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. But, who was it that penned the word of revelation. Revelation is the only book of the bible that contains a promise of blessing to its readers. Let me summarize these positions here, if you need more, follow the links. If the book was written in the 90s, then the immediate background for the book is persecution of christians under domitian. There are a total of 66 books in our bible, but there is only one book that promises some kind of a special blessing for those who will attempt to try and read it and keep the words, revelation, and knowledge that is contained in it and that one book is the very last book of the bible, the book of revelation. May 08, 2019 it was not written only for the end of the ages but for all ages. What support is there, in the book itself and in history, to show when revelation was written. The inscription to the book of revelation, in the syrian version, first published by deuteronomy dieu, in 1627, and, afterwards in the london polyglot, is the following, the revelation which god made to john the evangelist, in the island of patmos, to which he was banished by nero caesar.
Indeed, revelation constitutes the first book that calls itself an apocalypse. Indeed, as we will see, the book speaks to our period even more than that of the seven churches. 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. Victorinus late third century, author of the earliest commentary on the book of revelation, wrote. If the book of revelation is a book of prophecy as it claims to be rev. Karlo broussard shows how the evidence that johns book of revelation is a prophecy of the impending destruction of jerusalem in 70ad is strong evidence that the book of revelation was actually. The book of revelation was written to warn the jews in israel and throughout the middle east what was going to happen to them during the end times age which started at the resurrection of jesus christ, and really starts ramping up in 70 ad when rome levels jerusalem, as jesus speaking about the jews foretold in matthew chapter 24. Apr 07, 2018 perhaps more than any other new testament book, the date for the writing of revelation is important for interpreting the book. 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. Additionally, revelation was written in greek, and john was an illitrerate jews who spoke aramaic.
Second, we know a lot about the kind of literature revelation represents. Did the same person write the gospel of john and the book. Oct 23, 2017 for chiltons view to make sense, it is vital that the book of revelation must have been written before ad70. The dating one holds to generally affects ones thoughts on eschatology. This book is filled with mysteries about things to come. This article will conclude our series titled who wrote the new testament. What god really teaches us in the bibles most complex book. When people write about the dating of the books of the new testament they.
The gospel of john, the three johannine epistles, and the book of revelation, exhibit marked similarities, although more so between the gospel and the epistle especially the gospel and 1 john than between those and revelation. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. The revelation of jesus christ was given to john by god to show his servants what must soon take place. Conventional understanding until recent times was that the book of revelation was written to comfort beleaguered christians as they. The way the book of revelation is actually written is as a series of kind of unfolding revelations, each one of which gets to something deeper in the story. Revelation is an apocalypse, a form of literature with which biblical scholars have grown quite familiar. But at that time, as today, john was a common name and the text does not state which john it refers to. For chiltons view to make sense, it is vital that the book of revelation must have been written before ad70. Revelation the revelation series book 1 kindle edition. That is the internal evidence of the book and the external testimony of early church fathers. 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. 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 of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the. Persecution and the book of revelation reading acts.
Even though the book of revelation was finally included in the new testament canon because christian leaders came to think it had been. Ad 70, the very day on which the former temple had been destroyed by. Another thing i want us to see is, the book of revelation is a book of prophecy, not really an epistle, and let me quickly shock you, when john warned in chapter 22 verses 1819 about not adding to or removing from the book, contrary to what many of us believe, he was particularly referring to the book of revelation and not the bible. The very fact that an apocalypse was a common type of literature meant that if. Did the same person write the gospel of john and the book of. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. Many biblical scholars, though, say the book of revelation is not really about the end of the world. The book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. Covid19 pandemic ignites doomesday predictions, some long. Furthermore, those who hold that the book of revelation was written. The book of revelation is really just a circular letter written to seven churches in asia minor sometime toward the end of the first century c. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope.
The author was probably a christian from ephesus known as john the elder. In the book of revelation, the author identifies himself four times as johnrevelation 1. The nonprophets guide to the book of revelation with. Jan 15, 2019 the book of revelation is really just a circular letter written to seven churches in asia minor sometime toward the end of the first century c. Most scholars therefore treat the five as a single corpus of johannine literature, albeit not from the same author. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. Apr 24, 2016 karlo broussard shows how the evidence that johns book of revelation is a prophecy of the impending destruction of jerusalem in 70ad is strong evidence that the book of revelation was actually. Many people think the book of revelation was actually written by john of zebedee, who was a disciple of jesus. The book of revelation was written before ad 70 2015 although the revelation is the last book in the bible, it does not mean it was the last book written. Thus, revelation was not just for john and the saints of the seven churches but for other saints then and now. I believe the clear purpose of revelation is exactly what it says it is. The nonprophets guide to the book of revelation with todd. Thank you for submitting this question, and driving us to search the bible for any clues regarding the penning.
The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. Revelation is a book of glory that prophetically declares what is really going on. John was exiled on the island of patmos at the time he wrote the book of revelation. It is the final warning that the world will surely end and judgment will be. He very frequently combines multiple references, and again the allusional style makes it impossible to be.
