In late 2016, I compiled nine case studies, plus an additional case study, that showed parallels between the book of Revelation and “Wars of the Jews” by Josephus. Most of them are found among the seals, trumpets, and bowl judgments, assisting with understanding how and when those judgments took place during the Jewish-Roman War (AD 66-73). This article features a new parallel, involving the fourth seal.
“When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come!’ I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and the one who sat on it had the name Death, and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, and famine, and plague, and by the wild animals of the earth” (Revelation 6:7-8 NASB).
In this text, we see that people “of the earth” are killed in four ways: [1] with sword [2] with famine [3] with plague [4] by wild animals.
After the temple in Jerusalem was burned, but before it was leveled, Josephus described how the Romans grew “quite tired with killing men,” but needed to decide what to do with the “vast multitude” that remained alive. The emperor Vespasian gave various orders for how to proceed (Wars 6.9.2), and Josephus described how those orders were carried out by Fronto (a military officer), his son Titus, and others. Consider the following description by Josephus regarding two ways in which the war captives were killed and two ways in which outsiders were killed after they came into Jerusalem just before the siege began in April AD 70:
“Titus also sent a great number into the provinces, as a present to them, that they might be destroyed upon their theatres,by the sword and by the wild beasts; but those that were under seventeen years of age were sold for slaves. Now during the days wherein Fronto was distinguishing these men, there perished, for want of food, eleven thousand… Now the number of those that were carried captive during this whole war was collected to be ninety-seven thousand; as was the number of those that perished during the whole siege eleven hundred thousand, the greater part of whom were indeed of the same nation [with the citizens of Jerusalem], but not belonging to the city itself; for they were come up from all the country to the feast of unleavened bread, and were on a sudden shut up by an army, which, at the very first, occasioned so great a straitness among them, that there came a pestilential destruction upon them, and soon afterward such a famine, as destroyed them more suddenly” (Wars 6.9.2-3).
Incidentally, just before this, Josephus wrote, “…as for the rest of the multitude that were above seventeen years old, he put them into bonds, and sent them to the Egyptian mines” (Wars 6.9.2). This fulfilled the prediction by Moses to the people of Israel that “the Lord will bring you back to Egypt in ships… And there you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no buyer” (Deuteronomy 28:68). This was part of the evil that would confront them “in the latter days” (Deut. 31:29), at the time of “their end” when they would be “a perverse generation” (Deut. 32:20; cf., Matthew 17:17, Philippians 2:15).
Josephus went on to also describe how Titus “exhibited all sorts of shows” at Caesarea Philippi (about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee), where “a great number of the captives were destroyed, some being thrown to wild beasts, and others in multitudes forced to kill one another, as if they were their enemies” (Wars 7.2.1). Similarly, Eleazar ben Jair, in his speech to his followers at Masada, acknowledged how some of their fellow Jews had already died by being “half devoured by wild beasts, and yet have been reserved alive to be devoured by them a second time, in order to afford laughter and sport to our enemies” (Wars 7.8.7).
So, Josephus described how Jews who were taken captive by the Romans were subjected to death by sword and wild beasts for the purpose of gladiator-style entertainment. He also described what happened to those who made the poor decision, against Jesus’ instructions (Luke 21:20-24; cf., Matthew 24:15-21, Mark 13:14-19), to enter Jerusalem for the feast of unleavened bread in spring AD 70. Many of them perished due to “a pestilential destruction” which was soon followed by a famine. This simple chart shows the parallels between what John was shown and what Josephus recorded.
| Fourth Seal Fulfilled in AD 70 | |
| John (Revelation 6:8) | Josephus |
| “with sword” | “by the sword” (Wars 6.9.2) |
| “and famine” | “for want of food…a famine” (Wars 6.9.2-3) |
| “and plague” | “a pestilential destruction” (Wars 6.9.3) |
| “and by the wild animals of the earth” | “by the wild beasts” (Wars 6.9.2; 7.2.1; 7.8.7) |
Note also that these four judgments also mirrored God’s “four severe judgments” which He told Ezekiel He would send against Jerusalem in his day:
“For this is what the Lord God says: ‘How much more when I send My four severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, vicious animals, and plague to eliminate human and animal life within it!'” (Ezekiel 14:21).
This correlation between the book of Ezekiel and the book of Revelation is intentional because Ezekiel was describing the first destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (586 BC) while John was describing the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (AD 70) that was about to take place in his day.
This case study, along with the previous 10 case studies, are all located at this new page on this site: Josephus/Revelation Parallels. Several more case studies are also in the works.
Pursuing Truth 
Hey you’re back! Are you planning on finishing your Revelation 13 series?
-Andrew
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey. Thanks for asking. I know. It’s been way too long. Yes, I do plan to finish the series on the beast. I have a whole lot of notes for the rest of the series, and I’ve gradually been putting them together and planning posts. My work schedule, family life, etc. have intensified, and I’ve struggled to find the time to put it all together, but it’s definitely still in the works.
