T

he book of revelation, also known as the Apocalypse of John, is one of the most important books in the Bible. It was written by John, an apostle who lived on Patmos, an island off the coast of modern-day Turkey. This article explores what context around this book may have been and if there is any evidence that John was not in fact its author.

Who wrote the book of Revelation?

The author of the book of Revelation is John the apostle, also known as John the elder and John of Patmos.

There is good reason to believe that the apostle John was the author of Revelation. It would be wise for scholars to make this assumption unless there are strong reasons not to do so.

Are John the apostle and John the elder the same person?

The book of Revelation was written by a man named John. There are two Johns in the Bible: John the apostle, who wrote one of the four Gospels (the gospel of John), and John the elder, who was a prophet during Nero's reign and wrote The Book of Revelation.

John was a common name at that time--there were many other Johns around at this time as well (such as John Mark). So if you see someone named "John" in your Bible reading plan, don't be alarmed! Just make sure you're reading from either Matthew or Mark's gospels before assuming it's our beloved apostle.

Is John of Patmos the same as John the Apostle?

The author of the Book of Revelation is not John the Apostle, but rather John of Patmos. In fact, there are several distinct Johns mentioned in the Bible:

  • John the Apostle (also known as "the beloved disciple") was one of Jesus' closest followers and one of three men who were present at his crucifixion
  • John the Elder was an apostle who lived long after all other apostles had died--he wrote most of what we know today as "Revelation" or "The Apocalypse" (which is another name for Revelation)

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Context around the book of Revelation

The context around the book of Revelation is important to understand in order to grasp its meaning. The book was written during the time of the Roman Empire, and it was written by Jesus Christ himself on Patmos Island (Revelation 1:9).

The author, John, had been exiled to Patmos by Emperor Domitian who ruled from 81-96 AD. It is believed that he wrote this letter while he was there in exile because it contains references to his imprisonment on Patmos.

The purpose behind writing this letter was so that God's people would know how things were going before they happened; this allowed them an opportunity to prepare themselves spiritually for what was about come upon them (Revelation 1:1).

Why it is important to read the book of Revelation

The book of revelation is an important book for Christians to study. It provides insight into the end times, a time when Jesus Christ will return and set up His Kingdom on earth. It also describes what will happen in those last days, including the battle between good and evil, who will be involved and how they will act.

Posted 
Feb 8, 2023
 in 
Spirit Filled Life
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