While its authorship may continuously be a point of contention with modern historicalcritical scholarship, this has not been the case until recently. The revelation of jesus christ was given to john by god to show his servants what must soon take place. This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. And christ sent his angel to show it to his servant john, 2 who has told everything he saw.
If one is allowed to have a favorite book in the bible, then this book has become mine thanks in large part to my beloved professor gordon fee. The book of revelation is perhaps the most mysterious book in sacred scripture. And there has been much speculation about it some of it bordering on offthewall, but some of it serious and scholarly. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. Symbolic language, however, is one of the chief characteristics of apocalyptic literature, of which. Revelation 1 new international version niv prologue. The spiritual decline of the 7 churches chapters 2 and 3, also argues for the later date. Brian chilton investigates the author of the book of revelation. The book of revelation was written to seven churches as both encouragement and challenge.
The teaching company shmoop helpfully rounded up some of the terrible things that happen to people unlucky enough to live in the world described by revelation. We conclude the series with a look at archaeological and historical evidence relating to the last book of the bible, revelation. If you were a religious or political prisoner because the roman emperor disagreed with you, you were released when the emperor died. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to many political and religious prisoners or slaves. His literary style is quite different to the writer of johns gospel, as is his image of god. The author of the book of revelation calls himself john rev. Later writers, such as clement of alexandria, origen, victorinus who wrote one of the earliest commentaries on revelation, eusebius, and jerome affirm the domitian date. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1.
While revelation holds mysterious and frightening images of the endtimes, the book of revelation was written to be an encouragement to christians of all times. Christians throughout history have given almost unanimous affirmation to the identity of the books author as john the apostle, who had been exiled to the island of patmos by the authorities for preaching the gospel in asia. Apr, 2011 in sharp contrast, the book of revelation provides ample internal evidence that it was written by a jew intimately acquainted with the historical events and locations he wrote about. Advocates of a late date take it as proof of the book being written around 91ad but iraneaus never explicitly says so.
May 02, 2020 the description of the antichrist mentioned in daniel 9. He wrote five books against marcion hippolytus 170235 a. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. Outside of revelation, examples of apocalyptic literature in the bible are daniel chapters 712, isaiah chapters 2427, ezekiel chapters 3741, and zechariah chapters 914. The book of revelation provides the clearest biblical portrait of the events of. John of patmos also called john the revelator, john the divine, john the theologian, and possibly john the apostle. The first blessing is in the first chapter of revelation in verse 3.
Mar 19, 2019 the book of revelation is by far one of the most challenging books in the bible, yet well worth the effort to study and comprehend. The first verse in the book of revelation does not say exactly who that particular john is, but it is. Revelation 1, king james version kjv the bible app. The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the most difficult to understand because it abounds in unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism, which at best appears unusual to the modern reader. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. The book of revelation by john the apostle bible probe. This book is filled with mysteries about things to come. The writer of revelation identifies himself as john. Tradition ascribes the authorship to john the apostle, but it seems unlikely that the apostle could have lived into the most likely time for the books composition, the. Knowing god an extraterrestrial message chuck missler. Those holding an older view for the dating of revelation promote the late 60s as the time the book was written.
Apr 15, 2019 according to new world encyclopedia, the traditional view is that the john who wrote the book of john and the john who wrote revelation are the same guy. John, writer of the book of revelation revelation was written by someone called john, but it is not the same man as wrote johns gospel. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. The church does not have an official stance on who the author is. Only a handful of extremists today even countenance the possibility that revelation could have been written pseudonymously. This obviously lent a lot of weight to the final book of the bible, if someone as important as one of the original 12 disciples wrote it. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities of the snares that. December 10, 2015 richard ostling patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality. All these prophecies come together in the book of revelation. This article will conclude our series titled who wrote the new testament. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. Everyone has heard of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, but less well known are the horses of.
The apocalyptic book of revelation is a symbolic glimpse into. The apocalyptic book of revelation is a symbolic glimpse. The book of revelation is traditionally said to be written by john. The bible isnt the first book you might turn to for gratuitous violence, but its definitely in there.
The apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. The apostle john wrote the book of revelation around the year ad 95 from his. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. Asked in the bible, bible statistics and history, new. Aug 14, 2018 the writer of revelation identifies himself as john. John of patmos could be the author named as john in the book of revelation, the apocalyptic text forming the final book of the new testament. The only other clue to the authors identity is that he states he received his visions while on the island of patmos rev.
In the year of our lord twothousand, fee taught a course at regent college on the book of revelation. From as early as justin martyr in the second century a. Dec 10, 2015 who wrote the bibles book of revelation. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title. The book of revelation is the only book in the bible, that i know of, that has a blessing associated with it for those who will read itnot once but twice. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries.
Apr 24, 2016 22 revelations mark of the beast exposed revelations ancient discoveries duration. The book of revelation was the last text to be included within the formalized canon of the new testament, but on the basis of content rather than authorship. The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter. The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the book revelation 1. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. In sharp contrast, the book of revelation provides ample internal evidence. Who wrote the book of revelation in the bible answers. The text of revelation states that john was on patmos, a greek island where, by most biblical historians. He wrote it when he was about 92 years old, while a prisoner of rome on the remote desert penal colony of patmos, an island in the aegean sea. The text of revelation states that john was on patmos, a greek island where.
Aug 02, 2001 we conclude the series with a look at archaeological and historical evidence relating to the last book of the bible, revelation. Nero was the first persecutor of christians when h. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to eve rything he sawthat is, the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. The following is the forward and a portion of a chapter from a forthcoming book which, in my view, falls in. Three angels broadcasting network 3abn 3,010,954 views 58. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, revelation was not given to scare us. In sharp contrast, the book of revelation provides ample internal evidence that it was written by a jew intimately acquainted with the historical events and locations he wrote about. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to. Yes, revelation is physically the last book in the holy bible, but not the last book written in the bible. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. The first verse in the book of revelation does not say exactly who that particular john is, but it is naturally assumed to be john the apostle since it was the apostles that were given the authority by god to write scripture.
But, who was it that penned the word of revelation. Revelation greek apokalupsis means an uncovering, an unveiling, or a disclosure. The book of revelation was likely written between a. An apocalyptic letter, it relies on visions, symbols, and old testament references to reveal the ultimate fulfillment of gods promise given to abraham in genesis. What the modern reader or biblical scholar has to do is to try to read the text with. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. In fact, the opening passage contains a blessing to everyone who reads, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy. Nov 20, 2015 the book of revelation is one of the most mysterious books in the bible but thats no reason not to read it because john writes, blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy. John wrote revelation when he was a prisoner on the isle of patmos for preaching about. Paul wrote many letters, john wrote a gospel, a letter and the book of revelation and luke wrote a gospel and the acts of the apostles. However, the view that the book was written later in the firstcentury, most likely in the late 80s or early 90s holds greater strength. The only other clue to the authors identity is that he states he received his visions while on. The book of revelation starts with this is a revelation from jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. The revelation to john new international version the prologue 1.
The apostle john, who wrote it under the inspiration of jesus christ revelation 1. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he sawthat is, the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. When we asked him if all the y2k talk and the year itself influenced his decision to teach this. Each letter, as proclaimed by jesus and recorded by john the apostle, declares the triumphs and failings of the recipient churches and warns each congregation to repent. Is this the same john who wrote the gospel account and three letters.
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