LikeLike
In Wars of The Jews Book 2 Chapter 19 Section 2 Monobaz II is an ally of the Jewish Rebels in AD 66 and sends two Kinsmen one named Monobaz and one named Kenedeus to fight in the war. Later in Book 5 Chapter 6 Section 4 we are told that sons and brethren of Izates were among those taken as hostages to Rome.
Is it possible they are the King of The East?
LikeLike
Hello Adam,
I came across your site a few years ago and am so thankful for it. I especially appreciate your articles answering the clear and present danger of “Christian” Zionism.
Two questions:
Do you consider yourself Amillennial? 2. Would you consider yourself a partial preterist, or a full preterist?
In Jesus, Jimmy O’Rourke
PS. I am a big fan of Steve Gregg (www.thenarrowpath.com), and was glad to see a reference to him in one of your articles.
Sent from Proton Mail for iOS
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Jimmy. Thank you for your encouraging words. I don’t consider myself Amillennial, as I believe the 1000 years took place between the two great revolts (i.e., roughly AD 73 – AD 132), but I suppose I have some beliefs that overlap with Amillennialists anyway. I consider myself more of a full preterist (depending on the definition given for the terms). I appreciate Steve Gregg as well. There are actually quite a number of references to him in my articles.
LikeLike
What about 70 AD – 1070 AD being the 1000 years kingdom? Satan was released for 29 years until 1099 AD, the born of The Kingdom of Jerusalem after the cruzades. Gog and Magog should be the Seljucids against the christians.
LikeLike
Hi Caio. I don’t share that view, but I can let you know that Daniel Morais at Revelation Revolution (website) holds that view. His article on that view will actually be featured in the Fall 2025 issue of Fulfilled! Magazine (print and online).
LikeLike
Thank’s from Mexico, Adam!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, brother. Blessings to you.
LikeLike
Thank’s brother!
A question…
¿Do you read some spanish?
I have made about 400 preterist studies this last 15 years,
Would be my honor sending them to you…
Blessings to you and your loved ones
Luis Gudiño
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. 400 preterist studies… Yo se un poco Español. You’re welcome to send some to me. I know some Spanish, but I’m definitely not fluent. I would like to be, though.
LikeLike
So the total fulfillment of the prophecy is the destruction of the temple, the enslavement and humiliation of the people of Jerusalem and having Jerusalem under the control of gentile rulers? Isaiah 65 and 66, Ezekiel the entire end of the book, and having a god who describes Himself as the God of Israel, all of these speak to me of a restoration of the people and the land and the Holy city, one day.
LikeLike
Hi Chuck. Yes, this prophecy did take place around the time of the temple’s destruction, the carrying off of many into slavery, etc. Thankfully, this prophecy is in the past and is not the destiny of Jews or any other people in the present or future. That also wasn’t the end of the story. We – the people of God from all races and backgrounds – are the holy city, New Jerusalem, God’s city of peace.
LikeLike
I gave numerous scriptures that speak of a total restoration of a specific ethnic people group, Jew, a specific physical land, Israel and a specific earthly city Jerusalem. What did you give? Your opinion backed up by Zero scriptures. Please give scriptures that point to what you are proclaiming.
LikeLike
Chuck, I wasn’t really interested in having yet another conversation about Isaiah and Ezekiel when this post is about Revelation 6 and the fourth seal. Additionally, I don’t agree that Isaiah 65-66 is about “a specific physical land, Israel and a specific earthly city Jerusalem.” It’s about “new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17). This is “the Jerusalem above,” which is free (Galatians 4:26), not “the present Jerusalem” – in Paul’s day – which was enslaved (Galatians 4:25). The heavenly Jerusalem could not be shaken or removed, but earthly Jerusalem was destined to be shaken and removed (Hebrews 12:18-29). See also Revelation 21:1 – 22:5.
The visions that John received were about “the things which must soon take place,” for the time was near (Revelation 1:1, 3; 22:6). John saw a vision of a judgment that involved death by sword, famine, plague, and wild animals (Revelation 6:7-8) – the fourth seal. Josephus recorded those very things happening to the people gathered in Jerusalem; he literally recorded all four methods of death in two small consecutive sections (Wars 6.9.2-3). John saw these things prophetically just before the war; Josephus recorded them happening shortly after the war. It’s as simple as that. Those things happened in the past and won’t happen again. That’s good news.
LikeLike
Psalm 105:6-11 is interesting. I will stop for now, but I appeal to you to pay attention to what is happening in the Middle East right now. I appreciate you replying, but it is true we have covered this ground before. May the God of Israel be glorified in revealing Himself to both of us.
LikeLike
Thanks Adam, really enjoyed reading this. Makes a lot of sense.
David from England.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, David. I’m glad to hear that and I appreciate your feedback.
LikeLike