Destruction of The Temple to The Death of The Apostle John.
Epistles of John and Revelation.
The Period of History. This period begins with the fall of the city of
Jerusalem, A.D. 70, and ends with the death of John, the last of the
apostles. We have but little scripture touching the conditions of this
period. Indeed, all of it is inferential so far as the scripture is
concerned. We may, however, learn much from secular history and
tradition.
The Destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus had predicted the fall of this
beloved city. Many frightful massacres of Jews had occurred in Judea
before the end of the last period, but it was in A.D. 70, about two
years after Paul's death, that Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the
temple and Judaism had its downfall. After this the marks of
separation between Christianity and Judaism became more and more
distinct. From that time the Jewish religion has never gained
ascendancy in any country.
From A.D. 70 to A.D. 100. The general history of this period has in it
little of interest. At the end of the very creditable reign of emperor
Vespasian, who was on the throne of Rome when Jerusalem fell, Titus,
called "The delight of the human race," reigned in his stead. During
his reign occurred that awful eruption of Vesuvius that buried
Pompeii. Titus was succeeded by his brother Domitian, who was one of
the greatest tyrants that ever ruled in any country. It is generally
supposed that John was banished to the Isle of Patmos during the reign
of Domitian. After Domitian reigned Nerva and Trojan, the last of
which showed great talent and brought back much of the early vigor to
the empire. The cyclopedias and histories of Rome will give
information about the period.
The Literature of the Period. The history of the Christians in this
period is very obscure because of the scanty literature produced in
it. What literature we have of these years may be divided into two
classes: (1) Scripture books. These are the three epistles of John,
which were written at Ephesus a while before his banishment, probably
about 80 or 85 A. D., and the Revelation, which was composed while in
exile on Patmos about 95 or 96 A. D. (2) Some early Christian writings
not included in the canon of the New Testament. Of this class of
writings is the Epistle of Clement of Rome to the Corinthians, written
about 96-98 A.D., and the Epistle of Barnabas and the Teaching of the
Twelve Apostles, probably written sometime before A.D. 100. This then
is a period of transition from the Canonical to the Patristic
literature.
Death of John and End of Scripture History. John was on the Isle of
Patmos as an exile because of his testimony for Jesus. He seems to
have lived until the end of the first century and is said to have met
death in a cauldron of boiling oil. The last of the apostles being now
dead the canon of the scripture is closed and the power of miracles
removed and Christianity left to win its own way by means of the
efforts and the prayers of the disciples and the grace which God
ordinarily grants to them. Thus ends the scripture history-with a
completed revelation and the Christian churches set up as a witness
for Christ.
Lessons of the Period. It is difficult to draw, from a period of which
we know so little, any certain conclusions. We are perhaps safe in
making some observations. (1) Christianity must always make its way
against opposition. (2) The Christian faith gives courage and joy in
the most trying circumstances. (3) Christianity will finally triumph
over its enemies.
For Study and Discussion. (1) From the Bible dictionaries,
cyclopedias, etc., study the reigns of the different Roman emperors of
this period. (2) Learn something of the nature and contents of the
Patristic literature mentioned in this discussion. (3) The four New
Testament books of this period.