“The NT was written to what audience? It was, first and foremost, written to and for a 1st century audience.”
Well yes that’s my point . its a record of what happened and was also written by those enduring it until about 65-90 ad whichever dates one wants to date revelation which no one really has anyway to do to an exact year or even decade. We can only look at the content of what’s in the Bible and then in the vision of apacolypse John sees and tells them is about to begin to happen to them.
Those same people in acts who began to be persecuted for thier faith and by that suffering and persecution the gospel began to be spread into the regions by that generation who wrote the scriptures we now believe and have faith in they were of course writing to other believers in that generation that’s my entire point about revelation it was written to people of that day to warn them of what was about to happen and so when it began they would keep faith and endure .
So this
“The NT was written to what audience? It was, first and foremost, written to and for a 1st century audience.”
I agree with this
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is,( presently ) and which was, ( past ) and which is to come; ( future )
and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
Revelation 1:1, 4-6 KJV
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 1:3, 9 KJV
Note later on in the vision
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”
Revelation 6:9-11
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 12:17 KJV
“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”
Revelation 13:7 KJV
“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.”
Revelation 13:15
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
Revelation 14:9-12 KJV
John is preparing them for what’s about to happen when Nero began slaughtering the church in about 67-70 ad a ding in the seige of jersualem and scattering of the Jews both Christian and non Christian into the nations of the world.
In revelation you see the Old Testament end of Jerusalem and it’s time of the ot law and rule being fulfilled and also you see several short visions of what is going on in heaven presently and also what will happen when Jesus returns at the end of the war on earth between Satan and mankind who believe in Jesus in heaven.
things like this should make sense of revelation
“And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.”
Revelation 12:5
If anyone has read the Old Testament and gospel there’s no question what this is a vision of. And we also know when it happened in our natural timeline
“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”
Mark 16:18
the new and old testaments are divided by Christ two comings the old would be fulfilled when the messiah came forth to israel it would be a blessing or curse like he always said they rejected him and chose the curse.
He then sent the new covenant they rejected out to everyone through a chosen remnant who believed him when he spoke to them and they obeyed when he said go preach that to everyone.
everythings not fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled some of the new are some are is what im saying brother
This is only my own opinion and belief I’m not shouting i have to be infallibly right just am discussing it with you. Just a small disclaimer there lol