John was allegedly banished by the roman authorities to the greek island of patmos, where, according to tradition, he wrote the book of revelation. So, todd followed up with a second book called, the nonprophets guide to the book of revelation, which is just chuck full of pictures, and graphics, and charts. Did the same person write the gospel of john and the book of revelation. 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. The bigger question is what did the early church fathers actually say about the book of revelation. 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. Throughout the long history of this series, we have covered nearly every book of the new testament. Despite how the book seems to be written in a series of.
Long stated was written as an answer to a very real problem with the romans and yet 2,000 years later we still use revelation and the content it contains as means for future knowledge, and ultimately hope. But after the first few chapters i really got confused, and i dont understand what its talking about. Recently i decided to read the bible, and i started with the book of revelation. Jan 08, 2020 in the book of revelation, the author identifies himself four times as johnrevelation 1. It was not written only for the end of the ages but for all ages. So, were the gospel according to john and the book of revelation written by the same author, or not. If it could be demonstrated that revelation were written 25 years after the fall of jerusalem, chiltons entire work would go up in smoke. The book of revelation was written by the apostle john revelation 1. I have written about various approaches to revelation in the past see these posts on historicism, preterism, and futurism.
Preterism argues that revelation refers only to events of the first century, although there may be a hope for a final return of. The book of revelation is written by the apostle john after christ appeared to him and gave him a revelation of the things to come in the end times. Aug 09, 2010 to really understand the book of revelation and the entire bible, our ego and religious bias must fall flat as dead at the feet of jesus christ. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. As with acts, revelation shows how the lord works with and through his servants. Everette whaley on this is to let you know god wants everyone saved.
The book of revelation is traditionally said to be written by john. 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. Here are some musings on it, the first part taken from my textbook on the new testament. John the baptist was dead long before the book of revelation was written. Dec 28, 2018 blessed are those who read and study from the book of revelation. Conventional understanding until recent times was that the book of revelation was written to comfort beleaguered. Ive been asked about who wrote the book of revelation.
The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. It is a book of glory that discloses the victory that jesus has already won. Was revelation written before or after the destruction of the temple. One of his fellow postmillennialists, kenneth gentry, writes. So the book of revelation in the new testament is really just one book of revelation among several, but the other books didnt make it. Revelation chapter 1 the revelation of jesus christ what does god really want from me. The clear purpose of revelation love worth finding with. Jesus came after john the baptist and he was the one who gave john the apostle lots of the information found in the book of re. Only a handful of extremists today even countenance the possibility that revelation could have been written pseudonymously. The concept of authorities as used in this question is, of course, open to interpretation. In the first few chapters of revelation john the author records a message from god to seven churches. Loved the characters, and different take on angels and demons will definitely be buying.
John was the only one of the original apostles not killed for his faith in jesus christ. One scholar questioned whether the book of revelation predicted the coronavirus in a recent column for the christian post, concluding, the final shaking will be far more intense than this. Do you hold that revelation was written before 68ad. For whom was the book of revelation written and why. Eastern christians became skeptical of the book as doubts concerning its authorship and unusual style were reinforced by aversion to its acceptance by montanists and other groups considered to be heretical. Todd, could you tell us why did you take that approach. As the last book of the bible, why was the book of revelation apocalypse written in such a style that is so m ysterious and hard to understand. Certainly to god, or to john the apostle, or even to joseph smith, revelation was a plain book. We may never know when the book of revelation was written, but it does seem to have been written in layers, with some. In total, we have discussed 26 of the 27 books in the new testament, delving into the history of. The book of revelation is known for its surreal imagery and vivid descriptions of the end times, but what do those symbols really mean.
The book of revelation lions leopards and bears oh my. Really well written and enjoyable novel, with a great storyline that draws you in from the moment you read the first page. 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. The greek word apokalypsis stands as the book s very first word. The comforting promise of revelation when you are certain of your future, then you can concentrate on your present.
The book of revelation was likely written between a. What the book of revelation is not, how to understand it. Traditionally, the book of revelation has been dated near the end of the first. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. The book of revelation is a sure guide to what is really.
Before we can look at what i stand at the door and knock means we need to look at the context of this verse and who it was originally written too. Why the book of revelation is suddenly relevant neil carter. Revelation was the last book accepted into the christian biblical canon, and to the present day some churches that derive from the church of the east reject it. Book of revelation chronological order pursuing intimacy. Jun 21, 2019 throughout the long history of this series, we have covered nearly every book of the new testament.
He very frequently combines multiple references, and again the allusional style makes it. Perhaps more than any other new testament book, the date for the writing of revelation is important for interpreting the book. To really understand the book of revelation and the entire. To really understand the book of revelation and the entire bible, our ego and religious bias must fall flat as dead at the feet of jesus christ. Did john the baptist write the book of revelation, and. Did the disciple john really write the book of revelation.
1667 857 880 1425 614 764 440 1624 547 1617 1661 381 1187 496 897 1163 474 915 1451 409 1179 876 925 89 170 1605 289 1561 686 1309 575 1428 1497 733 963 2 1164 616 732 983 1237