Category:Revelation of John (text)

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


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

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.

Doubts about the "authority" of the text delayed its acceptance with 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)
    • 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.
  • The meaning of History (past-present-future) is revealed (chs. 6-16):
    • "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.
    • 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

Pages in category "Revelation of John (text)"

The following 77 pages are in this category, out of 77 total.

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