Bible Rebel

Last week I listed a bunch of questions that a lot of folks ask about the Book of Revelation. This week we start looking at some answers.

Before we dive in though, let’s clear up something that always comes up – the last book of the Bible is NOT “Revelations,” plural; it’s “Revelation,” singular.

What Does “Revelation” Mean?

The Greek word translated as “Revelation” is apokalypsis, from which we get the English word “apocalypse.”

Apokalypsis doesn’t mean destruction or “the end of the world”. It literally and simply means “an unveiling,” “a revealing,” or “a disclosure.” Like pulling a curtain back so you can finally see what’s really going on.

The first verse says: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ…” (Revelation 1:1)

It’s important to understand that the book isn’t mainly about the Antichrist, beasts, dragons, 666, or end-times speculation. It’s about Jesus Christ being revealed.

When most people hear “Revelation,” they think zombies, world war, meteors, and that one weird guy on the internet with 47 prophecy charts. Nope. Forget about the movies, novels, and heavy metal imagery as we start answering the basic questions.

Who Wrote Revelation?

The author identifies himself simply as John (Revelation 1:1, 1:4, 1:9). Most early Christians believed this was John the Apostle—one of Jesus’ closest friends and the same John connected with the Gospel of John. But it may have been someone else writing as “John”, so I call the author of Revelation “John the Revelator.” Either way, the source is the same — a vision from God through Jesus Christ.

At the time, John the Revelator had been exiled to a small rocky island called Patmos for his faith in Christ. Not exactly a luxury vacation destination for sure. While there, he received a series of visions and wrote them down.

When Was Revelation Written?

Most scholars place the writing of Revelation around A.D. 95–96 during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian. That means the book was written nearly 2,000 years ago when believers were facing pressure, persecution, and uncertainty about the future.

They wondered about some of the same things many believers all over the world wonder about in our own time:

• Is evil winning?
• Does God care?
• How does this story end?

Revelation was written to answer those questions.

So What?

Revelation isn’t a horror movie script or a puzzle designed to confuse people. It’s a book written by John the Revelator around A.D. 95 that unveils who Jesus is, who ultimately wins, and how human history repeats itself, pitting empires and tyrants against God’s people.

So, read Revelation chapter 1 for yourself. You might discover the book is far less weird—and far more hopeful—than you’ve been told.