Mt. Vesuvius and the book of Revelation

[Andrew]

I have a few books on Pompeii, I find the artwork, lifestyle and the eruption​ of Mt. Vesuvius intriguing. This is said to have happened on August 24th 79 AD.

Now the book of Revelation is proposed to be written around 69 AD to 96 AD according to Wikipedia

"Early Church tradition dates the book to end of the emperor Domitian (reigned AD 81–96), and most modern scholars agree, although the author may have written a first version under Vespasian (AD 69–79) and updated it under Domitian."

They are so closely dated I often wonder if they were in the same decade and if the destruction of the pagan elite Roman city was warned about if the letters did go out before the event.

It's a days journey from Patmos to Pompeii Italy (by our transportation).
Thoughts?

 

[NewCreation435]

So your saying that you see the eruption as a sign of God's judgment on them? Or do you see somehow Revelations as specifically mentioning this event? I don't see it. Admittedly though I know almost nothing about the people who suffered under that eruption except that it happened very suddenly.

 

[Andrew]

So your saying that you see the eruption as a sign of God's judgment on them? Or do you see somehow Revelations as specifically mentioning this event? I don't see it. Admittedly though I know almost nothing about the people who suffered under that eruption except that it happened very suddenly.

Maybe, it was by the sea and people even hid in the shipping docks, the mountain erupted and threw down fire like in Sodom and Gomorrah as it was very very devastating. This was a sinful pagan elite Roman city full of pornography and drunkenness.

And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
Revelation 8:8-9

 

[Andrew]

Herculaneum and Pompeii were both completely destroyed, Herculaneum I believe was closer to the sea

 

[user1234]

Herculaneum and Pompeii were both completely destroyed, Herculaneum I believe was closer to the sea

Hi DHoffman .
Interesting and devastating stuff, for sure. I never really studied it much, tho it's a pretty safe bet that it isnt the fulfillment of the prophecy in Revelation 8. There are alot of events that have taken place in history that might seem to correlate with bible prophecy, but it's usually best not to try to force a given event into God's prophetic Word, or to take a verse or two to try to apply it to a specific event in history, particularly the Book of the Revelation. →*The EVENT being historical, not Revelation, which is pretty much mostly still future*← (sorry for the sloppy structure)

In a general sense, yes, God's warnings of judgement can be seen, and perhaps different catastrophic events, 'natural disasters' etc., are part of that, but that's only speculation, and we wouldn't want to tell ppl who are going thru it, (say, the recent hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, etc.) that theyre being judged and punished by God.

In fact, these are times when we're called to not only try to help minister to their physical needs (in whatever way that God might lead an individual or group) but also to proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, that whoever puts their faith and trust in Him, has their sins paid for by Him, and are saved from God's wrath to come.

Btw, nice to meet you, DHoffman. :wave:

 

[NewCreation435]

It could have been God's judgment on them, but not particularly mentioned in Revelations. I don't see this as a fulfillment of what is in Revelations 8. It would assume if it was that the trumpets of judgment were already occurring in 79 A.D. That would mean that the first trumpet had already happened mentioned below. Since a third of the earth has not been burned up I think we are safe to say it hasn't happened yet

6 "Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up."

 

[Andrew]

It could have been God's judgment on them, but not particularly mentioned in Revelations. I don't see this as a fulfillment of what is in Revelations 8. It would assume if it was that the trumpets of judgment were already occurring in 79 A.D. That would mean that the first trumpet had already happened mentioned below. Since a third of the earth has not been burned up I think we are safe to say it hasn't happened yet

6 "Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up."

I believe 7 was about pompeii which was a bit further away and got hit with hail and fire as 8 speaks of herculaneum because it borders the sea and closer to the volcano

herculaneum 8

 

[user1234]

I believe 7 was about pompeii which was a bit further away and got hit with hail and fire as 8 speaks of herculaneum because it borders the sea and closer to the volcano

My points in post#5 agree with #6
Theres no way the 7th seal is opened until after the previous 6 seals.
The majority of the Book of Revelation is describing future events, not natural disasters like what happened 2000 years ago in Pompeii.

 

[Andrew]

Well the last days began in acts. Revelation does describe many natural disasters in diverse places. Revelation may have been written just prior to the eruption and destruction of this ungodly roman elite plutocracy, and therefore it is possible to have been one of the signs.
Many scholars agree that the many signs are not in any particular order, true or not I still speculate that its very peculiar for these events to take place possible in the same decade the book was written

 

[MoreCoffee]

Well the last days began in acts. Revelation does describe many natural disasters in diverse places. Revelation may have been written just prior to the eruption and destruction of this ungodly roman elite plutocracy, and therefore it is possible to have been one of the signs.
Many scholars agree that the many signs are not in any particular order, true or not I still speculate that its very peculiar for these events to take place possible in the same decade the book was written

we're still here and the last judgement and resurrection hasn't happened yet.

 

[user1234]

We havent been raptured yet, and Jesus hasnt returned yet.
Sooo, yep, still here. (We're here, because we're not all there :spinningsmilie

The prophecies in Revelation were obviously written as future events, were still future events when the written bible was completed, were still future events when the KJV was completed, and as the bible has been handed down to us, in 2017 it's still largely a book of future events waiting to be fulfilled. Some say Chapter 4:1 gives a good indication of where we are on the prophetic calendar or events.

As others have stated, those catastrophic events of Pompeii, etc, MAY have been a judgement from God for one reason or another, that's not really our call to make, and as I said earlier, I wouldnt want to be the one to tell somebody that their house was washing away or their land was on fire or some natural disaster was happening because Gods judgement or wrath was pouring out on them.

We're called to proclaim the good news of salvation in Jesus ..... Gods wrath was poured out on HIM upon the cross, and even those dreadful events yet to come upon the world can be largely avoided for those who put their faith and trust in Him.

 

[Andrew]

Ok fair enough. I still find it eerie how this pagan roman elitist plutocracy was completely destroyed and buried within a day just several years after revelations was written.
Thats just me tho
This event took place on my birthday so it has always drawn my attention, same as the massacre of St. Bartholomew's​ day, August 24 1572.
Yea anyway, thanks for the help and understanding.
Here is a fascinating short video of the recreation of the view overlooking pompeii and the volcano on that day, it does look like a biblical type of destruction reminiscent of Sodom and Gomorrah.
https://youtu.be/dY_3ggKg0Bc


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