PART I
DATING THE REVELATION

REVELATION AND THE EPISTLES

Bro. Whittaker attempts to build a case for the early dating of the Revelation through Biblical Evidence. Thus,

"It is possible to identify many allusions to the Book of Revelation in Hebrews and in the two Epistles of Peter. If this assertion can be established as true, then Revelation must predate the three epistles mentioned." (Revelation, page 55, H.A.W.).

A close look at the list of "parallels" between the Revelation and the Letter to the Hebrews and the Epistles of Peter reveal similarities which are not that remarkable. Most of them are drawn from the Old Testament and are allusions that one would expect these writers to use. All three apostles were of course inspired by the same Holy Spirit to write a harmonious message.

Notice for instance Item 13 on page 60 of Bro. Whittaker's book, quoting 2 Peter 3: 13. "We according to his promise (in Revelation) look for new heavens and a new earth." This is supposed to be convincing evidence that Peter is quoting from the Revelation. But both Peter and John are in fact alluding to Old Testament passages familiar to them both. They would have had in mind Isaiah 66: 22 - "As the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall endure before me, says the LORD, so shall your race and your name endure. From one new moon to another, all mankind shall come to worship before me, says the LORD."

"The city which hath foundations" (Heb. 11: 10) is taken by Bro. W. to allude to "the wall of the city" which "had twelve foundations" (Rev. 21: 14). But again both Paul and John are utilizing Old Testament phraseology. The allusion is found in Isaiah 54: 11-13: "Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires."

Another example in which New Testament writers independently allude to an Old Testament concept is the figure of the last trumpet. John uses the trumpet symbol throughout the Revelation; Paul uses it in his epistles (1 Cor. 15: 52; 1 Thess. 4: 16; Heb. 12: 19), and all the New Testament references are traced to similar expressions in the Old Testament, as Exodus 19: 16.

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