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 is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the. The apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. Jun 25, 2008 the last things are presented somewhat differently by st. This confirms the internal evidence of the book of revelation regarding the place where john wrote revelation. He writes what he has seen in visions or received through special inspiration. Book of revelation apocalypse written on patmos island greeka. John of patmos could be the author named as john in the book of. Of these things long ag o, master john luide of oxford wrote learnedly unto me. Aug 14, 2018 the writer of revelation identifies himself as john. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. I, john, your brother who share with you in jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called patmos because of the word of god and the testimony of jesus translation of the nrsv.
The writing of the new testament john and revelation. Paul wrote many letters, john wrote a gospel, a letter and the book of revelation and luke wrote a. When was the book of revelation written by the apostle. How did john the author of the book of revelation in the. So this book is a revelation of jesus christ, not in the sense that matthew, mark, luke and john revealed him, but rather than the humiliated christ, we have. He wrote five books against marcion hippolytus 170235 a. 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.
The things john had already seen are recorded in chapter 1. In fact, there is no good evidence at all that the apostle john wrot. While church tradition has attributed the gospel of john, the letters of john, and the book of revelation to the same authorjohn the apostle and son of zebedeeinternal and external evidence may require us to attribute them to other individuals who may or may not have also been named john. Remember, as we saw above, this is the main episode of revelation. Hebrew was not chosen because john wrote at a much later date than matthew. 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. Is this the same john who wrote the gospel account and three letters. Revelation an open book many have entertained the idea that the book of revelation is a sealed book, and they will not devote time and study to its mysteries. John, the revelation to oxford biblical studies online. The revelation to john new international version the prologue 1. For whom was the book of revelation written and why. 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 07, 2018 perhaps more than any other new testament book, the date for the writing of revelation is important for interpreting the book. John, the revelation to also called the apocalypse.
Have you ever wondered how the imagery of the four h. John writes differently because he received the truth differently. 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. Nov 14, 2017 this article will conclude our series titled who wrote the new testament. They made him live far away from family and friends on the island of patmos. To aid the reader in their journey of understanding, this book contains hundreds of charts, the vast majority of which have never been seen before, and the complete text of revelation. Revelation is indeed sent as a letter with a traditional greeting, direct messages to the recipients re 23, and a sendoff re 22. John was the youngest disciple of the twelve disciples of jesus who became an apostle of the church. Also, his disciples were adding to these books at a later time, when there was a need for a greek translation of the books.
Apr 24, 2016 karlo broussard gives the reasons for why the most reasonable answer to the question who wrote the book of revelation. How john wrote the book of revelation is a behindthescenes look at the literary process used to create the book of revelation. In the book of revelation, how many times did john. This is a fascinating book and im grateful that i got the opportunity to read it. It does go into the question of how the lamb was placed in revelation and why it is in chapter 5 of revelation see chapter 4, pages 1 to 190 or the deuteronomyjoshua draft in chapter 1 provided in the first. The book of the revelation pastor david legge 4 reign of righteousness. Karlo broussard gives the reasons for why the most reasonable answer to the question who wrote the book of revelation. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. Yes, revelation is physically the last book in the holy bible, but not the last book written in the bible.
The revelation of the lord in chapter one also teaches us much about the nature and qualifications of the one who heads the church and drives history. Some scholars speculate that john wrote revelation after the fall of rome and then wrote it in a prophetic perfect tense which apparently, some speculate, was a style of writing, but if he didnt then the book prophecies the fall of rome, the rise of christianity and the return of christ. The author of revelation could be john or a john closely working with him. The elder, the seer, and the apostle bible odyssey. If the book was written in the 90s, then the immediate background for the book is persecution of christians under domitian. The book of revelation, the last book of the bible, has fascinated and puzzled christians for centuries. Conservative theologians insist that the author was the apostle john, while liberal theologians accept the different style and theology, and simply refer to him as john of patmos.
Apart from the book of revelation, john has written other bible books which are. I was also wondering about the authorship of the book of revelation. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. John and the book of revelation a bible study in easy. All realize that at the time john wrote the book of revelation the principal world empire was rome. How john wrote the book of revelation is written for both the believer and the nonbeliever. How old would john the apostle have been if he was the author of revelation, a book written in around 90 to 95ad. It tells us what will happen in the end days, what happens when christ returns, and how god will ultimately make good on his promise to judge the wicked and destroy this world. John did not wait until a later occasion to write the book. There are a couple primary prophecies depending on when exactly john wrote it.
The revelation of jesus christ was given to john by god to show his servants what must soon take place. As a teenager, i remember being a bit frightened of the book of revelation. I wrote a book detailing how john wrote revelation. But say he did at least see a vision of the heavenly tabernacle first before writing. How many churches did john write to in the book of. Justin martyr relates how the apostle john prophesied the millennium when the. 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. So how did those who attributed the gospel, letters, and revelation to john expect. What do i personally believe about who wrote revelation. 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. Apr 05, 2017 revelation was written before the temple was destroyed, before the events in the gospels happened. The book of revelation is signed by a person called john but which john.
He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. John of patmos also called john the revelator, john the divine or john the theologian. No other book of the new testament feels like revelation. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. Johns book, however, shows him working not only through the holy spirit but also and more directly through inspiration to the church leaders whom he symbolically lovingly cups in his hands. 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. To agree with bill, revelation shows that john was given a vision of the heavenly tabernacle. How john wrote the book of revelation chapter 1 biblical. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries. The author of the book of revelation identifies himself only as john. The book is over 300 pages in length with hundreds of charts.
