I could give a litany of reasons preterism is wrong and dangerous, but my chosen argument this day shall be the martyrdom of Antipas.
The circumstances of Antipas' martyrdom are not the only awkward facts for preterists in this verse. What does the Lord mean when He says that Satan's throne exists in a certain locality (Pergamum)? The obvious suggestion is the Pergamon Altar, associated with the Temple of Zeus.
The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1984. 35.
Much more plausible is that Antipas was martyred as a result of his refusal to pay homage to the imperial cult of Rome, which portrayed the emperors as divine. While all of the emperors since Augustus had claimed divinity (and he had posthumously honored his patron uncle Julius with godhood), Domitian was far more grandiose with his airs and demanded to be addressed as Lord and God, titles which of course Christians would have refused to use.
Unfortunately, the earliest, clearest account we have of Antipas' martyrdom is from Simeon Metaphrastes in the 10th century, but he appears to be quoting from a long, established tradition of Antipas' fate (assigning his death to the time of Domitian), referenced also by Andreas of Caesarea (6th century) and Tertullian (2nd century)!
From Scorpiace, Chapter 12:
It is said that Tertullian's allusion does not contain "independent information", but the claim that Antipas was "delivered from the last trial" indicates a clear knowledge of the circumstances cited by Metaphrastes, that Antipas was delivered from the pains of his execution (being roasted to death in a metal bull) so much that he was able to pray and give thanksgiving to the last, finally simply going to sleep...hardly the case if he were suffering from the unimaginable pain of such an execution!
So since Antipas was clearly martyred in an empire wide persecution under Domitian, and the Lord Jesus provided this time text so we'd know that Revelation was written after 70 AD, why is anyone a preterist?
The circumstances of Antipas' martyrdom are not the only awkward facts for preterists in this verse. What does the Lord mean when He says that Satan's throne exists in a certain locality (Pergamum)? The obvious suggestion is the Pergamon Altar, associated with the Temple of Zeus.
The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1984. 35.
Much more plausible is that Antipas was martyred as a result of his refusal to pay homage to the imperial cult of Rome, which portrayed the emperors as divine. While all of the emperors since Augustus had claimed divinity (and he had posthumously honored his patron uncle Julius with godhood), Domitian was far more grandiose with his airs and demanded to be addressed as Lord and God, titles which of course Christians would have refused to use.
Unfortunately, the earliest, clearest account we have of Antipas' martyrdom is from Simeon Metaphrastes in the 10th century, but he appears to be quoting from a long, established tradition of Antipas' fate (assigning his death to the time of Domitian), referenced also by Andreas of Caesarea (6th century) and Tertullian (2nd century)!
From Scorpiace, Chapter 12:
Also to the angel of the church in Pergamus (mention was made) of Antipas, Revelation 2:13 the very faithful martyr, who was slain where Satan dwells. Also to the angel of the church in Philadelphia Revelation 3:10 (it was signified) that he who had not denied the name of the Lord was delivered from the last trial.
It is said that Tertullian's allusion does not contain "independent information", but the claim that Antipas was "delivered from the last trial" indicates a clear knowledge of the circumstances cited by Metaphrastes, that Antipas was delivered from the pains of his execution (being roasted to death in a metal bull) so much that he was able to pray and give thanksgiving to the last, finally simply going to sleep...hardly the case if he were suffering from the unimaginable pain of such an execution!
So since Antipas was clearly martyred in an empire wide persecution under Domitian, and the Lord Jesus provided this time text so we'd know that Revelation was written after 70 AD, why is anyone a preterist?
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