What Scripture says
Revelation names its author four times as John (Revelation 1:1, 4, 9; 22:8, ESV). He calls himself “your brother and partner in the tribulation”, who was “on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (1:9). He writes to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia, in modern Turkey (Revelation 2–3).
He doesn’t call himself an apostle, but speaks with prophetic authority (1:3, 22:18–19).
What the evidence says
History
Who was John?
| View | Main evidence |
|---|---|
| John the apostle, son of Zebedee | Early tradition: Justin Martyr (c. 155), Irenaeus (c. 180) |
| Another John, such as “John the Elder” | Differences in style from John’s Gospel; Dionysius of Alexandria (3rd century) |
| An unknown prophet named John | Most critical scholars |
For the apostle: Justin Martyr, writing around AD 155 and living in Ephesus for a time, said Revelation was written by “John, one of the apostles of Christ”. Irenaeus, who as a boy knew Polycarp, a disciple of John, agreed. John’s authority over the churches of Asia fits early tradition that the apostle lived in Ephesus.
Against the apostle: Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria (mid-3rd century), noted that Revelation’s Greek is rough and ungrammatical, while the Gospel of John’s is smooth, and its vocabulary and style differ. He concluded a different John wrote it. Papias (early 2nd century) seems to mention two Johns: the apostle and “John the Elder”.
Defenders of apostolic authorship suggest John may have had help (a secretary) with the Gospel but not on Patmos, or that the apocalyptic genre explains the different style. Both books call Jesus the “Word” (John 1:1, Revelation 19:13) and the “Lamb” (John 1:29, Revelation 5:6), though with different Greek words for lamb.
When was it written?
| View | Date | Main argument |
|---|---|---|
| Late date (majority) | c. AD 95, under Domitian | Irenaeus’s testimony; signs of later persecution and church development |
| Early date (minority) | Before AD 70, under Nero | The temple seems to still be standing (11:1–2); the “sixth king” may be Nero or Galba (17:10) |
Late date: Irenaeus wrote that the vision “was seen not very long ago, almost in our own generation, at the close of Domitian’s reign”, around AD 95–96. Other features fit this time: emperor worship was strongly promoted in Asia under Domitian, the church at Laodicea is described as wealthy, though the city was devastated by an earthquake in AD 60, and the church at Smyrna may not have existed in the 60s.
Early date: supporters, including Kenneth Gentry and some preterists, point to John being told to measure the temple (11:1–2), as if it still stood, and to the identification of the beast’s number with Nero (see 10.5). They argue Irenaeus’s statement may mean that John, not the vision, was seen in Domitian’s reign.
Context
Patmos
Patmos is a small island in the Aegean Sea, about 60 kilometres off the coast of Turkey. The Romans used islands like it as places of exile. John says he was there “on account of the word of God”, likely exiled for his faith.
Where they meet
Revelation was written by a John on Patmos; tradition says the apostle. Most scholars date it around AD 95, some before AD 70.
What’s still open
- Whether the author was the apostle John.
- Whether it was written before or after AD 70, which matters for interpretation (see 10.6).
Bottom line
A John on Patmos; tradition says the apostle. Most date it around AD 95, some before AD 70. This is rated Debated.