Date of Writing: The Book of Revelation was likely written between A.D. 90 and 95. John of the 12 disciples of Jesus wrote Revelation when he was imprisoned on the island of Patmos. American King James Version: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." For examples of the seven-vision approach, see Ernst Lohmeyer, Die Offenbarung des Johannes (Tiibingen, 1926); John Wick Bowman, The Apostle and Evangelist John were from Bethsaida Galilee. (It is reasonable to have qualified that clause) For an accessible ref to Cerinthus as author, see: @bruisedreed There are thousands of blogs etc that approach this from both sides (for and against attributed authorship). That these meals all too readily degenerated into sexual looseness made matters worse. After Jesus died, John went to Ephesus to spread the good news of salvation. Burton L. Mack says in Who Wrote the New Testament, page 215, that before what is now known as John's Gospel was attributed to John, it had already become popular in gnostic circles where it was said that Cerinthus, the founder of a gnostic school, had written it. No. Dating the Gospel of John to after AD 98: A. Tradition reports many beautiful traits of the last years of his life: that he refused to remain under the same roof with Cerinthus (Irenaeus "Ad. Cyrus could not find a way to get up to the citadel and even offered a reward to the soldier who discovered a pathway. What is the basis for the belief that the Apostle John died around AD 100? The city's famous library, with 200,000 parchment rolls, was rivaled only by the library in Alexandria, Egypt. Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Knowing this, Christ gives the brethren the hope that if they persevere in the faith they will receive something that all the temple worship of Diana could never give themthe gift of eternal life. Sometime later a vigilant Persian soldier spied a defender who had accidentally dropped his helmet from above. 4 What are the 7 churches mentioned in Revelation? - John the Apostle (Wikipedia). We hope this series has been a satisfying journey through the Bible and that it has strengthened your faith. The case for a late date authorship of the Book of Revelation (95-96 AD) There really is only one point that people hold onto for a late date authorship of the Book of Revelation. Another big clue that John did not have his own house, or wife, or kids, or estate is when he and James followed Jesus and asked him where he stayed. Next on the Roman mail route was Pergamos, the Roman capital of Asia Minor. We conclude the series with a look at archaeological and historical evidence relating to the last book of the Bible, Revelation. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The Apostle John was the son of Zebedee. John the Baptist did not write Revelation. Also, you can contact us anytime on:office@doortoeden.com. When they reached the top, the place was again unguarded. And they, leaving their father and former lives, followed the Savior. How John Wrote the Book of Revelation is the first book that teaches the reader how to read Revelation the way it was . There is no evidence that the apostle John was ever on the island of Patmos. [14] Every year pilgrims made a pilgrimage to the site on August 15, the date on which most of the Christian world celebrated Mary's Dormition/Assumption. "For all its wealth, the city had poor water," says The Expositor's Bible Commentary. 6 What is the difference between John the Baptist and John the Apostle? Only such as these will have sorrow in their bodies. So unless there is proof that he was forcibly restrained, it should be assumed that John of Patmos could leave the island whenever he chose, and return at any time he chose. Or others may say that John was Jesus uncle, so we think they knew each other before Jesus baptism. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Many profound theological themes and images inspired the Churchs life. Irenaeus writes of "the church of Ephesus, founded by Paul, with John continuing with them until the times of Trajan." John is regarded as the youngest of the apostles and the Gospels give us a clue of his young age when Jesus had him resting on his chest at the Last Supper. Since Christians confessed they had only one Lord, Jesus Christ, they were mercilessly hounded. We have no reliable information as to where he went to preach, if at all. He detests the Laodicean attitude of compromising with God's laws. Previous to this, according to Tertullian's testimony (De praescript., xxxvi), John had been thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil before the Porta Latina at Rome without suffering injury. What is the difference between John the Baptist and John the Apostle? After the death of the mother of Jesus, St. John was eventually banished to Patmos where he wrote the Apocalypse. The wealth of the citywhich had been the capital of the Lydian Empire under the opulent King Croesuswas legendary. . And there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and John. Please refrain from using the fallacy of argument from authority - try and engage with the actual issues. The good news is that Jesus assured the members of the Church in Ephesus that they would be able to eat from the tree of life and have access to Gods heaven. . Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God. How can this new ban on drag possibly be considered constitutional? 