent with historical records that somehow survived. History is all we have so we must rely on being led to the right stuff. Ask for directions.
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