Inscriptions at the site reveal the existence of trade guilds, many of them associated with the powerful textile industry. And they, leaving their father and former lives, followed the Savior. The Apostle John lived 105 years, remaining the last apostle on Earth. Did the apostle James the Greater travel to Spain and was he martyred in Jerusalem? But if thou wilt marries, thou hast not erred. He was to young to be considered a threat. Moreover, the Ephesian brethren had to resist the many temptations the immensely popular pagan temple worship offered them. That these meals all too readily degenerated into sexual looseness made matters worse. The city's famous library, with 200,000 parchment rolls, was rivaled only by the library in Alexandria, Egypt. Pergamos was so renowned for the worship of this god, who supposedly healed the sick, that this deity was called "the Pergamene god." "It is no accident," notes John McRay, "that the letters in Revelation 1-3 are arranged in this same sequence. Gal. . 3 Did John Write Revelation before the Gospel of John? February 27, 2023 By restaurants on the water in st clair shores By restaurants on the water in st clair shores The Acts of the Apostles shows the disciple and Apostle John with Peter both in the healing and in the imprisonment of the two in the dungeon, which speaks of Johns role in the early Christian community in Jerusalem. . At John's advanced age it would have been a harrowing ordeal. "The strong trade guilds in this city," says Leon Morris, "would have made it very difficult for any Christian to earn his living without belonging to a guild. Another excerpt from the same source: There are some similarities between John and Revelation but there are also some stylistic differences. From Ephesus he wrote the three epistles attributed to him. . Evangelist John was the youngest disciple of Christ. This suffering consists mainly of the daily worries and various conflicts that can arise in the bosom of any couple. When the Apostle John wrote Revelation, he began with: "John, to the seven churches that are in Asia." (Rev 1:4). Before the Saviour called him to discipleship and made him a fisher of men, John the Theologian was a fisher of the sea. We know that Paul died and Peter died but we don't know that John died. The case for a late date authorship of the Book of Revelation (95-96 AD) There really is only one point that people hold onto for a late date authorship of the Book of Revelation. Was John blind when he wrote Revelation? He found out about the Church when he was 17 from a Church member in high school. Previous to this, according to Tertullian's testimony (De praescript., xxxvi), John had been thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil before the Porta Latina at Rome without suffering injury. There he won respect and admiration from the Romans for his brotherly fidelity. Are there tables of wastage rates for different fruit and veg? Many people view Revelation, sometimes called the Apocalypse, as a mysterious book of strange symbols and images. (Matthew 16:28) It's not definitive but is definitely intriguing to wonder if John is still with us, living privately somewhere. Healing the man blind from birth in John 9:1-7. They learned that the four-walled, roofless ruin had been venerated for a long time by members of the mountain village of irince, 17 km distant, who were descended from the early Christians of Ephesus. PrivacyPolicyTerms ofUse. By the time of the early church and Paul's appearance on the scene (after his time out of the record when he was apparently studying and learning), she would have been at least in her mid 60s, if not older. John of Revelation was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus. Omissions? The water piped in from the south had so many minerals that the Roman engineers had covers installed so they could remove the mineral deposits before the pipes clogged. Irenaeus was born in 130 - at least 30 years after John died. 4 What are the 7 churches mentioned in Revelation? Beginning with Ephesus, the roads follow a geographic semicircle, extending northward, turning to the east, and continuing southward to Laodiceathus connecting the cities on what must have functioned as an ancient postal route" (Archaeology and the New Testament, 1997, p. 242). Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God. [15] So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. It Continue Reading 1 Lawrence C. [13] I know your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan's seat is: and you hold fast my name, and have not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells. This would make its religious successor, Pergamos, the temporary new "Satan's seat" of the Babylonian mystery religion. Have you bound yourself to the woman? On the one hand, Johns Gospel is written in simple and fluent Greek, whereas the We do know that someone called John wrote the Book of Revelation because he actually signed the book. He is said to have lived to an old age, dying at Ephesus sometime after AD 98. rev2023.3.3.43278. 