The author

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. -- Revelation 1:9 (ESV)

Some scholars attribute the Book of Revelations to John the Apostle who also wrote the Gospel of John, however the writing style differs:

This has lead some scholars to belief that the book of Revelations was written by someone else, for like John the Elder (also know as "John the Presbyter") who was a huge church leader in Ephesus during the same time. He was mentioned in the writings of Irenaeus and Eusebius, but there is no clear proof that this is the case.

Prophecies that was possibly fulfilled

Unlike many previous prophecies, there are no strong benchmark that we can use to evaluate whether these prophecies are being fulfilled or not.

Black death?

And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. -- Revelation 6:8 (ESV)

Some suggest that this prophecy might have been fulfilled during the "Black Death" dating 1346-1353 killing 25-50 million people. However, 50 million people is not a "fourth" of the world population, even in 1353.

It is also the fourth seal of 4 events (Revelation 6:1-7) that was supposed to happen. The previous 3 seals are vague and is debatable whether it had occurred in the history prior to 1346 ir not. For example, the previous 3 seals could refer to:

1. White horse (Revelation 6:2): Holy Roman Empire in 9th to 19th centuries?
2. Red horse (Revelation 6:3-4): Crusades 11th to 13th centuries or European 30 year war in 17th century?
3. Black horse (Revelation 6:5-6): Dark ages in 5th to 10th centuries?

Although there are some similarities, these historic events did not quite come in the order predicted by John.

The mark of the beast?

We are also warned against this mark in (Revelation 14:9-11, 16:2, 19:20, 20:4). It does not seem fair that God would warn us against some "mark" without telling us exactly how to identify it.

What we do know based on a literal interpretation of Revelation is that:

• Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked
• on the right hand or the forehead,
• so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark,
• that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. -- Revelation 13:16-18 (ESV)

• Some attribute it to the Jews marked as slaves (so that they cannot trade) by the Roman soldiers when Jerusalem was recaptured after the Jewish revolt in 70 AD.
• Other attribute it to the WHO's compulsory vaccinations which left a "mark" on the bodies people who complied.
• Other attribute it to some future chip that we would need to implant (leaving a permanent mark) in our bodies to be able to trade.
• Other attribute it to some future social scoring systems which would "mark" or rate the value of individuals when they comply with the authorities' agenda.
• And possibly many other creative suggestions too...

Unique teaching not supported by other scriptures

• It is the only book that mentions "the Lord's Day" (Revelation 1:10). This is not to be confused with "The day of the LORD of hosts" which refers to a specific day God will come to judge (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6,9; 58:13; Jeremiah 46:10; Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:11; 3:14; Amos 5:18-20; Obadiah 1:15; Zephaniah 1:7-14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:5; Acts 2:20) or "The day of our Lord Jesus Christ" which refers to the second coming of Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:8; 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2; 2 Peter 3:10)
• A unique description of the throne room of God (Revelation 4).
• The cosmic battle between Michael and Satan (Revelation 12:7-9).
• The mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:16-18).
• Jesus' Millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:1-7).
• The Greek mythological figures "Orcus" (Death) and "Hades" are real (Revelation 20:13). Technically not John's fault, but a result of certain bad translations like the AMP, ASV, BSB, CSB, ERV, ESV, NASB, NET, NKJV, NIV, WEB.
• A unique description of the New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21:1-5, 22:1-2).
• You can lose your salvation if you remove words from the book of Revelations (Revelation 22:19).

Any many more...

