The Book of Revelation
About the Writer
Why are we so afraid of the book of Revelation? Some scholars even consider it a sealed book not meant to be understood by us, the common folk. Yet Verse 3 in the first Chapter states just the opposite and instructs us to “read the words of this prophecy” and reminds us to adhere to its teachings.
Is it because the book reveals the absolute truth that scares us? Or because it reminds us that the second coming of Christ will not allow any more excuses? It will hit us without warning, (Just as death can hit us without warning).
[But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
(2 Peter 3:10 ESV)] and
[For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
(1 Thessalonians 5:2 ESV) ]
According to the book of Revelations there will be no second chances for unbelievers! We can’t live by the rules or unruliness of the world and then last minute confess Jesus and expect to be saved! There will be NO last minute. That alone is plenty of reason to know and understand this last book of the Bible.
The Apostle John, who is credited for writing this book, is the only Apostle not to be martyred, oh, not because of lack of trying, no, according to Tertullian (160-225) (in The Prescription of Heretics), the Romans actually tried to boil him in Oil, but I guess God still needed him here on earth and he escaped without harm, at the ripe age of approximately 95 he was very possible the only living witness of Jesus’ ministries and definitely the only living Apostle. After surviving the oil-bath John was exiled to the Island of Patmos, an Island that was used by the Romans as a colony to banish mainly political convicts.
Some other historical annotates about John the Apostle:
It is reported that because of his age John the Apostle was brought to church carried on a litter. As the people would flock around him he would greet them with the words, “Little children, love one another.”
It is believed that John lived out his life at Ephesus and died of natural causes at approximately 100 A.D. at the age of circa 106.
In Orthodox icons, he is often depicted looking up into heaven and dictating his Gospel (or the Book of Revelation) to his disciple, traditionally named Prochorus.
While on Patmos he wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone. You could say that in trying to prevent him from speaking, the Romans helped John send the Church one of the most important messages of all.
