Probing the mysterious book to its very core, efird offers the best of modern scholarship in an accessible way. Revelation, the sequel to james butlers sweeping space epic new dawn. The content and structure of the book of revelation. Revelation has long been attributed to the author of johns gospel, in spite of the differences in style of writing. The book of revelation, also called revelation to john, apocalypse of john and revelation of jesus christ is the last canonical book of the new testament in the bible. The last book of the bible portrays gods total redemption. The book itself reveals that the author was a jew, well versed in scripture, a church leader who was well known to the seven churches of asia minor, and a deeply religious person fully convinced that the christian faith would soon triumph over the demonic forces at work in the world. The 12 tribes of israels are also mentioned in the book of. Tradition states that john the apostle served as the pastor to. Charles ryrie was a renowned conservative christian scholar, theologian, and author. To understand the book of revelation, we need the same things that help us to understand the rest of the. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those.
Christians throughout history have given almost unanimous affirmation to the identity of the. Brother james chronological presentation of gods plan for the end of the ages contains a concise yet thorough unfolding of the. Acts participant book, ebook genesis to revelation series. The author of revelation in this post i want to explain why it is almost universally thought that the same author did not write the fourth gospel and the book of revelation, and then to show why the latter author was almost certainly not john the son of zebedee, jesus close disciple. The author of revelation in this post i want to explain why it is almost universally thought that the same author did not write the fourth gospel and the book of revelation, and then to show why the latter. Book of james overview insight for living ministries.
Apr, 2011 finally, while there is little to commend the notion that a shadowy figure named john the elder wrote the book of revelation, there is ample evidence that it was written by john the apostle. The reason for this difference in style could possibly be that, the book of revelation was. The series is a comprehensive, versebyverse, book by book study of the bible based on the niv. Justin martyr, irenaeus, clement of alexandria, tertullian, cyprian, and hippolytus came to that conclusion.
The book of revelation is the final book in the bible, the revelations of st. The book of revelation is the only book in the bible, that i know of, that has a blessing associated with it for those who will read itnot once but twice. Revelation 1 new king james version nkjv introduction and benediction. Part of the genesis to revelation series from abingdon press, this session study of the book of acts begins with the mission to the world and ends with pauls journey to rome. The imputation of authorship to paul is not regarded as serious, and was doubted in the earliest centuries. Efird provides a clear, readable look at the meaning of revelation. There is no way to settle the issue for certain, but most scholars agree that james the lords brother is most likely to have been the author of the book of james. The name revelation comes from the first word of the book in koine greek. In revelation, johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil by. The holy bible book 66 revelation kjv dramatized audio. Whoever that john was has been a subject of debate.
Finally, while there is little to commend the notion that a shadowy figure named john the elder wrote the book of revelation, there is ample evidence that it was written by john the apostle. The letter of james, new testament writing addressed to the early christian. Revelation book description an incomplete commentary by an unknown author on a book which has already had so many expositors may seem a surprising addition to the geneva series. The commentary goes from revelation 1 to revelation chapter 11 when brother ramsey died. Introduction and benediction the revelation of jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servantsthings which must shortly take place.
Revelation about the book of james christian forums. The writer covers such topics as endurance under persecution, poverty and wealth. He wanted james, jude and revelation out of the bible because he didnt agree with them. The author of the book of revelation identifies himself as john, and the book has been traditionally credited to john the apostle.
On each page it printed the king james translation of 1611 alongside of scofields. The author names himself as john, but modern scholars consider it unlikely that the author of revelation also wrote the gospel of john. Brother james chronological presentation of gods plan for the end of the ages contains a concise yet thorough unfolding of the church age, the tribulation, the second coming of jesus christ, the millennium, and eternity. Christians throughout history have given almost unanimous affirmation to the identity of the books author as john the apostle, who had been exiled to the island of patmos by the authorities for preaching the gospel in asia. The commentary goes from revelation 1 to revelation chapter 11 when brother ramsey died before completion. Above i have listed all the evidence i could find and believe that the evidence points to the apostle john as the author of the book of revelation. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor.
The author identifies himself as james, a servant of god and of the lord jesus christ who is writing to the twelve tribes scattered abroad. Revelation by james beverlin ramsey banner of truth usa. Nov 19, 2012 this is the holy book of revelation, known as the revelation of st. Revelation is written in much poorer greek than the gospel and letters are, and it even spells the name jerusalem in greek differently than the gospel does. To enter into an extended investigation of this would greatly.
The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the book revelation 1. The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the most difficult to understand because it abounds in unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism, which at best appears unusual to the modern reader. Scholars have compared james speech and letter of acts 15. The book of revelation presents its author as john. Dec 14, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. From as early as justin martyr in the second century a. It is a remarkable text in many ways and surely bears internal evidence of being composed well. Thank you for making james durhams works available.
The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. Efird places revelation in its historical context approximately ad 90, and explains its message for us today. The first blessing is in the first chapter of revelation in. Mar 20, 2018 nobody knows who wrote the book of hebrews.
