John was allegedly banished by the roman authorities to the greek island of patmos, where, according to tradition, he wrote the book of revelation. Who wrote the book of revelation in the bible answers. Some people consider revelation to be the most difficult book in the bible. We conclude the series with a look at archaeological and historical evidence relating to the last book of the bible, revelation. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. The revelation of jesus christ is a book of prophecy on the end times and comprises the final book of the new testament and of the bible.
It should not be surprising then that its authorship has come under great scrutiny. The apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. He addressed his work to seven asian churchesephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea. 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.
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. 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 literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter. All these prophecies come together in the book of revelation. John wrote revelation when he was a prisoner on the isle of patmos for preaching about jesusrevelation 1. The text of revelation states that john was on patmos, a greek island where, by most biblical historians. John the divine, although the godgiven title is at the very beginning of the text, the revelation of. Apart from the book of revelation, john has written other bible books which are. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, revelation 22. Ultimately, above the human authors, the bible was written by god. The book that is positioned at the end of the standard bible, is the book of revelation and it was written by the apostle john in the year 96 on the isle of patmos. He wrote five books against marcion hippolytus 170235 a. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. By clark bates the book of revelation was the last to be included in the formalized canon of the new testament and has created no little amount of perplexing interpretive issues for centuries.
The book of revelation provides the clearest biblical portrait of the events of. Does the book of revelation confirm the sequence of events of jesus christs earlier prophecy. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. The early church fathers, after disputing who this john really was, finally decided to include revelation in case the author was the apostle john, son of zebedee. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Karlo broussard gives the reasons for why the most reasonable answer to the question who wrote the book of revelation. In fact, the opening passage contains a blessing to everyone who reads, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy. While the book of revelation and the gospel of john share many similar themes, they differ dramatically in other literary categories. Prologue the revelation from jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. Here are some musings on it, the first part taken from my textbook on the new testament. This article will conclude our series titled who wrote the new testament. John and the book of revelation a bible study in easy english.
He also wrote the gospel of john and three letters that are in our bible. The author of the book of revelation calls himself john rev. There are many different ways to interpret these visions, and there have been many arguments over which way is right. An easyenglish study unit 2800 word vocabulary on the new testament from acts to revelation. Apr 05, 2017 revelation was written before the temple was destroyed, before the events in the gospels happened. 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. John, 1john, 2john, 3john, from the city of ephesus. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. The spiritual decline of the 7 churches chapters 2 and 3, also argues for the later date. Book of revelation simple english wikipedia, the free. Revelation the dragon pursuing a woman, from the bamberg apocalypse. 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. 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.
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. The book of revelation often has been regarded as a mysterious book, quite beyond the comprehension of the average lay reader. Another mystery is what exactly john had ingested before he wrote. 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. 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. If so, john penned much of the new testament, with only paul and luke writing more than him. This is the holy book of revelation, known as the revelation of st. The holy bible book 66 revelation kjv dramatized audio. Book of revelation mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. The only other clue to the authors identity is that he states he received his visions while on. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was.
Revelation greek apokalupsis means an uncovering, an unveiling, or a disclosure. John wrote revelation when he was a prisoner on the isle of patmos for preaching about. The book of revelation is traditionally said to be written by john. John wrote the book of revelations to encourage believers in seven churches to resist sin, remain faithful although persecuted, and anticipate jesuss return as king. Brian chilton investigates the author of the book of revelation. The greek title is the apocalypse of jesus christ to his servant john or the revelation of jesus christ to his servant john the word apocalypse is a transliteration into english of the greek word apokalypsis, which means a. Tradition has long held that john the apostle, whom we have seen penned the fourth gospel and the three letters. While its authorship may continuously be a point of contention with modern historicalcritical scholarship, this has not been the case until recently. 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. Some modern scholars characterize revelations author as a putative figure whom they call john of patmos. Yes, revelation is physically the last book in the holy bible, but not the last book written in the bible. Traditionally, this was often believed to be the same person as john, son of zebedee, one of the apostles of jesus, to whom the gospel of john was also attributed. Nov 19, 2012 this is the holy book of revelation, known as the revelation of st.
Jan 02, 2020 the description of the antichrist mentioned in daniel 9. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. A promise of blessing is made in the very first chapter of the book to those who read and hear the words of this prophecy. According to tertullian in the prescription of heretics john was banished presumably to patmos after being plunged into boiling oil in rome and suffering nothing from it. The description of the antichrist mentioned in daniel 9.
