Traditionally, both books have been identified as coming from the same person, john the son. Who wrote the book of revelation and the fourth gospel. 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. The seven churches of revelation click to watch video. While there were skeptics, even early on, about the authorship of the text most likely due to the apocalyptic nature of the book, the general consensus was that john the apostle was the author. However, the true author of revelation is god and jesus christ is the one who have the revelation to an angel to. 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.
Paul spilsburys book is a close runnerup for my go to book for an introduction to revelation. John was one of the 12 disciples special students of jesus, who later became the apostles the first leaders of the christian church. The book of revelation was likely written between a. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. Tradition has long held that john the apostle, whom we have seen penned the fourth gospel and the three letters attributed to him, wrote. Early tradition unanimously identified him as john the apostle, author of the fourth gospel and three epistles. Just finished reading this book had an advanced copy.
He begins the body of his book by saying that it is from john to the seven churches in asia rev. The traditional view holds that john, the apostle, was the author of revelation. The text of revelation states that john was on patmos. The two periods most often mentioned are the latter part of neros reign a. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries. Tradition ascribes the authorship to john the apostle, but it seems unlikely that the apostle could have lived into the most likely time for the books composition, the. 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 apostle of jesus and the author of the gospel of john and the three letters of nt. The apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. Jan 01, 2019 the book of revelation presents its author as john. 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. Revelation a study guide about the book of revelation. Sep 30, 2015 bauckhams book will guide you into a richer understanding of the symbolism and their significance and literary art of johns prophetic imagination. Because we know in revelation chapter one jesus tells john specifically who to address the letters to, the seven jewish christian churches in asia now called turkey.
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. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. John mentions his name four times in the book revelation 1. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. Although there is some debate, the author is probably the apostle john of the sons of zebedee. Revelation was written when christians were entering a time of persecution. The author of the revelation i the revelation was written by a man called john. Apr 16, 2011 obviously, god is the ultimate author of the book of revelation. So when the author of the book of revelation sat down to write, there was a very strong paradigm of what revelation literature should look like and sound like. John of patmos also called john the revelator, john the divine, john the theologian, and possibly john the apostle. The author was probably a christian from ephesus known as john the elder. 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. Jul 04, 2016 this post starts a series through the book of revelation.
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. Justin martyr, irenaeus, clement of alexandria, tertullian, cyprian, and hippolytus came to that conclusion. 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. 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. This article will conclude our series titled who wrote the new testament. Someone recently asked me if the same author could have written both the book of revelation and the gospel of john. John of patmos also called john the revelator, john the divine or john the theologian. God talked to john in his dream and gave all the revelations he wrote in the book. Complete overview of the book of revelation is less than 7 minutes. But, who was it that penned the word of revelation. 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 vision for the end of the world. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. The book of revelation lions leopards and bears oh my. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was.
But i found that there was a way out of the confusion, a way to hear what god was saying, a means of interpreting the book in the way that god intended from the introduction. Most people know what i mean when i say john is the author of the book of revelation. 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. John was one of the 12 disciples special students of jesus, who later became the apostles the first. A brief survey of support for johns authorship of this letter as well as counter arguments follow. The revelation of jesus christ was given to john by god to show his servants what must soon take place. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to many political and religious prisoners or slaves. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john nlt.
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. 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. The revelation is the only book in the nt mentioning john as author. The author of the book of revelation is the disciple of jesus. The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the book revelation 1. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The author of the book of revelation christopher l. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian. Speaking of the apocalypse from the previous post giving that odd video.
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. 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. The last book of the new testament is also called the prophecy book and the revelation of jesus christ. Useful bible studies revelation commentary study guide. 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.
The only other clue to the authors identity is that he states he received his visions while on. 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. 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. This revelation was given to him by god the father, and it was communicated to the apostle john by an angel 1. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. The word apocalypse means unveiling and thats exactly what the book of revelation isit is a prophetic book that discusses the unveiling of what is going to happen in the nearing end times and what will come with the final revelation of jesus christ. Close attention is paid both to the literary form in which the theology is.
He begins by saying that god sent the visions he is going to relate to his servant john rev. The author of the book of revelation the lord jesus christ the book of revelation a study of the last prophetic book of holy scripture by clarence larkin author of the great book on dispensational truth self published philadelphia, pa. The english title comes from the latin revelatio which in its verb form means to reveal or unveil that which has previously been hidden. Four reasons exist as to why one should accept johannine authorship. The book of revelation is hard to understand if you have not read it and studied it. Like most people who are lovers of gods word, for a long time, i was very uncomfortable with 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. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. Whoever that john was has been a subject of debate. Justin the martyr around 100 to 165 ac, irenaeus around 140 to 220 ac and the muratori canon end of 2 nd century confirm that the. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. Todays post looks at the evidence for and against john being the author of 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 convinced that the christian faith would soon triumph over the demonic forces at work in the world.