Author of book of revelation john

John recorded the message but is not the true author of the book. The book of revelation unveils jesus christ in glory. John was one of the 12 disciples special students of jesus, who later became the. The evidence on the other side of the equation, however, is overwhelming. Challenging the evil empire, rome the book of revelation is the strangest book in the bible and the most controversial. The author was probably a christian from ephesus known as john the elder. Like koester, spilsbury walks you through johns revelation. Yes, revelation is physically the last book in the holy bible, but not the last book written in the bible. Four reasons exist as to why one should accept johannine. The book of revelation is signed by a person called john, who was writing from the island of patmos. John wrote revelation when he was a prisoner on the isle of patmos for preaching about.

Revelation to john appears to be a collection of separate. If so, john penned much of the new testament, with only paul and luke writing more than him. The name revelation comes from the first word of the book in koine greek. However, the true author of revelation is god and jesus christ is the one who have the revelation to an angel to give to john. 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. 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. Dionysius, who studied under origen, also denied the teaching of a literal millennium. Kim mark lewis presents a fascinating theory of how john wrote the book of revelation. The teaching on the millennium was based on a literal reading of the book of revelation revelation 20. The church fathers debated whether this john of patmos was the apostle john and concluded that. John macarthur explains the book of revelation paperback march 1, 2007. The author of john was a brilliant theologian writing good greek an argument, incidentally, against his being one of the simple galilean fishermen who made up the disciples of the historic jesus and his advanced or high christology suggests the sophisticated development that had occurred since marks gospel.

It is a fair statement to say that evidence that this letter was written by. 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 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. The author names himself as john, but modern scholars consider it unlikely that the author of revelation also wrote the gospel of john. This revelation was given to him by god the father, and it was communicated to the apostle john by an angel. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. The gospel of john, the fourth of the gospels, gives a highly schematic account of the ministry of jesus, with seven signs culminating in the raising of lazarus foreshadowing the resurrection of jesus and seven i am discourses culminating in thomass proclamation of the risen jesus as my lord and my god, followed by a conclusion setting out its purpose. 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. Even if you disagree with his conclusions, you will find this book an incredible read. How john wrote the book of revelation is a behindthescenes look at the literary process used to create the book of revelation. John of patmos is the name given by some modern scholars to the author of the book of revelation, the apocalyptic text forming part of the new testament. Some of the church fathers, late in the second century believed that this john was.

Revelation a study guide about the book of revelation. The author also states that he was on patmos when he received his first vision. The author of the book of revelation christopher l. The apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. Traditionally, both books have been identified as coming from the same person, john the son. So it is extremely unlikely that the same person wrote all of these books. The greek form of this name represents a common hebrew name yochanan, which identifies the author as a jew the fact that the author makes no attempt to build himself up, but simply refers to himself as john, your brother 1. The elder, the seer, and the apostle bible odyssey.

Nov 14, 2017 if so, john penned much of the new testament, with only paul and luke writing more than him. The only other clue to the authors identity is that he states he received his visions while on the island of patmos rev. Some modern scholars characterize revelations author as a putative figure whom they call john of patmos. This post starts a series through the book of revelation. Speaking of the apocalypse from the previous post giving that odd video. He claimed, based on the writing style and the lack of an apostolic claim in the book, john the elder presbyter was the author not john the apostle. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. The authorship of the johannine worksthe gospel of john, epistles of john, and the book of revelationhas been debated by scholars since at least the 2nd century ad. This summary of the book of 1 john provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 1 john. Todays post looks at the evidence for and against john being the author of the book of revelation. John wrote revelation to reveal the end of human history, the return of christ, and the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth. He also is seen as the author of the gospel of john along with 1, 2 and 3 john. Is john the baptist different from john of the book of.

The author of revelation identifies himself several times as john. John of patmos also called john the revelator, john the divine, john the theologian, and possibly john the apostle. How old would john the apostle have been if he was the author of revelation, a book written in around 90 to 95ad. Jan 01, 2019 the book of revelation presents its author as john.

Some translations title the book the revelation of st. While the apostle john is the writer of the book he is not the author or composer. Other church fathers such as dionysius of alexandria, eusebius. How did john the author of the book of revelation in the. The author of the book of revelation identifies himself as john, and the book has been traditionally credited to john the apostle. Revelation to john, also called book of revelation or apocalypse of john, last book of the new testament. The main debate centers on who authored the writings, and which of the writings, if any, can be ascribed to a common author. John the baptist was the son of elizabeth, marys cousin. Revelation to john, last book of the new testament. John macarthur takes readers through the book of revelation with its vivid imagery, assuring christians that god is in control of all past, present, and future events. The other john was also a cousin of jesus, through marys sister salome and so was als. New testament new testament edition based on the new international version, and every prophecy of the bible.

