Revelation

Revelation is the last book of the Bible, and it is unlike any of the others—filled with strange, confusing imagery, numerology, and apocalyptic visions.

It was written during the second wave of persecution under the Roman Emperor Domitian (the first wave being under the Emperor Nero) and many scholars believe that is why it is focused on end-of-world scenarios, where the just achieve their heavenly reward of “A New Jerusalem” and the evildoers wind-up in fiery lakes of lava, burning for all eternity.

Revelation is considered scripture because one of the earliest historians on the subject mentioned that John the Apostle wrote both his Gospel and the Book of Revelation while imprisoned on the Island of Patmos. (Which is possible, if John was fairly young while Jesus lived and then lived to be quite old, since Revelation can be dated to around 95 AD with Jesus having been crucified around 33 AD.)

If you recall our last lesson (Other Letters), the decision as to whether a writing would be included in the New Testament as “scripture” was whether the earliest scholars considered it Apostle-created or Apostle-adjacent. Therefore, Revelation is included.

The Book’s author describes divine “visions,” many of which are difficult to comprehend but seem to borrow heavily from numerology. For instance, there is a seven-headed dragon, a seven-headed beast and reference to a scroll with seven seals which was presented to a Lamb (representing Jesus)—although we are told this particular lamb has seven horns and seven eyes. (Revelation 5:6-14)

The Book describes a great deal of death and destruction, brought about by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse—Conquest, War, Famine and Death. (Revelation 6:1-8)

Chapter 13 describes “the Beast” or the Antichrist, who rises out of the sea and is empowered by Satan, represented by a dragon. A second entity, known as “the False Prophet” is the enforcer for the Beast, and requires all people to receive the Mark of the Beast, which is the number 666.

But all is not lost: “Then I saw the heavens opened and there was a white horse; its rider was called ‘Faithful and True.’ He judges and wages war in righteousness. His eyes are like a fiery flame. . . he wore a cloak that had been dipped in blood, and his name was called the Word of God.” (Revelation 19:11-14)

Bible scholars haven’t always agreed on what the Book’s imagery is supposed to mean, but the gist seems clear: things may be miserable right now, but God will grant us the final victory. The New Jerusalem will not need the sun or the moon because "the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb." (Revelation 21:23). 

This echoes the Gospel of John Chapter 1, and reinforces the notion that John was the author:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1-5)

And now, you’ve done it—you’ve gone through the major highlights of the Bible, and hopefully you now have a ‘basic’ understanding of what it means. Feel free to share the posts, and God bless!

Anne Cleeland