Quote:Um... read the book. Isle of Patmos, not Jerusalem.
Do not confuse the later adaptation with the original.
Quote:A major role of the apocalypse was to explain why the righteous suffered and why the kingdom of God delayed. Prophecy had dealt primarily with the nation’s ethical obligations at the time when the prophet wrote. Apocalyptic focused on a period of time yet future when God would intervene to judge the world and establish righteousness. (The Book of Revelation, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, p. 19)
In 68 the Jews were most definitely suffering as they waited for the Roman attack. Vespasian, in a brilliant strategic move had cut the roads to the city and then sat back to watch political developments in Rome...where Nero was fast going down the shitter. The Jews had plenty of time....while they were beginning to starve....to wonder why 'god' was letting them get fucked over.
Conversely, there is no evidence whatsoever that there was any "persecution" by Domitian. This is a later xtian myth - much like the myth of Nero persecuting "multitudes" of xtians in Rome itself in 64.
If you are going to insist on reading this nonsense at face value there is little to talk about. Go play with your numbers.
