Traditionally, the book of revelation has been dated near the end of the first century, around a. Most definitely the gospel of john was written before the destruction of jerusalem ad 70 as references are made within the book to structures existing before that siege of jerusalem. 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 writer of revelation identifies himself as john. Remember, as we saw above, this is the main episode of revelation. 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. Why the new testament book of revelation is often misunderstood and misused a talk presented by the rev. The book of revelation was likely written between a. If revelation was written after 70ad, then what john wrote to the 7 churches would be insignificant. Apr 07, 2018 we can however use clues and different hints from within the texts themselves to help us get some idea of when it was written. Mar 04, 2011 90 ce is the predominant view among many modern scholars, especially dispensationalists.
It must be noted that the bible is collection of books that comprises of the old and new testament and thus is not. Even though the book of revelation was finally included in the new testament canon because christian leaders came to think it had been written by jesus disciple, john the son of zebedee, there were outspoken dissenters against its inclusion. That is the internal evidence of the book and the external testimony of early church fathers. So, were the gospel according to john and the book of revelation written by the same author, or not.
The comforting promise of revelation when you are certain of your future, then you can concentrate on your present. 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. What is not as well known is the fact that the book of revelation almost didnt make it into the canon the only reason it was accepted is that they believed it to be written by the disciple whom jesus loved. Farrell is a retired united methodist pastor who lives in esperance, ny. Nov 14, 2017 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. The nt mentioned several men by this name, the baptist, the son of zebedee, who was one of the twelve, john, who was surnamed mark, and a certain relative of the high priest annas see on acts 4.
Revelation was written by john on the isle of patmos and addressed to hebrews and proselyte jews then and in the future. The book of revelation was written before ad 70 hubpages. John, the revelation to oxford biblical studies online. We conclude the series with a look at archaeological and historical evidence relating to the last book of the bible, revelation. The apostle john, who wrote it under the inspiration of jesus christ revelation 1. Thank you very much for your recent post about whether the apostle john was the author of the gospel of john.
The name revelation comes from the first word of the book in koine greek. 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. Serious question, who wrote the book of revelation the reason i ask is that last week i took part in a tarot card reading with the angels azazeal and lucifer. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. Internal evidence consists of clues within the book itself. Israel in the establishment of the new covenant temple. Victorinus late third century, author of the earliest commentary on the book of revelation, wrote. The book of revelation is traditionally said to be written by john. When was the book of revelation written truediscipleship. Revelation 1 opens with three statements that help us understand when this book was written. This, of course, does not presuppose that all the prophecies in revelation have already been fulfilled. Who wrote the book of revelation in the bible answers. The revelation of jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. From all this information he gathered to gether, john then wrote the book of revelation.
Apr 05, 2017 revelation was written before the temple was destroyed, before the events in the gospels happened. 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. He wrote five books against marcion hippolytus 170235 a. I have left out the issue of who wrote revelation i believe john the apostle wrote it so as to make this first post short, but is part of this topic. However, this date is based almost exclusively on a statement by eusebius cir. 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.
Different sections were written at different times. What language was the revelation to john written in. The clear purpose of revelation love worth finding with. In short, avoiding the book because of the way it was written is an excuse not to study it, but its not a reason. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 1. Chapters 15 address seven established christian churches in asia minor. Aug 14, 2018 the writer of revelation identifies himself as john. The book of revelation was not written at one time by a single author. The apocalypse, in particular, is written in very, very poor greek. Note that this could have been in reference to the book of revelation being circulated widely seen by many, in reference to john still being alive last seen, or a reference to the dating of the book itself being written. John wrote revelation when he was a prisoner on the isle of patmos for preaching about.
Historically, though, many thought it was written earlier than that, and there is a surprisingly strong case that the book was written in the late a. For whom was the book of revelation written and why. I believe the clear purpose of revelation is exactly what it says it is. Yes, revelation is physically the last book in the holy bible, but not the last book written in the bible. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to. In most compilations the book is placed lastly in the christen greek scriptures. Guest article when was the book of revelation written. This article will conclude our series titled who wrote the new testament. The book of revelation is not about the second coming of christ. The book of revelation writen by the apostle paul on the island of patmos was completed around 96 c. In the 3rd century an african bishop named dionysius first suggested that the author could have been a man named john the presbyter. Remember, members of the body of christ know that all scripture was written for the body of christ, but not all scripture was written to the body of christ. How john wrote the book of revelation is a behind the scenes look at the literary process used to create the book of revelation. Once again, however we simply cannot know for sure when he actually wrote it.
Speaking of the apocalypse from the previous post giving that odd video. Who wrote the book of revelations and when was it written. Indeed, as we will see, the book speaks to our period even more than that of the seven churches. Dec 19, 20 did the apostle john write the book of revelation.
Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to many political and religious prisoners or slaves. It is very easy to believe this could be the case if revelation were written a generation later. To whom was the book of revelation written for answers. When was revelation written, by whom, and to whom does it. Most scholars today think that the book of revelation was written around the year a. Revelation to john appears to be a collection of separate. This book is filled with mysteries about things to come. 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 tradition is that john wrote the book of revelation. Was the book of john written first or the book of revelation.
