Did the Apostle Peter read the Book of Revelation?

[Richard Amiel McGough]

There are many thematic and linguistic correlations between the letters of Peter and the Book of Revelation. I just began researching this earlier today and am simply astounded at what I have found. It's hard to believe that this is not common knowledge amongst students of the Bible. I begin with the first verse of Revelation:

Revelation 1:1-3 THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

In Greek, the phrase "revelation of Jesus Christ" is "apocalupsis Iesou Christou." This phrase is found in three other passages of the Bible. Once in Galatians 1:12 where Paul said that he had received the Gospel "by the revelation of Jesus Christ" and twice in 1 Peter where he uses it to refer to the soon coming of the Lord in the first century:

1 Peter 1:5-13 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: ... 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us [first century Christians] they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST;

Of utmost signicance is the context of tribulation in which Peter twice used the exact phrase that is the title of the Book of Revelation which is itself the book that reveals everything about the Great Tribulation. But the links are much deeper than this. In this same context, Peter spoke of the "trial of your faith" and mentioned the the "manifold temptations" that his fellow Christians would soon suffer. The word translated as "temptations" is peirasmos. It appears twenty times in the NT. We find it once in Revelation and three times in Peter's letters:

• Revelation 3:10-11 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
• 1 Peter 1:6-7 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST:
• 1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial [purosis] which is to try [peirasmos] you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
• 2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations [peirasmos], and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Now we are getting too many connections to track them in one dimension. The mention of the "crown" forms another link:

• Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
• 1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

The connections are so deep we need to emphasize them individually. Here we see essentially identical promises in Peter and Revelation:

• Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation (peirasmos), which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
• 2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations (peirasmos), and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

And what is the cause of many of the trials and tribulations? It is the devil who was cast to earth, which uses the same word katapino (devour, swallow up) in both passages:

• Revelation 12:15-16 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up (katapino) the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
• 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour [katapino]:

And following the other track, the words "fiery trial" (purosis) from 1 Peter 4:12 appear elsewhere only in Revelation, in reference to the "fiery trial" (burning) that soon was to befall his home town of Jerusalem:

• Revelation 18:9 9 ¶ And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning [purosis],
• Revelation 18:18 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning [purosis], saying, What city is like unto this great city [= Jerusalem where Peter was living]!
• 1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial [purosis] which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Moving on to another obvious and unique connection, we see that Revelation and 2 Peter are the only books that mention the "day of God" and both include the idea that it would come as a "thief."

• Rev 16:14-15 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
• 2 Peter 3:10-12 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

In the same context of 2 Peter we find mention of both "the new heavens and new earth" and a "thousand years" which are found nowhere else in the NT but Revelation:

• Revelation 20:7, 21:1 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison ... And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
• 2 Peter 3:8,12-13 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ... Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

There are so many connections in each verse we need to color-code code them:

• Revelation 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings (basileus) and priests (heiroteuma) unto God and his Father; >>>to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen<<<.
• 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal (basileios) priesthood (heireus), an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
• 1 Peter 5:10-13 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 >>>To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.<<< 12 &#182; By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. 13 She that is at BABYLON, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

This final correlation is one of the most astounding of all. The blue text in Rev 1:6 correlates with the UNIQUE mention of Christians as a "royal priesthood" in 1 Peter 2:9, and the red phrase is found ONLY in 1 Peter and Revelation, and they are >>>letter for letter identical<<< in both books! Let me repeat, that phase is letter for letter identical in Peter and Revelation, and it appears nowhere else in the Bible. Here it is in the Greek:

>>>αυτωι η δοξα και το κρατος εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων αμην<<< REV 1:6 = 1 Pet 5:11

Note that both Peter and John even ended with "Amen." What are the chances that Peter "just happened" to write that exact phrase if he hadn't read Revelation? And what about the fact that it appears in the context of Christians as kings and priests unto God, which also is unique to Peter and Revelation? And finally, since we know that Peter was in Jerusalem for at least 17 years, the reference to Babylon confirms the identity of Mystery Babylon in Revelation.

This short post lists just a few of the most obvious correlations. As mentioned in the beginning, this idea just occurred to me yesterday after someone mentioned it in a post somewhere on this forum (I forget where). The massive amount of evidence that lept forth with such little effort confirms the Preterist understanding of Revelation, and I am convinced that it proves that Peter read that Book of Revelation which means that it was written before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. I consider this evidence to be conclusive ... and so I am asking that folks in this forum challenge and test my conclusion.

Richard

[Victor]

Great job Richard!

Incidentally, Revelation shows many points of contact between 1 and 2 Peter. They say that the two epistles are far apart but we see that this is just not true once we find these links mediated by Revelation.

I had never noticed "to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen" link. It is very good. In 1 Peter it is found in the end of the book and in Revelation in the introduction.

How do we know that Peter was in Jerusalem for at least 17 years?

Victor

[Rose]

Hi victor,

From Galatians we know that Peter was in Jerusalem for at least 17 years....and most likely longer than that because Peter was already in Jerusalem when Paul went there to see him the first time, which was probably some years after 30 A.D.,and then he probably would have continued to stay after Paul's last visit.

Gal.1:18 "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days."

Gal. 2:1 "Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also."

Rose

[Victor]

Hi victor,

From Galatians we know that Peter was in Jerusalem for at least 17 years....and most likely longer than that because Peter was already in Jerusalem when Paul went there to see him the first time, which was probably some years after 30 A.D.,and then he probably would have continued to stay after Paul's last visit.

