Thomas B. Slater, «Dating the Apocalypse to John», Vol. 84 (2003) 252-258

The present study re-examines the major arguments for dating the Apocalypse to John. It argues that internal evidence should be preferred over external witnesses and that the internal evidence suggests, based upon the ex eventu prophecy in Rev 17,9-11, that the book was written in 69, either late in Otho’s reign or early in Vitellius’ reign.

reason to think that John’s list would differ significantly from others, Revelation 13 and 17 would indicate, based upon the rules of exegeting ex eventu prophecy, that the book was written between 68-70 CE. Ex eventu prophecy is prophecy-after-the-fact that is often found in apocalyptic literature. It is often very helpful in dating books. Such "prophecies" are true to a certain point and then usually the point at which they are inaccurate is the date when the book was written. That would make either Otho or Vitellius the eighth emperor in the Apocalypse¹⁶. More will be said on this topic later.

        Thus, for all the aforementioned reasons, a Domitianic dating is rather problematic. Are there examples of internal evidence, along with those already mentioned, which might help to date the book? Bell, Rowland and Wilson, in my opinion, have offered the best arguments for an earlier dating of John’s Apocalypse between 68 and 70 CE. We turn now to discussions of their work.

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        Bell’s work is often referred to but rarely taken seriously. This is unfortunate. Bell correctly avoids attempting to discern whether or not one should begin counting the Roman emperors with either Julius Caesar or Augustus Caesar. Instead, he begins with the fifth emperor who is clearly Nero (see Rev 13,3 and 17,9-11). As stated previously, ancient writers included Galba, Otho, and Vitellius in their lists. He notes such inclusions in Suetonius, Plutarch, and Eutropius. Additionally, he correctly argues that for 4 Es 12,16 (dated ca. 100 CE) to speak of 12 emperors it had to have included Galba, Otho, and Vitellius in the 12. He demonstrated that according to Roman custom anyone duly inducted into an office would have been included in any official list of office-holders. He dates the Apocalypse between June 68 and January 69 during Galba’s reign¹⁷. "Armies in Spain, Germany and Judaea are supporting rival candidates for the principate. Where there had been order and peace, for as long as any man living could recall, there is suddenly anarchy and civil war"¹⁸. Finally, he notes that while Suetonius mentions Nero’s persecution, he does not mention one initiated by Domitian¹⁹.

        Concurring with Bell, Rowland also includes Galba, Otho and Vitellius when reading Revelation 13 and 17. He agrees with Bell that Nero is clearly the fifth emperor and that the book was written during the reign of Galba. "No other explanation of these verses matches the simplicity of this interpretation, which, one may assume, would also have been the most obvious to the original readers of the document"²⁰. He adds, again concurring with Bell, that the political turmoil which ensued after Nero’s death throughout the Roman Empire during 68 CE, coupled with the apocalyptic imagery found in the book, clearly points to 68 CE as the time of the writing of the Apocalypse to John.