Who were the very early readers of Revelation who wrote about it?

[kendemyer]

Who were the very early readers of Revelation who write about it and what did they write about Revelation?


I read two things recently that I wanted some information about:

I read in the MacArthur study Bible the following:

"Many of the book's early readers were still alive during the lifetimes of Justin Martyr and Irenaeus who both upheld apostollic scholarship."


The Wycliffe Bible Encylopedia states:

"Christian writers of the second century and later tell of John's work in Asia Minor, centering in the city of Ephesus. According to Revelation 1:9, John was exiled to the isle of Patmos for his testimony of the gospel. Irenaeus asserts this occured near the end of the reign of Domitian, which terminated in A.D. 96 (Eusebius HE iii.18:3). The same writer alledges that John lived on into the reign of Trajan, which began in the year 98 (Against Heresiesiii.3.4)."

(Please see Wycliffe Bible Encylopedia, 1986, page 942, Moody Bible Press, Chicago)

Lastly, I read at a website the following regarding the Book of Revelation:

Time and place of writing. --The date of the Revelation is given by the great majority of critics as A.D. 95-97. Irenaeus says: "It (i.e. the Revelation) was seen no very long time ago, but almost in our own generation, at the close of Domitian’s reign.

taken from: http://www.bible-history.com/new-testament-books/newtestamentbooks_smith_s_bible_dictionary_revelation.html


So far, this is what I have found today:

MELITO, bishop of Sardis (about A.D. 171), one of the seven churches addressed, a successor, therefore, of one of the seven angels, is said by EUSEBIUS [Ecclesiastical History, 4.26] to have written treatises on the Apocalypse of John. The testimony of the bishop of Sardis is the more impartial, as Sardis is one of the churches severely reproved ( Rev 3:1 ). So also THEOPHILUS OF ANTIOCH (about A.D. 180), according to EUSEBIUS [Ecclesiastical History, 4.26], quoted testimonies from the Apocalypse of John.

taken from: http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/c/1093641424-8347.html

By the way, the reason I ask this question is because I have authored a string titled: "It appears the earliest church fathers were premillienists and futurists plus..." at: http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35528

Please note: Please try to cite very early writers.

Sincerely,

Ken

[Jaltus]

Eusebius talks about the book quite a bit in his Church History, and it is hilarious because he is not premill, so he tries to make its reputation dubious.

If you have a seminary near you, thgere was a recent dissertation on this very issue, which showed that historically premill was at least A view in the early church, if not THE view. I believe Origen was also premill, but I cannot find the quote I want for it (Henri Crouzel Origen).

[kendemyer]

Dear Jaltus,

Sorry for not responding sooner.

If you could give me the name of the dissertation I would appreciate it.

Secondly, here is quote for you:

Waddington tells us, “This obscure doctrine was probably known to but very few except the fathers of the church, and is very sparingly mentioned by them during the first centuries; and there is reason to believe that it scarcely attained much notoriety, even among the learned Christians, until it was made a matter of controversy by Origen, and then rejected by the greater majority. In fact, we find Origen himself asserting that it was confined to those of a simpler sort.” (History pg.56)

http://www.preteristarchive.com/CriticalArticles/forgy-faust_01_bf_02.html




Lastly, have you taken a look at the theads below?

"premillennialism (and futurism) in the ancient church" at: http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36902

"The apparent futurist eschatology of the Apostle John's disciples and its relevancy" at: http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36762

"It appears the earliest church fathers were premillienists and futurists plus..." at: http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35528

"Was Origen's very non-literal interpretation of Scripture/prophecy invalid?" at: http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38125

"Historic premillennialism/dispensational premillennialism. Deciding what to accept" at: http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38016 (I wish to add that this thread will have further postings as time goes on. Please make sure you read post #21 thru post #23).