Posts by EdenOne

50

DATING THE BOOK OF REVELATION - new article

by EdenOne in

just published another article on my website.

i promised i would make a more complete study on dating the book of revelation.

as a result i published the article: dating revelation - solely with internal evidence from the new testament.

EdenOne

Also (quote from another website):

The “Syriac version” of the New Testament, which dates back to the second century A.D., states that Revelation was written during the reign of Nero making a date of 64-68 A.D.
The “Muratorian Fragment,” dating back to 170-190 A.D., states that this work of John was written during the reign of Nero.
The “Monarchian Prologues,” that dates back to 250-350 A.D., claims that Paul also wrote to these seven churches (possibly Romans which was a circular letter; It went out to many addressees) following John’s Book, thus, placing the book [Revelation] even before some of the other Pauline epistles.

Eden

50

DATING THE BOOK OF REVELATION - new article

by EdenOne in

just published another article on my website.

i promised i would make a more complete study on dating the book of revelation.

as a result i published the article: dating revelation - solely with internal evidence from the new testament.

EdenOne

I used cross references with other NT documents. Doesn't textual evidence mean anything to you?

You need another external evidence as an anchor?

Consider the congregations in Asia Minor that Paul started. They were originally 9. Ephesus, Pergamon, Philadelphia, Sardis, Thyatira, Smyrna, Colosse, Hierapolis, and Laodicea. It would be natural that Jesus would address messages to all these congregations. But Colosse and Hierapolis are missing. Why?

Roman historian Tacitus records a devastating earthquake that destroyed the three neighbouring cities of Colosse, Hierapolis and Laodicea, as having taken place on the 7th year of emperor Nero. This amounts to 61 CE. Of the three cities, only Laodicea was soon rebuilt, again according to Tacitus, while the others remained uninhabited. On the other hand, the prophetic message delivered by Jesus to the congregation of Philadelphia, it warns about the hour of tribulation that was "about to come to the world", a reference to persecution. Nero unleashed the persecution against the Christians in AD 64. So, the part of Revelation that deals with the seven messages to the seven congregations (The last part to be received) can indeed be anchored between the dates 61 and 64 AD, more likely 62/63 AD.

Eden

50

DATING THE BOOK OF REVELATION - new article

by EdenOne in

just published another article on my website.

i promised i would make a more complete study on dating the book of revelation.

as a result i published the article: dating revelation - solely with internal evidence from the new testament.

EdenOne

Eusebius also quotes from Ireneaus. Ireneaus, in turn, claims that he learned it through Polycarp (one generation before), who claims to have seen it (Ireneaus doesn't specify what Polycarp saw) from the time he was with the apostle John. It ends up being hearsay.

Eden

87

Arguments in favor of the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 BCE

by TJ Curioso in

i received the following explanation in favor of the date of 607 bce.

accepted comments on the points at issue.. .

conclusion.

EdenOne

Even if 607 was the correct date; Even if the "gentile times" were seven; Even if those translated into 2520 days; Even if one day / one year "rule" would apply and they were 2520 'years'... 1914 would still be wrong.

How?

Because the number 2520 was calculated based on lunar years of 360 days. Now, when you transpose that into solar years, on which our calendars are based, you have to account for the difference of -5,25 days per each year. (A solar year is 365,25 days). This amounts to a difference of over 36 years SHORT. Therefore, if one wants to be intellectually honest and consistent in the calculations, from 607 BCE, 2520 lunar years, which converted, are 2484 solar years, one arrives at a date around 1876 - not 1914.

Eden

50

DATING THE BOOK OF REVELATION - new article

by EdenOne in

just published another article on my website.

i promised i would make a more complete study on dating the book of revelation.

as a result i published the article: dating revelation - solely with internal evidence from the new testament.

EdenOne

That's a fairly easy thing to say from someone who didn't bother to offer a better explanation.

And yet, I'm just defending my point of view. If I'm wrong, I will stand corrected. But it takes more than ad hominem attacks and generalistic remarks about the level of scholarship to make a difference.

Eden

50

DATING THE BOOK OF REVELATION - new article

by EdenOne in

just published another article on my website.

i promised i would make a more complete study on dating the book of revelation.

as a result i published the article: dating revelation - solely with internal evidence from the new testament.

EdenOne

You're absolutely entitled to that, Jgnat.

However, one must be aware that the only external evidence that the so cherished scholars rely on to attribute a later date to Revelation is a single sentence by Ireneaus. Did you know that? How many lines of evidence would you rely on before making a final judgement on such a delicate subject?

In his 5th book of "Against Heresies", (180 AD, 80 years after John passed away) when he was discussing the name of the antichrist and the identity of the "666", he says: "

"We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen not very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian's reign."

This is it. This is the foundation upon which so many scholars base their theory of a later date for Revelation, discarding entirely all internal textual evidence plus all cross-references with the other NT documents.

I could should you many, many articles regarding how the accuracy of the testimony of Ireneaus is very doubtful. But here is one article that will say it better than myself.

Eden

50

DATING THE BOOK OF REVELATION - new article

by EdenOne in

just published another article on my website.

i promised i would make a more complete study on dating the book of revelation.

as a result i published the article: dating revelation - solely with internal evidence from the new testament.

EdenOne

BOTR

I think it's pretty simple in your case. Don't eat 'atrocious junk', don't even look at it. Then it won't offend your delicate eyes or aggravate your allergies. I can relate - I suffer from diverse allergies too.

Eden

43

The apparent contradiction of John 3:13

by EdenOne in

the wts uses john 3:13 to prove that before jesus no one was taken to heaven.. in the nwt, john 3:13 reads:"moreover, no man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the son of man.".

notice a difference to the king james bible:.

john 3:13 - "and no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the son of man who is in heaven.

EdenOne

I think we may agree there, Randy ... :)

Eden

10

Is WTBTS really imitating the first century apostles? Or could they just be copying something far closer to home?

by likeabird in

the borg likes to go on about how everything they do is in imitation of first century apostles.. .

that's what i usually asked myself.

i just couldn't imagine the apostles having to lug a heavy bag of literature door to door like we did.

EdenOne

Terry,

Let me ask you this. Was gnosticism sparked by the writings of Paul, or were the writings of Paul largely a reaction against the gnosticism that was infiltrating the congregations (Corinth and Ephesus come to mind...) ?

Eden

50

DATING THE BOOK OF REVELATION - new article

by EdenOne in

just published another article on my website.

i promised i would make a more complete study on dating the book of revelation.

as a result i published the article: dating revelation - solely with internal evidence from the new testament.

EdenOne

BOTR,

I'm no scholar, never claimed to be, and I don't see why you're coming at me as if I were one. But at least I'm not a disciple of Elaine Pagel either.

Eden