Mar 07, 2012 the book of revelation, the final book of the new testament, has some of the most dramatic and frightening language in the bible. Only a handful of extremists today even countenance the possibility that revelation could have been written pseudonymously. 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 by john the apostle bible probe. Youll find four major interpretive approaches to the book of revelation that can help you read, understand, and figure out the apocalyptic letter of john. Revelation summary from the easyenglish bible easy. But the book contains some clear lessons about the future. The author was probably a christian from ephesus known as john the elder. This post starts a series through the book of revelation. This view conflicts with the books own often repeated claim to be prophecy 1.
Bible prophecy for everyone paperback october 22, 2019. John was one of the 12 disciples special students of jesus, who later became the apostles the first leaders of the christian church. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. A downtoearth guide to understanding the most mysterious. 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. 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 author of the book of revelation identifies himself as john, and the book has been traditionally credited to john the apostle.
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. Reading the book of revelation can be challenging the storyline twists and turns and isnt strictly chronological. Todays post looks at the evidence for and against john being the author of the book of revelation. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Some modern scholars characterize revelations author as a putative figure whom they call john of patmos. 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. Irenaeus mentioned that john the apostle received the visions of revelation near the end of domitians rule.
The real meaning of the bible s book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. In sharp contrast, the book of revelation provides ample internal evidence. Jul 04, 2016 this post starts a series through the book 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. From as early as justin martyr in the second century a. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Jehovah the true god in the heavens and creator of all things.
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. Eli of kittim author of the little book of revelation. Yes, revelation is physically the last book in the holy bible, but not the last book written in the bible. 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. 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. John was one of the 12 disciples special students of jesus, who later became the. Revelation unveils events between god and satan in the end and describes the glory that awaits believers who endure suffering.
Above i have listed all the evidence i could find and believe that the evidence points to the apostle john as the author of the book of revelation. Its author was john, who was a disciple student of jesus. What the modern reader or biblical scholar has to do is to try to read the text with. The church does not have an official stance on who the author is.
The writer of revelation identifies himself as john. I heard or read somewhere that the book of revelation isnt included in catholic bibles, but that they have 73 books instead of the protestant 66, which protestants know as the apocryp. He is an awardwinning author of the christiannonfiction book, the little book of revelation. The text of revelation states that john was on patmos, a greek island where. This bible study on the book of revelation covers the doctines of faith, revelation, satan and suffering. Intro to revelation biblica the international bible society. The only other clue to the author s identity is that he states he received his visions while on the island of patmos rev. The only other clue to the authors identity is that he states he received his visions while on. Dec 10, 2015 who wrote the bibles book of revelation.
However, the prophecies concerning the future are scattered throughout the books of the bible, and the book that focuses the most on future prophecy revelation was not easily understood due to the symbolism and the peculiar way in which its prophecies are presented. How did john the author of the book of revelation in the holy. Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Tom constables expository notes on revelation this is also available in the net. Tradition states that john the apostle served as the pastor to the churches in. Tradition has considered this person to be john the apostle, the son of zebedee. 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. A downtoearth guide to understanding the most mysterious book of the bible kindle edition by parker, timothy e. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of revelation made clear.
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 of patmos also called john the revelator, john the divine, john the theologian, and possibly john the apostle. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. Revelation is often described as a the revelation of john meaning the revelation to john 1. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. Here are the books of the bible along with the name of who is most assumed by biblical scholars to be the author, along with the approximate date of authorship. He also wrote the gospel of john and three letters that are in our.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. John the divine, although the godgiven title is at the very beginning of the text, the revelation of. If the final book of the bible has ever left you scratching your head or wondering what to make of plagues and horsemen, your friendly nonprophet is here to help you read revelation as never before. This study will fortify believers who are pressured to deny their faith and help them stand firm through gods word.
Why do catholic bibles not include the book of revelation. The book itself reveals that the author was a jew, well versed in scripture, a church leader who was well known to the seven churches of asia minor, and a deeply religious person fully. This is the holy book of revelation, known as the revelation of st. The book of revelation uses picture stories to describe future events. Tradition states that john the apostle served as the pastor to the churches in ephesus. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to. The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the. How did john the author of the book of revelation in the. A number of ancient church fathers, notably irenaeus, believed that the author of revelation was also the author of the gospel of john, and the epistles of 1,2 and 3 john. An introduction to the book of revelation an argument of the book of revelation part 1. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to many political and religious prisoners or slaves. The book itself reveals that the author was a jew, well versed in scripture, a church leader who was well known to the seven churches of asia minor, and a deeply religious person fully convinced that the christian faith would soon triumph over the demonic forces at work in the world. 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. John wrote revelation when he was a prisoner on the isle of patmos for preaching about.
The book itself reveals that the author was a jew, well versed in scripture, a church leader who was well known to the seven churches of. 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. The book of revelation provides the clearest biblical portrait of the events of the. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries. The reason for this difference in style could possibly be that, the book of revelation was revealed to john the apostle at his old age and was possibly penned with the help of someone who was not good in greek language. The apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. The author of the book of revelation christopher l.
The prophetic book of the new testament david malick. In my personal opinion, the book of revelation was written by john the apostle who was the brother of james and disciple of jesus christ. This is a wellsupported, twentyyear study of the bible that attempts to substantiate the truth of christs visitation and origin. Jan 02, 2020 few of the books of the bible specifically name their author. This article will conclude our series titled who wrote the new testament. The book of revelation is traditionally said to be written by john. Intro to revelation biblica the international bible. The text of revelation states that john was on patmos, a greek island where, by most biblical historians. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. Few of the books of the bible specifically name their author.
Brian chilton investigates the author of the book of revelation. Interprets revelation as a description of first century events in the roman empire see author date. This distrust of the book of revelation persisted in the east through the 15th century. Many major entities and symbols in the book of revelation are introduced earlier in the bible. Is this the same john who wrote the gospel account and three letters. In revelation, johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil by.
The book of revelation, the final book of the new testament, has some of the most dramatic and frightening language in the bible. 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. Revelation the last book in the bible was written to tell us about the futureespecially the final conflict between god and satan, and the triumph of jesus christover all the powers of. The author of the book of revelation, saint john the divine, offers a transcription of seven letters and later describes strange beasts, visions of judgments, governments, demonic battles, heaven, and a new world order a prophetic. Mar 19, 2019 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. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Revelation has long been attributed to the author of johns gospel, in spite of the differences in style of writing. 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. 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. Genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, deuteronomy moses 1400 b. Dionysius 248 ad, bishop of alexandria and disciple of origen, wrote that the book of revelation could have been written by cerinthus although he himself did not adopt the view that. Full of engaging graphics, author and illustrator todd hampson has created a userfriendly guide to johns prophecies about the last days. Early tradition unanimously identified him as john the apostle, author of the fourth gospel and three epistles.
Revelation a study guide about the book of revelation. This revelation was given to him by god the father, and it was communicated to the apostle john by an angel 1. The author of the book of revelation calls himself john rev. Revelation the last book in the bible was written to tell us about the futureespecially the final conflict between god and satan, and the triumph of jesus christover all the powers of evil and death and hell.