Critique

Vague prophecies

Most prophecies in the bible are very clear, have a specific purpose, are measurable and came true. For example:

• God prophesied to Noah that a great flood would come. Noah did not go into a panic attack and made his own plans. He knew exactly what was expected of him, because God's instructions were clear and specific.
• Abraham was promised that he would have a son. Again no vague symbolism was used. Abraham knew exactly what God meant and God was building his faith (trust) in Him by this prophecy such that this trust would carry over to his descendants, would more than 400 years later have to follow another one of Abraham's prophecies about a promised land.
• Jacob, Moses, Josua, Simson, Gideon's and the other judges' prophecies and commands were also very clear. They knew exactly what God meant and what was expected of them.
• King Saul, king David, king Solomon and many kings after him had some help of other prophets to explain what God meant with their prophecies and each prophecy had a specific warning which request a specific action. Some kings repented and some did not. Those who repented were blessed and these are recorded for us to see the fruit of these prophecies.
• Even the gentile kings like the Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar had the help of Joseph or Daniel to explain what God's prophecies meant.
• Most of Daniel's prophecies were very specific and measurable. So far, they all came true with a few exceptions which arguably refer to future events that still need to take place. This is significant because Daniel's timing of the Christ supports the prediction of Jesus in the Old Testament.
• Each of Jesus prophecies or parables were addressing a specific question and/or had a clear meaning, teaching or purpose. Whenever a parable were unclear, Jesus explained the meaning to his disciples which they recorded for us in the Gospels.

However, in the case of John's Revelation:

• Nobody explained his revelation.
• John's revelation seems to address only a few ancient churches, which some suggest means that these prophecies are no longer relevant today. Some question John's revelation because the original audience no longer exist and the prophecies have still not been fulfilled. Other would defend John's revelation by interpreting that the "churches" are symbolic and that we are the churches such that these prophecies still apply to us today.
• Unlike prior prophecies, John's prophecies are very broad and unmeasurable: For example everyone know there would be wars, pestilence, natural disasters, poverty, rising and falling kingdoms, and so forth. This was already this case even before these prophecies were written.
• Unlike prior prophecies, John's prophecies are, vague, symbolic and confusing. This makes it very hard to determine if the content of this book is reliable because it could be interpreted in so many creative ways. It is also the primary reason why it is possible for sect-leader to abuse John's revelation to manipulate people to execute their agendas.

Effects of the book

Some people claim that the book of Revelations is a dangerous book that already lead to a lot of violence and fear in the past and continue to cause confusion in the modern Christian life. Some known examples include:

• In 1692, although primarily driven by social and psychological factors. Some individuals drew upon biblical prophecies, including Revelation, to identify and persecute "witches" during the Salem Witch Trials.
• In 1755, an earthquake devastated Lisbon in Portugal. Some religious leaders interpreted it as divine punishment for the city's sins. This fueled widespread fear and paranoia, leading to witch hunts and public displays of piety.
• In the 1840s, William Miller predicted the second coming of Christ based on his interpretation Revelation 14. This led to widespread excitement and anxiety among his followers, many of whom sold their belongings and prepared for the end of the world. When Christ didn't return as predicted, the movement collapsed, leaving many disillusioned and financially ruined.
• In 1993, David Koresh (the "Messiah") interpreted Revelation and other biblical texts to justify his religious group's actions during the Waco siege where 76 people were killed including Koresh himself and many of his followers.
• In 1997, the Heaven's Gate cult believed that a comet was coming to Earth to take them away to a higher plane of existence. 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult committed mass suicide in order to be "beamed up" by the comet. The cult members believed that they were fulfilling a prophecy in the Book of Revelation, and their actions led to the deaths of many innocent people.

Jesus himself warned:

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?" -- Matthew 7:16

Some would defend John's revelation because the events described above were mostly caused by:

• political agendas that abused John's prophecy to manipulate their ignorant followers
• misunderstandings or incorrect interpretations or translations

Based on fear

John's book is mostly based on fear:

• Inescapable suffering by circumstances (wars, feminine, pestilences, etc.).
• Inescapable suffering by persecution.
• Inescapable natural disasters by God's angels.
• It seems like a hopeless situation for all mankind.
• It encourages believers to flee into the "wilderness". To some it means poverty, to other it means the literal wilderness (desert, mountains, etc.), but often an isolated place of discomfort and ineffectiveness.
• It limits the number of people who may get saved.
• Fear that you will be rejected if you reject this revelation.
• It mentions eternal suffering in a place of torment. Some say that it is not fair of God to torture someone for all eternity for the sin they committed in only a few years.
• John reveals "the Lamb of God" (commonly considered Jesus) as a non-human monster. If it was intended symbolically, he failed to properly explain what the symbolism means. According to John, our hope is to spend eternity with that monster.
• There may not be enough space for you to fit into God's large but limited cubical city (spaceship that can descent?).