2 Did the Apostle John write revelations? Next on the Roman mail route was Pergamos, the Roman capital of Asia Minor. "Dedicated to Asklepios Soter, the god of healing, the Asklepieion was a kind of Mayo Clinic of the ancient world . Again, this prophecy had a literal fulfillment as well as serving as a description of a future time for the Church. In fact, to this day, a community of disciples of John the Baptist still exists in the Middle East. Some 40 miles east of Pergamos lay Thyatira, a city important for its commerce in wool and textiles. Behold, your mother! Are there any historical accounts that support the legend? The Book of Revelation was written sometime around 96 CE in Asia Minor. Is the Gospel of John John the Baptist? He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more" (Revelation 3:7 Revelation 3:7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things said he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;American King James Version, 11-12). was john blind when he wrote revelation. So that in the day of Christ, I may boast that I neither ran nor toiled in vain. haer. John of the 12 disciples of Jesus wrote Revelation when he was imprisoned on the island of Patmos. Christians are consequently exhorted to remain steadfast in their faith and to hold firmly to the hope that God will ultimately be victorious over his (and their) enemies. What is the true religion of God? John was a logical choice because he was believed to have been a bit younger than the other apostles, and he was the Apostle of whom it was written "Jesus loved". Is this legend true? Only such as these will have sorrow in their bodies. The tradition of John's exile was started by Augustine about 200 years after John lived. What is the main message of the book of Revelation? Alexandria, Egypt dating the gospel of John only support what is the regulations! According to Tertullian (in The Prescription of Heretics) John was banished (presumably to Patmos) after being plunged into boiling oil in Rome and suffering nothing from it. Revelation to John appears to be a collection of separate units composed by unknown authors who lived during the last quarter of the 1st century, though it purports to have been written by an individual named Johnwho calls himself "the servant" of Jesusat Patmos, in the Aegean Sea. And they, leaving their father and former lives, followed the Savior. began preaching in the Jordan wilderness about the coming of Christ. The watchmen had gone home to sleep, thinking there was no need to keep guard at nightand so Sardis fell. You shine as lights in the world, holding up the Word of life. ad. It was proud that it had been declared a "free city," which meant its residents had the right to govern their own affairs. . What is the origin of the story that the Apostle John taught only "love one another"? . Changing water into wine at Cana in John 2:1-11 the first of the signs. What is the difference between John the Baptist and John the Apostle? After the Assumption, Saint John went with his disciple Prochor to Asia Minor, where it fell to him to preach the Word of God. Also, you can contact us anytime on:office@doortoeden.com. During the time of John's exile, traditionally 94-96, history records violent persecution against Christians under the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian (81-96). The brethren in Smyrna knew they were special targets of the persecution under Domitian, for the city's history had shown an unwavering loyalty to Rome. We know where St. Peter's bones are, and several other apostles, but not St. John. Please refrain from using the fallacy of argument from authority - try and engage with the actual issues. This site is dedicated to all kinds of people. Is the Book of Revelation written by John? After the Teacher of Nazareth calls Andrew and his older brother Peter to the apostolate, it is the turn of John and James, his close relatives. Another big clue that John did not have his own house, or wife, or kids, or estate is when he and James followed Jesus and asked him where he stayed. The day after the Lords baptism, the forerunner showed them Jesus passing by and said, Behold, the Lamb of God! They followed Him for the rest of their days. ", III, iii, 4); his touching anxiety about a youth who had become a robber (Clemens Alex., "Quis dives salvetur", xiii); his constantly repeated words of exhortation at the end of his life, "Little children, love one another" (Jerome, "Comm. He did not know any books or was a sage man at the beginning, like the other Apostles, but was from a wealthy family. He is then exiled to Patmos island by Emperor Domitians order. Zebedees father was a fisherman with several employees, including his two sons, James and John. John the Apostle and John the Evangelist are the same person one of Jesus original 12 disciples. Such was the reputation of ancient Ephesus. American King James Version, 18 reveals that in the end time a powerful religious system from the ancient past will again reign over the nations and be identified as "Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth.". Patmos, a rocky, volcanic and sparsely populated isle, was an appropriate place to send captives. Also, I recommend you check our article about Lukerelated to this one. John, the last living apostle of the original 12, apparently was banished for this reason. He wrote the Gospel, the three canonical epistles, and the Apocalypse by divine inspiration. [16] Repent; or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. They went close to him and became his disciples. In the second part (chapters 422:5), visions, allegories, and symbols (to a great extent unexplained) so pervade the text that exegetes necessarily differ in their interpretations. