The book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation is the last book in the Bible. The apostle John received a prophecy about the things to come. John was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ.

Maybe Andrew, the archbishop of Caesarea, who lived in the sixth and seventh centuries, was the first to write a commentary on the book of Revelation: Commentary on the Apocalypse : Andrew, Archbishop of Caesarea.

But he was definitely not the last. Why one more? Many great historical books, like the one from Andrew, are now published on the internet and can be referenced, which was not possible 10 years ago. Therefore, in these pages about Revelation, I try to find the root documents on which many commentaries are based.

Besides being seven churches that existed in the first century, the letters to the churches also very well fit the seven prominent church styles over the past 2000 years of the church age. In addition, a short overview of this can be found at What are the 7 churches of Revelation? | Bibleinfo.com.

Introduction

John was the leader of the church in Ephesus, as we can read in CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies, III.3 (St. Irenaeus).

Iraneus Against Heresies III Chapter 3, end of verse 4: 

Then, again, the Church in Ephesus, founded by Paul, and having John remaining among them permanently until the times of Trajan, is a true witness of the tradition of the apostles.

John wrote the book of Revelation from the Isle of Patmos.

Rev 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

How did John get to Patmos? The Roman emperor Domitian, who had a temple in Ephesus, persecuted Christians quite a bit at the end of his life. Unlike Nero, who just killed Christians, Domitian used other tricks, like sending them to an island far away.

We read in Irenaeus that John lived until Emperor Trajan, who was emperor after Domitian. John didn’t die at Patmos, he came back to Ephesus.

The book of Revelation is written from the Isle of Patmos

Church Father Justus Martyr (AD 100 -AD 165) identifies John the apostle as the writer of the book of Revelation: CHURCH FATHERS: Dialogue with Trypho, Chapters 69-88 (Justin Martyr).

Chapters 1-3 of the Book of Revelation

The book of Revelation tells prophecies that will happen (or have happened) on earth, and prophecies that happen in heaven.

Chapter 1 is an introduction to the letters to the 7 churches, which can be read in chapters 2 and 3.

Why did Jesus choose especially these 7 churches, and why in this order? Yes, it was 7 physical existing churches at the time (about 90 after Christ).

Besides being seven churches that existed in the first century, the letters to the churches also very well fit the seven prominent church styles over the past 2000 years of the church age. A short overview of this can be found at What are the 7 churches of Revelation? | Bibleinfo.com.

Chapters 4-21

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One commonly known element of the Book of Revelation is the number of the beast.