Bible: Revelation

Audience

Those who initially heard the book of Revelation read aloud were Christians living in and around Ephesus in the mid- to late 90s, who were concerned because they felt that public opinion was increasingly critical of their faith. They often were called atheists because they denied all gods save one, and their refusal to worship the emperor brought them into a tense relationship with the civil authorities. During hard economic times or the threat of war, minorities are often the target of prejudice, as they are suspected of treasonous behavior. Christians were seen as angering the gods and bringing on the woes that had begun to plague society. As they gathered in Christian worship, they feared that something bad was soon to happen to them. The book sought to allay their fears by declaring that Jesus was in charge and that all things would transpire according to a grand divine plan.