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Revelation In NT Essay, Research Paper

The book of Revelation is the last profound book in the New Testament. It

conveys the significant purpose of Christianity by describing God’s plan for the

world and his final judgement of the people by reinforcing the importance of

faith and the concept of Christianity as a whole. This book written by John in

95 or 96 AD, is the revelation of Jesus Christ illustrating the events that

occur before and during the second coming of Christ. By using complex symbolism

and apocalyptic metaphor the meaning of Revelation is defined. What is, what has

been, and what is to come is the central focus of the content. When correlating

the total concept of the book of Revelation the tremendous impact of the word of

God cannot be overlooked. Revelation was written in the last 3rd of the 1st

century clearly when the christians were being pressured by Rome to turn from

their faith to the Roman emperor. This book was intended for the seven churches

of Asia. Some think that the book was written around 64 AD, after the burning of

Rome. Revelation 11:1 references the temple suggesting that it is still standing

when history proves that the temple was destroyed by Titus in 70 AD. However,

this could simply be a prediction and have no relevance as to the date the book

was written. On the other hand, there is historical evidence that points to 95

or 96 AD as being the more probable date for the writing of this narrative.

Among these include statements from christian writers such as church father who

states that Revelation was written in the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian

(81-96). In addition this date better agrees with description of the early

churches and is accepted by them as well as by scholars as the better date. A

man named John wrote the book of Revelation on an island in the Argean Sea named

Patmos. This person is believed to be John the Apostle of Jesus Christ, author

of the fourth gospel. There has been some confusion over this, due to the fact

that John does not designate himself as an apostle and when mentioning them does

not include himself in that group. Rather he claims to be a prophet and his book

to be a prophecy. However, the early church as well as early theologians claim

the author as John the Apostle. In 480 AD five passages written by Iraneous

mentioned John specifically as the author, and in the middle of the 2nd century

Justin Marty quoted verbatim "attributing the authorship to John, an

apostle of Christ." (Tenney). In researching the fourth gospel and the book

of Revelation similarities do occur showing the book to be written by the same

person. A prime example being that the only mention of Jesus as logos in the

entire bible exists in these two books. If this book was not written by John the

Apostle, it was written by a John never before heard of or mentioned. Given

these facts and the past statements of christian writers it is highly likely

that the book of Revelation was in fact written by the apostle John, and is

agreed upon by most scholars today. The word revelation or apocaylpse has two

distinct meanings. In Latin "Revelatio" means unveiling and in Greek

"apokalypsis means the removing of a veil. The purpose of this book is the

revelation of Jesus Christ and the final judgement of the word of God. "The

coming of sin into the world, the establishment of the economy of redemption,

has necessitated the making known of truths not made known by general

revelation. Therefore, God has given the special revelation brought to us in the

Holy Scriptures. The scriptures reiterate the truths proclaimed in nature, in

history, and in man himself; and, in addition thereto, declare the salvation

which God has provided for mankind in Jesus Christ." (Unger 922). In

retrospect, revelation unveils God’s future plan for the earth and is written to

be understood. Clearly the book of Revelation is the ultimate battle between

good and evil. It is the time when all sin will be judged, demons will be cast

away, and Christ will reign over the earth. This is the word of God showing us

his plan for the retribution of his son Jesus Christ. By sending these words to

John in a vision God is warning the people of the world to repent for their sins

and that the time is drawing near. "John to the seven churches which are in

Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which

is to come; and from the seven spirits which are before his throne;" (Rev.

1:4). The content of Revelation is very complex apocalyptic literature

consisting of many symbols some of which are explained and other are not. The

number seven occurs numerous times throughout this narrative. The number seven,

a perfect number, divisible by nothing meaning completeness. "The book is

broken down by four series of seven according to the theme of which is, which

was, and which is to come." (Ladd 14). Concluding with the fall of Babylon,

the final battle, and the new Jerusalem. By breaking down the content in this

way it is more easily explained, but keep in mind that there are a few brief

interruptions that do not apply to the derivative of seven. The first series of

the four are The Seven Letters (rev. 2:1-3:22). In these seven letter John sends

messages to the seven churches in Asia. Although research shows that this is

also meant towards other bodies outside of these

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