Before Jerusalem fell : dating the book of Revelation : an exegetical and historical argument for a pre-A.D. 70 composition

Revelation is one of the most misunderstood books of the Bible. Much of this misunderstanding is due to the confusion regarding the time it was written. The dating of the book is central to understanding its purpose and audience. Dr. Gentry proves that the book was written before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The evidence for this conclusion is found within the pages of Scripture itself. We do not have to depend on writings from a hundred years or more after the fact to get the accurate story. God's own Word sets the record straight. "What does it matter when the book of Revelation was written? Much more than one might imagine! In fact, this seemingly obscure historical detail has become the central focus in the debate over Bible prophecy. The ramifications of the debate reach far beyond the theoretical. When Revelation was revealed to John and written down for the Church to read and understand, it had an immediate impact. Christians were about to witness one of the most devastating judgments in history -- the destruction of the Holy City of Jerusalem. For centuries scholars have argued over when the Book of Revelation was written -- before or after the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The most accepted but not the most compelling date is around the time of Domitian, at the end of the first century when John would have been nearly 100 years old. A more compelling date for the writing is during the reign of Nero Caesar, just a few years before Jerusalem's destruction at the hands of the Roman commander Titus. The evidence for this conclusion is found within the pages of Scripture. The Bible itself tells us when the Book of Revelation was written. We do not have to depend on people who wrote a hundred years or more after the fact to get the accurate story. God's own Word sets the record straight. Through careful and painstaking work, Dr. Gentry deals with all the evidence. He weighs all the arguments." -- BOOK JACKET In this work - the full text of Gentry's doctoral dissertation from Whitefield Theological Seminary - the important question of Revelation's date of composition is engaged. Characteristic of the work is a careful exegesis of critical passages, a diligent survey of the scholarly literature on Revelation, and a meticulous search through the writings of early church fathers and Jewish and Roman historians. The evidence may be garnered from Revelation's self-witness and from church tradition that John wrote Revelation prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred in August, A.D. 70, rather than in A.D. 95-96, as many scholars believe. Gentry convincingly argues for a date around A.D. 65 or 66, after the outbreak of the Neronic persecution and before the death of Nero Caesar. The demonstration of Revelation's date in this work sets before the reader, not only a resolution to this technical question, but also provides much exposition of Revelation's text itself. These provide the reader with a clearer understanding of the meaning of Revelation. Before Jerusalem fell : dating the book of Revelation : an exegetical and historical argument for a pre-A.D. 70 composition by Kenneth L. Gentry (1989) At once arresting and bewildering the reader, the vivid imagery and dramatic message of Revelation have long captivated the attention of Christendom. Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr. Bibliography: P. 355-377.