Irenaeus wrote:For this vision was not seen a long time ago, but almost in my own life time, AT THE END OF DOMITIAN'S REIGN.
Dean198 wrote:The ambiguity is in knowing what actually was seen.
Several times, I have encountered this idea about there being some ambiguity as to what was seen. But Irenaeus' statement is not at all ambiguous. In the quote above, he clearly stated that it was John's
vision which was seen. All that was revealed to John on the Isle of Patmos, he saw in a vision from the Lord. Repeatedly throughout Revelation, John describes what he
saw in his vision. Here are a few exampes:
Revelation 1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning
I saw seven golden lampstands,
Revelation 5:1 And I
saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals;
Revelation 5:2 and I
saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"
Revelation 5:6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders,
I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth;
Revelation 6:1 Now
I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say, as with a voice of thunder, "Come!"
Revelation 6:2 And I
saw, and behold, a white horse, and its rider had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Revelation 6:5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" And
I saw, and behold, a black horse, and its rider had a balance in his hand;
Revelation 6:8 And
I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him; and they were given power over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.
Revelation 6:9 When he opened the fifth seal,
I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne;