Revelation In NT Essays - Christian Eschatology, Book Of Revelation

Revelation In NT 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