THE BOOK OF REVELATION

INTRODUCTION - Last week we looked at the introduction to the Olivet Discourse. In Matthew 23, we read of Christ's condemnation of the Jews and His lament over Jerusalem. The Jews had rejected Christ and so Christ now rejects them. In Matthew 24 He pronounces judgment on the house of Israel by saying that the Temple will be destroyed. In AD 70, the Lord Jesus will bring this to pass as He uses the Roman legions of Titus in a major battle again the Jews. Both Jerusalem and the Temple will be demolished. When the disciples hear this, they naturally come to Christ, asking when all of this is going to take place. Christ will answer that question in the Olivet Discourse, and will tell them that everything He has said will take place in that generation. It is therefore up to us to see how every single action of this passage must have taken place in the first century. This will be the thrust of our study over the next few weeks. First, we must ask -

1) HOW DO WE GO ABOUT PROVING THAT ALL THESE THINGS TOOK PLACE IN THE FIRST CENTURY? There are two sources available to us, which will help us with our studies.

A) THE FIRST SOURCE OF REFERENCE IS THE BIBLE ITSELF - Every book of the New Testament was written prior to AD 70 and the destruction of Jerusalem. Therefore, as the disciples wrote these books and letters, we must realize that Jerusalem's destruction is paramount in their minds. They knew that Matthew 24 would be fulfilled and many of them would see its fulfillment. The Scriptures will prove extremely helpful in interpreting Matthew 24.

B) THE SECOND SOURCE OF REFERENCE ARE THE FIRST CENTURY HISTORIANS - Unfortunately, many of us are ignorant of the events of history. Yet we should view history as the time frame in which God brings forth His plans. There are a number of Christian and pagan historians who either lived during that time or wrote about those days. Their writings have been preserved for us so that we have a good picture of what took place in the first century before the fall of Jerusalem. Some of these men are - Flavius Josephus (AD 37 to 100), Tacitus (AD 56 TO 117), Suetonius (AD 70 to 130), Clement of Rome (living during the first century), Tertullian (AD 160 to 220), Eusebius (AD 260 to 340), along with others. Their writings provide for us an extremely detailed insight into the events of the first century. (See the brief biography of Josephus. He gives us an eyewitness account of the actual destruction of Jerusalem).

2) HOW THE NEW TESTAMENT TIES ITSELF INTO THE HISTORY OF ITS DAYHe H

- (Please refer to the section entitled "The History of the New Testament Viewed Through the Roman Emperors - From Augustus to Domitian.") The time of Christ takes place while Rome rules the world. We need to realize that there is a whole world revolving around the time of the New Testament. The Scriptures intertwine this world with its story, for Christianity takes place in time and space. The events of Matthew 24 are being described as literal events in history. Therefore, there must be some way of confirming that such things did take place in the first century. Pagan and Christian historians will be of great help here.

SECTION 4) THE SIGNS PRECEDING THE FALL OF JERUSALEM

A) FALSE MESSIANS WILL ABOUND CLAIMING THAT THEY ARE THE TRUE CHRIST - Matthew 24:4,5 - Jesus tells us that before Jerusalem falls in AD 70, there will be many false Christs rising up and deceiving people. History bears this prophecy out. Certainly the Jews were expecting the Messiah, and messianic fever was raging constantly through the land. Religious fanatics abounded and all sorts of men claimed to be the Messiah. Simon Magus (Acts 8) is one such man. He bewitched the people and they thought that he was a god. Historians also tells us of Disitheus who claimed to be Christ, and a man named Theusas who promised his followers that he would divide the Jordan River but was then killed by the Romans with his supporters. The historian Josephus tells us that Felix (from the book of Acts) busied himself daily with those who claimed to be a messiah, and he had them executed. In Nero's reign, just before AD 70, every nation was looking for a new god to come. Christ tells the Christians that they are to have nothing to do with these false christs. This warning would be extremely helpful for them, and so we see throughout the apostolic writings the continual warnings of not being deceived by false teachers who wanted to lead the church astray.

