Dating the Book of Revelation

I personally believe the Book of Revelation was written by John on the island of Patmos, around 65 A.D. This page presents good evidence that is truly the case.

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• Dating the Book of Revelation

Table of Contents:
What is the Traditional Christian view of the date of Revelation?
What do other Early Christians say about the date?
Is the late date (96 A.D.) likely?
Internal Evidence for the Early Date of Revelation

What is the Traditional Christian view of the date of Revelation?

The traditional view of modern Christianity is that John was exiled to Patmos in the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian, around the time of 96 A.D. While there is no record of Christian persecution under Domitian, this view generally comes from the writings of Irenaeus. In his book Against Heresies, Book 5, Chapter 30, in 180 A.D., he says the following:

"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 it (or he) was seen not very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian's reign."

The assumption by modern Christianity is that Irenaeus' statement that "it was seen" is referring to the vision of Revelation itself, indicating that John saw the vision during Domitian's reign, and penned it shortly thereafter - in the late first century.

What do other Early Christians say about the date?

• 60 A.D. ~ James refers to the "crown of life" (James 1:12), which may be a reference to Revelation 2:10. James died in the 60's.
• 90 A.D. - Clement of Rome said the teaching of the apostles ended with Nero.
• 100 A.D. - Papias said that John was killed by the Jews, pointing to a pre-70 A.D. time period.
• 150 A.D. ~ Syriac version of Revelation says Nero banished John to Patmos.
• 200 A.D. - Tertullian puts Johns death in Timeframe of Peter and John's, with Nero, in about 64 A.D. to 67 A.D. (The Prescription Against Heretics, Chapter XXXVI).
• 200 A.D. - Clement of Alexandria says John was on the Island of Patmos at the time of Nero, specifically (Quis Salvus Dives? - Section 42).
• 360 A.D. - Epiphanius said that John prophesied in the time of Claudius (Nero).
• 380 A.D. - Jerome said that John was martyred during the time of Nero.
• 500 A.D. ~ Arethas (of Najran) applies the sixth seal to the destruction of Jerusalem (70 A.D.), adding that the Apocalypse was written before that event.
• 550 A.D. ~ Syriac Vulgate Bible of the sixth century said John wrote Revelation when exiled to Patmos by Nero.
• 1090 A.D. - Theophlact of Orchid, in his preface to his commentary on John, places the apostle's banishment 32 years after the Ascension of Christ, squarely in the reign of Nero.

Is the late date (96 A.D.) likely?

What was John's age and condition in 90 AD, at the traditional date?

• In 90 AD, John would have been about 94 years old.
• In 65 AD, John was about 69 years old.

Jerome (393 A.D.) says that John was seen in 96 AD, but was so decrepit he had to be carried around and could not speak much. "The blessed John the Evangelist lived in Ephesus until extreme old age. His disciples could barely carry him to church and he could not muster the voice to speak many words. "
Could he have written the book of Revelation in this state?
Could he serve a banishment to the salt mines of Patmos at this age?

Victorianus (304 A.D.) says that John did hard labor in the mines on Patmos.
Is this something that a 94-year-old man can do?

Revelation itself says John must again "prophesy before many peoples, nations, tongues and kings" (Rev. 10:11) something he could not do in the state of decrepitude that we would expect of one of such advanced years.
Could he have prophesied before many peoples, nations and kings in this condition?

There was no persecution of Christians recorded under Domitian. But there was much state-sanctioned persecution of Christians under Nero.
Why would Domitian have banished John?
Nero, on the other hand, had the motive and was known for persecution of Christians.

Internal Evidence for the Early Date of Revelation

• The seven churches mentioned in Revelation existed in 65 A.D. But not all of them existed in 96 A.D.
• Revelation does not mention the destruction of Jerusalem once. It was the most significant event in Israel's history. Indicating it had not happened.
• Revelation 11 mentions the Temple of Jerusalem as if it is still standing. John is told to "measure the temple and the altar." This would have been slanderous if the temple was already destroyed.
• Revelation 1 says John is on the Isle of Patmos for "the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ." But he does not mention that this is an exile. He could have been ministering to people there.