Difference between revisions of "Category:Revelation of John (text)"

Frontispiece of the Book of Revelation in the St. Paul Bible, 9th cent.

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The Revelation of John (aka Apocalypse of John, or Book of Revelation) (see Online Text) is a New Testament document.

• See Seven Churches

Overview

The book of Revelation is an early Christian apocalyptic text. The author John of Patmos has been often identified with the apostle John and/or the Beloved Disciple of the Gospel of John, but must be regarded as an independent author. Early Church tradition dates the book to the end of the emperor Domitian (reigned 81-96 CE). The reference to Patmos and the Seven Churches points to Asia Minor as the place of composition of the text.

Revelation depends on some elements of the theology of the Gospel of John, yet developed them according to a different trajectory. The book was also very much influenced by the theology of Paul.

The secret knowledge received by John is not meant to remain "hidden" but is to be shared with all members of the community as the end is imminent: "3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near" (Rev 1:3). " "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." 12 "See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Rev 22:10-13).

Because of his cryptic language, Revelation remained a controversial text in Christianity. Doubts about its "authority" delayed its acceptance within the Christian canon until the beginning of the 5th century.

Content

Divisions in the book are marked by the repetition of key phrases and numbers.

• Introduction (chs.1-3)
  • The document is written in the form of a letter and is dedicated, in a language that echoes Paul, "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen". The revelation of Jesus Christ is given to John of Patmos by "one like a Son of Man". Unlike Daniel, the "Son of Man" has here divine attributes; see Son of Man.
  • Messages for seven churches of Asia (chs. 2-3); see Seven Churches.

• The vision of the Throne of God (chs. 4-5)
  • John is carried in spirit into heaven, where he has a vision of the Thorne of God. When a scroll, with seven seals, is presented to the "Lamb", the creatures of heaven fell down before the Lamb to give him praise, joined by myriads of angels and the creatures of the earth. He is the revealer: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; 10 you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth."

• The meaning of History (past-present-future) is revealed (chs. 6-16). At the center of History is God: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (1:8).
  • Seven Seals are opened.
  • Seven Trumpets are sounded.
  • Seven Spiritual Figures appear (the Woman, the Dragon, the Child, the Seven-Headed Beast, the Beast of the Sea, the Beats from the Earth, the Lamb)
  • Seven Bowls are poured onto Earth.

• Eschatological events (ch. 17:1-22:5)
  • The fall of Babylon the Great (=Rome).
  • The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
  • The Judgment of the Beast
  • The New Heaven and Earth, and the New Jerusalem

• Conclusion (22:6-21)

External links

• Wikipedia
• Early Christian Writings