B) THERE WILL BE WARS, FAMINES, PESTILENCES, AND EARTHQUAKES - Matthew 24:6-8 - Jesus is saying that before Jerusalem fell, these wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes would take place. Does history bear this out? Regarding the wars and rumor of wars, we might say that the entire period was full of war and fighting. In Selucia, 50,000 Jews died in a battle. In Caesaria, 20,000 were killed. By AD 67 the Romans would declare war against the Jews, a war which would last till AD 70. Yet the Jews were not the only ones at war. When Nero committed suicide in AD 68, the entire Roman empire was plunged into civil war. Four men fought for the empire in AD 69 - "The Year of the Four Emperors." Pagan historians describe this time of history as full of disasters and war. Certainly Christ's prophecy came true in that generation. Regarding famines and pestilence during this time, Acts 11:28-30 speaks of Agabus' prophecy that a worldwide famine would take place during the reign of Claudius (AD 41 to 54). This would naturally be followed by pestilence, as all famines do. The Christians knew that it was coming and were able to prepare for it. A horrible famine will break out in Jerusalem before it falls. Again, the words of Matthew 24 were fulfilled in the first century. Regarding earthquakes during this time, historians record earthquakes taking place in the following places during the first century - Crete, Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, Samos, Laodicea, Hierapolis, Colosse, Campania, Rome, Pompeii, and Judea. Surely this is enough to say that Christ's prediction came true. Jesus says about these events that "all these are the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8). The word which Christ uses here for "sorrow" is a word associated with the pain of childbirth. Before a birth there is usually great pain, many tears and distress. Yet, when the pain is over, there is joy at the new birth. Why does Christ use this word in particular? What is being born here? What will all the pains and sorrows of the first century give birth to? It is obviously the new kingdom, the new age in Christ. The old was being taken away, and this would result in much pain. False messiahs, wars, famine, pestilence, earthquakes - these were the birth pangs which would bring forth the kingdom of God in Christ.

You should note also on your Scripture parallel outline that Revelation 6 is quoted at this point. Read about the four horsemen and see what they bring forth on the world - One comes to conquer (this is Christ), one brings war, the next brings famine, and the final brings death. These images would certainly be familiar to first century Christians - they had heard Christ talk about these things already in Matthew 24. These are the signs which will precede the fall of Jerusalem. John is writing closer to that event, and the disciples could use Matthew 24 to easily interpret this chapter.

Flavius Josephus is certainly the most important writer to give us details of the fall of Jerusalem, for he was a witness to the actual event, and recorded it in his book "History of the Jewish War." Josephus was a Jew, born into an aristocratic priestly family, and was so conversant with Jewish law that the high priests began consulting him at the age of fourteen. When he was sixteen, he lived in the wilderness for three years, having become a member of one of the many Jewish recluse sects which were flourishing during the time of Christ.

When he returned to Jerusalem he became a Pharisee. This group of religious leaders worked together with the Romans, and pledged allegiance as long as the empire insured their religious freedom. The Pharisees, therefore, had no sympathy with the intense Jewish nationalism promoted by the Jewish zealots of the day. In AD 64, Josephus was sent to Rome to secure the release of some Jewish priests who were being held captive. He was successful in his mission, and it is here that he would have seen Nero along with the Roman culture, sophistication and military might of the empire.

In AD 66 the Jews led a successful revolt against the Romans and set up a revolutionary government in Jerusalem. This action would bring about Rome's war with the Jews, which would end with the destruction of Jerusalem. Josephus was disturbed by the Jewish revolt, yet eventually joined his country and took a position of leadership in the Jewish army. When the Romans, under Vespasian's command, conquered Galilee in AD 67, Josephus was captured. He assumed the role of a prophet and foretold that Vespasian would become the next emperor. In AD 69 the prediction came true and as a result, Josephus was released. From then on he became sympathetic to the Romans (much to the resentment of the Jews). He joined the Roman forces which were now being led by Vespasian's son, Titus, and was present at the siege of Jerusalem in AD 70. After the fall of Jerusalem, Josephus resided in Rome where he devoted the rest of his life to writing. It is his written account of the Jewish revolt from AD 66 to 70 which gives us so many of the incredible details of that war. In his book, Josephus is pro-Roman, despising the Jewish nationalists who were trying to defend Jerusalem.

Josephus was essentially loved by no man. The Romans didn't trust him because he was Jewish, the Jews rejected him and called him a traitor, and certainly Josephus, being a Pharisee, was not sympathetic towards Christianity. He died in Rome during the reign of Domitian.

Augustus was crowned Rome's first emperor after the battle of Actium. His entire reign would be known for its stability and peace. Through his rule, he elevated the position of "emperor" to deity. Thus, from that point on, whenever a good emperor died, he was worshipped as a god. Augustus is the one who issued the decree that all the world should be registered (Luke 2:1), thus bringing Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem where Christ was born.

