The Book of Revelation
Home > New Testament > The Book of Revelation The Book of Revelation At a Glance Apocalypse Genre: (4/5) **** Reliability of Dating: (3/5) *** Length of Text: Greek Original Language: Ancient Translations: Modern Translations: Estimated Range of Dating: 90-95 A.D. Chronological List of Early Christian Writings Discuss this text on the Early Writings forum. Text American Standard Version King James Version World English Bible Resources e-Catena: References to the New Testament in the Church Fathers Patristic References to Revelation, Chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Edgar Goodspeed: The Revelation of John Catholic Encyclopedia: Revelation An Interpretation of Revelation 11:8 Offsite Links Perseus NT (English/Greek/Latin) From Now to the End of Time: An EasyEnglish Commentary NAB Introduction NT Gateway: The Book of Revelation An Introduction to the New Testament: The Revelation of John and Christian Apocalyptic A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St.
John IVP Commentary Jeanie C. Crain's Introduction to Revelation The Opening of the Seals (Rev 6,1-8,6) Who Says? Who Hears? Blood and Purity in Leviticus and Revelation Using Plot to Discern Structure in John's Apocalypse Towards an Ethical Reading of The Apocalypse: Reflections on Johns Use of Power, Violence, and Misogyny Transforming the Imagination: Johns Apocalypse as Story The Prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, the Original Jewish Version The Book of Revelation, Apocalyptic Literature, and Millennial Movements The Revelation to John and the Spirit of Prophecy Books Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Baker Book House 2001) Burton L. Mack, Who Wrote the New Testament?
: The Making of the Christian Myth (San Francisco, CA: HarperCollins, 1996), pp. 193-197. Raymond Edward Brown, An Introduction to the New Testament (New York: Doubleday, 1997), pp. 773-813. Udo Schnelle, translated by M. Eugene Boring, The History and Theology of the New Testament Writings (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1998), pp. 517-538. Recommended Books for the Study of Early Christian Writings Information on the Book of Revelation Kummel provides the following information on dating the Apocalypse of John (Introduction to the New Testament, pp. 466-8): According to the oldest tradition [in Iren., Adv. Haer. 5.30.3] Rev was written toward the end of the reign of Domitian (81-96). The book's own testimony indicates that it originated in the province of Asia in a time of severe oppression of Christians, which is most readily conceivable under Domitian.
In the letters included in Rev, persecutions by the officials are expected (2:10), the blood of the martyrs has already flowed (2:13; 6:9), the whole of Christianity is threatened with a fearful danger (3:10): the immediate prospect is for the outbreak of a general persecution of Christians throughout the Roman Empire. In 17:6 John sees the harlot who is Babylon-Rome drunk on the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses of Jesus (cf. 6:10; 16:6; 18:24; 19:2). In 20:4 participation in the thousand-year reign is promised to the martyrs who have been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and for the word of God, and who have not worshiped the beast and his image and have not accepted his sign on their forehead and in their hand, i.e., those who have refused divine honors to the emperor (13:4, 12 ff; 14:9, 11; 16:2; 19:20).
Christianity has collided with the state and with the state religion, the Christ cult with the imperial cult. In the interest of faith, Rev raises passionate objections to Rome and the imperial cult. That corresponds to the situation under Domitian. Prior to Domitian, the state religion did not direct itself against the Christians. Nero's mad acts in Rome against the Christians had nothing to do with the imperial cult. Under Domitian, who according to the Eastern pattern laid claim to divine honors for himself as emperor during his own lifetime, there arose for the first time the persecution of Christians by the state on religious grounds. In 96 in Rome members of the imperial household were called to account for the charge of aqeoths; i.e., violation of the state religion.