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Why is Revelation’s first-century historical context important to understanding the book? How has your understanding of Revelation changed after learning more about its historical context?
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John, the revelator, had been exiled to the island of Patmos because of his faith and preaching. The new Christian church was under intense persecution as well. Each Christian was living under the fear of death, torture, losing family…all of the things that persecution brings about. The were under the oppression of the Roman Empire. Things looked very dark for true Christ-followers and John knew this very well. So, from his exile, so close to his church of Ephesus but separated by “a great sea” or body of water. He could see the town but was unable to go there because he was not free. Christians needed hope and succor and comfort – John wanted to provide it. I believe that God did too.
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It is important to realize that the book of Revelation is apocalyptic , visionary, prophetic and written as a letter to Christians under persecution. We today cannot understand what John described when he wrote of the beast with seven heads, when told of visions regarding the woman and the dragon, prophesied, I believe, that Christians win in the end and that’s really all I need to know. It doesn’t really matter which part is foretelling and which part is forthtelling because it has a wonderful ending and I’m on the right side. I’ll bet the early church was very happy to receive the letter.
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John, the revelator, had been exiled to the island of Patmos because of his faith and preaching. The new Christian church was under intense persecution as well. Each Christian was living under the fear of death, torture, losing family…all of the things that persecution brings about. The were under the oppression of the Roman Empire. Things looked very dark for true Christ-followers and John knew this very well. So, from his exile, so close to his church of Ephesus but separated by “a great sea” or body of water. He could see the town but was unable to go there because he was not free. Christians needed hope and succor and comfort – John wanted to provide it. I believe that God did too.
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It’s good to know that this was addressed to 1st century Christians and not to 20th-century Christians
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First off, in Chapter 1, John gives us a very detailed description of Jesus Christ, being in His Glorified state. John fainted when he saw Him. Jesus was not in the same state, John walked with Him touched Him, saw His miracles, slept and ate with Him for 3 years here on earth, and witnessed His crucifixion, and death. Now John sees Christ with authority and power as Messiah who will be coming as a lion, from the line of Judah, the Messiah, coming as a Conquering King.
So in the 1st Century, the believers would have understood this letter. There are over 300 times, that Revelation eludes to the Old Testament. So the way it was written, they would understand the symbolic that come straight from the Old Testament, and would make perfect sense to them.