Traditionally, the author is identified as John the Apostle, the son of Zebedee. This attribution is supported by early Christian testimonies and internal textual clues.
The Book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse, is widely believed to have been written in the late first century, around 95 AD. This dating is based on historical and textual evidence suggesting it was composed during the reign of Emperor Domitian, a period marked by significant persecution of Christians. Irenaeous records that "him who beheld the apocalyptic vision" saw it "almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian's reign."1 Sweet concludes that "the earlier date may be right, but the internal evidence is not sufficient to outweigh the firm tradition stemming from Irenaeus."2
"This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John, who testified to God's word of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is near." (Rev. 1:1-3). The primary purpose of Revelation is to provide hope and encouragement to Christians facing persecution by affirming God's ultimate sovereignty and the eventual triumph of good over evil. Revelation calls followers of Jesus to resist idolatry, to worship God alone, and to patiently endure suffering knowing that God will ultimately judge evil and redeem creation.
I. Prologue (1:1-20)
II. Address to the Seven Churches (2:1-3:22)
III. God's Majesty, Conflict, Judgment (4:1-16:21)
IV. Final Judgment and the Eschaton (17:1-20:15)
V. The New Heavens and Earth (21:1-22:5)
VI. Epilogue (22:6-21)
I. Prologue (1:1-20)
A. Introduction, Purpose, and Blessing
(1:1-3)
B. Epistolary Opening (1:4-6)
C. Announcement of the Coming King (1:7-8)
D. John’s Commission (1:9-20)
II. Address to the Seven Churches (2:1-3:22)
A. To Ephesus (2:1-7)
B. To Smyrna (2:8-11)
C. To Pergamum (2:12-17)
D. To Thyatira (2:18-29)
E. To Sardis (3:1-6)
F. To Philadelphia (3:7-13)
G. To Laodicea (3:14-22)
III. God's Majesty, Conflict, Judgment (4:1-16:21)
A. Christ Seated on the Throne (4:1-5:14)
B. Seven Seals (6:1-8:5)
C. Seven Trumpets (8:6-11:19)
D. Seven Visions of Deeper Conflict
(12:1-15:4)
E. Seven Bowl Judgments (15:5-16:21)
IV. Final Judgment and the Eschaton (17:1-20:15)
A. Destruction of Babylon (17:1-19:21)
B. The Millennium (20:1-15)
V. The New Heavens and Earth (21:1-22:5)
A. Dwelling in the Midst of God (21:1-8)
B. New Creation (21:9-22:5)
VI. Epilogue (22:6-21)
1. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies, 5.30.3.
2. John Sweet, Revelation, (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1979, 27).
Brooky Stockton, A Commentary on Revelation: Standing Firm in our Time, 2020.
R. H. Charles, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John, (Edinburgh: T&T, 1920).
G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999).
Grant R. Osborne, Revelation Baker Exegetical Commentary, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002).
Ralph G. Bowles, Does Revelation 14:11 Teach Eternal Torment? Examining a Proof-text on Hell, EQ 73:1 (2001), 21-36.
G. K. Beale, Carey Conference 2015 - Dr Greg Beale - Revelation 1, 2, 3.