The Book of Revelation identifies its author simply as “John” , traditionally understood to be John the Apostle, but many modern scholars think the writer is another early Christian prophet often called “John of Patmos.”

Quick Scoop: Who Wrote Revelation?

Most Christian tradition says:

  • The author is John the Apostle (the disciple of Jesus).
  • He wrote Revelation near the end of the first century (around the 90s AD) while exiled on the island of Patmos.
  • Early church writers like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and others explicitly credited the apostle John as the author.

Modern scholarship often adds nuance:

  • The book itself only says “John,” and mentions Patmos, but never calls him “apostle” or “son of Zebedee.”
  • Many scholars, noting the language and style differences from the Gospel of John, argue that Revelation was likely written by another figure we now call “John of Patmos.”

So in one line:

Traditionally: John the Apostle.
Critically: John of Patmos, a different early Christian prophet.

What the Book Itself Says

Revelation actually gives a few clues:

  • The writer signs as “John” several times (for example, in the opening lines and near the end).
  • He says he received visions while on the island of Patmos “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus,” implying exile or persecution.

But it does not explicitly say “John the Apostle,” which is why discussions continue.

Tradition vs. Scholarship: Two Main Views

  1. John the Apostle (traditional church view)
    • Supported by early Christian leaders like Irenaeus and Justin Martyr who directly connect the book to the apostle John.
 * Many church traditions accept this and see Revelation as part of the same “Johannine” family as the Gospel of John and the letters of John.
  1. John of Patmos (modern critical view)
    • Scholars point to differences in Greek style, vocabulary, and theology between Revelation and the Gospel of John.
 * Because of this, they conclude that the author was another Christian prophet named John who lived in Asia Minor and wrote from Patmos.

Some church sources also acknowledge that the author is “John” but say the church has no official dogmatic ruling on whether that John is the apostle.

Why This Is a Trending Question

Even today, Revelation is:

  • Central to many discussions about prophecy, end times, and symbolism.
  • Frequently revisited in sermons, online Bible studies, and popular-level courses that re-examine who “John” really was and how that affects interpretation.

Because of this, “who wrote the book of Revelation?” keeps resurfacing in forums, blogs, and YouTube/theology content as people explore how much weight to give traditional versus scholarly views.

TL;DR

  • The book says it was written by a man named John , on the island of Patmos.
  • Most church tradition: John the Apostle wrote it.
  • Many modern scholars: John of Patmos , a different early Christian prophet, is the more likely author.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.