Over the course of the book the author has two visions. The book of revelation, also called revelation to john or apocalypse of john is the last canonical book of the new testament in the bible. Ive been asked about who wrote the book of revelation. The book of revelation often called the book of revelations, 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. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. This commentary has yet to go through advanced theological. Apr 16, 2011 in an era in which there is much confustion as to whom this john was who wrote the book of revelation, this is just my little bit to throw into the mix. Do you hold that revelation was written before 68ad. 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. However, 2 years later, in 98, john wrote 4 more books. Is this the same john who wrote the gospel account and three letters.
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. In sharp contrast, the book of revelation provides ample internal evidence. Jul 31, 2018 the book of revelation is signed by a person called john but which john. The book of revelation, the last book of the bible, has fascinated and puzzled christians for centuries. The apostle john wrote the book of revelation around the year ad 95 from his. The book of revelation is signed by a person called john but which john. Revelation always implies the unveiling of something previously hidden, in. God superintended the human authors of the bible so that, while using their own writing styles and personalities, they still recorded exactly what god intended. They wrote that the government allowed john to return to ephesus after emperor domitians death in a. John was the youngest disciple of the twelve disciples of jesus who became an apostle of the church.
The author of the book of revelation identifies himself only as john. White is professor of classics and christian origins at the university of texas at austin, and acted as historical consultant for apocalypse. 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 book was written around 96 ad by apostle john when titus domitian was the emperor of the roman empire. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to. This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation. Even though the book of revelation was finally included in the new testament canon because christian leaders came to think it had been. Thank you for submitting this question, and driving us to search the bible for any clues regarding the penning. Revelation has caused major divisions between denominations, churches and families. John the divine, although the godgiven title is at the very beginning of the text, the revelation of jesus christ, which god. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. Aug 02, 2001 we conclude the series with a look at archaeological and historical evidence relating to the last book of the bible, revelation. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. One theory, revelation draft hypothesis, sees the book of revelation constructed by forming parallels with several texts in the old testament such as ezekiel, isaiah, zechariah, deuteronomy, joshua, exodus, and daniel.
The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. But in the case of these writings, the name of the supposed author was added at a later date, and their respective contents indicate that they were not written by the same john who wrote revelation. It describes in detail the events leading up to christs return, then tells us what will happen beyond that time. Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title. The writer of revelation identifies himself as john. What the modern reader or biblical scholar has to do is to try to read the text with.
Consequently, many conservative interpreters date the writing of this book near a. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. Only a handful of extremists today even countenance the possibility that revelation could have been written pseudonymously. Truly, the content is the most important thing of the book of revelation, but knowing just who it was who received is important as well. In an era in which there is much confustion as to whom this john was who wrote the book of revelation, this is just my little bit to throw into the mix. 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. It is the only biblical book that is wholly composed of apocalyptic literature. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. But, who was it that penned the word of revelation. 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.
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 christ. That is the internal evidence of the book and the external testimony of early church fathers. 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. Tradition has long held that john the apostle, whom we have seen penned the fourth gospel and the three letters attributed to him, wrote the last book of scripture. Patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality. The book of revelation is the most controversial book in the bible. The book of revelation was written by the apostle john revelation 1. 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. Gospel and the three letters attributed to him, wrote the last book of scripture. The apostle john, who wrote it under the inspiration of jesus christ revelation 1. The book of the revelation of jesus christ is a fascinating prophecy of the end times. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to many political and religious prisoners or slaves.
John was one of the 12 disciples special students of jesus, who later became the apostles the first leaders of the christian church. The author or revelation wrote in order to resolve this crisis by clearly demarcating the. While most modern scholars think the book of revelation was written by a christian prophet named john and not the apostle, the view that it was written by the apostle still exists. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96.
The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the book revelation 1. Outside of revelation, examples of apocalyptic literature in the bible are daniel chapters 712, isaiah chapters 2427, ezekiel chapters 3741, and zechariah chapters 914. Be sure to look up and read these scriptures and surrounding passages in your bible. John wrote the book of revelation in koine common greek. The apostle john wrote the book of revelation around the year ad 95 from his exile on the island of patmos. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. 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 book of revelation not revelations is the last book of the bible, and. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. The book of revelation by john the apostle bible probe. The muratorian fragment, an early document listing most of the books belonging to the new testament, states that the apostle john wrote the apocalypse or revelation.
700 691 855 713 928 1094 1215 1382 557 314 94 519 1195 608 175 1119 837 23 23 1201 33 145 1247 265 618 934 1191 268 1470 1458 1187 930 1353 848 646 424 986 642 337 36 509 1247 665 471 301