Who wrote Revelation, and when?
John, exiled on the island of Patmos; traditionally the apostle. About AD 95, under the emperor Domitian (some argue for the late 60s).
The book names its writer four times as John, a servant and brother who was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God (see chapter 1). Tradition identifies him as John the apostle, and that was the common view in the early church, though never a unanimous one. Some scholars point to the very different Greek from the Gospel of John and suggest another John, perhaps a prophet known to the churches of Asia. The usual date is about AD 95, in the last years of the emperor Domitian, which is what the earliest surviving comment on the book reports. A minority of scholars argue for the late 60s instead, before the fall of Jerusalem.
Who was Revelation written to?
Seven churches in the Roman province of Asia, facing persecution and the pull of compromise with the empire.
The first readers were seven real congregations in the Roman province of Asia, each one named and each given a message from the risen Christ (see chapters 2 and 3). They were ordinary churches in busy trading cities. Some were poor and pressed hard, one had already lost a member to execution, and others were comfortable and sliding into the local way of life. In those cities public honour to the emperor and the gods was woven into trade guilds, festivals and civic duty, so refusing to take part marked a person out as disloyal. The pressure on these churches came from fear in some places and from an easy life in others.
What was happening at the time?
Rome demanded worship of the emperor, and Christians who refused faced exclusion and death. John receives a vision of the risen Christ walking among his churches, then of the throne of heaven and the slain Lamb who alone can open the scroll of history. In symbols drawn from the Old Testament, seals, trumpets and bowls unfold God’s judgment on Babylon (Rome and every proud empire), and the book ends with the new Jerusalem, God dwelling with his people.
Why was Revelation written?
To encourage persecuted churches to stay faithful by showing that Jesus has already won and will make all things new.
Revelation was written so that churches under pressure could see what is actually going on. The title means an unveiling, and the curtain is pulled back on a throne room where God rules and a slain Lamb holds the scroll of history. Seen from street level, Rome looked unstoppable. Seen from heaven, it is one more proud empire heading for judgement. The book calls its readers to hold on, refuse compromise and worship God alone, promising that those who conquer will share in what comes next. It closes the Bible by answering its opening: the garden lost in Genesis becomes a city with the tree of life in it, and God lives with his people, with no more death or crying.
How to read Revelation today
Do not start with charts or newspaper headlines. Read chapters 1 to 3 first, because the messages to the seven churches set the purpose of everything that follows. Then read chapters 21 and 22 to see where it all lands, and go back to the middle. Expect symbols rather than plain description, and let the Old Testament explain them, especially Daniel, Ezekiel and Exodus. Numbers such as seven, twelve and a thousand carry meaning rather than measurement. Sincere Christians understand the timing of these events in several different ways, so do not force a system on a first reading. While reading, pray for courage to stay faithful in small daily choices.
The key verse in Revelation
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
Passages worth knowing in Revelation
- Revelation 1
The vision of Christ
I am the Alpha and the Omega; he who lives and was dead.
- Revelation 2–3
Letters to the seven churches
To him who overcomes.
- Revelation 4–5
The throne and the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.
- Revelation 12
The woman, the child and the dragon
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.
- Revelation 19
The rider on the white horse
King of kings and Lord of lords.
- Revelation 20
The final judgment
The great white throne and the book of life.
- Revelation 21–22
The new heaven and earth
God will wipe away every tear; come, Lord Jesus.
The main themes of Revelation
- The victory of the Lamb
- Worship
- Faithfulness under persecution
- Judgment on evil
- New creation
- Hope
An outline of Revelation
| Section | Chapters |
|---|---|
| Christ and his churches | 1–3 |
| The throne, the Lamb and the seals | 4–7 |
| Trumpets, the dragon and the beasts | 8–14 |
| Bowls and the fall of Babylon | 15–19 |
| Judgment and the new creation | 20–22 |