Revelation - Introduction(1)

Introduction

Revelation is probably one of the least studied books in the New Testament. At the same time it is also about which more rubbish has been written than any other book! So here we are now beginning to look at the last and most enigmatic book in the Bible. In this brief introduction I will look a little at the date and authorship, but most importantly at the approach I will take to this book.

Date and Authorship

The book itself claims to be written by John. The early church witnesses all take this to be John the apostle. The fact that the book itself does not elaborate on which John it is, and the authority with which he writes is all consistent with John the Apostle being the author. In the third century Dionysius cast doubt on this, based largely on linguistic grounds (always dodgy, at best) that it was John the Presbyter, whoever he might be.  I will take the author to be John the Apostle.

With regard to date there are two primary contenders. The most popular is during the reign of Domitian, towards the end of the first century, sometime around 95 AD. The second is just after the reign of Nero, putting the book about. Most scholarship favours the later date, and the early church witness supports this as well. There is also internal evidence. The state of the seven churches is more consistent with the later date. Emperor worship was becoming widespread in the time of Domitian. Emperor worship had been an on and off thing prior to that, but Domitian seems to have regarded himself as a god, and parts of Revelation seem to be alluding to emperor worship.

Those who favour an early date see 666 as referring to Nero. There are arguments for this, but also arguments against. The early date is required for the preterist interpretation (see below).

I will assume it was written in the period AD 90-95.