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?. When John said these things says he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second ''. Revelation 1:1 states that the Book of Revelation was written by a person called John, and Revelation 1:9 says that he wrote from Patmos, without at any stage saying that he had been exiled to the island. And there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and John. It was decided that the emperor had him boiled in oil, but that this did not harm him, so he was exiled to Patmos. The Apostle and Evangelist John were from Bethsaida Galilee. If scholarly research is to be trumped by blogs, this discussion belongs on the chat room. - John the Apostle (Wikipedia). The port city of Ephesus was a short voyage from Patmos. John was the youngest and most handsome. If you enjoyed our article, check out our Bible Trivia section for a Quiz about John the Apostle. "For all its wealth, the city had poor water," says The Expositor's Bible Commentary. During the time of John's exile, traditionally 94-96, history records violent persecution against Christians under the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian (81-96). The author uses the number seven, for example, in a symbolic sense to signify totality or perfection. References to a thousand years (chapter 20) have led some to expect that the final victory over evil will come after the completion of some millennium (see Millennialism). Was it customary in the Roman Empire for convicts to be exiled to an island? Where Was John When He Wrote Revelation? Luke 3:1-22, Matt. After Jesus died, John went to Ephesus to spread the good news of salvation. Further, even if their clothing were world renowned, Christ tells them their "spiritual garments" were in pitiful condition. American King James Version). Once, when King Cyrus of Persia besieged the city, the Sardians, nestled in their fortress high above, paid little attention to the invader. Hi, we are David and Mirabela. 14:1-12. John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus Christ. Although Saint Paul proposes to keep unmarried people celibate precisely so they can avoid these sufferings, he nowhere says they are useless or impossible to overcome. The serpent god was none other than Satan, whom Revelation describes as "that serpent of old, called the Devil" (Revelation 12:9 Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.American King James Version). When John was aged, he trained Polycarp who later became Bishop of Smyrna. With three main roads crossing it, the city was one of the richest commercial centers in the world. As a side note, there are a couple of points one could add here. Johns account of the Baptist is different from that of the synoptic gospels. It was there that Paul had warned the "elders of the church" (Acts 20:17 Acts 20:17And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.American King James Version): "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. John the Baptist did not write any books that we know of -and he had his own disciples. Yes. Perhaps further to this issue, you could comment on the perspective on the matter taken here: @bruisedreed It wasn't until later in the second century that we have a positive assertion of John's authorship. Under these conditions, a Christian named John wrote Revelation, addressing it to the seven churches that were in Asia Minor. Blessed Catherine Emmerich adds this to the end of the life of the Virgin Mary: After Christ's Ascension Mary lived for three years on Mount Sion, for three years in Bethany, and for nine years in Ephesus, whither St. John took her soon after the Jews had set Lazarus and his sisters adrift upon the sea. The Book of Revelation by John the Apostle Introduction - Book of Revelation The Apostle John is the author of the Book of Revelation. Thus, the sons of this woman are mentioned among the Myrrhbearers. So unless there is proof that he was forcibly restrained, it should be assumed that John of Patmos could leave the island whenever he chose, and return at any time he chose. To their surprise, the site was completely unguarded. Many scholars, however, agree that Revelation is not simply an abstract spiritual allegory divorced from historical events, nor merely a prophecy concerning the final upheaval at the end of the world, couched in obscure language. He tells them that "he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'as I also have received from My Father" (Revelation 2:26-27 Revelation 2:26-27 [26] And he that overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations: Although Christ is clearly the central figure of Revelation, an understanding of the text presupposes familiarity with Old Testament language and concepts, especially those taken from the books of Daniel and Ezekiel. He promises to those of Thyatira who remain faithful that they will be arrayed, not in Thyatiran purple, a cloth used mainly by Roman royalty, but at His coming with the spiritual mantle of rulership over the nations. Jesus was related to John in the flesh, or instead, he was his cousin. If they persevere in His Word, He will give them a crown that they may rule with Him in His Kingdom. Healing the paralytic at Bethesda in John 5:1-15. According to Catholic Church the main tradition is that St. John took the Virgin Mary to Ephesus after the Crucifixion of Christ. If those articles are accurate, then the attribution of authorship of "John" to Cerinthus (by the Alogi) is not only not credible (due to their totally contradictory doctrines), but is reported second hand from the 4th Century - do you have any better support for your assertion than this? [14] Every year pilgrims made a pilgrimage to the site on August 15, the date on which most of the Christian world celebrated Mary's Dormition/Assumption. But I give you my advice, as one who has been married by the Lord, that I may be credible. Christians, Muslims, or even atheists who want to seek the truth. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. And then he found his end suffering martyrdom. Corrections? biblical literature: The Revelation to John, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Revelation-to-John, McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia - Book of Revelation, PBS Frontline - Understanding The Book of Revelation, Book of Revelation - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). . In his "Dialogue with Tryphon" (Chapter 81) St. Justin Martyr refers to "John, one of the Apostles of Christ" as a witness who had lived "with us", that is, at Ephesus. This provides the reader, for the first time, with the experience of observing how a Biblical book was written, and does this from an intimate perspective, as though they were looking over John's shoulders as he crafted it. How do the descriptions of these places compare with discoveries about them from history and archaeology? One way or another, we can say that the apostle John did not write the Gospel or epistles that became attributed to him. The discovery revived and strengthened a Christian tradition dating from the 12th century, 'the tradition of Ephesus', which has competed with the older 'Jerusalem tradition' about the place of the Blessed Virgin's dormition. It is traditionally believed that John was the youngest of the apostles and survived them. One day, while fishing with James at the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus told them to follow Him. But John was first a disciple of Saint John the Baptist. Those who received the news of the Lords Resurrection were grandchildren of the Saviours sister. This tradition is credible because banishment was a common punishment used during the Imperial period for a number of offenses. 5 What is the main message of the book of Revelation? Behold, I am coming quickly! They were disciples of John the Baptist and were converted by Aquila and Priscilla. John was blind when he wrote the Revelation Book, but guided by the Holy Spirit, he finished writing it. God works in you and gives you, according to His pleasure, both the will and the doing. He escaped by miracle, without injury. Wikipedia, citing 9 published works, says, "The Gospel of John was written in Greek by an anonymous author." Our Lord upon his his Cross said these words to the Apostle St. John: 26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! The Book of Revelation was signed by a person called John, While on Patmos, John received a long and complicated vision from Jesus Christ (verses 1-2, 10-20) with the instructions: ". During his brother's lifetime Attalus II was his most loyal assistant. It contains strong docetic themes, but is not considered in modern scholarship to be gnostic. This was important because Polycarp was able to carry John's message to future generations. Do all things without murmuring and wavering, that you may be blameless and pure, children of God, without blame. Answer (1 of 11): Revelation chapter 17 tells us clearly that Revelation was written within a ten-year span: 69 - 79 AD, during the reign of Vespasian. cit., II, xxii, 5). And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. No. . 10 Is the Gospel of John written before the destruction of Jerusalem? It would have been difficult to live as a Christian in the midst of such an immoral city. Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. Zebedees father was a fisherman with several employees, including his two sons, James and John. Date of Writing: The Book of Revelation was likely written between A.D. 90 and 95. What is the point of Thrower's Bandolier? And, This suffering consists mainly of the daily worries and various conflicts that can arise in the bosom of any couple. Tradition reports many beautiful traits of the last years of his life: that he refused to remain under the same roof with Cerinthus (Irenaeus "Ad. In this gospel, John is not called the Baptist. The Baptists ministry overlaps with that of Jesus; his baptism of Jesus is not explicitly mentioned, but his witness to Jesus is unambiguous. John was allegedly banished by the Roman authorities to the Greek island of Patmos, where, according to tradition, he wrote the Book of Revelation. Why did Ukraine abstain from the UNHRC vote on China? Jesus was taking on disciples at Bethabara and we suppose John was there looking for a teacher. Among such offenses were the practices of magic and astrology. We learn from John that he wrote Revelation from the island of Patmos (verse 9), in the Aegean Sea 40 miles off the coast of Asia Minor (modern- day Turkey). The mention of Satan's throne in Pergamos likely refers to the famous worship of its most popular deity, the serpent god Asklepios Soter, whose Latin equivalent means "the man-instructing serpent and savior." Philadelphia means "brotherly love." Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 275 339) reports the tradition that James the Just was the son of Josephs brother Clopas and therefore was of the brothers (which he interprets as cousin) of Jesus described in the New Testament. it was the first city in the world to erect a temple to the goddess Roma" (Letters to the Seven Churches, 1957, p. 29). Mr. Seiglie was born in Havana, Cuba, and came to the United States when he was a child. Those who refused were branded as traitors and either sentenced to death or exiled. In Rev. We have no reliable information as to where he went to preach, if at all. He wrote Against Heresies in about 180 - it is this work where he makes the claim. It does not matter whether John the Apostle was literate or literate: he did not write the Book of Revelation. Saint John was one of the first close disciples of the Saviour Christ. Christ says to this church: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. How John Wrote the Book of Revelation is the first book that teaches the reader how to read Revelation the way it was . Who was one of Josephs daughters, the Virgin Marys betrothed? Is the God of a monotheism necessarily omnipotent? Only he remained by the cross of Christ when all the others had left Him. John and Andrew were the first to follow the Saviour Christ. It is never explained how it was possible to exile John anywhere, if his enemies were unable to harm him.Another answer:John was exiled to Patmos as punishment for refusing to stop preaching the gospel.