St. John the Revelator
The book of the Revelation of St. John the Divine, also known as the Apocalypse, is the last book of the Holy Bible bringing the New Testament canon to a close. Though the book of Revelation is a well known text, both to believer and atheist alike, the identity of its author has been the subject of debate amongst Biblical scholars for centuries. The Orthodox Church maintains that the author of Revelation is none other than St. John the Theologian, that most beloved disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ, who as tradition holds also wrote the Gospel of John as well as the three Epistles of St. John included within the scriptures which comprise the New Testament. On the other hand, many Protestant Bible scholars do not agree that the author of Revelation is St. John the Apostle of Christ, but rather attribute the authorship of Revelation to a different figure known as John of Patmos. Since the writer of Revelation identifies himself simply as John, and does not overtly express any personal association linking himself with John the Apostle, this specific factor in the text has in turn led certain Protestant Christian theologians to conclude that the John who Jesus loved, and the John of Patmos are in fact two different people. Protestants have labeled the author of Revelation as John of Patmos by sighting the opening verses of the Apocalypse, where the writer provides his name along with the location of where he received his vision. For it would seem that John recorded the Revelation while he was in exile on the Greek island of Patmos, which is situated just off the west coast of modern-day Turkey in the Aegean Sea. The focus of this presentation will not solely strive to identify the author of Revelation, but will also provide the historical background surrounding the events which influenced the writing of this most awesome of prophetic books. That being said, this work will not attempt to interpret the signs and symbols of Revelation, but rather serve as a guide pertaining to the things which have in fact been revealed concerning specific elements within John’s vision as a whole.
As previously mentioned, John wrote the book of Revelation while he was on the Greek island of Patmos. Tradition holds that John was in exile on this island, serving a prison sentence. Though John does not explicitly say that he was in bonds or imprisoned, it can be understood from what he did say that he was in fact serving time. John states how he was on Patmos, “for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:9). For during the time when John wrote Revelation, the preaching and practicing of Christianity was illegal in the Roman Empire, a crime which carried with it the punishment of imprisonment or even the penalty of death. So, when John writes how he was on Patmos for the word of God we can safely surmise that he was certainly incarcerated for bearing witness to, and for his personal testimony of, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is also traditionally believed that John received and recorded the Revelation around the year 95 AD. During this time Rome was ruled by the emperor Domitian, who was known for his persecution of Christians. So, from what we read in the Bible, and what we are told from tradition, and by what we also learn from the accepted historical record, it is unmistakably evident that John was indeed persecuted and in exile on Patmos for his faith in Jesus Christ.
Now in the opening verse of the Apocalypse it is written how the Revelation was initially given to Jesus Christ by God the Father and that Jesus sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John (Revelation 1:1). What is important to note here is that even though this vision is known as the Revelation of Jesus Christ, it originates with God the Father. This reveals that Jesus, the Son of God, is obedient to God the Father in all things and only speaks when He is prompted to by His Father. Evidence concerning Christ’s perfect obedience to God is found elsewhere in the New Testament when Jesus explains that He only speaks to the world from that which He has heard from His Father, the One who sent Him (John 8:26). A further example of God the Son displaying blessed obedience to God the Father, is found during the night in which Jesus was betrayed. For in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Christ was deep in prayer knowing that He was about to suffer the shameful death of crucifixion, He firstly implored the Father that He not die in such a way, but finally accepted the will of God and was obedient to His Father unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8). By studying Christ’s perfect example of obedience towards the will of God, are we Christians faced with a living witness which clearly demonstrates how we should live our lives in accordance with the commandments and statutes of the Almighty God.
Returning to St. John and the Revelation, we witness first and foremost how John is commanded to write unto seven Churches which are in Asia. Now when the term “Asia” is written in the New Testament, it is not referring to China or the Far East, but rather signifies the territories which fall within the borders of the modern day country of Turkey. However, during the time when the New Testament was written the Republic of Turkey did not yet exist, but instead these areas were once included as parts of the Roman Empire. And this Roman province which straddled both East and West, and which would also become a major hub for the Christian faith, is historically known as Asia Minor. For in the centuries following the legalization of Christianity, the land of Asia Minor would emerge as the seat of the Christian Byzantine Empire, and take root as the geographical wellspring of Orthodox Christian spirituality. The fact that Christ chose to send letters to the Churches of Asia Minor, and not to Greece nor even to the Holy Land, further reveals how the faith of Jesus must have been strongly embraced by the people of Asia Minor going all the way back to the very inception of Apostolic Christianity.
One of the seven Churches of Asia, which Christ through John sent a letter to, was the Church of Ephesus. Tradition says that John traveled to Ephesus as part of his missionary work and to oversee the growing Christian community there. Though initially reluctant, John obediently traveled to Ephesus after the death of the Virgin Mary, whom he took care of until her passing. During his time in Ephesus John defeated the demon which dwelt in the temple of Artemis. For through John’s fervent prayer the idol of Artemis was toppled and destroyed, as was the entire temple dedicated to Artemis. Because of this great miracle many in Ephesus became Christians, but others rejected Christ and complained to the government and slandered John before the emperor. Domitian then had John arrested and sent to Rome where he was severely beaten for his confession of Jesus as Lord and God. John was also forced to drink poison, but it did not harm him. Thus the promise which Christ made to His disciples saying, how they would not at all be hurt by drinking anything deadly, was fulfilled (Mark 16:18). John was then cast into a cauldron of boiling hot oil, but again he was miraculously protected by the Lord whom he loved, and emerged from the boiling oil completely unharmed. As witnesses to this awesome miracle the people were deeply moved, and cried out saying: “Great is the God of the Christians!” The Roman ruler who now believed John to be an immortal dared not torture him any further, but instead exiled him to the island of Patmos. And it was at this place and time when St. John received the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Several ancient Church writers such as Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Eusebius all firmly confess that is was indeed the Apostle John the Theologian who wrote the Revelation. So, from such a unanimous declaration coming from the Fathers of the early Church, Christians today should also accept that it was the Apostle John who wrote the Revelation, and should not confuse St. John with some other random person named John as Protestant theologians teach. The cave where St. John received the Revelation has been preserved, with a Greek Orthodox Monastery built over it marking the location of John’s vision. Known as the Cave of the Apocalypse, this sacred site has been transformed into a small church dedicated to St. John the Theologian. Tradition also tells us that after recording the Revelation, St. John managed to leave Patmos and returned to Ephesus. There at Ephesus St. John lived out the rest of his days in prayer and fasting. It is also traditionally believed that towards the end of his life, the elderly John instructed his disciples to dig a grave for him in the shape of a cross. Still alive, John went into the grave and told his disciples to cover him with earth up to his neck, and then to complete the burial by placing a thin cloth over his face. When others in the city began to ask his disciples where John was, they brought them to his place of burial, but John was not there. Then the words of Christ concerning John came to their remembrance: “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” (John 21:22). Overwhelmed by this heavenly wonder his disciples gave glory to the All Holy Trinity for performing such an awesome miracle. And even though this sign transpired nearly 2,000 years ago, its impact is still felt today. For even up to modern times, each year on the eighth of May, a fragrant myrrh issues up from St. John’s grave. Marking a portion of God’s very creation with an ever recurring testament to the holiness of the mystic, John the Revelator.
References:
Holy Apostles Convent. The Lives of the Holy Apostles. (Buena Vista, CO: Holy Apostles Convent, 2019).
Zondervan. The Holy Bible, King James Version. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009).