Revelation

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO REVELATION

THE AUTHOR Four times in Revelation the write calls himself

John (1:1, 4, 9; 22:8) Ways John refers to himself

– Servant of Jesus Christ (1:1)– Brother of the Christians in Asia Minor and a

fellow sufferer in the tribulation (1:9)– Exiled to the isle of Patmos (1:9)– Saw and heard the things record in this book

(22:8)


THE AUTHOR Church history indicate it was John the

apostle

– Justin Martyr (A. D. 110-165) – John apostle of Christ, prophesied by a revelation and refers to the thousand years



apostle

– Clement of Alexandria (A. D. 153-217) – apostle John returned from Isle of Patmos after the tyrants death



apostle

– “Tell me, blessed John, apostle and disciple of the Lord, what didst thou see and hear concerning Babylon?” Then quotes chapter 17 & 18


Apostle John Jewish Christian from Galilee

– Son of Zebedee with James (Mt. 4:21)– His mother Mary’s sister, mother of Jesus (Mt. 27:56; Mk.

15:40; Lk. 23:49; Jn. 19:25)– Fisherman in partnership with Peter and Andrew (Lk. 5:7,

10; Mk. 1:16-20)– Successful businessman with hired servants (Mk. 1:20)

Tradition indicates supplied fish to High Priests family– Disciple of John the Baptist– One of the inner circle of Christ’s apostles

Apostle who Jesus love Jesus put His mother under his care


THE DATE Strong external evidence

– Domitian wanted to restore Roman religion and encourage the worship of himself.

– Early church fathers thought Domitian was the emperor during this time.



– Irenaeus (A. D. 180) – Student of Polycarp who was a student of John. “was not very long ago, almost in our own generation, at the close of the reign of Domitian.”



– Clement of Alexandria (A. D. 220) – notes that John left Patmos after the “tyrant’s death” but does not name him. According to Eusebius (Father of church history) tradition held this to be Domitian.



– Victorinus (A. D. 303) – martyred under Diocletian stated, “When John said these things he was in the isle of Patmos, condemned to the labor of the mines by Caesar Domitian. There, therefore, he saw the Apocalypse.” Later he notes about the seven heads of the beast in Rev. 17:10 that, “One remains, under whom the Apocalypse was written – Domitian, to wit.”



– Jerome (A. D. 340-420) – Domitian raised up a second persecution and John was banished to the isle of Patmos and wrote the Apocalypse.


THE DATE Internal evidence

– Spiritual conditions of the seven churches are more in harmony with a late date.

– Different from there situation in the last mention of them in the letters and Acts.



– Ephesus was planted about A. D. 61 if one takes an early date a lot changed in just seven years.

– Laodicea is reported to have great wealth (Rev. 3:17) but it was almost totally destroyed in A. D. 60 by an earthquake.



– It is unlikely to have been able to rebuild and become rich in a short time for the period of Nero.

Conclusion – External and internal evidence fit best for the Book of Revelation to have been written during the reign of Emperor Domitian


Place of writing Isle of Patmos (Rev. 1:9-11) In the spirit Told to write and send to the seven

churches of Asia Recipients

– To seven churches of Asia – Christians suffering persecution


Recipients– To seven churches of Asia – Christians suffering persecution


PURPOSE OF THE BOOK

Comfort and encourage faithfulness of Christians and the church during its persecution by the Roman Empire.


Messages of comfort and encouragement: Prepare them for what will shortly take

place (1:1) Encourage faithfulness (1:3; 21:7-8) Christ is sovereign over all kings (1:5) Ultimate victory of the saints (20:9-10;

1:5b)


FOUR PRIMARY DOCTRINES IN REVELATION

Doctrine of the sovereignty of God Doctrine of salvation through Christ Doctrine of a future blessed life Doctrine of the Christ return and

ultimate triumph

REASONS FOR ROMES ANTAGONISM TOWARD CHRISTIANITY

†Christianity was an illegal religion.

†Christianity aspired to universality.

†Christianity was an exclusive religion.

†Christians were accused of all manner of evil.

†Christians refused to go to war.


†Christians were recruited chiefly from the poor and the outcast of society.

†Christians shared with the Jews the contempt that the Romans held for them.

†Christians were viewed as wild fanatics because of their enthusiasm.


†Christianity came into conflict with the temporal interest of many Romans.

†Christians refused to worship the emperor.

ROMAN RELIGIOUS CONTEXT

†Religion was blended from all over the world to allow for various deities to be worshipped in the support of Rome.

†By 1st century A.D. emperor worship

†Rome saw religious loyalty related to political loyalty


ROMAN EMPIRE

Founding of Rome Rome had developed from a group of

tribes and city-states in northern and central Italy (Etruscans, Sabine, Latins, Umbrians, Samnites, among others) to a world power.


ROMAN EMPIRE

Century before Christ Collapse of the old city-state form of

government & imperial rule took its place after Civil war with Julius Caesar becoming the first ruler but did not take the title of king.– Julius Caesar

Octavian or Augustus Caesar (31 B. C. to A. D. 14)– Birth of Christ in 4 B.C.


Tiberius Caesar (A. D. 14-37)

Caligula (A. D. 37 – 41) Claudius (A. D. 41-54) Nero (A. D. 54–68) Galba (A. D. 68, six

months) Otho (A. D. 68, 95 days)

• Vitellius (A. D. 68-69, less than year

• Vespasian (A. D. 69-79)• Titus (A. D. 79-81)• Domitian (A. D. 81-

96)• Nerva (A. D. 96-98)• Trajan (A. D. 98-117)

Emperors of the First Christian Century

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Revelation

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