The text of revelation states that john was on patmos. His commentary revised by jerome ad398 to remove chilianismmillennialism to conform to niceanconstantinopal creed of ad381. As a writer, the theory presented for how john wrote revelation taught me invaluable lessons about literary craft, and i began to think of things from a brand new. When was the book of revelation written by the apostle john. Christ tells john to write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 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.
If so, john penned much of the new testament, with only paul and luke writing more than him. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. 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. So it is extremely unlikely that the same person wrote all of these books. It is the only book of the new testament classified as apocalyptic literature rather than didactic or historical, indicating thereby its extensive use of visions, symbols, and allegory, especially in connection with future events. But the john who wrote this book wasnt one of his original followers. Is the author of the gospel of john the same john from the. In the first chapter, the risen and exalted christ is speaking to john. The scope of how john wrote the book of revelation is how it was written which includes how john incorporated jesus into revelation. He begins the body of his book by saying that it is from john to the seven churches in asia rev.
The book of revelation was written before ad 70 hubpages. The ancient church historian, eusebius early 4th c. The vision or its account may or may not have been symbolic imagery. A simple outline for the book of revelation is found in revelation 1. 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. The book of revelation was likely written between a. 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 signed by a person called john, who wrote from the island of patmos. 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. Eight reasons against john the apostle as the author of. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to many political and religious prisoners or slaves. The theory in this book is solidly and expertly proven, and presented in an approachable way. Paul, luke and john all wrote a fair bit of the new testament. This has been a question at the back of my mind for some time and its great to hear your reasons for believing john to be the author.
Revelation was written before the temple was destroyed, before the events in the gospels happened. The very fact that the author of the apocalypse simply calls himself john is a dead giveaway that he was well known throughout. Victorinus wrote a commentary on the book of revelation about ad258 260 when he was a bishop in modern day slovenia. There are many details in the visions that might confuse us. The book of revelation, often called the book of revelations, revelation to john, the apocalypse of john, the revelation, or simply revelation, the revelation of jesus christ from its opening words or the apocalypse, is the final book of the new testament, and therefore also the final book of the christian bible. He was the first of the year of the four emperors in ad 69, which was a time. Based on analyses of the texts and the theology contained in them, if the apostle john wrote the book of revelation, he could not have written the gospel that now bears his name. In it i make the case that john used wax tablets as the writing medium. John was one of the 12 disciples special students of jesus, who later became the apostles the first leaders of the christian church.
Finally, that is the power whereby the lamb opened the book, and loosed the seven seals thereof when none could be found amongst all creatures by whom the book might be opened revelation 5. The apostle john, who wrote it under the inspiration of jesus christ revelation 1. John was allegedly banished by the roman authorities to the greek island of patmos, where, according to tradition, he wrote the book of revelation. How old was the apostle john when he wrote revelation. John did not know greek well enough to write his gospel, as well as the book of revelation, in that language. John does not claim to be an apostle although he speaks of the apostles. Asia minor is metaphor for the whole earth and so consider that god recognizes 7 churches, not 1. He begins by saying that god sent the visions he is going to relate to his servant john rev.
This article will conclude our series titled who wrote the new testament. While there were skeptics, even early on, about the authorship of the text most. 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 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. He is not just writing a book based on certain sources. How many churches did john write to in the book of revelations. John in the book of revelation, the last book of the new testament. Though you already have received many answers i would like to add that, yes, the book of revelation was penned down by john.
As god showed each thing to john, john wrote it in his book. Traditionally, the five books of the new testament gospel according to john, 1 john, 2 john, 3 john, and revelation have been attributed to john the apostle. He bade john write in a book that which should take place in the closing scenes of this earths history manuscript 129, 1905. Sums up the entire completion of gods will for mankind. The external evidence strongly agrees with the internal evidence that the apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. I show how he moved them around to form parallels as well as how he used sources such as ezekiel, isaiah, deuteronomyjoshua, exodus, and daniel. Revelation to john, also called book of revelation or apocalypse of john, last book of the new testament. And john wrote the book of revelation towards the end of his life. The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the book revelation 1. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. John wrote revelation when he was a prisoner on the isle of patmos for preaching about.
But say he did at least see a vision of the heavenly tabernacle first before writing the gospel whether he wrote revelation later or not. Johns audience did not have greek as their first and best spoken or written language. The translation occurred some significant length of time after john s death. Although it encompasses much of prophecy, revelation is a very personal book the apostle john wrote to the seven churches regarding the vision he received from christ. With its vivid imagery of disaster and suffering the battle of armageddon, the four horsemen of the apocalypse, the hideous beast whose number is 666 many have seen it as a map to the end of the world. How to study the book of revelation christian truth center. Oct 11, 2017 and one is john wrote in the present tense, nero was ruling at the time john wrote the revelation. Information about the book of revelation apocalypse that was written by saint john in patmos island, dodecanese, greece. Then christ himself told john to write down what he john saw 1. Thank you very much for your recent post about whether the apostle john was the author of the gospel of john.
702 1381 1555 1019 1529 1011 1107 217 360 632 511 150 1136 198 561 1254 1450 1341 1525 1049 890 221 334 1143 400 1473 927 1376 640 80 1561 803 263 92 1152 1274 592 1250 129 1484 1373 1485 572 94 664