He wrote five books against marcion hippolytus 170235 a. John of patmos could be the author named as john in the book of revelation, the apocalyptic text forming the final book of. The church does not have an official stance on who the author is. The author of revelation repeatedly identifies himself simply as john 1. The text of revelation states that the author is called john and that he lives on the greek island of patmos, where by some, he is considered to be in exile as a result of antichristian persecution under roman emperor domitian. 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. To begin with, there can really be no doubt that whoever wrote the book of revelation, it was not the author of the gospel of john. In this widely praised exposition of revelation, george eldon ladd treats the apocalypse as a true prophecyone that reflects the situation of the church when the book was written as well as the situation the church will face at the time of the consummation of gods redemptive plan. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to many political and religious prisoners or slaves. The book of revelation presents its author as john. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries.

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. The authorship of the johannine works the gospel of john, epistles of john, and the book of revelation has been debated by scholars since at least the 2nd century ad. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. Some scholars therefore refer to the author of revelation as john the seer or john of. 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.

Thus we see that the canon of scripture would be incomplete without this message from jesus to his church after his return to heaven. Since the roman era, christians and historians have considered the book of revelations writer to be the apostle john john the evangelist, author of the gospel of john. The author of the book of revelation calls himself john rev. Inside unfulfilled prophecies, each chapter in the book of revelation is meticulously analyzed and interpreted in a logical, comprehensible, and easy to follow manner that systematically examines historical events of the first century in relation to prophecies from both the old testament and from the author of revelation himself. From as early as justin martyr in the second century a. Although he never claims to be john the apostle, whose name is attached to the fourth gospel, he was so identified by several of the early church fathers, including justin. John s high christology depicts jesus as divine, preexistent, and identified. Author and date four times the author identifies himself as john 1. This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation.

Someone recently asked me if the same author could have written both the book of revelation and the gospel of john. Now as to its author most credit its revelations to the apostle john. 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. Did the same person write the gospel of john and the book. The second significant evidence for johns authorship is the unanimous testimony of early christians, among them the secondcentury christian irenaeus, who declared that john was the disciple who laid his head on jesusthe disciple whom jesus loved.

Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to. 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. Before making these two points, i need to explain the traditional view. Four reasons exist as to why one should accept johannine authorship of revelation. Irenaeus mentioned that john the apostle received the visions of revelation near the end of domitians rule.

The macarthur bible studies provide intriguing examinations of the whole of scripture. Early tradition unanimously identified him as john the apostle, author of the fourth gospel and three epistles. The book of revelation is the only apocalyptic document in the new testament canon, though there are short apocalyptic passages in various places in the gospels and the epistles. This book was a reminder that encouraged them to remain faithful. The bulk of traditional sources date the book to the. 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.

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. Did john the baptist write the book of revelation, and. This john was probably a jew writing in greek but thinking in hebrew or aramaic. Justin martyr, irenaeus, clement of alexandria, tertullian, cyprian, and hippolytus came to that conclusion.

Who wrote the book of revelation and the fourth gospel. Yes, they are two different people who shared a very common name. Secondcentury christian writers such as justin martyr, irenaeus, melito the bishop of sardis, clement of alexandria, and the author of the muratorian fragment identify john the apostle as the john of revelation. 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. How did john the author of the book of revelation in the holy. Written by the apostle john, revelation was a letter to churches in asia minor who were feeling the overwhelming effects of persecution from all sides. 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. It too would make a good companion volume as you read this challenging book. His insight brings a sense of order to a book that has mystified scholar and lay reader for centuries. 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. Jul 04, 2016 this post starts a series through the book of revelation. Whoever that john was has been a subject of debate. Paul spilsburys book is a close runnerup for my go to book for an introduction to revelation.

The book of revelation is signed by a person called john, writing from the island of patmos, near greece. While the internal evidence of john the apostle being the author. Clear explanantions for uncertain times by one of todays premier prophecy scholars, and more on. Book of john overview insight for living ministries. There may have been a single author for the gospel and the three epistles. The only other clue to the authors identity is that he states he received his visions while on. The traditional view holds that john, the apostle, was the author of revelation.