First, we have the selection of material. The primary source for the book of Revelation is the book of Ezekiel. This is important because the book of Ezekiel is all about the destruction of Jerusalem and a prophetic hope if its restoration. See the link document of the complete text of Revelation that is derived from Ezekiel-Isaiah in the order of Ezekiel.
We can comfortably date the book of Revelation after the destruction of Jerusalem. In Ezekiel, the mission of the prophet does not begin until he is taken to the sky, placed before the throne of God and given a scroll to eat. The story of John is consistent with the story of Ezekiel.
From Ezekiel | From Revelation |
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John (Rev 1:1 NIV) | |
I was among the captives by the River Chebar (1:1). In the fifth of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity (1:2). The Lord’s word came expressly to Ezekiel the priest (1:3). |
I John, your brother and partner with you in the oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ (1:9). I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day (1:10) and I heard behind me a loud voice. This is an author's notation. It is a device that John uses when he splits apart text from the source material. For example, the seven churches were inserted later and he uses the phrase "loud voice" as a notation that Ezekiel will continue. |
No text from Ezekiel |
I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet (1:10). This is an author's notation. It is a device that John uses when he splits apart text from the source material. For example, the seven churches were inserted later and he uses the phrase "loud voice" as a notation that Ezekiel will continue. |
No text from Ezekiel | And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet (4:1). |
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The Scroll in Ezekiel | The Scroll in Revelation |
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The last major work that John added into Revelation was the book of Daniel. John derived the beast from Daniel 7 and made a few tweaks to help us identify who is the beast. It is also clear that the beast lived in John's time and therefore will end in John's time.
From Daniel | From Revelation |
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There came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things (7:8). Concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows (7:20). I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them (7:21). |
I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon (13:11). He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence (13:12). This section describes how the false prophet will defeat the saints (13:12-17). |
Here is wisdom. He who has understanding (13:18) This is another author's notation |
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Here is the mind that has wisdom (17:9) | |
These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth (7:17). The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces (7:23). As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings (7:24). |
The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits (17:9). They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while (17:10). The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction (17:11). The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour (17:12). |
I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them (7:21). | These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is the lord of lords, and king of kings, and those who are with him are called chosen and faithful (17:14). |
Lord of lords, and king of kings (17:14) Another author's notation |
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Lord of lords, and king of kings (19:16) Note: there is some drift of Daniel content which I explain in my book. |
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I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man (7:13). His clothing was white as snow (7:9). I saw even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire (7:11). As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time (7:12). |
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse (19:11) [They were] clothed in white, pure, fine linens (19:14). The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur (19:20). The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh (19:21). |
John conflates the Daniel chapter 10 and Ezekiel 2:8 - 3:3; 3:12-27 to the scroll passage shown earlier in this post.
From Daniel and Ezekiel | Found in Revelation |
When I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me; and, behold, a scroll of a book was therein (Ezek 2:9). When the seven thunders sounded, Ezekiel hears the living creatures making loud noises, seven days, saying: “Blessed be the Lord’s glory from his place (Ezek 3:12).” But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end (Dan 12:3). |
He had in his hand, a little open book (10:2). I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don’t write them (10:4).” |
I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half (12:7). He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end (12:9).” |
[The angel] swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay (10:6), but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets (10:7). |
Ezekiel told to take the scroll and eat it. It will taste sweet to the mouth (Ezek 3:1-3). Ezekiel was bitter (3:14). |
I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey (10:9-10).” He said to me, son of man, go to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them (3:4). Ezekiel appointed as a watchman to tell everyone (3:16-27). |
From the time that the continual burnt offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up (Dan 12:11), |
A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said, “Rise, and measure God’s temple, and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don’t measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for 42 months (1,260 days) (11:1-2). A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for 42 months (1,260 days) was given to him. He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed (13:5-8). |
there shall be 1290 days (Dan 12:11) | I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth (11:13). |
The placement of the Daniel 12 text prior to the destruction of Jerusalem found in chapter 11 and 12 of Revelation was done so that it gave the reader the impression that Revelation was written prior to the fall of Jerusalem. Thereby lending credibility to its ability to predict events in the future. With this in mind, we can also assume that all elements in predicting who is the beast will also be from the perspective that it is happening prior to the destruction of Jerusalem. So then we can assume that the passage in Revelation 17:9-11 is calculated from the events prior to the destruction of Jerusalem.
The sixth king: Vespasian (ruled for 10 years)The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits (17:9).
They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while (17:10).
The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction (17:11).
The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour
The seventh king: Titus (ruled for 2 years -- a little while?).
The eighth king: Domitian (ruled for 17 years).
This should set the framework for my next post which is centered around a 70 year prophecy that was in a prior version of Revelation. It is also allows us to see the date that John believed that Jesus was born and tells us when he thought the end of the world will occur.