The Dating of Revelation

Shawn McCraney, host of "Heart of the Matter," discusses the significance of understanding Christianity in its historical context, emphasizing that debates over the dating of New Testament writings, especially the Book of Revelation, should not overshadow the importance of scripture's content, context, and surrounding secular history. He challenges the prevalent scholarly consensus that Revelation was written after 70 AD and encourages a preterist approach, suggesting this perspective could foster a more dynamic and focused Christian faith today.

The dating of the Book of Revelation plays a crucial role in the theological debate between preterists, who believe its events have already occurred, and futurists, who see the events as yet to happen; if written before 70 AD, it supports the preterist view, but if after, it aligns with the futurist perspective. The validity of late dating claims, primarily based on a statement attributed to Irenaeus and Eusebius, is questioned, making internal evidence from the contents of Revelation essential for determining its timeline, with arguments including the feasibility of John's prophesying travels and the historical existence of the seven churches in Asia.

Shawn discusses the early composition of the book of Revelation, emphasizing that it was written before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, with evidence including the presence of the Jewish temple described in Revelation 11 and parallels between Revelation 1:7 and Matthew 24:30, which foresee the fall of Jerusalem. He further links Revelation's themes to the Jewish context by interpreting the "tribes of the earth" as a reference to the Jewish tribes, asserting that the Jewish people were dispersed or killed during this period, a critical backdrop to understanding the text's intent.

Revelation primarily focuses on unveiling Jesus to the first-century Israelites, specifically in Jerusalem, and highlights how the tribes who crucified Him, not future generations, will mourn as prophesied in Zechariah. John's vision of the "woman" symbolizes first-century Jerusalem, likened spiritually to "Sodom and Egypt," and this imagery underscores the city's condition and history, especially its departure from the Old Covenant.

Shawn's teaching suggests that the timing of the events in the Book of Revelation can be determined by identifying the ruling emperor, Nero, during whose reign the book was written, demonstrating that its prophecies were meant to be fulfilled in the first century, specifically for the seven churches of Asia. Furthermore, the reference to the "Song of Moses" in Revelation, a song predicting the hardship and destruction of the Jews, indicates that the events and prophecies were not intended for future Christian martyrs but were to address immediate first-century circumstances.

Shawn's teaching highlights the difference between the "end of time" and the "time of the end" as depicted in the scriptures by analyzing the sealing of books in Daniel and Revelation. John was instructed not to seal his book because the end of Old Covenant Israel was imminent, emphasizing that these events, including Jesus' quick return and the rewards of resurrection to everlasting life or contempt, were to occur within the lifetime of some of Jesus' contemporaries.

Shawn emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the Spirit over the Word in Christianity, suggesting that beliefs should arise from personal spiritual experiences rather than traditional interpretations and man-made structures. He encourages believers to assess Christianity subjectively, valuing the Spirit as primary, the Word as secondary, tradition as deferential, and human constructs as inconsequential.

Shawn, a Jewish individual from Israel, questions several Christian beliefs, expressing his struggles with the idea that non-belIEF in Christ means eternal damnation. He challenges the notion that God would allow such suffering, disputes the Christian interpretation of original sin, and emphasizes the compassionate nature of humanity, suggesting that if humans can show compassion towards each other, a loving God should demonstrate even greater compassion.

Shawn's teaching emphasizes the belief that God is universally present across all faiths and even among atheists and agnostics, suggesting that God can guide individuals to their paths whether through Christ, the Koran, or other spiritual experiences. This approach encourages openness to diverse religious expressions and acknowledges the personal nature of divine connection.