However, many other prophecies are also scary when the prophets present their warnings. This is often done to motivate people to repent from their sin so that they may be blessed. That is why Jonah did not want to give his prophecy because he did not want Nineveh to get saved.

It is worth noting that John's revelation does end with the hope of a "new earth" with no pain and suffering.

Possible contradictions

Bad testimony?

...who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. -- Revelation 1:2 (ESV)

It is also unclear why this "testimony" was not given by Jesus Christ directly when he was still alive on Earth:

• Had Jesus forgot to give it such that John has to cover up his mistake?
• The more people you add to a chain of a message, the more room there is for potential error.
• Jesus had a far wider audience than the unknown author of John of Patmos who has no references or verifiable credentials.
• If Jesus gave his testimony directly to his disciples when he was on Earth they would have had the opportunity to discuss the prophecy and clear out all uncertainties and confusion.

In defence of Revelation, some would argue that this was done on purpose because one should not literally interpret the book of Revelation logic and your own mind, but instead we should allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to understanding.

But this would mean that the book would be a bad "testimony of Jesus Christ", because nothing can be proven in a logical sense. For something to be a good "testimony" one need to be able to understand it with common logic, because common logic can be undoubtedly proven while "spiritual interpretation" is unscientific and depends on each person's personal view or "spirit".

It is interesting to note that many Christians reason that aspects of this book that makes sense should be considered literally, but any "errors" or "contradictions" should be considered figuratively. A testimony like this would not hold ground in any debate or court case.

Is this revelation really a blessing?

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. -- Revelation 1:3 (ESV)

I actually find the opposite to be true. Fear and hopelessness does not bless. History records that this book did more damage than good when it was read aloud to people.

A possible explanation is that it "blessed" the original churches when they heard these words and repented. Their repentance lead to salvation which was a huge blessing to them.

How many Spirits does God have?

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne -- Revelation 1:4 (KJV)

and

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars -- Revelation 3:1 (KJV)

and

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. -- Revelation 5:6 (KJV)

which potentially clash with

[There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; -- Ephesians 4:4 (KJV)

and

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NKJV)

Possible explanations:

• Some explain that perhaps the Spirit of God has 7 "members" seen as one Spirit, just like the body of Christ is "one body" with many members. But there is no clear proof to confirm this statement.
• Some explain that the number 7 is the symbol of completeness and that John meant, the "complete Spirit of God" and not 7 literally distinct Holy Spirits.

Creatures and 24 elders fell down before Jesus

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb...

Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

-- Revelation 5:8,14 (NKJV)

which clash with Jesus own words:

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only...’ ” -- Matthew 4:10 and Luke 4:8

which is a quote from:

Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the LORD (Yahweh)* and serve Him only, and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”

So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the LORD (Yahweh)* only.

-- 1 Samuel 7:4

Possible explanations:

Revelation 5:8-14 is a build up of different events and not a mixture of one worship event to the Lamb. "fell down" could mean "worship" but often only means showing respect to a king. In this case John specifically only mentions "worship" in verse 14. The "Him" of verse 14 is actually referring to God and not the Lamb because in this context:

• God is not the Lamb as they interact with each other as separate persons (Revelation 5:6-8)
• One "sat on the throne" (Revelation 4:2), not a trinity and not God with the Lamb
• The Lamb "stood" (Revelation 5:6) and God "sat" (Revelation 5:7)
• The Lamb was "in the midst of the elders" (Revelation 5:6) and God "on the throne" (Revelation 5:7)
• God is described as the "Ancient of Days" in a vision of the prophet Daniel which could refer to "Who lives forever and ever" which is translated by the Interlinear translation as "Who lives for the ages of the ages".