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. In fact as we shall see the word coming as used in the book of revelation never refers to the second coming. Later on mary gave john the works of her son jesus as written by him as a child. Farrell to the inquiring skeptics of upper new york on october 1, 1997 at the guilderland public library. Who wrote the book of revelation and the fourth gospel. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. And like any good mystery, there is evidence, both internal and external, to consider. The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the book revelation 1. The apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. So it is extremely unlikely that the same person wrote all of these books. The author was probably a christian from ephesus known as john the elder.
Advocates of a late date take it as proof of the book being written around 91ad but iraneaus never explicitly says so. Mar 20, 2010 this john is john of patmos, not the disciple whom jesus loved. Who wrote the book of revelations in the bible yahoo. If the book of revelation is a book of prophecy as it claims to be rev. 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. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. Revelation is written in much poorer greek than the gospel and letters are, and it even spells the name jerusalem in greek differently than the gospel does. Is this the same john who wrote the gospel account and three letters. Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come.
The book of revelation is doctrinally written to seven churches that will be on the earth during the time of the great tribulation. Its main theme, or central focus, is the return of jesus christ. Dating the composition of revelation is complicated, but nero a. And it unfolds the plans of god for these last days. If revelation was written before ad 70, it is reasonable to assume that the vision given to john was meant to reveal the apocalyptic events surrounding the destruction of jerusalemevents that were still in johns future but are in our past. However, the view that the book was written later in the firstcentury, most likely in the late 80s or early 90s holds greater strength. Revelation was written to give encouragement to christians at the end of the 1st cent. Give me one shred of evidence that jewish persecution of christians existed after the apostate nation of israel ended, after 23 of jews killed, after 70ad, after the remaining jews that survived who where dispersed among the nations. Revelation does not explicitly state when it was written, so its date is a mystery to be solved. He was a jewish christian prophet, probably belonging to a group of such prophets, and was accepted by the.
The revelation of jesus christ was given to john by god to show his servants what must soon take place. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. The author names himself as john, but modern scholars consider it unlikely that the author of revelation also wrote the gospel of john. The book of revelation is one of the most important books in the entire bible. The concept of authorities as used in this question is, of course, open to interpretation. If the book was written in the 90s, then the immediate background for the book is persecution of christians under domitian. As for the book of revelation, we can tell from certain styles of writing and phrases that john uses as to when he may have written the book. The apostle john wrote the book of revelation while exiled on the island of patmos. Of the new testament works, only revelation names its author explicitly as john. Revelation to john, also called book of revelation or apocalypse of john, last book of the new testament. In this message we look at to whom was the book of revelation actually written.
Nov 09, 2008 the obvious answer is that it was written by the apostle john aka the beloved disciple, but the likelihood of this is slim to none. For example, chapters 15 were written at a later date than chapters 614. Someone recently asked me if the same author could have written both the book of revelation and the gospel of john. Those holding an older view for the dating of revelation promote the late 60s as the time the book was written.
Revelation was written before the temple was destroyed, before the events in the gospels happened. Revelation a study guide about the book of revelation. For example, john wrote in the book of revelation that five rulers had already ceased to have power and that a sixth was then within his sovereignty revelation 17. The author of the revelation identified himself as john rev chs. Three angels broadcasting network 3abn 3,010,954 views 58. 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. All realize that at the time john wrote the book of revelation the principal world empire was rome. It is about the destruction of israel and christs victory over his enemies i. Perhaps more than any other new testament book, the date for the writing of revelation is important for interpreting the book.
But, who was it that penned the word of revelation. Feb 15, 2015 in this message we look at to whom was the book of revelation actually written. A good catholic analysis of when revelation was written is found in the introduction to the revelation commentary book in the catholic. Revelation is the only book of the bible that contains a promise of blessing to its readers. The apostle john was universally believed to have written the revelation by the early church. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, revelation was not given to scare us. The gospel of john as well as the epistles and the apocalypse bear different styles and quality of greek.
John was one of the 12 disciples special students of jesus, who later became the. Thus, revelation was not just for john and the saints of the seven churches but for other saints then and now. Seiss, jesus of the apocalypse by barbara thiering. Apr 24, 2016 karlo broussard gives the reasons for why the most reasonable answer to the question who wrote the book of revelation. It is hard to believe that the two situations could be contemporary as must be the case if revelation were written before ad 70. Was revelation written before or after the destruction of. Since then a number of liberal theologians have taken this view as well based on supposed differences in writing style. As with acts, revelation shows how the lord works with and through his servants. 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. It was a interesting evening where everybody had to draw a card in order to determine our futures. The church of today will not be on the earth during the time.
The images, the visions, the symbols have been a rich field for bizarre interpretations. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. 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. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. Sigh no matter what you come up with in this regard, trust my you have nothing new to say. Here, at the end of the book of revelation, john recorded the exact same message that he did in chapter 1. Only a handful of extremists today even countenance the possibility that revelation could have been written pseudonymously. The book of revelation was written sometime around. 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. White is professor of classics and christian origins at the university of texas at austin, and acted as historical consultant for apocalypse. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries. The book of revelation was written by the apostle john revelation 1. 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.
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