An Introduction to the Book of Revelation
An Introduction to the Book of Revelation
An Introduction to the Book of Revelation
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<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 />
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