3 What are the 7 churches mentioned in Revelation? Blessed Catherine Emmerich adds this to the end of the life of the Virgin Mary: After Christ's Ascension Mary lived for three years on Mount Sion, for three years in Bethany, and for nine years in Ephesus, whither St. John took her soon after the Jews had set Lazarus and his sisters adrift upon the sea. Accompanying Johnson on vocal and guitar is Willie B. Harris (sometimes identified as his first wife), who sings the response parts of the song. John was allegedly banished by the Roman authorities to the Greek island of Patmos, where, according to tradition, he wrote the Book of Revelation. [8] The book containing these descriptions was published in 1852 in Munich, Germany. He is then exiled to Patmos island by Emperor Domitians order. how and why John went to Patmos, and gradually developed the He tells them that "he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'as I also have received from My Father" (Revelation 2:26-27 Revelation 2:26-27 [26] And he that overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations: rev2023.3.3.43278. One reason it is hard to determine the answer is that people frequently had someone help them when they wrote. Emmerich also described the details of the house: that it was built with rectangular stones, that the windows were high up near the flat roof and that it consisted of two parts with a hearth at the center of the house. Whoever this John was, it clearly was not the author of John's Gospel, as the style and the theology are too different. Perhaps further to this issue, you could comment on the perspective on the matter taken here: @bruisedreed It wasn't until later in the second century that we have a positive assertion of John's authorship. American King James Version). 8 Is the Book of Revelation written by John? The author of the Book of Revelation identifies himself only as John. Cicero [the Roman orator] called Smyrna 'one of our most faithful and most ancient allies' . Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. What is the basis for the belief that Ignatius of Antioch knew the Apostle John? Updates? John was a fisherman, so he met Jesus on the sea of Galilee, where Jesus told him to follow His steps. Bacon, Martin Hengel and Henry Barclay Swete, maintain that these references to Papias are credible. The careless soldier climbed down a secret pathway to retrieve it, and that night the Persians led their troops up the same pathway and to the top. In John 21:21 Jesus told John to tarry till I come and in Revelations 10 John was told that he must prophecy again before many peoples nations and tongues. ), who was called Philadelphus ("brother lover") in honor of his loyal affection toward his brother, King Eumenes II of Pergamos. Christ says to this church: "These things says He who is holy, He who is true . Patmos. Before the Saviour called him to discipleship and made him a fisher of men, John the Theologian was a fisher of the sea. But John was first a disciple of Saint John the Baptist (Just like Philip the Apostle, if you are curious about his life, you can click on his name and you will access the article), who instilled in their faith in the Lamb of God who was to take upon himself the sins of the world. John was not arrested at Golgotha giving us a clue also that he was young and harmless for Jews. Evangelist John was the youngest disciple of Christ. [14] But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. . In Ephesus was much evil to avoid within and without the congregation. At that time, Domitian, Emperor of Rome, raised a great persecution against the Christians, and John was slandered before him. The New Testament names James the Just, Joses, Simon, and Jude as the brothers (Greek adelphoi) of Jesus (Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55, John 7:3, Acts 1:13, 1 Corinthians 9:5). Have you bound yourself to a woman? He was blessed with the power from above to write what he saw in the prophecies God revealed to him through His glory. Who was one of Josephs daughters, the Virgin Marys betrothed? John was the youngest and most handsome. When John was aged, he trained Polycarp who later became Bishop of Smyrna. If he did not conform he was out of a job . Only he remained by the cross of Christ when all the others had left Him. Saint Paul calls him, along with Peter and James, one of the three pillars of the Church who extended his right hand as a sign of brotherhood and sharing in the apostolic ministry. [15] So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. The Western tradition attributes Revelation to the apostle John, and there is a tradition that he went blind working in the salt works on Patmos. God works in you and gives you, according to His pleasure, both the will and the doing. Philadelphia means "brotherly love." was john blind when he wrote revelation. "That seat," comments Alexander Hislop, "after the death of Belshazzar [the last Babylonian king], and the expulsion of the Chaldean priesthood from Babylon by the Medo-Persian kings, was at Pergamos, where afterwards was one of the seven churches of Asia. How accurate are the descriptions of these seven cities mentioned in the book of Revelation according to archaeology and history? Zahn argues that this reference is actually to John the Baptist. Jesus was related to John in the flesh, or instead, he was his cousin. 27Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! Was John blind when he wrote Revelation? Archaeologists have discovered the main aqueduct going to Laodicea, and several miles of it can still be traced. Which is the best religion in the world. What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea" (verse 11). began preaching in the Jordan wilderness about the coming of Christ. John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus Christ. The Apostle John is also called John the Evangelist, John the Theologian, John the Apostle of Love, or the Son of Thunder. John the Elder So that in the day of Christ, I may boast that I neither ran nor toiled in vain. John the Apostle and John the Evangelist are the same person. Archaeologists have found at Ephesus the ruins of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the temple of Diana, or Artemis, also mentioned in the Bible (Acts 19:27 Acts 19:27So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nothing; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.American King James Version). Pergamos was so renowned for the worship of this god, who supposedly healed the sick, that this deity was called "the Pergamene god." As for Johns mother, Salome, a cousin of the Mother of God, we learn from the Gospels that she served Christ. What did Peter, James and John see on the Mount of Transfiguration? 1 Which John wrote the Book of Revelation? The Evangelist John is the first of the saints to be called Theologian. Together with his brother James, sons of Zebedee and Salome, half-sister grandsons of Jesus. Once again, there is no reason to believe the apostle John wrote this book, and many scholars now refer to its author as 'John of Patmos' in order to avoid confusion. It enabled them to maintain a Christian profession while countenancing and even engaging in immoral heathen revels" (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, 1975, p. 71). Our Lord upon his his Cross said these words to the Apostle St. John: 26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! The city was named after the love the king who founded the city held for his brother. Originally Answered: So are John the Apostle, John the Evangelist, and John the Baptist all the same person? Yet he mentions it as an honor to participate "in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ" (verse 9). [27] And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. "The defeated Chaldeans fled to Asia Minor, and fixed their central college at Pergamos," notes historian William Barker in his book Lares and Penates of Cilicia (1853, p. 232). It is noteworthy that Revelation 17:4-5 Revelation 17:4-5 [4] And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: John the apostle died on the island of Patmos, as he was kept a The day after the Lords baptism, the forerunner showed them Jesus passing by and said, Behold, the Lamb of God! They followed Him for the rest of their days. Many profound theological themes and images inspired the Churchs life. According to Tertullian (in The Prescription of Heretics) John was banished (presumably to Patmos) after being plunged into boiling oil in Rome and suffering nothing from it. According to Church tradition, Salome was one of the three daughters of the righteous Joseph, betrothed to the Virgin Mary from his first marriage. Traditionally, this was often believed to be the same person as John the Apostle (John, son of Zebedee), one of the apostles of Jesus, to whom the Gospel of John was also attributed. He recommends they focus instead on buying from Him the spiritual clothing of true righteousness that He later describes as "fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (Revelation 19:8 Revelation 19:8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.American King James Version). Others do exist but this one now has the favour of modern popes. Domitian afterwards banished him to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. In our long-running series "The Bible and Archaeology," we have gone through the Scriptures from Genesis through the Epistles reviewing many of the surprising archaeological finds that confirm and illuminate the biblical record. It was proud that it had been declared a "free city," which meant its residents had the right to govern their own affairs. Incredibly, several centuries later the same sequence of events occurred when a Greek general besieged the city. He believed it was the house described by Emmerich and where the Virgin Mary had lived the final years of her life. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. American King James Version, Bible Explorer Software). Healing the man blind from birth in John 9:1-7. And from that hour, the disciple took her to himself.. They learned that the four-walled, roofless ruin had been venerated for a long time by members of the mountain village of irince, 17 km distant, who were descended from the early Christians of Ephesus. Christian tradition says that the Apostle John was exiled to But we can understand that some Christians would welcome a heresy of this type. It is never explained how it was possible to exile John anywhere, if his enemies were unable to harm him.Another answer:John was exiled to Patmos as punishment for refusing to stop preaching the gospel. These words had not only a prophetic sense but a literal fulfillment in John's day as well. Are there any other theories about the later life of apostle John? In the second part (chapters 422:5), visions, allegories, and symbols (to a great extent unexplained) so pervade the text that exegetes necessarily differ in their interpretations. John the writer of Revelation is one of the Apostles. What was a Christian to do? Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. A:We know nothing about John of Patmos apart from his authorship of the Book of Revelation, but presumably he was able to see, in order to be able. "To him who overcomes," He promised, "I will give to eat from the tree of life [symbolizing eternal life], which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7 Revelation 2:7He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the middle of the paradise of God.American King James Version). He also wrote three other Sovereign Epistles, addressed to the whole of Christendom, which is also included in the canon of the New Testament. The city appeared as a gigantic watchtower and was considered impregnable. "It is no accident," notes John McRay, "that the letters in Revelation 1-3 are arranged in this same sequence. John of Revelation was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus. He escaped by miracle, without injury. 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). One of the New Testament gospels now bears his name as author, although it was anonymous until later in the second century, in which case he not only preached the gospel but wrote an account of the mission of Jesus. Paul says: As for virginity/celibacy, I have no commandment from the Lord. Hence part of the message of Revelation would apply to John's time, and part would be for future generations. Another excerpt from the same source: There are some similarities between John and Revelation but there are also some stylistic differences. After Domitian's death the Apostle returned to Ephesus during the reign of Trajan, and at Ephesus he died about A.D. 100 at a great age. Sister Marie de Mandat-Grancey was named Foundress of Mary's House by the Catholic Church and was responsible for acquiring, restoring and preserving Mary's House and surrounding areas of the mountain from 1891 until her death in 1915. As for Johns mother, Salome, Evangelist John was the youngest disciple of Christ. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days" (verse 10). Thank you. This solid advice is of lasting value to the entirety of the Church at any time in its history. "There, under favor of the deified kings of Pergamos, was his favorite abode and was the worship of Asklepios, under the form of the serpent . A fisherman from Bethsaida Galilee and Salome, one of the Myrrhbearers mentioned in the Bible. Christ recognizes the effort of the Ephesian brethren, in spite of many obstacles, to keep the faith and carry out the commission He had given them. So I take it to mean, that John will be sent back to preach before the coming of Christ in our times. Acidity of alcohols and basicity of amines. He serves as the pastor of the Garden Grove, CA UCG congregation and serves in the Spanish speaking areas of South America. [17] That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works. What are the 8 characteristics of life quizlet? Many of the Christians in Smyrna would die because of fierce persecutions. But membership involved attendance at guild banquets, and this in turn meant eating meat which had first been sacrificed to an idol. Therefore one could logically send a letter there and then on to the remaining six cities Christ mentioned. Because the author of the Book of Revelation identified himself as 'John', the book was once attributed to the apostle John. He was persecuted for his witness to Christ both in Jerusalem and Asia. Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Due to the actions of Pope Leo XIII in 1896 and Pope John XXIII in 1961, the Catholic Church first removed plenary indulgences from the Church of the Dormition in Jerusalem and then bestowed them for all time to pilgrims to Mary's House in Ephesus. But if thou wilt marries, thou hast not erred. Even if only allegorically, John speaks of the things he 'sees' in heaven, as if being able to see was normal and. And Jesus. What sort of strategies would a medieval military use against a fantasy giant? Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more" (Revelation 3:7 Revelation 3:7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things said he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;American King James Version, 11-12). And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things said he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens; Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. wall.org/~aron/blog/the-gospels-arent-anonymous, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerinthus#Works_attributed_to_Cerinthus, from your pastor, priest, or other trustworthy counselor, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup, Acceptable comments policy for Christianity Stack Exchange. Are there tables of wastage rates for different fruit and veg? Certainly the Old Testament identifies Satan's chief seat of activity as being in ancient Babylon, where the doctrines of its mystery religion "made all the earth drunk" (Jeremiah 51:7 Jeremiah 51:7Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.American King James Version). When the fourth bowl is poured out, the sun causes a major heatwave to scorch the planet with fire. 22:10-11, John brings to a close his description of his interaction with the angel who helped convey this revelation from God. It was from Thyatira that Lydia, a seller of purple and convert to Christianity, had come (Acts 16:14 Acts 16:14And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things which were spoken of Paul.American King James Version). 9 How are the Gospels and revelation similar and different? When the city was excavated from 1968 to 1971, its architectural remains showed it had the typical Roman style of colonnades and public buildings and a temple to the goddess Artemis. The remains of the shrine to Asklepios have been uncovered by archaeologists. However, scholars say that he is most unlikely to have been the real author, and for this reason now refer to the uthor of Revelation as John of Patmos. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John: I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars: And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. (Matthew 16:28) It's not definitive but is definitely intriguing to wonder if John is still with us, living privately somewhere. John was on the Greek island Patmos when he wrote Revelation. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. When you read Revelation, nowhere in the book does it state that John is in exile or imprisoned. person must have been the apostle John, Christians began to wonder The New Bible Dictionary comments: "As Philadelphus was renowned for his loyalty to his brother, so the church, the true Philadelphia, inherits and fulfills his character by its steadfast loyalty to Christ" (1982, "Philadelphia," p. 926). The apostle who leaned on Jesus chest at the Last Supper. "The teaching of Jezebel [probably a symbolic name] apparently reasoned that an idol is of no consequence, and advised Christians to eat such meals. About 25 miles southeast of Sardis lay the city of Philadelphia, newest of the seven cities. Blind Willie Johnson recorded "John the Revelator" during his fifth and final recording session for Columbia Records in Atlanta, Georgia on April 20, 1930. 19952023 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. This city would never reach the commercial greatness of Ephesus or Smyrna, but it was the indisputable center of religious, medical and artistic culture of the region. The only eminently prophetic book of the New Testament, the Apocalypse, is traditionally also attributed to St John the Evangelist. In this gospel, John is not called the Baptist. The Baptists ministry overlaps with that of Jesus; his baptism of Jesus is not explicitly mentioned, but his witness to Jesus is unambiguous.