Gal.1:18 "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days."

Gal. 2:1 "Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also."

Rose

Thank you Rose!

[Richard Amiel McGough]

The evidence that Peter was familiar with the Book of Revelation continues to mount. Outside the Johannine corpus there are only two references to Christ as a "lamb." One is by Paul who said "Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us." The other is from Peter:

1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish [amomos] and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you [first century Christians],

The time frame in 1 Peter and Revelation are identical. Both books make it clear that the "last times" were happening then, in the first century. The word translated as "without blemish" (amomos) is used in Revelation 14 to describe those that follow the Lamb:

Revelation 14:1-5 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. ... These are they which followthe Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault [amomos] before the throne of God.

The connections continue to burst forth unabated. I am discovering them as I write this post. The blue text appears nowhere else in the NT but 1 Peter:

1 Peter 2:21-22 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

The green text is a fourth element that links us back to Revelation 14, which is itself linked to 1 Peter 1:19 by the unique reference to the Lamb and/or His followers that were "without blemish" (amomos). Futhermore, the blue text follows the green text in both 1 Peter and Revelation, so we have the same ideas being expressed in the same order.

Another rich gold mine is found in the opening passage of 1 Peter which I reviewed briefly in the opening post.

1 Peter 1:5-7 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith,being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST:

The blue text is linked to the letter to the Philadelphians (sixth church):

Revelation 3:10-11 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

And the red text is linked to the letter to Laodiceans (seventh church) by words that appear nowhere else in the NT:

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Again, we have the same ideas presented in the same order both in 1 Peter an in Revelation.

Finally, I think it helpful to repost the chart that shows the profound connections between 2 Peter 3 and Revelation 20 presented in this post:




There are many other links I have noticed, but just don't have time to document as yet. It's like trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon.

Richard

[Richard Amiel McGough]

Upon further research, I have found that the phrase "glory and dominion for ever and ever, amen" actually occurs four times in 1 Peter and Revelation. When preceeded by the pronoun "auto" it is found only twice, but the phrase itself appears twice in Peter and twice in Revelation. It appears nowhere else in the Bible. Here is a screen shot of my BibleWorks program that shows the search results:




I posted the pic because it is so impressive to look at those four occurrences of that exact praise. Here are the verses:

• 1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
• 1 Peter 5:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
• Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
• Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

This stuff is blowing my mind. How is it possible that it is missing from the knowledge base of the vast majority of Christian scholars?

Richard

[Hugh391]

Hi Richard,

Did Peter have to read the Book of Revelation in order to write things which are similar? I see it as the ultimate author of both books is the Holy Spirit. The supernatural aspects of the Bible need not be explained by the writers having read and copied each others writings.

blessings in Christ,

Hugh391

[Richard Amiel McGough]

Hi Richard,

Did Peter have to read the Book of Revelation in order to write things which are similar? I see it as the ultimate author of both books is the Holy Spirit. The supernatural aspects of the Bible need not be explained by the writers having read and copied each others writings.

blessings in Christ,

Hugh391

Hey there Hugh,

I agree that the Holy Spirit is the ultimate author of Scripture. Indeed, that is the fundamental core of my beliefs and the ultimate conclusion of all my studies with the Bible Wheel.

But in the case that we are examining, I think the tight connections between Peter's letters and Revelation really do indicate that Peter had read that book, and that he very well may have written his first letter in response to what he read, to further the prophetic warnings to the rest of the flock.

It's late and I can't write more now, but I will pursue this with you tomorrow if you like.

Many blessings,

Richard

[Brother Les]

But in the case that we are examining, I think the tight connections between Peter's letters and Revelation really do indicate that Peter had read that book, and that he very well may have written his first letter in response to what he read, to further the prophetic warnings to the rest of the flock.

It's late and I can't write more now, but I will pursue this with you tomorrow if you like.

Many blessings,

Richard

I do believe that 'Revelation' was written -before- AD70.

With that said, why do you say that Peter read Johns' letter (Revelation)? Why could it have not been that it was John that had read Peters' letters? Who wrote 'first'....?

Also, John and Peter 'worked' at the Jerusalem Church together for many years (I would assume). People that 'work' together and respect each other, tend to use the same phrases and terms. I can 'see' how 'they' may have been as 'one mind', having used the same 'language' for so long and wanted to remain 'one voice'..

just a thought

Brother Les

[Richard Amiel McGough]

I do believe that 'Revelation' was written -before- AD70.

With that said, why do you say that Peter read Johns' letter (Revelation)? Why could it have not been that it was John that had read Peters' letters? Who wrote 'first'....?

Also, John and Peter 'worked' at the Jerusalem Church together for many years (I would assume). People that 'work' together and respect each other, tend to use the same phrases and terms. I can 'see' how 'they' may have been as 'one mind', having used the same 'language' for so long and wanted to remain 'one voice'..

just a thought

Brother Les

Hey brother Les,

That's a very good question - "who wrote first"? One reason I think that Revelation came first is because John received a unified vision, and it seems that Peter was refering to the things that he read in John's Revelation. It wouldn't work so well the other way. Peter's letters contain a lot of incidental material and so it would make sense for him to incorporate things that he had received from God through John and Paul (whose writings he mentioned by name). It's hard to imagine that John was incorporating things he had read in Peter into the vision that he was receiving since the vision was coming straight from God, but it makes perfect sense the other way around.

Richard