The book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation or The Apocalypse of John , is the last and only prophetical book of the New Testament in the Bible.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ. The book was addressed to seven churches, at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

It contains an account of the author, thought by many to be John or St John of Patmos in the text, who saw a vision describing future events at the end of the world—involving the final rebellion by Satan at Armageddon, God’s final defeat of Satan, and the restoration of peace to the world.

Revelation is considered one of the most controversial, (see Jonadabs) and hardest to understand books of the Bible, with many ranging interpretations of the meanings of the various names and events in the account. The identity of the author is not completely clear. A traditional view is that the author of this book was John the Apostle, but other scholars doubt that. The traditional Christian view is that this John was the same as the author of the Gospel of John and 1, 2 and 3 John. However, given the book’s futurist eschatology (e.g. chs. 21-22), this view is very difficult to maintain when compared to the realised eschatology of the Johannine corpus, especially the Gospel of John itself.

In the 4th century, St. John Chrysostom and other bishops argued against including this book in the New Testament canon, chiefly because of the difficulties of interpreting it and the danger for abuse. Christians in Syria also reject it because of the Montanists’ heavy reliance on it. In the 9th century it was included, with the Apocalypse of Peter among “disputed” books in the Stichometry of St. Nicephorus, Patriarch of Constantinople. In the end, it was included in the accepted canon, although it remains the only book of the New Testament that is not read within the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Traditionally the date of the writing of this book has generally been fixed at the year 96 A.D., in the reign of Domitian. Others contend for an earlier date, 68 or 69 A.D., in the reign of Nero. Those who are in favour of the later date appeal to the testimony of the Christian father Irenaeus (died 185 A.D.), who received information relative to this book from those who had seen John face to face. He says that the Apocalypse “was seen a long time ago.” Other evidence for the later date is internal: the book alludes to significant persecution, affecting the Christians of Asia Minor. This is a better historical fit for Domitian’s reign than Nero’s, Nero’s persecution was mostly confined to the territories around Rome, while Domitian’s persecution was indeed vigorously carried out in Asia Minor.

Patmos through the Ages

In the year 96 AD, the Evangelist Saint John the Theologue was banished in Patmos by the emperor Domitian for preaching the Gospel at Ephesus. This is the reason that the island of Patmos became the center of the Orthodox Religion and moreover is got famous. In the island the Apostole Stt John wrote the Apocalypse and he says in his prologue : “I dwelled in an island of which name is Patmos, as to preach the word of God and have faith in the martyrdom suffered by Jesus Christ”. Saint Jean, during his exile in Patmos lodged into a grotto of which today’s name is “Apokalypsis”. At the Emperor’s death in 97 AD John returned to Ephesus where he lived to a ripe old age. A text entitled “Voyages and Miracles of St. John the Theologist” written by his disciple Prochoros was embraced by the Byzantine tradition and by the Christians in Patmos.
n the year 1088 AD disembarked in Patmos Saint Christodoulos (or Osios Christodoulos), native of Nicaea Bithynie coming from the islands Kos and Leros, where he had founded several nunneries. The Saint applied to the Emperor of Byzantium Alexios Comninos 1st, who signed a did of gift by which he yielded to him the island of Patmos as to lead there His life of hermit. The Saint founded in Patmos a great Monastery dedicated to St. Jean the Theologue.
The island was conquered by the Turks (1537 AD) being rendered without to offer resistance. This is why the island enjoyed several privileges granted to it by the conquerors. In 15th century refugees from Constantinople settled in Patmos and in the 17th century Cretans from Heraklio sought the monastery’s protection. The Monastery of Patmos during the dark period of Turks’ domination had developed the highest educative activity and safeguarded the relics of Greeks. Particularly, the foundation at Patmos, in the year 1713, of the school “Patmia Scholi” had transformed the island in an important educative center. The patriots Xanthos and Themelis, foundators of the “Philiki Heteria” (Friendship Association), which aimed the deliverance of the Greek Nation from Turks’ slavery, both of them were originally and glorious sons of Patmos island.
The Greek shipping industry grew as Patmos traded with Europe and Asia Minor; local crafts were exported. In 1659 Venetians under Francesco Morosini sacked the island with the exception of the monastery.
Although Patmos was active in the cause of Greek independence it remained under Ottoman rule under the terms of the Treaty of Constantinople (1832) and as it was cut off from the new western style Greek state, its prosperity declined.
In the year 1912 Patmos was occupied by Italians, together with the other islands of Dodecanese. The island acquired its liberty by the end of World War II. Later, at March 7th 1948 its union with Greece was a fact.