On the Internet since April 1997
Note: all emphasese are mine

FOREWORD
Excerpts of comments from my readers
(e-mail messages in "my best review" and "... readers' comments" pages)

* "I think the thrust of your reconstruction of both Jesus & the book of Revelation is on target"
* "Your web page is very informative! The reading of Revelation without the Christian additions is suddenly very clear. My dad and I are very excited by your research"
* "Daniel and Revelation: Really enjoyed reading your material. ... Thank you again, for the clear scholarly presentation. So many times I truthfully have no idea what the authors are attempting to say. My humbly opinion being "they" use words that they themselves understand to be quoted as if.... From the tower or perhaps from God or at least a demigod.... The goal of educating not only clergy but all who may seek wisdom. ... You are accomplishing on your Internet pages."
* "I think ALSO that you have the makings of a scholarly site"
* "I've just been reading your excellent site, particularly your piece on Daniel, which explains the "prophecies" most clearly. It is very well argued."
* "Your intellectual honesty is striking. A quality that is rare nowadays. Most of the time writers have a conclusion in mind and argue their way to lead the reader to see things the way they do."
* "Just wanted to thank you for your work. I've been trying to make sense of Revelation for years and never did know where to start. You have single handedly cleared it up for me. Fascinating research."
* "Reading your site was so helpful and positive/constructive. You put a LOT more hours and research into it than our former leader did! Those guys make it sound like the "antichrist" is their uncle or something and we'll all get embedded with "666". Thanks for unraveling this stuff."
* "... great work, keep it up. I love your site."
* "... I also applaud your remarks concerning Revelation and the book of Daniel, ..."

Bruegel, the fall of the rebel angels

INTRODUCTION

The books of Daniel and Revelation are considered basis for beliefs about "end of the world" and imminent apocalypse, because of far-fetched explanations from the mix of the two. Many cults are based in part on some extrapolations from these books, sometimes with tragic consequences.

From the 14th century, Christian scholars published "studies" on these writings. Even Sir Isaac Newton wrote some 1.3 million words about his interpretations on the combination of 'Daniel' and 'Revelation'.
From 1831, a Bible student named William Miller preached about 4,500 lectures to half a million people. A large movement began because he predicted, through his studies and calculations, the "end" to happen in 1843-1844.
Miller died lonely and forgotten in 1849. Nevertheless, his "analysis" of the two books did set a precedent about "finding" (many different) scenarios and dates for the "end of time". It is noticeable that these dates (many in times past) are (or were) within the lifetime expectation of their respective "proclaimer" (and followers). Despite the many proven wrong, others are "interpreting" away and "discovering" new ones (set in the near future, of course!).

Let's also note that neither 'Daniel' nor 'Revelation' have "antichrist(s)" in them. This word appears only five times in the whole Bible and exclusively in 1John & 2John. Here, the antichrist(s) are the non-Christian/heretical preachers or individuals who lived when the two aforementioned epistles were written.
Next are all the occurrences of "antichrist(s)" in the Bible; judge for yourself:
1Jn2:18 "Dear children, this is the last hour [some 1900 years ago!]; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour."
1Jn2:22 "Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist --he denies the Father and the Son [according to this definition, today's world has billions of antichrists!]."
1Jn4:3b "This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world."
2Jn1:7 "Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist."

And then, in the two books, the final "Saviour" is different:
In 'Daniel', it is (archangel) Michael:
Da12:1 "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people [Jews]; And there shall be a time of trouble, ... And at that time your people shall be delivered ..."
In 'Revelation', it is God and the Lamb (Jesus):
Rev7:10 "... Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
Rev17:14 "... and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings ..."

The book of Daniel is noticeable for its legendary tales and historical errors. Those appear in the narration of the 600-530 B.C.E. period, even if the events then were allegedly witnessed by the author himself. However, Daniel's prophecies are getting more & more detailed and accurate all the way to 168-164 B.C.E.! Most critical Bible scholars now call for a late composition:
"The book ['Daniel'] must therefore have been written during the persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes and before his death, even before the success of the Maccabaean [Hasmonean] revolt; that is to say between 167 and 164." (The New Jerusalem Bible, Introduction to Daniel)
"The Book of Daniel presents a collection of popular stories about Daniel, a loyal Jew, and the record of visions granted to him, with the Babylonian Exile of the 6th century BCE as their background. The book, however, was written in a later time of national crisis—when the Jews were suffering severe persecution under Antiochus IV Epiphanes (reigned 175–164/163 BCE) ..." (Encyclopædia Britannica)
"The Book of Daniel was written during the persecutions of Israel by the Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanes." (Jewish Encyclopedia)

It has been mentioned that 'Revelation' is the result of Christian additions on a thoroughly Jewish text:
- "the main [part of the] apocalypse [of John] actually belongs to Jewish apocalyptic literature." (Jewish Encyclopedia)
- "... German scholar Vischer .. holds the Apocalypse to have been originally a purely Jewish composition ... we think, it cannot be objected to ... The Apocalypse abounds in passages which bear no specific Christian character but, on the contrary, show a decidedly Jewish complexion." (Catholic Encyclopedia)
I never saw any detailed reconstruction of the original Jewish Revelation. Well, this is just what I attempted, carefully sorting out the Christian parts. What is left had to be written by a non-Christian, definitively a Jew, for obvious reasons that I will explain within the text.

Good reading! And then, if you wish, send me an e-mail:
Bernard D. Muller

My best review/About the author (and methodology)
Daniel and Revelation links - Readers' comments
Bonus: Jesus, a historical reconstruction

The prophecies of Daniel, Page 1 & Page 2
Determination of authorship & dating, definition of the four kingdoms & kings and revelation of the meaning of the seventy 'sevens' (or 'weeks'). And more ...

Revelation of John, the original Jewish version
The grand imagery makes it a work of literary art, despite the extreme gore and violence. This earlier version is more coherent and readable than the later Christian one. Most interesting and revealing ...

Most Bible quotes are from the NKJV.