Irenaeus' “Against Heresies” mentions Ancient copies of Revelation!

Dear in Christ,

Most of the anti-Preterist ranters proof text a passage from Irenaeus' writings “Against Heresies”, Book V, Chapter XXX to prove that the book of Revelation was written after 70AD. They skim over section 1 and reach section 3 to pick up their silver bullet! Here is their favorite quote:

We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen no very long time since, BUT ALMOST IN OUR DAY, TOWARDS THE END OF DOMITIAN'S REIGN. (From the end of Section 3 of the chapter. There is much disagreement on the accuracy of the translation of the word “that”.).

The end of Domitian's reign was in 96 AD. Is it not interesting that Irenaeus who was born in 130 AD, found 96 AD to be almost his day?

Those who proof texted section 3 of the chapter, skimmed over section 1, which talks about ancient copies of the book of Revelation!

Such, then, being the state of the case, and this number being found in all THE MOST APPROVED AND ANCIENT COPIES [OF THE APOCALYPSE], and those men who saw John face to face bearing their testimony [to it]; while reason also leads us to conclude that the number of the name of the beast, [if reckoned] according to the Greek mode of calculation by the [value of] the letters contained in it, will amount to six hundred and sixty and six;...

If Irenaeus called 96 AD is “almost in our day” then “ancient copies of Apocalypse” should be much older than 96 AD! Though the chapter doesn't mention Polycarp, it is not unlikely that “those men who saw John face to face” may, probably, include him. So, those men who saw John face to face testified to the existence of ancient copies of Revelation!

Some folks have developed cherry picking into a fine art! Wondering whether they study the scriptures using the same methodology!

In Christ,

Tomsan Kattackal

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NB: As a Full Preterist writer, the date of penning the book of Revelation is not very important to me. I am not sure whether Irenaeus' writings are authentic or not.