Author: The Apostle John
Date: 70-95 A.D.
Theme: The LORD our Almighty GOD reigns
Key Words: Throne, Lamb, overcame, seven, I Saw

Author: Four times the author refers to himself as John (1:1,4,9; 22:8). He was so well known and his spiritual authority so well established among his readers that he didn't need to recite his credentials. From very early in the history of the Church this book is unanimously attributed to the Apostle John.

Background and Date: The internal evidence shows that Revelation was written in a time of extreme persecution against Christians, which was probably initiated by Nero, after the great fire that almost destroyed Rome in July of 64 A.D., and continued until his suicide in 68 A.D. According to this point of view, the book had been written before the destruction of Jerusalem in September of 70 A.D., and is an authentic prophecy about the continuous sufferings and persecution of Christians, which would be more intense and severe in the years to come. On the basis of scattered affirmations of the Church fathers, some commentators date the book in the final age of the reign of Domitian (81-96 A.D.), after John's flight from Ephesus.

Occasion and Purpose: Under the influence of the Spirit and the Old Testament, John was undoubtedly reflecting the horrible events that occurred in Rome as well as Jerusalem, when he proclaimed "the prophecy" about what seemed imminent: the intensification of the spiritual war against the Church (1:3) on the part of an antichristian state and by numerous antichristian religions. The purpose of this message was giving pastoral encouragement to the persecuted, strengthening, invoking and proclaiming the security and certainty of the hope, along with the confidence that in Christ they all shared the sovereign power of GOD to completely overcome the forces of evil in all its manifestations. Revelation is also an evangelical calling to those who presently live in the kingdom of darkness to enter into the kingdom of light (22:17).

Content: The central message of Revelation is that "the LORD our Almighty GOD reigns" (19:6). This theme has been confirmed in history by the victory of the Lamb who is "LORD of lords and King of kings" (17:14).

Thus, those who follow the Lamb are involved in a continuous spiritual conflict, and Revelation offers a deeper vision of the nature of the enemy (Eph. 6:10-12). The dragon, frustrated by his defeat on the cross, and the consequent restrictions imposed on his activity, and desperate to twist GOD's purposes before his inevitable fall, develops a triple counteroffensive "to make war" on the saints (12:17). The first "beast" or monster symbolizes the reality of an antichristian government and political power (13:1-10,13); and the second, an antichristian religion, philosophy and ideology (13:11-17). United, they ultimately give place to a seductive and false society, to a secular antichristian economy and culture: the corrupt Babylon (chaps. 17 and 18), composed of those who "inhabit the earth". They bear "the mark" of the beast, and their names aren't written in "the Lamb's book of life". The dragon continually delegates his restricted powers and authority to the monsters and their followers, to thus deceive and discourage any creative and redemptive purpose of GOD.

NOTE: If you haven't yet read the article, "Studying the Book of Revelation", which immediately precedes this introduction, it's important that you do so in order to facilitate the use of that auxiliary material.

Personal Application: GOD has created the order of the community; that is, marriage and the family, economic activity, the government and the state (see Rom. 13:1-7; I Tim. 2:1,2). Satan, incapable of creating anything, tempts others to distort and misuse what GOD has created. Christians must distinguish when a government is functioning "under" divine authority or "like" divine authority. It it's the second, Christians must pray, bravely resist and patiently accept the consequences of obeying the GOD whose image and seal they bear (Mark 12:16,17; Acts 4:19). They must do so in the trust that after their victorious suffering they will reign with the LORD.

Behind the appearances of the world's pomp and power, is the reality of the absolute sovereignty of the LORD, the Lamb who guarantees the final defeat of sin and evil. GOD utilizes all the forces of evil, all the consequences of sin, even the suffering of his saints, to achieve his purposes. The believers who suffer persecution should know that their sufferings aren't in vain, and that at the end they will be vindicated. The principal source of Christian hope and courage is the certainty that the enemy has been defeated and has fallen, that the followers of the Lamb aren't fighting a lost cause. He has already overcome, so that they can be and will be conquerors!.

Literary Form: After a preface, Revelation begins (1:4-7) and ends (22:21) like a typical letter of the New Testament. Although the book contains seven letters directed to seven churches of Asia Minor, every believer should "hear" the message directed to each one of those churches (2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22), as well as the message of the complete book (1:3; 22:16), so they can obey it (1:3; 22:9). Inside this letter is "the prophecy" (1:3; 10:11; 19:10; 22:6,7,10,18,19). According to Paul, "he who prophesies speaks to men for edification, exhortation and consolation" (I Cor. 14:3). The prophet speaks the Word of GOD as a calling to obedience in the present and in the situations of the immediate future, in light of the ultimate future. This prophecy wasn't sealed (22:10) because it has relevance for believers of all generations.

