JERUSALEM; ROME; REVELATION - The Preterist Archive

315. The book seems to fall, naturally, into two parts. The first part of the Revelation
seems to be describing events commencing in John’s own day, and by and large antecedent to
the Fall of Jerusalem. The second part apparently predicts the subsequent downfall of the
Roman Empire, and even events thereafter till the very end of Church History and the history
of the World itself. Between those two parts, there is indeed some overlap. This is admitted
by Non-HIstoricalists like Vanderwaal 118 and even by radical Scholars like Schonfield. 119
316. Revelation chapters 1 to 3 describe events occurring on Earth before A.D. 70.
Revelation chapters 4 to 6 describe events occurring in Heaven even while they were being
revealed to John here on Earth. From Revelation chapters 6 till 11, there seems to be an
overlap of events occurring or to occur both before and after A.D. 70. In Revelation chapters
12 and 13, one sees the decline of the Pagan Roman Empire and the roots and rise of the
Romish Papacy as its successor. In Revelation chapters 14 to 18, one is given the chief events
in further Church History - such as the rise and expansion of the Protestant Reformation - prior
to the yet-future fall of the Papacy. In chapters 19 and 20, we find subsequent millennial and
end-eschatological predictions. And in chapters 21 & 22, the book closes with scenes of the
Church Militant here and now and also of the Church Triumphant both now and after the Final
Judgment - the Christian Church as the ‘New Jerusalem.’
317. Revelation chapter one tells us how the risen Christ appeared, standing behind the
Apostle John during his banishment (under either Nero or Domitian) - standing “in the Spirit”
on the island of Patmos during “tribulation.” That “tribulation” (Revelation 1:9) occurred
probably in A.D. 68 to 69, during Revelation 7:14’s international “Great Tribulation” of 64 to
70 A.D. 120 Cf. Matthew 23:27 to 24:29 and Luke 17:26-37 & 21:20-26. The Lord Christ
then, in visions, proceeded to show John “things which must shortly come to pass.” 121 For
“the time” for those things to start happening, was “at hand.” l22
318. “Do not fear!” Thus John was then commanded by Christ 123 the Prince of the
kings of the Earth. For He had already appointed even all of His followers - “the Christ-ians”
- to be kings (or to function ‘as a kingdom’ on this very planet, right here and now). 124
319. Christ then started showing John a series of visions. Revelation 1:3f.
Thereafter, He ordered John: “Write [down] the things which you have seen!” Revelation
1:19f. “Write [principally in Revelation chapters 1 to 6 about] the things which are!” Viz.,
in A.D. 68 to 69. “And write [principally in Revelation chapters 7 to 22, about] “the things
which shall be hereafter!” Viz., the chief things that would occur in Church History from
A.D. 70 onward right down till the very end of World History. 125
320. Revelation chapter two records how Christ urged John to write to the Church of
Ephesus - which had (by A.D. 69) already suffered many trials and distresses. 126 Next, Christ
further commanded John to write to the Christian Church in Smyrna. That body was already
suffering “tribulation” - apparently caused chiefly by the blasphemies of the (almost certainly
Pre-70 A .D.) Judaists. Indeed, that Church was soon to suffer even further “tribulation.” 127
321. Then, John was told to send a letter of comfort to the Church at Pergamus -
sympathizing with her in the loss of her slain martyr Antipas. 128 Thereafter, John was to write
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