Understanding the book of revelation john of patmos

John of patmos also called john the revelator, john the divine, john the theologian, and possibly john the apostle. No where does the bible say that john ever went to the island of patmos. The book is filled with deeply mysterious symbolism concerning human history and the end of history. John was overshadowed by the power of the holy ghost. The new view, therefore, began to argue that none of the events described in the book of revelation after chapters i. Preterists understand the book exclusively in terms of its firstcentury setting, claiming that most of its events have already taken place. Today the average person has little or no understanding of greek drama, let alone an understanding of how it fits into the interpretation of the book of the revelation of the apostle john concerning the lord jesus christ. The island of patmos is a volcanic, treeless, rocky island about 9km by 50km or 6 by 30 miles. Yet most people believe that this final book of the bible cannot be understood at allthat its language and symbols are too confusing to make sense.

Where the book of revelation was received by john patmos, greece where the apostle john was exiled johns love for jesus was so strong, that he continued to defy the roman magistrates order to no longer proclaim jesus as messiah, savior and lord. The heavens opened, angelic ministrants attended, voices were heard, and visions were seen. It is the unveiling of a person, the lord jesus christ, as he brings human history to a close here on the earth. The most popular has been that of john nelson darby 18001882, which is known as dispensationalism, a view made popular in england and america in the early xxth century through the publication of cyrus scofield 18431921.

Revelation begins with john, the last surviving apostle and an old man, in exile on the small, barren island of patmos, located in the aegean sea southwest of ephesus. I strongly believe that greek drama is that key because it was the main media of its day. The message of hope in the book of revelation seek first. In the book s last chapter god reiterates that his words were given to reveal and not to be sealed revelation 22. It was then that he wrote revelation and later still, he wrote the wonderful gospel book of john, where he tells the story of jesus, giving us special information we dont find in the other gospels. Revelation movie with apostle john watch now for free. As a matter of fact, you will see this during the revelation movie. The author of the work identifies himself in the text as john and says that he was on patmos, an island in the aegean, when he was instructed by a heavenly figure to write. Therefore, only those who believe that the bible is inspired by god and trust what it says will be able to understand the significance of what is revealed in the book of revelation. As mentioned before, the books very name means to reveal to unveil, to open to understanding what otherwise could not be comprehended. Because the book of revelation says that angels stand on the earths four corners. Historicists take it as describing the long chain of events from patmos to the end of history. Like koester, spilsbury walks you through johns revelation.

May 18, 2019 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. Many socalled christian fathers condemned the book, stating it was heretical. Surely hes not the only one who wants to see romans crushed like grapes in a giant wine press until their blood flows out on the ground. The book was written around 96 ad by apostle john when titus domitian was the emperor of the roman empire. There do exist some christian denominations which do not accept john of patmos revelation as a legitimately divine text and hence do not include it in their bible. His life appears on the bible timeline chart between then and 100 ad. Revelation drama the book of revelation understood through. The book is not a revelation of the four horsemen, nor of the woman clothed with the sun, nor of the fall of babylon, nor of the new jerusalem. Understanding revelations in the bible biblical archaeology. John exiled to patmos amazing bible timeline with world history.

John was a prisoner on patmos because he was preaching about jesus and that he, jesus, had been raised from the dead. Paul spilsburys book is a close runnerup for my go to book for an introduction to revelation. Symbolic language, however, is one of the chief characteristics of apocalyptic literature, of which this book is an. In fact there is not even any extrabiblical evidence that he did.

The book of revelation is signed by a person called john. John probably felt his work was nearly over when he ended up on patmos. 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. 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 the roman emperor domitian. 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 book of revelation, also called revelation to john or apocalypse of john, literally, apocalypse of john. 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. Revelation to john, also called book of revelation or apocalypse of john, last book of the new testament.

Oct 21, 2016 you will love this video it will help you understand better itt is very good and a little long i encourage all of you to watch this kick back and relax. When it comes down to it, revelation reads like one big long revenge fantasy. We learn from john that he wrote revelation from the island of patmos verse 9, in the aegean sea 40 miles off the coast of asia minor modern day turkey. Here you have a guy whos been banished for his beliefs hes lucky, others have been killed, and hes looking for some payback. The book of revelation, often called the book of revelations, revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation, or simply revelation, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words or the apocalypse, is the final book of the new testament, and therefore also the final book of the christian bible. 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. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online.

Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. When did john receive the visions that are recorded as revelation. John was the youngest disciple of the twelve disciples of jesus who became an apostle of the church. Interpreters of revelation normally fall into four groups. John witnessed that all who dwell upon the earth will worship him revelation. If you ever wanted to get behind the sensationalism surrounding apocalyptic literature and art to gain a deep understanding of this vital book, now you can. Can we use that logic when were understanding revelations in the bible. When rome had exiled john to patmos, he was the last remaining member of the twelve disciples of jesus christ. It is about 30km or 20 miles off the western coast of modern turkey. First published in 1909, it came to be known as the scofield reference bible.

Introduction revelation is a confusing book to most people despite the many commentaries written. The entire book of revelation is basically what john hopes god will do to all those antichristian tormentors out there. The book of revelation gives us many of the keys that unlock prophetic understanding because it faithfully follows the principle that the bible interprets itself. Oct 12, 2018 john, the disciple of jesus, was banished to patmos during the latter years of his life. The apocalypse is a unique book of the bible in many ways. The theme of the book is the events leading up to the jesus second coming. John of patmos interesting stories about famous people. The apostle john, while imprisoned on the island of patmos late in the first century received this book by divine revelation. The apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. The reason most commentaries fail to enlighten the books contents is because they violate one or more of the three basic principles of sound biblical interpretation. A wonderful connection is seen between the universe of heaven and this world. Understanding the book of revelation brother john reveals. The roman authorities had banished him there because of his faithful preaching of the gospel 1. Keys to understanding revelation the book of revelation.

He has his scribes pen the words that are given to him. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to many political and religious prisoners or slaves. John had the visions described in revelation about ad95. Did john write a book of the bible on the island of patmos.

Many would agree that when one begins a study of revelation, he should first deal with the questions. The conflicts described by john of patmos made the book very volatile during its own time. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. John of patmos also called john the revelator, john the divine or john the theologian. 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. The things revealed to daniel were afterward complemented by the revelation made to john on the isle of patmos. It too would make a good companion volume as you read this challenging book. The key to understanding is the mysterious book of revelation is comprehending its story flow. Revelation an open bookmany have entertained the idea that the book of revelation is a sealed book, and they will not devote time and study to its mysteries. The text of revelation states that john was on patmos. Ben witherington iii, author of the following article, asking the right question, once hitched a ride from a couple who believed the earth was flat. Actually, it is here he receives revelation word from god.

Through the years some have claimed that the book of revelation was written only for johns day, for the seven local churches in asia minor, for the time of pagan rome when fierce persecutions were meted out to the church by the caesars. The book of revelation is not a puzzle book, but an unveiling. 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. Jun 17, 2015 may i suggest to you to start a study of the book of revelation. They say that they are to keep looking to the glories of salvation, and that the mysteries revealed to john on the isle of patmos are worthy of less consideration than these. Nov 04, 2015 of all of the books of the bible, revelation is clearly the most challenging as it recounts the prophetic visions of john at patmos at the end of the first century during a period of persecution of the church. The original authorgod the fatheraddressed this letter to jesus christ, his sonasking that it be passed along to john and to us. The book of revelation is a book to give hope to people who were suffering persecution at the end of the first century. This indicates that the book of revelation applied at least to johns day the first century ad. The book is truly its title, full of revelations revelations of the things about to happen. The present events and the future of the world are precisely unfolded in the book. Patmos is a scenic island eight miles long and four miles wide. John on patmos by lloyd dale 011105 a proper understanding of when revelation was received and written makes a great deal of difference in how it is to be interpreted.

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 book of revelation is the revelation of jesus christ to apostle john thus to us christians. Incidentally, the book of revelation was written by the apostle john while imprisoned on the isle of patmos. Keys to understanding revelation united church of god. Mar 11, 2014 the book of revelation, often known simply as revelation or the apocalypse, is the final book of the bible and is the only purely apocalyptic book in the new testament. Worship of and accepting the antichrists mark will constitute a rejection of christ and seal ones eternal doom revelation 14.