Written by the apostle John (the writer of the gospel and the epistles that bear his name) during a time of exile on the island of Patmos, the book of Revelation is the only New Testament book whose focus is primarily on prophetic events. John wrote Revelation near the end of the first century, a time of terrible suffering and persecution for a lot of Christians. It was a time when Roman emperors demanded deitylike worship, and Christians and Jews who refused to worship these emperors were routinely pressured economically, tortured, and even put to death. John himself was banished to Patmos.

Before you delve into reading and studying the book of Revelation, a warning or caution is in order. This book is filled with oftentimes strange and mystifying imagery whose meanings have been a source of debate for centuries. As you study this book, it is especially helpful to purchase a study guide — or several for that matter — to give you a leg up in deciphering this book. Even at that, it is likely that you will find contradictory interpretations on what this book really means and what context it should be read under. When you read and study the book of Revelation, do it with an open heart and mind that takes what it sees at face value.