He was a jewish christian prophet, probably belonging to a group of such prophets, and was accepted by the. Nov 14, 2017 those holding an older view for the dating of revelation promote the late 60s as the time the book was written. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to many political and religious prisoners or slaves. Christians throughout history have given almost unanimous affirmation to the identity of the book s author as john the apostle, who had been exiled to the island of patmos by the authorities for preaching the gospel in asia.
The first verse in the book of revelation does not say exactly who that particular john is, but it is. Revelation overview john gills exposition on the whole bible. The book of revelation as a whole has the external form of a letter in that it begins with an opening salutation 1. The writer of the book of revelation was the apostle john not the same as john the baptist. Perhaps the most famous was dionysius, a bishop of the city of alexandria egypt in the midthird century, whose remarks about the book have a surprisingly. He also wrote the gospel of john, as well as the epistles of 1 john, 2 john, and 3 john. King james version this book was written to encourage persecuted believers and affirm their faith that god will care for them. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. As a teenager, i remember being a bit frightened of the book of revelation. 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. John was one of the 12 disciples special students of jesus, who later became the. In his letters to the churches, jesus reveals that he knows and cares about us individually. Is this the same john who wrote the gospel account and three letters.
How john wrote the book of revelation is a behindthescenes look at the literary process used to create the book of revelation. Indeed, as we will see, the book speaks to our period even more than that of the seven churches. The author names himself as john, but modern scholars consider it unlikely that the author of revelation also wrote. As a final response to this objection, much of the supposed differences are overdrawn and incapable of. Finally, while there is little to commend the notion that a shadowy figure named john the elder wrote the book of revelation, there is ample evidence that it was written by john the apostle. Tradition states that john the apostle served as the pastor to the churches in ephesus. Traditionally, both books have been identified as coming from the same person, john the son. The contrast in literary form between the direct address of the letters and the symbolic drama of the remainder of the book is startling, but no more so than the fact that an apocalyptic. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries.
The revelation of john is the one book in the new testament that claims john as its author. Useful bible studies revelation commentary study guide. In the first chapter, the risen and exalted christ is speaking to john. Todays post looks at the evidence for and against john being the author of the book of revelation. The author was probably a christian from ephesus known as john the elder. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. Some writers, however, have advanced the preterist from a latin word meaning that which is past view, contending that the apocalypse was penned around a.
Apr 16, 2011 the author of the book of revelation identifies himself as john, and the book has been traditionally credited to john the apostle. Before we look at these letters as a whole, lets briefly look at the seven cities where the recipients lived. The author names himself as john, but modern scholars consider it unlikely that the author of revelation also. For he doesnt call himself the disciple whom the lord lovedas happens often in the gospelnor does he say that he was the one who leaned on jesus breast or that he was the brother of. The church does not have an official stance on who the author is. The author of the revelation i the revelation was written by a man called john. 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 writer of revelation identifies himself as john. The book of revelation is one of the most complicated books of the bible, even for christians who have spent a lot of time reading the bible.
Who wrote the book of revelation in the bible answers. The writer of the book of revelation calls him self john. He lived in the city called ephesus, but was on the island called patmos when he was writing this book. Apr 07, 2018 perhaps more than any other new testament book, the date for the writing of revelation is important for interpreting the book. Obviously, god is the ultimate author of the book of revelation. Jul 04, 2016 before starting in revelation 1 i want to give plenty of explanations for the authorship, textual design, interpretation, date, themes, and outlines for the book of revelation. Rosscup comments on dr morris book the revelation record a 521pp. Early tradition unanimously identified him as john the apostle, author of the fourth gospel and three epistles. A simple outline for the book of revelation is found in revelation 1.
The text of revelation states that john was on patmos, a greek island where. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. The book of revelation is traditionally said to be written by john. Because of this, it is concluded that the same author cannot be responsible for both books. As with acts, revelation shows how the lord works with and through his servants. Perhaps more than any other new testament book, the date for the writing of revelation is important for interpreting the book. Using visions and symbols, the writer illustrates the triumph of good over evil and the creation of a new heaven and new earth. He begins the body of his book by saying that it is from john to the seven churches in asia rev. How john wrote the book of revelation is a behind the scenes look at the literary process used to create the book of revelation.
