however, need to know its date as precisely as possible if they are to understand it correctly. Our earliest tradition dates Revelation “near the end of Domitian’s reign” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies V.30.3). The emperor Domitian reigned from 81 to 96, so Irenaeus’ comment places Revelation in 95 or 96. Since such traditions are not always accurate, however, modern scholars have argued for a variety of other dates from as early as the time of Claudius (41–54) to as late as the reign of Trajan (98–117).