27.10.2014 Views

An Introduction to the Book of Revelation

An Introduction to the Book of Revelation

An Introduction to the Book of Revelation

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong>the</strong> two books; showing that <strong>the</strong> author <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Shepherd had complete<br />

knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> book <strong>of</strong> <strong>Revelation</strong>. This is shown in portraying<br />

<strong>the</strong> church as a woman, Satan as a beast with fine locusts coming<br />

out <strong>of</strong> his mouth, <strong>the</strong> Apostles as a part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> spiritual construction<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church, <strong>the</strong> believers as wearing white clo<strong>the</strong>s and bearing<br />

crowns 6 . O<strong>the</strong>r Apos<strong>to</strong>lic Fa<strong>the</strong>rs also quoted from <strong>the</strong> <strong>Revelation</strong>.<br />

b) Justin, <strong>the</strong> Martyr, knew <strong>the</strong> book and ascribed it <strong>to</strong> John<br />

<strong>the</strong> Apostle 7 . Meli<strong>to</strong>, bishop <strong>of</strong> Sardis, wrote an essay about "The<br />

<strong>Revelation</strong> <strong>to</strong> John 8 ."<br />

c) The Mura<strong>to</strong>rian canon shows that <strong>the</strong>re was no doubt at<br />

all concerning <strong>the</strong> book <strong>of</strong> <strong>Revelation</strong> in <strong>the</strong> Roman Church close <strong>to</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> second century.<br />

d) Tertullian <strong>of</strong>ten quoted from it, considering it a work <strong>of</strong><br />

John <strong>the</strong> Apostle 9 . similarly St. Clement <strong>of</strong> Alexandria 10 , Origen 11 ,<br />

St. Irenaeus 12 and St. Hyppolitus <strong>of</strong> Rome accepted <strong>the</strong> genuineness<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Apos<strong>to</strong>lic work and quoted from it, being one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> books <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Bible. Vic<strong>to</strong>rianus - who wrote <strong>the</strong> earliest interpretation <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Revelation</strong> that is still in existence - ascribes <strong>the</strong> book <strong>to</strong> John, <strong>the</strong><br />

Apostle.<br />

Perhaps St. Dionysius <strong>of</strong> Alexandria is <strong>the</strong> only fa<strong>the</strong>r who,<br />

although accepting <strong>the</strong> canonicity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Book</strong>, says that <strong>the</strong> author<br />

is ano<strong>the</strong>r John from <strong>the</strong> 70 Apostles. The reason for this can be attributed<br />

<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> difference in <strong>the</strong> style <strong>of</strong> writing from that in <strong>the</strong> Gospel<br />

<strong>of</strong> John and his epistles. The church did not adopt this opinion.<br />

2- He was <strong>the</strong> Apostle who was known in <strong>the</strong> churches <strong>of</strong><br />

Asia Minor mentioned in <strong>the</strong> book.<br />

3- His<strong>to</strong>ry 13 confirms that John <strong>the</strong> Beloved, was banished<br />

by Emperor Domitian <strong>to</strong> Island <strong>of</strong> Patmos where <strong>the</strong> Apostle saw<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>Revelation</strong> (1:9).<br />

4- Despite <strong>the</strong> difference <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> subject <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> book from that<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Gospel <strong>of</strong> John, <strong>the</strong>re are some words mentioned which<br />

15

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!