▸ AUTHOR: The style, symmetry, and plan of Revelation show that it was written by one author, four times named “John” (Rev. 1:1, 4, 9; 22:8). Because of its contents and its address to seven churches, Revelation quickly circulated and became widely known and accepted in the early church. From the beginning, Revelation was considered an authentic work of the apostle John, the same John who wrote the Gospel and Epistles. Revelation was written at a time when Roman hostility to Christianity was erupting into overt persecution. It is likely that John wrote this book in A.D. 95 or 96 when the severe persecution of Christians began under the emperor Domitian.
▸ TIME: c. A.D. 95–96
▸ KEY VERSES: Rev. 19:11–15
▸ THEME: John wrote this book late in his life while in exile on the island of Patmos off the coast of Asia. It is safe to say that no book of the Bible has generated more theories of interpretation over the last two millennia. In this context probably one of the best approaches to interpreting and understanding Revelation is to concentrate on the major themes such as worship. When the reader does that, one finds great comfort and assurance in the book. Many scholars think the purpose of the book is to provide comfort in the midst of persecution and difficult times, as the form of the book is in the tradition of Jewish apocalyptic literature that is designed to communicate hope through symbolic imagery.