Revelation and the First Century (Preterist Interpretations of the Apocalypse in Early Christianity)

The increase in understanding of biblical eschatology in recent decades has brought with it a return to biblical preterism-the view that much of biblical prophecy which we formerly considered to pertain to our future was actually fulfilled in the events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Critics of this viewpoint have often accused it of being novel in Christian history, and worse, some citing a Jesuit conspiracy in the 1600s for its origin! With Revelation and the First Century Francis Gumerlock has done an invaluable service to everyone interested in prophecy and church history. Dr. Gumerlock provides dozens of citations from early church history proving that many of them held a preterist view from the very first days of Christianity onward. Among the many new insights gained in this book, you will read from many early and medieval Christians who believed: John wrote Revelation before A.D. 70 The hour of testing (Rev 3:10) occurred immediately after the death of Nero The Emperor Titus was one of the horsemen of the Apocalypse The seal and trumpet judgments were fulfi lled in the first century Roman-Judean war The Roman Emperor Nero was the beast of Revelation 13 Nero's name was used in calculation of the number of the beast, 666 And much, much, more. . . . Perhaps even more impressive, Dr. Gumerlock has combed through dozens of ancient manuscripts that have never before been translated into English. Revelation and the First Century will lead to a number of historical reassessments of Bible prophecy.