The book of revelation, it is argued, focuses almost exclusively on a coming of christ at the end of history. Revelation a study guide about the book of revelation. He wrote five books against marcion hippolytus 170235 a. Twice within 6 years the writer gave a 4months course of sunday morning sermons to his people on the book. To enter into an extended investigation of this would greatly exceed the limits which i have, and would not comport with my design in these notes. The smell of acne face cleanser filled the room as i dove into mysterious depictions of fourfaced angels, beasts from the sea and land, of massive angels, and 100pound hailstones being hurled to the earth. John of patmos also called john the revelator, john the divine, john the theologian, and possibly john the apostle. For a start, the author of revelation nowhere claims to be the apostle john, so that last opt. The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the book revelation 1. This revelation was given to him by god the father, and it was communicated to the apostle john by an angel 1. Perhaps as much as any other nt book, we have evidence for an early, widespread, and consistent reception of revelation.
The book of revelation was most likely written during the. 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 author of the book of revelation christopher l. Speaking of the apocalypse from the previous post giving that odd video. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. The claim that revelation was written by john the apostle is simply an early patristic tradition that is contradicted by the evidence of the book itself. These lectures have also been given in bible institute courses, illustrated with large, colored, wall charts. The book of revelation ignites a confidence in the soul of every child of god of any century. Thus, revelation was not just for john and the saints of the seven churches but for other saints then and now. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, revelation was not given to scare us. John was one of the 12 disciples special students of jesus, who later became the apostles the first leaders of the christian church. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. The writer of the book of revelation much has been written on the question who was the author of this book. Apr, 2011 finally, while there is little to commend the notion that a shadowy figure named john the elder wrote the book of revelation, there is ample evidence that it was written by john the apostle.
Modern religious scholarship attributes the book of revelation to john of patmos, who wrote the book of revelation around the time of the roman emperor. Someone recently asked me if the same author could have written both the book of revelation and the gospel of john. The apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. Due to his testimony of jesus, john was exiled from ephesus to the aegean island of patmos, off the west coast of asia minor. From as early as justin martyr in the second century a.
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. What a thrilling ray of hope this must have generated in the hearts of those early, suffering saints. The name revelation comes from the first word of the book in koine greek. The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches. That this book was written by the apostle and evangelist john, is clear not only from the express mention of his name, and from his office, a servant of jesus christ, revelation 1. If the book was written in the 90s, then the immediate background for the book is persecution of christians under domitian. The things john had already seen are recorded in chapter 1. Those holding an older view for the dating of revelation promote the late 60s as the time the book was written. The only other clue to the authors identity is that he states he received his visions while on. The author names himself as john, but modern scholars consider it unlikely that the author of revelation also wrote the gospel of john. The crowned conqueror on the white horse armed with a bow, revelation 6.
Dec 10, 2015 who wrote the bibles book of revelation. 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. The apostle john wrote the book of revelation around the year ad 95 from his exile on the island of patmos. Three angels broadcasting network 3abn 3,010,954 views 58. For whom was the book of revelation written and why. Traditionally, the book of revelation has been dated near the end of the first century, around a.
He thought we can neither affirm nor deny the apostle as the writer, but the authorship of this book is the least important question regarding it. 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. This very powerful and dynamic teachingtool on the book of revelation shines a light on the symbolism and the mysteries of god revealed to. This very powerful and dynamic teachingtool on the book of revelation shines a light on the symbolism and the mysteries of god revealed to mankind in this great book. Revelation overview john gills exposition on the whole. This book cracks the mystery of the elaborate, and highly formulaic procedure john used, and gives readers the opportunity to observe how the book of revelation was written, line by line, as though they were peering.
Brian chilton investigates the author of the book of revelation. The only other clue to the authors identity is that he states he received his visions while on the island of patmos rev. Most people know what i mean when i say john is the author of the book of revelation. He begins by saying that god sent the visions he is going to relate to his servant john rev. Christ tells john to write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, who testifies to everything he sawthat is, the word of god and the testimony of jesus. The revelation of jesus, the messiah a brief introduction to the subject, with some important clues to understanding key prophetic issues. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to. This work is the result of 25 years study of the book of revelation. Apr 24, 2016 22 revelations mark of the beast exposed revelations ancient discoveries duration. The author of the book of revelation calls himself john rev.
Today most scholars date the book of revelation to late in the first century, during the reign of the emperor domitian. This post starts a series through the book of revelation. The book written within and without, and sealed with seven seals, revelation 5. He had been sent there a s a punishment because he taught the word of god. As a final response to this objection, much of the supposed differences are overdrawn and incapable of proving much. The very fact that the author of the apocalypse simply calls himself john is a dead giveaway that he was well known throughout the churches in asia minor. The revelation from jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. Finally, while there is little to commend the notion that a shadowy figure named john the elder wrote the book of revelation, there is ample. May 26, 2019 the claim that revelation was written by john the apostle is simply an early patristic tradition that is contradicted by the evidence of the book itself. Before starting in revelation 1 i want to give plenty of explanations for the authorship, textual design, interpretation, date, themes, and outlines for the book of revelation.
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