Tradition states that john the apostle served as the pastor to the churches in ephesus. Above i have listed all the evidence i could find and. Concerning the revelation, his commentary is the most accurate overall among all the reformed, puritan, and later expositors that have commented. The book of revelation audiobook by king james bible. In my personal opinion, the book of revelation was written by john the apostle who was the brother of james and disciple of jesus christ. Any god fearing person will find much help and edification reading mr. And what is the believers role in receiving and activating it. Revelation is a story told on many fronts, depicting different corners butlers dark and dangerous galaxy that crash into each other in unexpected ways. One of the best commentators on the book of revelation that im aware of.
The apostle john was the only one of the twelve who saw jesus on the cross. While there were skeptics, even early on, about the authorship of the text most likely due to the apocalyptic nature of the book, the general consensus was that john the apostle was the author. The author of the book of revelation christopher l. James was not a follower of jesus during the saviors time on earth mark 3. Iakobos, the epistle of james, or simply james, is one of the 21 epistles didactic letters in the new testament. Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. John the divine, although the godgiven title is at the very beginning of the text, the revelation of jesus christ, which. Jan 01, 2019 the book of revelation presents its author as john. Heaven will come down to earth, and the power of sin will finally be overcome. He thought he could trump the guidance of the holy spirit when it came to the canon of.
Four reasons exist as to why one should accept johannine authorship of revelation. And he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant john, who bore witness to the word of god, and to the testimony of jesus christ, to all things that he saw. Yes, there are several different james in the new testament, one of whom was the brother of the lord, an apostle, the pastor of the church in jerusalem, and the author of the book of james. Of the new testament works, only revelation names its author explicitly as john. Tradition states that john the apostle served as the pastor to the. The author of the epistle of james argued that some christians had distorted pauls message of. Ryries perspective is pretribulational and premillennial. Jul 04, 2016 in my personal opinion, the book of revelation was written by john the apostle who was the brother of james and disciple of jesus christ. This book is a commentary on the book of revelation, written on a popular level yet influenced by scholarship.
Foster, there is little consensus as to the genre, structure, dating, and authorship of the book of james. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it. No book from the bible is more controversial than the book of revelation. The author was probably a christian from ephesus known as john the elder. The 12 tribes of israels are also mentioned in the book of revelation. For many, the purpose of the book of revelation is a message of comfort during a time of conflict, which ultimately results in a conquest and a victory over the oppressor. James goll, author of the best seller the seer, explains that although some believers are especially gifted as prophets, every follower of jesus receives the gifts of revelation and discernment. This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation.
James goll, author of the best seller the seer, explains that although some believers are especially. John the divine, although the godgiven title is at the very beginning of the text, the revelation of jesus christ, which god. Some modern scholars characterize revelations author as a putative figure whom they call john of patmos. Revelation makes it clear that the material world will be restored completely, and gods people will live in a new world based on love, justice, and peace. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Why did martin luther discard the book of revelation.
The book of revelation king james version audiobook by. Concerning the revelation, his commentary is the most accurate overall among all the reformed, puritan, and later expositors that have commented upon this book. While james did not specifically identify himself as to which james he was james 1. The traditional view holds that john, the apostle, was the author of revelation. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries. While church tradition has attributed the gospel of john, the letters of john, and the book of revelation to the same authorjohn the apostle and son of zebedeeinternal and external evidence may require us to attribute them to other individuals who may or may not have also been named john. Paul wrote the book of hebrews, james wrote the book of james, jude wrote the book of jude and john wrote the revelation. To enter into an extended investigation of this would greatly exceed the limits which i have, and would not comport with my design in these notes. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written. It is the only biblical book that is wholly composed of apocalyptic literature. He is always named next after jesus in lists of jesus brothers, so he was presumably considered to be jesus next younger brother. The reason for this difference in style could possibly be that, the book of revelation was revealed to john the apostle at his old age and was possibly penned with the help of someone who was not good in greek language. James morgan pryse was an esoteric gnostic who saw revelation as a western version of the hindu theory of the. He was the son of joseph, a construction worker who originally lived in nazareth in galilee.
James was a very common name in those days, just as tom, dick, james, and harry are today. A number of ancient church fathers, notably irenaeus, believed that the author of revelation was also the author of. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the. In revelation, johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil. The very fact that the author of the apocalypse simply calls himself john is a dead giveaway that he was well known throughout the churches in asia minor. By the time the writings that are now included in the new testament were assembled in their present form, three. So it is extremely unlikely that the same person wrote all of these books. The revelation of john is the one book in the new testament that claims john as its author. Revelation is a story told on many fronts, depicting. Nov 14, 2017 2 the author of the book clearly had a strong connection with the seven churches of asia minor as evident in revelation 2. The first blessing is in the first chapter of revelation in verse 3. An incomplete commentary by an unknown author on a book which has already had so many expositors may seem a surprising addition to the geneva series.
The book of james is talking to the 12 tribes of israel. In book one, the reader will study endtime prophecy by themes. This is the holy book of revelation, known as the revelation of st. Much has been written on the question who was the author of this book.