A Prophecy Again –
A little book eaten by John the Apostle who added the seven churches. He was told to prophesy again. Followers of John the Baptist were found in Ephesus by Paul in Acts 19. This is a reasonable explanation of why John uses his name three times in the first chapter of the Apocalypse. Three different Johns.
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A Jewish Composition –
A German scholar Vischer held that the Apocalypse was “originally a purely Jewish composition”. Taking away the seven churches and the 12 references to Jesus and you are left with the word “lamb” mentioned 27 times. John the Baptist prepared the way for The Lamb of God. He could have written the original Apocalypse.
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A Record of What Wasn’t –
A problem with Eusebius and Victorinus. They don’t seem to be aware of the seven churches of the Apocalypse. Eusebius mentions six of the seven churches but never associates them with the Apocalypse. Victorinus mentions the seven churches that Paul wrote to but not the seven churches of the Apocalypse. Was there a version of the Apocalypse that did not have the seven churches?
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A Second John –
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 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 Third John –
A patriarch was in Ephesus replacing seven corrupt bishops. At the time five of the seven dynasties of the Roman Empire had already fallen and Jerome was finishing the Vulgate. He may have needed a reliable copy of the Apocalypse to translate. John Chrysostom was someone you could trust.
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A Time That Was Near –
A lamb. John the Baptist was preparing the way for the lamb. The word lamb is found 27 times in the Apocalypse. The time was at hand for the first coming. John the Baptist was the first John who bare record. There would be two more. The Apostle who knew the seven churches and Chrysostom who would be in Ephesus replacing seven bishops.
A Turn Of The Fifth Century
A major player. Jerome was finishing his Vulgate and Augustine was starting his City of God. Chrysostom was in Ephesus replacing seven corrupt bishops. The Church was in good hands. Jerome and Augustine exchanged letters. Chrysostom, who was exiled, exchanged letters with the pope. The Apocalypse was in the bible. These dots can now be connected.
A Reasonable Explanation
A fit with what is known about John. The Baptist knew the lamb. The Apostle knew the Baptist, his followers, and the seven churches. Chrysostom was in Ephesus replacing seven bishops when Jerome was translating the bible. Once Jerome put the Apocalypse in the Bible, no one could take it out and Augustine would then comment on it.
A book with three writers named John: John who bare record, John to the seven churches, and John who am your brother. Lots of unsettled questions: Who?, When?, and now Where? Only the third John admits to being on the Isle of Patmos. Eusebius mentions six of the seven churches but never associates them with the Apocalypse. Victorinus only mentions the seven churches Paul wrote to. So why not speculate?
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