Timing of Christ's return

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. -- Revelation 1:3 (ESV)

and

Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. “Behold, I am coming quickly!" -- Revelation 22:6-7 (NKJV)

However, the Lord did not come "quickly". It is almost 2000 years since this prophecy was written. If someone in the modern age would make a similar statement, and Jesus did not come quickly, people would discard that person's claim as a hoax.

No other prophet said that Jesus would come "quickly". Peter's expectation was that it might take thousands of years:

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. -- 2 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV)

A possible explanation is that John meant by "quickly" that the Lord comes unexpectedly or that the judgment would be "quickly". In other words, when Jesus return, you won't have time to repent and make right with the Lord. It would be too late.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. -- 2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV)

Eternal lake of fire

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” -- Revelation 21:8 (ESV)

Literally it would mean that the "second death" is not really "death", but actually a "lake of fire". However, this view contradicts the rest of the bible.

Revelation creates the impression that God would eternally torture people for sin they committed only in a few years. This seems like an unfair punishment of a just God.

It also contradicts many scriptures that state that we are mortal beings who do not live forever.

A possible explanation is that God's condemnation was compared how one could image how bad it would be to be thrown into a lake of eternal fire. Again, it is a question of should it be interpreted literally or figuratively?

Another possible explanation is that God would destroy the wicked in "the lake" of fire so that they die again, "which is the second death". But to apply this view, you need to add words to this book, which is forbidden.

Undo Genesis

Some belief that everything and everyone should be mixed together. However, this how it used to be before God started creation when everything was without form (Genesis 1:2). The first few things God did was to bring order by separating light (Genesis 1:4), water (Genesis 1:6), land (Genesis 1:9-10).

It seems like Revelation undo Genesis' separation again:

A possible explanation is that John did not intended to accurately create a picture of the future, but that these were meant to be interpreted symbolically in the sense that everything that used to be bad will be removed. Such that creation would reset to the state it used to be before the fall of mankind.

Cancelling your salvation

If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. -- Revelation 22:18-19 (ESV)

This is a very scary thought and the main reason why people are very scared to question these prophecies or the authenticity of this book. This was possibly copied from:

Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike.

The LORD will not be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and the curses written in this book will settle upon him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven. And the LORD will single him out from all the tribes of Israel for calamity, in accordance with all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law.

-- Deuteronomy 29:18-21 (ESV)

However, Deuteronomy was written specifically to stubborn people who choose to serve foreign gods despite knowing the LORD. The LORD forgive sin that is repented, but it is a different situation when people know the truth and are deliberately stubborn.

The literal interpretation of Revelation 22:18-19 mean that any bible translator who accidentally mistranslated any "word" from the book with all good intentions and to the best of his knowledge would lose his salvation without even realizing it. If this is true, then we would be better off to avoid this book in case we accidentally make an error when we read or teach it so that we do not lose our salvation.

Yet Paul wrote:

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. -- Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

If John's intention was to warn those who deliberately abuse God's words to manipulate people according to their own political or religious agendas (as we have seen it happened in history) then this could also be inline with Deuteronomy 29:18-21 which gives a similar warning to people who knew God's word, but still stubbornly rebel against it.

Ends with a curse

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! -- Revelation 22:18-20 (ESV)

It is almost as if the book was intended to end here and as if someone added that last sentence:

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. -- Revelation 22:21 (ESV)

which kind of contradicts the previous ending which just stated there is no grace. Did God really intend that His Word should end in sarcastic tone?

A possible explanation is that the book would be a curse to those who attempt to modify it, and a blessing to those who belief it.