A Testimony
A shewing to His servants (plural). His servant, (singular), John who bare record is tied to John the Apostle in his gospel. Start at the beginning. The first verse. This is a clue that there is more than one John. Three different Johns. One who bare record, one to the churches, and one who is also your brother. This is just the first clue.
A Little Book
A prophecy repeated. John the Apostle to the seven churches. John the Baptist who bare record knew the Lamb of God and the Apostle knew the Baptist. John Chrysostom, a third john and a brother, was in Ephesus at the beginning of the fifth century when Jerome was finishing the Vulgate, the official bible of the Church.
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A key piece of the puzzle. Only John Chrysostom could say, “five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come”. He was talking about the seven dynasties of the Roman Empire. Only an astronomer could say John Chrysostom, who was in Ephesus at the beginning of the fifth century, wrote the Apocalypse. Only R. H. Charles would include something like this in his book”Studies in the Apocalypse”. Really.
A Little Book to Eat
A bitter belly. John the Apostle ate the original Apocalypse written by John the Baptist. He was told to prophesy again. He added Jesus and the seven churches. In Acts 19 we learn about the followers of John the Baptist in Ephesus. They didn’t know Jesus. A third John would make sure this little book would be included in the bible.
A Dog That Didn’t Bark
A commentary by Victorinus on the Apocalypse. He mentions the seven churches that Paul wrote to but not the ones John wrote to. Eusebius has the same problem. He mentions six of the seven churches of the Apocalypse but never associates any of them with the Apocalypse.
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A Remarkable Connection
A man sent from God. He knew the Lamb of God. He who bare record is connected to the Apocalypse by the Apostle John who knew the Baptist. The word “lamb” also connects John the Baptist to the Apocalypse. It was John the Apostle who was asked to prophesy again and he knew the seven churches.
A Difficult Command
A victim to be protected. Can you allow the filthy to be filthy and still be righteous? Not if there are victims. The silence must end. Expose the filth. Protect the vulnerable. Predators should not get a second chance. Don’t ordain them.
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A Reasonable Explanation
A need to understand. A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for something that doesn’t make sense. It must be tested. Is it consistent with what we do know for sure? How do you explain John introducing himself three times? There are three different writers named John who had something to do with the Apocalypse.
A revelation that there may have been more than one version of the Apocalypse by more than one writer. A reasonable speculation that may address all the questions concerning when, who, and why. What actually happened is unsettled and warrants continued consideration into what may have happened. If you have an ear.
A Purpose
A reason for the Apocalypse. We know where for sure. Patmos. We know John wrote it three times. We don’t know when or why. Wondering why might be more telling. The oldest existing commentary on the Apocalypse is by Victorinus. What can he tell us? He can’t tell us about the seven churches. Why?
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