Method of Communication: John received these prophecies through a series of visions which contained symbols and numbers reminiscent of those found in the prophetic books of the Old Testament. He recorded these visions possibly in the chronological order in which they were received, many of them as pictures of the same events from different perspectives. However, the chronological order in which the historical events should occur isn't offered. For example, Jesus is born in chapter 12 and is exalted in chapter 5, while he looks over his churches in chapter 1. The beast who attacks the two witnesses in chapter 11, doesn't make his appearance until chapter 13. John records a series of consecutive visions, not a series of consecutive events.

Revelation is a cosmic spectacle: an elaborate series of tapestries, accompanied and interpreted by heavenly voices and songs. The spoken word is a high prose, more poetic that our translations indicate. The music is similar to a cantata. Themes are successively introduced that are later reintroduced, developed and combined with other themes.

The entire message is a "revelation" (1:1). This is a key for understanding the visions, which contain a figurative language that puts the spiritual realities within and outside of history into manifestation. The signs and symbols are essential because spiritual truth and invisible reality must be communicated to human beings through the senses. The symbols point out what is ultimately undescribably. For example, the story of the demonic locusts from the abyss (9:1-12) creates a vivid and horrifying impression, although it doesn't try to interpret the small details.

Christ Revealed: Almost all the terms employed in the New Testament to describe the divine and human nature of Jesus, and his redemptive work, are mentioned at least once in Revelation. These terms, along with many other expressions, offer us the unique multidimensional revelation of the place occupied by the constant ministry and final victory of the exalted Christ.

Even when the book offers a condensed summary of Jesus' earthly ministry, from his incarnation until the ascension in 12:5, Revelation assures that the Son of GOD, as the Lamb, has totally completed his redemptive work (1:5,6). By his blood sinners have been forgiven, cleansed (5:6,9; 7:14; 12:11), delivered (1:5), and made kings and priests (1:6; 5:10). All the manifestations that follow his announced victory are based on the work finalized on the cross; therefore, Satan has been defeated (12:7-12) and bound (20:1-3). Jesus, raised from the dead, is enthroned as absolute sovereign over all creation (1:5; 2:27). He is "King of Kings and LORD of lords" (17:14; 19:16), and receives the same worship as the Creator GOD (5:12-14).

The only one who is "worthy" of realizing GOD's eternal purpose is the "Lion of Judah", who isn't a political Messiah, but the sacrificed Lamb (5:5,6). "The Lamb" is his principal title, utilized 28 times in Revelation. As a conqueror, the Lamb has the authority and power to control all the forces of evil and their consequences, subordinating them to his purposes of righteousness and salvation (6:1-7:17). The Lamb is upon the throne (4:1-5:14; 22:3).

The Lamb, as "one like the Son of Man, is always in the midst of his people (1:9-3:22; 14:1), whose names are written in his Book of Life (3:5; 21:27). He knows them intimately, and with his immeasurable and holy love watches over, protects, disciplines and challenges them. They share his present and future victory (17:14; 19:11-16; 21:1-22:5), as well as his present and future "wedding feast" (19:7-9; 21:2). He remains in them (1:13), and they in Him (21:22).

As "one like the Son of Man", he is also the LORD of the final harvest (14:14-20). He poured out his wrath in judgment upon Satan (20:10), his allies (19:20; 20:14), and those who are spiritually "dead" (20:12,15), all those who "dwell upon the earth" (3:10).

The Lamb is the GOD who comes (1:7,8; 11:17; 22:7,20) to consummate his eternal plan, to complete the creation of a new community of believers in "a new heaven and a new earth" (21:1) and to restore the blessings of GOD's paradise (22:2-5). He Lamb is the goal of all history (22:13).

The Holy Spirit in Action: The description of the Holy Spirit as "the seven Spirits of GOD" (1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6) is something distinction in the New Testament. The number sever is symbolic: a code that expresses the idea of fullness, and when related to GOD, perfection.

The Holy Spirit is alluded to in terms of the perfection of his dynamic and multiple activity. The "seven lamps of fire" (4:5) suggest his ministries of light, purification and strengthening. That the seven Spirits are before the throne (1:4; 4:5), and simultaneously are the seven eyes of the Lamb (5:6), refers to the triune character of GOD, who has revealed himself as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is a mutual rapport (or "understanding") which doesn't dissolve the essential distinctions of the being and function of each one of the persons.

Each one of the messages to the seven churches comes from the exalted LORD, and each one of their members is urged to hear "that which the Spirit says" (chaps. 2;3). He Spirit says only what the LORD Jesus says.

In that way, the Spirit is the Spirit of prophecy. All genuine prophecy is inspired by the Holy Spirit and gives testimony of Jesus (19:10). The prophetic visions are communicated to John only when he is "in the Spirit" (1:10; 4:2; 21:10). The content of these visions is nothing less than "the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1:1).

All genuine prophecy demands a response. "The Spirit and the Bride say: Come" (22:17). All the world either hears, or rejects this calling. The Spirit continually works in the Church, and through it, to invite all those who are outside the City of GOD to enter in. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit is the Bride able to testify and to "patiently hope". The Spirit thus penetrates the present experience of those who hear with anticipated joy about the future fullness of the kingdom.

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