Here is one to search out. The other day I was reading Revelation 22:10 and as I read it Daniel 12:4 come into memory. In Daniel 12:4 Daniel is told to " shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end:" But in Revelation 22:10, John is told to " Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand." One to really study for.

[Diligent]

I think concerning the Jews, the book of Daniel is indeed a sealed book.

2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

Never thought of it that way. Seeing that the prophecy that was written in Daniel was concerning the Jews and that the book of Revelation started with the letters to the church.But one question still remains, once the time of the Gentiles be fullfilled then God will once again be dealing with the nation of Israel. Revelation speaks of what Daniel chapter 9 speaks of.

You mentioned one question - but nothing in your reply is stated as a question. I will confirm what you said though - Revelation 4:1 deals with the rapture of the true believers and chapter six is the start of the Tribulation period, where God turns back to the Jews.

First of all, don't we need to establish a date of this book?

Some say prior to 70AD. Others seem to think app. 96 AD.

Why is this so important? Well, if this book was wrote prior to 70 AD, then we can assume that John was referring to the destruction of Jerusalem.

Jerry, where do we read of a rapture in the book of Rev.?

In fact I can't seem to find any scripture that deals with rapture.

Also, I'm not aware of any Early Church Father, speaking on a rapture.

Yahweh Bless

Kevin

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is the clearest passage on the rapture. The term is not used in an English Bible, but "caught up together" is what rapture means. Revelation 1:19 states this:

Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Chapter one describes what John saw (the vision of Christ).
Chapters 2-3 describe the things which are (the seven churches, and the church age which they picture).
Chapter four onward describes the things which shall be after the church age - ie. the rapture, the tribulation, new heavens and new earth, etc.

Laodicea is the last of the seven churches, then comes this passage, where John is caught up to Heaven (compare this passage and the wording used with 1 Thessalonians 4):

Revelation 4:1-2 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

First of all, don't we need to establish a date of this book?

Some say prior to 70AD. Others seem to think app. 96 AD.

Why is this so important? Well, if this book was wrote prior to 70 AD, then we can assume that John was referring to the destruction of Jerusalem.

A date has been established - it was AD 96 - during the reign of Domitian. The book does not refer to the destruction of Jerusalem (except in chapter 11), but is referring to destruction and judgment coming upon the whole earth. There is no way you can apply that only to the first century. Revelation chapters 6-19 are covering the same events as Matthew 24, Mark 13, 2 Thessalonians 2, Isaiah 24-25, Daniel 9:26-27. Luke 13 is the only chapter in the Bible that refers to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70.