date closer to the latter is more likely. In the early to mid-60s it would not have required any special foresight to see further persecution looming on the horizon. It is also likely that the author knew of Jesus’ prophecy of the destruction of the temple (Matt 24:1–2; Mark 13:1–2; Luke 19:44). Perhaps he even took note of the approaching fortieth year since the Lord’s passion around AD 30 and saw a spiritual connection between that time period and the Israelites’ forty years of testing in the wilderness