The "sun" and the "moon" in this text have to be understood in Biblical terminology. In Joseph's dream, the sun and moon represented his own father and mother - the origins of the nation of Israel - along with the stars representing all the sons of Jacob / Israel (Genesis 37:9-10). To have these entities "darkened" and not giving their light as before represented the elimination of Israel as a nation in the AD 70 period.
Revelation has many, many allusions to OT literature and prophecy - the author being an Israelite well-schooled in Hebraic expressions and OT references. It is only natural that he would adopt these expressions in his writing of Revelation.
The "powers of the heaven" being shaken were the evil angelic hosts being eliminated, since what was capable of being shaken was going to be REMOVED according to Hebrews 12:27. That means there is no longer an evil Satanic realm in existence anymore since the AD 70 period.
Hi 3R,
Glad you are posting here.
I was going to contact you to tell you Mathew G needs your help....
NOW....
It is too convenient to say "The "sun" and the "moon" in this text have to be understood in Biblical terminology." That is always the way... a somewhat quasi-explanation of things that "get in the road".
Let's talk Josephus....
Link:
Our only first-hand account of the Roman assault on the Temple comes from the Jewish historian Josephus Flavius who was a former leader of the Jewish
www.patheos.com
The 7 Signs Of Josephus Reveal End Times Destruction
LAST UPDATED ON: FEBRUARY 9, 2018 AT 5:23 PM
FEBRUARY 9, 2018 BY
KEITH GOur only first-hand account of the Roman assault on the Temple comes from the Jewish historian Josephus Flavius who was a former leader of the Jewish Revolt who had surrendered to the Romans and had won favor from Vespasian. In gratitude, Josephus took on Vespasian’s family name – Flavius – as his own.
As an eyewitness to the destruction of Jerusalem, Josephus gives us a startling window into a series of seven signs which God sent to the people of Jerusalem prior to their ultimate destruction in AD 70.
Tell us all what he meant by
#3.
3) A COW GIVES BIRTH TO A LAMB
“At that same feast [just after the 2nd sign, the great light over the altar] a cow that had been brought by someone for sacrifice gave birth [just before it was to be killed] to a lamb in the midst in the court of the Temple.”
Where did this come from.... for it is not biblical.... yet an eyewiteness Josephuus... sates it.
I can hazard a guess as to it.... but, wont
What about
#5
5) ARMIES IN THE SKY
“Again, not many days after that festival on the twenty-first of Artemisium [the Jewish month of Iyyar which is in the late springtime], there appeared a miraculous phenomenon, passing belief. Indeed, what I am about to relate would, I imagine, have been deemed a fable, were it not for the narratives of eyewitnesses and for the subsequent calamities which deserved to be so signalized [so “sign-ized,” a great sign]. For before sunset …” “For before sunset throughout all parts of the country [of Judea] chariots were seen in the air and armed battalions hurtling through the clouds and encompassing the cities.”
OR
ROMAN HISTORIAN TACITUS ALSO CONFIRMS:
“There were many prodigies presignifying their ruin which was not averted by all the sacrifices and vows of that people. Armies were seen fighting in the air with brandished weapons. A fire fell upon the Temple from the clouds. The doors of the Temple were suddenly opened. At the same time there was a loud voice saying that the gods were removing, which was accompanied with a sound as of a multitude going out. All which things were supposed, by some to portend great calamities.” [
Tacitus Historiae V: The Roman Earthworks at Jerusalem]
Was everyone dead from that time that they could not record anything that would make it into scripture about that time?
Last... another hurdle we have battled.... the timing of Revelation... as I posted above.
Seems Josephus truly narrowed down the the date to the later one when he wrote this...
With the help of Eusebius.
Another Historian is quoted in
What happened to the apostle John after the Biblical account of his life ends?
"With Eusebius (Church History III.13.1) and others we are obliged to place the Apostle's banishment to Patmos in the reign of the Emperor Domitian (81-96). "
This is well after 70AD
But: and the entire article is quite a read. Josephus comments on John's Apocalypse REMEMBER WHEN DOMITIAN WAS EMPEROR.... AD 81-96 long after the temple destruction and 70AD.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3260046?seq=11
Josephus' Anticipation of a Domitianic Persecution
Page 11 of 11
Josephus presents a situation into which the Apocalypse of John readily fits. Owing to the stimulus given to emperor-worship by Domitian,
John of Patmos entertained a lively anticipation of trouble for Christians on account of their anta-
gonism toward the worship of any earthly potentate.
But the author of the New Testament Apocalypse cannot claim for his faith those precedents of toleration and those historical displays of providential protection by means of which Josephus hopes
to avert impending danger to Judaism.
Consequently Josephus is less desperate than the Christian seer, yet he clearly betrays
a similar anticipation of increasing hostility on the part of the authorities under Domitian.
AND THIS IS WHY THE HISTORIAN JOSEPHUS PROVES REVELATION HAD TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN AFTER...BOLSTERED BT EUSEBIUS
Something to think about, thank you.
