There are clues within the symbolism of Revelation that are actually allusions to things and events from the Old Testament. The 1st century readers, especially the Jewish Christians shortly before the initial invasion of Israel by Rome in 66AD, would have recognized the symbols immediately. Generally speaking 1st century Christians knew the Old Testament much better than us.
Wishful pret thinking.
The events of 66-70 were the culmination of the DAYS OF VENGEANCE against the Jews, as they were held responsible for the murders of ALL righteous people up til that time. Nothing to do with the eschatological events, which are yet to occur.
So the 1st paragraph of Revelation 17 describes the punishment of the great prostitute (harlot). The 1st century Christians would have connected that with Old Testament verses such as Isaiah 1:21: How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Although Isaiah was referring to Jerusalem at his time the harlot in Rev. 17 was an allusion to the city of Jerusalem to the initial readers of the Book of Revelation(the seven churches in Asia Minor). They would have recognized that immediately.
MMRRPP ! WRONG !
The city was ROME, ITALY! That city was the one which ruled over the various nabobs in the Roman empire.
The name written on the harlot's forehead states: "Babylon the great, the Mother of Prostitutes, and of the Abominations of the Earth"(Land). The Jewish high priests wore a golden plate on their foreheads which was engraved with the words: "Holy to the Lord". See Exodus 28: 36-38 for a description of this plate which was fastened to Aaron's forehead. The readers of Revelation in the 1st century(pre-70AD) would have realized that the priesthood (at that time) was corrupt. As a matter of fact Rome had been selecting the high priesthood and dictating the tenure of each high priest. I will get into the identity of the 7 heads and 10 horns of this beast later.
If you look at Revelation 17 verse 18 it identifies the harlot as " the great
city that rules over the kings of the earth.” Remember the word "earth" is the Greek word "ge" which is more accurately translated as "land" in Revelation.
Proceeding to Revelation chapter 18 it describes the fall of Babylon(Jerusalem). When did that happen? 70 AD perhaps? Rev. 18 verses 11,12,&13 describes the merchants mourning over the destruction of Babylon because no one buys their merchandise anymore. Look at 2nd Chronicles 2:11-14. The king of Tyre mentions the merchandise of the
Temple during a discussion of the building of the
first Temple. 8 out of 10 items used in the building of the 1st Temple are included in the merchandise of Rev. 18. Look at Ezekiel 27. It describes the merchants lamenting over the fall of the pagan city Tyre. The merchandise is different but Saint John includes allusions to the lamenting of Tyre for a reason. Mainly the commerce of Tyre. Rev 18's allusion to the commerce of Tyre thus contains an allusion to the commerce of the Temple during the 1st century. The commercialization of the Temple was one of the things that caused Jesus to become angry. John 2:13-16 "make not my Father's house an house of merchandise". Robycop I don't know how much more evidence you need but I do have more.[/QUOTE]
Again, all wrong! Again, the "harlot" is ROME. remember, Rome has the cancer of the Vatican at its heart.
Jerusalem was NOT destroyed in an hour. It was NOT a great seaport in those days. jerusalem was NOT destroyed, never to rise again, in the manner of the large stone the angel cast into the sea.
