Revelation Introduction - KJV (King James Version)
Synopsis:
"The revelation of Jesus Christ" (1:1) was probably written by the apostle John while in exile on the island of Patmos, off the coast of present-day Turkey. It was addressed to seven actual churches. Revelation begins with letters from Christ himself to these churches, letters that include commendation, criticism, and comfort. Then comes a long series of visions of judgment on the wicked, all in highly symbolic language. The church is depicted under great distress, but is assured of the final triumph of Jesus as "King of kings and Lord of lords" (19:16), bringing to an end the rebellion of humanity and ushering in "a new heaven and a new earth" (21:1), where God himself will reign forever and ever (11:15). Revelation was probably written a.d. 95-96.
Other Book Titles:
- Greek - apokalypsis “unveling”
- Revelation of John
- Revelation of Jesus Christ
Authorship: John, the Apostle
- Stature within the Asia churches (Rev 1:4,9)
- Similar Themes of Jesus: “the Word,” “the Lamb,” and “True”
- Careful development of opposing themes (e.g light/dark)
- Early Church identified the Apostle John as the author: Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, Melito of Sardis, Clement of Alexandria and the author of the Muratorian fragment
Date of Composition: 90-96 AD
- Written during persecution was erupting (Rev 1:9; 2:10,13) - Domitian's Persecution (81-96 AD) and was across the whole emperor. Nero's persecution was confined namely to Rome.
- Irenaeus of Lyons - Against Heresies 30 "“was seen not very long ago, almost in our own generation, at the close of the reign of Domitian”
- Clement of Alexandria - Who Is the Rich Man? 42 "“after the tyrant was dead”
- Victorinus - Commentary on Revelation 10:11 "When John said these things, he was in the island of Patmos, condemned to the mines by Caesar Domitian. There he saw the Apocalypse; and when at length grown old, he thought that he should receive his release by suffering; but Domitian being killed, he was liberated"
- Jerome - Lives of Illustrious Men 9 "In the fourteenth then after Nero, Domitian having raised up a second persecution, he [John] was banished to the island of Patmos, and wrote the Apocalypse"
- Ephesus Church founded in 61 AD and the Apostle John was known to have moved to Ephesus in 67 AD, not enough time to fall away from its True Love.
- Laodecia was destroyed in 60 AD by an earthquake. 8 years is too short of time to rise back to economic affluence in the area.
- Churches in Asia Minor wouldn't have been around long enough to become complacement & decline (Rev 2:4; 3:1,15-18)
Pre-70 AD View - Argued Points:
- Writing style difference from other Johannine works
- No mention of Jersusalem destruction of 70 AD.
- Written during persecution was erupting (Rev 1:9; 2:10,13) - Nero's Persecution (64-68 AD)
- “Nero Caesar” adds up to 666 -> # of the Beast (Rev 13:18)
Overall, the later date of 96 AD is more accepted in Christian circles today. Advocates of Pre-70 AD authorship typically maintain this position for their preference towards a Preterist interpretation of the book meaning that the book is to be understood as a completed history and not prophetic.
Internal Outline (Rev 1:19):
1. 'things which you have seen' (Rev 1)
A. Theophany of the Lord (Ch 1)
2. 'things which are' (Rev 2-3)
A. The 7 Churches (Ch 2-3)
3. 'things which will occurr' (Rev 4-22)
A. The Throneroom of Heaven (Ch 4-5)
B. Tribulation (Ch 6-18)
C. 2nd Coming (Ch 19)
D. The Millennium (Ch 20)
E. New Heaven & Earth (Ch 21-22)
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