Tiberius was the adopted son of Augustus, and was named as successor to the throne. John the Baptist baptizes at the Jordan River when Tiberius rules in Rome (Luke 3:1,2). When Christ says "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's," He is referring to Tiberius (Mark 12:17). When the Lord Jesus is put on trial, the Jews cry out to Pilate "Crucify Him! We have no king but Caesar," they are making reference to Tiberius (John 19:15). It is under Tiberius' reign that the Lord Jesus Christ is crucified. During the end of Tiberius' rule he terrorized the major leaders of Rome, torturing and executing people for the remaining six years of his life. In AD 37 he fell ill, and was eventually murdered in his own bed.

Caligula is the one whom Tiberius chose to succeed to the throne. His rule is known for its great extravagance, immorality, and cruelty among the Romans. He aspired to being a god and so, in AD 40, he ordered that a statue of himself be erected in the Temple at Jerusalem. Knowing that this would bring a major revolt from the Jews, Herod Agrippa intervened and the order was revoked. After tiring of the tyranny of Caligula, key officials in Rome eventually murdered him.

Due to ill health and unattractive appearance, the imperial family never thought Claudius would be suitable for office. Left to himself, he became an author and historian, whose works have unfortunately been lost. After the murder of his nephew Caligula, he was unexpectedly given the Roman throne. During his reign he would conquer Britain (AD 43) and turn it into a Roman province. During a period of trouble in Rome, Claudius expelled all the Jews from the city (Christians were probably included in this expulsion since they were still considered a Jewish sect in the eyes of the Romans). There is a reference to this expulsion in Acts 18:1,2, as Priscilla and Aquila are forced to leave Rome and will eventually meet up with the Apostle Paul in Corinth. In Acts 11:28,29 we read of a Christian named Agabus who foretold that there would be a great famine throughout the world during the reign of Claudius. It is rumored that Claudius was poisoned by his own wife, Agrippina, the mother of the next emperor, Nero.

Though the first part of his rule was relatively peaceful and wise, Nero eventually became known for his blatant immorality, extravagances and murders (he would kill both his mother and his wife). He aspired to being a god and sought spiritual refuge in one of the many messianic cults of the day. (Note: During the reign of Nero, the entire age was characterized by a messianic hope - every race was waiting for the coming of a new god.) It was rumored that he was to be blamed for the fire which ravaged Rome. As a result, Nero charged the Christians with the deed, and began the first and what is perhaps the most horrible of persecutions against believers, beginning in AD 64. It ended with the emperor's death in AD 68. Both Paul and Peter would be executed under Nero's reign.

The Apostle Paul would appeal to Nero during his trial in Acts 25:11 and would be taken to Rome during the more peaceful time of Nero's rule, before the persecution of Christianity. While imprisoned in Rome, Paul is given opportunity to speak to Nero's household, thus bringing certain members of that family to the Lord (Philippians 4:22).

In AD 66 the Jews in Jerusalem rejected any sacrifices given to the Temple in the name of the Roman Emperor. This was seen as a rejection of Roman authority. The same year the Jews would revolt against Rome and defeat the Romans, giving the Jews a false sense of supremacy over the empire. In retaliation against the revolt, Rome declared war on the Jews, and Nero dispatched Vespasian to lead the troops into the battle. The war with the Jews began in AD 67 under Nero and would end with the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 under emperor Vespasian.

In June of AD 68, after the Roman legions proclaimed Galba the new emperor and after the Senate condemned Nero to death, Nero committed suicide, plunging the Roman empire into civil war. The "Year of the Four Emperors" took place, as different men fought to take the royal position. The chaos would end in December AD 69 when Vespasian succeeded to the throne.

After Nero's suicide, Galba declared himself emperor while he was in Spain. The Praetoriun Guard recognized him as their ruler, but then they changed their allegiance to Otho, and killed Galba.

While Otho was being named emperor, another faction of the army rose up and proclaimed Vitellius their ruler. Otho's forces were defeated and he commited suicide.

As Vitellius took the throne, Vespasian attacked the city of Rome and in a destructive battle, Vitellius was killed.

Vespasian was the "last man standing" after the turmoil and civil war surrounding the throne, thus, he finally succeeded to the role of emperor. This is the same Vespasian who was dispatched by Nero in AD 67 to attack the Jews because of their rebellion against the empire. Titus, the son of Vespasian, will take over the battle from his father, and after a five month siege of Jerusalem, he will completely destroy the city in AD 70.

Titus, the son of Vespasian, follows his father as emperor.

There will be another outbreak of persecution against the Christians during the reign of Domitian, though it will not be as widespread as the one under Nero.