Title: Revelation of Jesus Christ = Apocalypse = revealing, uncovering = Final Victory of Christ

Author:  Apostle John – (Rev, 1:1, 4, 9, 22:8)

Gospel of John, The Epistles of John- confirmed by Irenaeus and Justin Martyr

Common Themes- Christ is The Word, Christ is the Lamb

Historical account of John’s exile to Patmos

Tradition holds that on one occasion, John was scheduled for boiling in oil. He escaped by divine intervention. His exile on Patmos easily could have been a death sentence. When Emperor Domitian, who had exiled him to Patmos, had died, John was brought back to Ephesus, where he was confined for two years. It is written that he was compelled to drink poison but was unharmed, and finally died in peace.

source: Foxes Book of Martyrs

Date:  Early or Later Date? Majority believe it was written the end of the first century AD 94-96

Why is this significant? Destruction of the Jewish Temple 70 AD = Held by primarily Preterist

Strong evidence for a later date:

•  Irenaeus – Church Father, disciple of John, affirms late date
• Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Victorinus, Eusebius, Jerome -all affirm later date
• 7 Churches of Revelation = point to a later date = example Church of Ephesus

4 Views of Revelation:

• Preterist- Believe everything in Revelation is fulfilled by 70 AD- (hence the importance of the early date)
• Historical View– Believe Revelation is a symbolic view of the Church history
• Idealist View – View Revelation as symbolic of the cosmic world between good and evil
• Futurist View – View events from Chapters 6-22 are still futuristic , and those chapters literally and symbolically depict real events, including the second coming of Christ, the Millennial Reign, Final Judgement ect